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| At one time Community Builders oversaw the Community School effort. |
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| Glen Oak Community School (click images to enlarge) |
The Community School Initiative is being run by Bradley and they have assembled a very impressive board. However, the St. Bernard's scenario below, is an example of volunteers who are actually doing the work needed for the community vs. a bunch of impressive folks sitting around a board table having donuts and coffee for one hour every month.
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| St. Bernard's School on Kansas |
Meals, recreation, and educational opportunities would be offered to people of all ages. The group is in talks with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and the Peoria Park District for potential programming.
"We don't really have neighborhood schools anymore. So we're kind of hoping we can step in and fill that gap. And this will be the place that people look to for that center of the community." Organizer, Father Tom StoneThe organization is currently seeking funding for the center, which it hopes to open this fall. The information below is from psd150 website.
Full Service Community Schools
Bradley University’s College of Education and Health Sciences, along with the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service, serve as the lead agency for the Peoria Full Service Community Schools (PFSCS) project. Guided by The Federation for Community Schools, this initiative is funded through various grants, including Heart of Illinois United Way and Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation. The partnership is governed by a community advisory council that includes representatives from Bradley University, Peoria School District 150, City of Peoria, Peoria City Council, Illinois Central College, Caterpillar Inc., Methodist Medical Center, United Way, Two Rivers Professional Development Center, Southside Bank, and Peoria County Health Department.
PFSCS is responsible for implementation of the full service community schools model, which targets health, families, community, and academics, by providing a continuum of care and support that will empower students and their families to become productive, engaged members of the community. Currently, PFSCS serves three Peoria School District 150 schools: Harrison Community Learning Center, Trewyn Middle School, and Manual Academy. The project also supports a Parent Mobile Resource Center (a renovated school bus) that will travel in the neighborhoods surrounding the three designated community schools to provide information, connection to resources and District 150’s Parent University, and services such as immunizations, screenings, and parent education/workshops.
The PFSCS goals for the 2011-2012 academic year include hiring a resource coordinator for each school, engaging parents, teachers, and community members in promoting the well being and academic success of the students in these schools, promoting students’ mental health, physical health, and safety, and establishing data collection and analysis protocols to measure the partnership’s success over time.
Core Advisory Council
Michele Anderson, South Side Bank
Renee Andrews, Principal, Trewyn Middle School
Judy Dietrich, Illinois Central College
Steve Fairbanks, Community Development Specialist, City of Peoria
Curt Fenton, Peoria City/County Health Department
Dr. Jana Hunzicker, Bradley University, College of Education and Health Sciences
Taunya Jenkins, Principal, Manual Academy
Jan Leonard, Two Rivers Professional Development Center (Regional Office of Education)
Dr. Chris Lucas, Bradley University, College of Education and Health Sciences
Karin Maybanks, In-School Health Coordinator, Methodist Medical Center
Renee McKinnon, Peoria School District 150
Veralee Smith, Principal, Harrison Community Learning Center
Michael Stephan, President, Heart of Illinois United Way
Dr. Jenny Tripses, Bradley University, College of Education and Health Sciences
Chuck Weaver, Peoria City Council
Jennifer Zammuto, Caterpillar Foundation
Manual Academy
Manual Academy, which serves students in grades seven through twelve, is divided into four “schools within the school”. It houses a Middle School Preparatory Academy, a Ninth Grade Success Academy, and two career-focused academies for sophomores, juniors, and seniors: the Health Academy and the Business Academy. In 2008, Manual implemented the Johns Hopkins Talent Development Program, which incorporates features such as novel-based literature programs, quarterly academic progress conferences between students and community volunteers, and a daily advisory program. Manual’s mission is to redefine teaching and learning. The school’s website states, “We will ensure that each student reaches his or her full academic and personal potential through an educational approach characterized by continuously re-conceptualizing teaching and learning in a nurturing environment.” Manual received an Illinois Academic Improvement Award in 2010.
Trewyn Middle School
Trewyn Middle School, serves students in grades kindergarten through eight. Partnering with the Peoria Park District and Carl Cannon’s E.L.I.T.E. program, Trewyn’s mission is “to collaboratively transform, inspire, and empower students to be goal oriented and proactive in their education, using best practices while maintaining the highest standards of accountability”. E.L.I.T.E. is a code of conduct and communication that is based on the concept of mutual respect. It is, therefore, everyone’s responsibility to: (a) use Phrases for Success (please, thank you, you’re welcome, yes ma’am, no ma’am, excuse me, I’m sorry, help me, I have, I can, etc.), honor others through simple acts of courtesy, and exhibit self-respect in the way we dress, speak and act.
Harrison Community Learning Center
Harrison Community Learning Center, which serves students from birth through eighth grade, opened the doors of its new facility in 2010. The school is described as “one of the most researched and studied facility designs to be developed in the United States”. The school provides a variety of programs and services, including the 21st Century after school program, which engages third through sixth grade students in reading, math, science, and social studies through the fine arts. Harrison’s mission is “to ensure that all children build an academic foundation, develop (become life-long learners), and grow in self-confidence and compassion through a challenging curriculum which nurtures each student’s abilities and aspirations in partnership with parents, family, and community”.
