Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Boutet on March 20, 2013 at 1:12am

This is indeed good news for School 16 and our community Mark.  A review of what we learned at the March 14 Facilities Modernization Plan meeting is in this post: School 16 to be renovated and reopened!

Getting a building renovated is of course only part of the solution to having an effective school.  The quality of the school administrators and teaching staff are also an important factor as is community and parent involvement in the school.  In the two years we have ahead before students return to the renovated building it is very important the that we work hard as a community to make sure School 16 will succeed. 

The renewed appreciation for the value of "neighborhood schools" at the local, state and national level will hopefully help us institute changes that will make real neighborhood schools possible here once again.

• We have to change the busing.  Parents see value in having their children get on a bus for safety and work schedule reasons but busing kids across town makes it hard for parents to be involved in their child's school.  That weakens schools and communities.  We need to be able to provide short distance busing and early drop-off options at the school.
• We have to ensure that the school administrators truly encourage parent and community involvement in the school.  The school has to be a welcoming focal point for the neighborhood it serves.  It needs to encourage volunteers to help teachers in the classroom and the neighborhood needs to work with the school to develop those volunteers.
• We need to work with the RCSD to institute a mechanism for a strong neighborhood voice in selection criteria for new principals to insure they will support and develop ongoing strong community involvement in the school.
• Effective, safe before and after-school programs need to be provided.  We have to redesign our school day and school year to reflect the realities that face today's families. 
• The community has to mobilize its resources to work with the school to ensure its success.  That means that groups such as the 19th Ward Community Association has to help mobilize an effective neighborhood school support group.  In years gone by many of those services were provided by stay-at-home moms and  extended families.  Mobility and financial needs have changed the family structures.  We have to find ways of organizing volunteers including grandparents and retirees to reweave an effective fabric for our school support structures.

We need to savor our victory and be reinvigorated for the task ahead.

• ▶ Reply