HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — When you hear the word "school," students and teachers are what come to mind. But in Hot Springs, the "school" is trying something new.
The Hot Springs School District saw a need to provide a building full of different services completely dedicated to the people that help make it happen every day - the parents.
If you take a trip down Main Street in Hot Springs, you'll find a quaint house on the left-hand side.
The brick demeanor of 702 sparked an idea in school administrators' minds.
Melissa Bratton, the district coordinator of English to Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL), said they want it to be a "home away from home" for the parents.
"If they ever need anything, they can come here and they're going to feel welcomed," she said.
Bratton said the goal of the welcome center is to make parents feel comfortable.
"I believe we have parents who require things that they wouldn't feel comfortable expressing those. Especially in a big building like a school might be real intimidating for them," she said.
Bratton said many times while kids are getting help with their English at school, their parents don't have a place to turn.
She said that is why the welcome center will provide free language and technology services for them while they provide for their kids.
"If we can support parents in learning that language as well, so they can support their kids, we are just pushing their language progression that much further," Bratton said.
Layla Tapia and Karen Yanes both went through the ESOL program.
"It changes kids' lives and it helps them a lot," Yanes said.
Both expressed how life-altering the program is.
Tapia adds how this center would've been a perfect guide for her mom when they moved from Mexico.
"I think she knows English well. She's just embarrassed because I don't think anyone has really pushed her to it like people pushed me. This program is really going to help other parents as well," she said.
Aside from language services, the center will have a lot of other resources for parents like free WiFi and computers, a food pantry, clothes closet, washer and dryer, and full functioning kitchen.
Put simply, it's a home away from home.
"They have a family here where we can be a part of their lives," Bratton said.
Hot Springs School District hopes the center will be open by open house, which is two days before school starts.