Embedding Student Success into Every Partnership

As school districts across the U.S. work to increase student engagement despite mounting budgetary pressures, some are reimagining where learning can happen and who supports educators to deliver it. The Pattonville R-III School District in St. Louis, Missouri, is one such example. Through a holistic approach to partnership, Pattonville has reimagined project delivery as a dual investment: enhancing district operations while creating meaningful learning experiences that help prepare students for their future.

Value-added services: An innovative procurement approach

Pattonville embeds value-added services into their vendor selection process, priortizing vendors that can create opportunities for students to expand their learning.This strategy positions the district to fully leverage its vendor network and identify partners that bring additional resources, expertise, and hands-on educational experiences, upholding its vision “That All Will Learn” at the core of these efforts.

One way this is done is through Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs), which give students the opportunity to work with an organization for an entire semester to gain hands-on learning in a field they are interested in. 

Mary Jo Gruber, Chief Financial Officer of Pattonville, explained the benefit of this approach:

"Our goal is to align our initiatives with the needs and aspirations of our schools. For example, construction companies allow students to job-shadow, accounting firms perform onsite visits to a classroom to connect our math curriculum to real-life accounting, or engineering firms sponsor robotics leagues or scholarships for AI events.”

Gruber was awarded the Pinnacle Award in 2024 for spearheading this procurement and delivery strategy at the district. “By engaging local businesses and partners in our mission through value-added services,” Gruber says, “we create a supportive ecosystem that prioritizes students' learning experiences." 

Holistic “value-added partnership” in action

Schneider Electric was selected by Pattonville to complete infrastructure improvements previously identified through long-range facility master planning after the district passed an $111M bond in 2022. The work included over $10M in lighting, mechanical, and automation enhancements across multiple buildings. These upgrades were designed to improve health and safety and modernize classrooms, factors shown to enhance learning outcomes like school enrollment and standardized math test scores.

Energy service companies (ESCOs) like Schneider Electric also bring expertise and experience to help school districts secure funding and couple outside funding sources with Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). Facility improvements through ESPCs are shown to multiply the impact of capital infusions by enabling improvements that increase budget stability long-term by lowering utility, maintenance, and operation costs. Schneider Electric closely partnered with Pattonville to make the most of the district’s most recent $111M bond to tackle remaining strategic priorities—utilizing Schneider Electric’s in-house finance expertise to identify and apply for available funding streams that minimize budgetary impact, such as:

• • Rebates from the local utility 

  • Federal and state grant funds
  • Tax-exempt lease purchase agreements

  • Energy savings

At the same time, Schneider Electric worked alongside Pattonville to design and host annual learning and career development programs around STEM, energy efficiency, and sustainability. These programs included activities like building solar homes and racecars, celebrating International STEM Day, hearing from a panel of STEM professionals, and taking a field trip to learn about energy and sustainability careers at a local Schneider Electric branch.

These programs were designed with hands-on learning in mind, which is tied to enhanced motivation, interest, and creative thinking. As Schneider Electric supports the district across its facilities, the company also continues to serve as a true value-added partner that centers Pattonville’s students at the heart of project operations.

Are school districts fully utilizing their strategic partnerships?

Pattonville School District’s approach to partnership demonstrates how educational institutions can lean on their community networks to address multiple priorities concurrently and get the most out of available resources. By prioritizing community engagement and strategic collaboration, Pattonville is paving the way for innovative educational practices that help prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow.

For more stories about how Schneider Electric partners with our clients on educational initiatives, visit our Student Engagement stories Hub.