Parent Mobile Resource Center
The Parent Mobile Resource Center (MPRC), the brainchild of former parent educator Julie Lonteen, launched on June 23, 2011. A true collaboration, Julie brought together Peoria District 150, the City of Peoria, and Bradley University to plan an innovative approach to parent engagement through the revitalization of an old, retired school bus. The actual revitalization of the bus was a true community project with individuals, businesses, and unions stepping forward by donating money, supplies, time, and talent to turn Julie’s vision into reality. This bus travel s in the neighborhoods surrounding our three community schools to provide information and services, including Parent University classes, early childhood screenings, immunizations, a lending library, and workshops and activities designed especially for parents.
42 comments:
"Bradley University’s College of Education and Health Sciences, along with the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service, serve as the lead agency for the Peoria Full Service Community Schools (PFSCS) project. Guided by The Federation for Community Schools, this initiative is funded through various grants,..."
Sounds like the folks over at St. Bernard's need to go the folks at the Principled Leadership tower and see if they can get some of that grant money that's supposed to be funding the Community Schools Initiative.
I noticed the other day that I have NEVER seen the Parent Resource Center Bus in action. Now I know why, I live on the East Bluff (Glen Oak) and the Glen Oak neighborhood doesn't have a designated Community School. "The bus only travels in the neighborhoods surrounding the three designated community schools."
Hats off to the St. Bernard's volunteers!! Keep up the good work!
I know that at one time during Manual's restructured era, that teachers who had students who were not in the "green" of the triangle, would be badgered by their evaluator as to what they were doing wrong and what they could do to improve. Some meetings lasted over an hour. Has this changed? Does anyone ever discuss that students have free will? It is one thing if a teacher is not doing what they should be doing. It is another thing if a student is choosing not to do what he should be doing. Is anything like that going on in other schools?
Emerge, I teach in a south valley school and I have never seen the Parent Resource Center Bus in action either.
It appears the pastors at the Community Builder's Group lost the Community Schools Initiative to the Bradley Principled Leadership folks.
I find it interesting that now, here we have a Pastor who is doing the work at St. Bernard's to build a community school programs in an old Catholic school building, when we have a multi-million dollar public Community school building sitting on the East Bluff not being used.
How is it fair that the students and parents on the East Bluff, the near North side, or the far North side of Peoria will not have access to the Parent Mobile Resource Center?
At one time, there was something called the Glen Oak Neighborhood Impact Zone. What happened to all of the effort and money that was going into that?
BRAVO, Emerge, for bringing this topic to light. HELLO, Mr. Ardis!! HELLO, City Council!!! Why are you not holding the school district accountable?????
Thank goodness someone is actually trying to do the right thing for the East Bluff communiity and not just giving the taxpayers a whole lot of BULL!
I would be happy to send a donation.
Caution,
this is East bluff housing services. The first question that needs to be asked is what is their funding. If they are planning on using the special assessment tax that the residents have to pay on their property taxes that is supposed to be used for low interest loans to promote home ownership then they need to abolish that tax and look for another source of income.
I am not critizing the idea, but that if they plan on using those funds, they should not be allowed to. It's as if you agreed to pay a special assessment for a sidewalk in front of your house and they use it for a playground instead. Playgrounds are not bad in and of themselves, most certainly, but you purchased a sidewalk and that is what you should be getting with that money.
"Why are you not holding the school district accountable?????"
Why is it the School District's responsibility to provide social services?? School funds should be used to educate.
Hi Emerge,
What was the source of the info you listed in this post? Was it from Dist. 150, or does PFSCS have their own website?
While I was also under the impression that the new Glen Oak Community School would be used as a community center, I assumed it that any non-profit organization or group use of it (after hours or summer) would go through Dist. 150 anyway.
As far as the Glen Oak Impact Zone, some good news on that and the Harrison Impact zone will be coming soon.
Frustrated, you always force me to think about these issues. The truth is that District 150's primary job (the one for which it receives taxpayer money) is to educate. All of these efforts cost money and District 150 doesn't have the money to support all of these social service efforts.
However, District 150 did err big time in taking away the neighborhood schools--hence, I fully concur with what is stated about the use of St. Bernard's--that program is trying to take the place of what should have been District 150's job. A neighborhood school can provide after school programs (athletics, etc., for kids)--but these programs are not feasible or effective when the kids have to go way out of their neighborhoods to participate.
Emerge is right about board assigned to come up with these ideas. They sit around applying for grants, etc., and making plans for grandiose ideas (in their tower)--but often the implementation stage does not match the plans.
Education $$ should be spent on education. In disadvantaged neighborhoods after school programs that offer tutoring, sports opportunities should be supported. BUT . . . a 24/7 hang out, adult ed, etc., etc. is too much when dollars are so scarce. I don't understand how young children hanging out translates into better education performance. The raw basics needed to improve academic performance of primary school children is a nutritious meal, bath, and bed by 8:00.
The St. Bernard's movement I applaud and that is the type of community effort that should address social issues and should be funded by United Way, grant monies, etc. The other great thing about the St. B effort is that it is a VOLUNTEER movement, thus reducing the ultimate costs of operation. I certainly understand Emerge's point that sitting around a board room discussing just how awful things are getting does not get the job done. People with their hearts in the right place that are willing to role up their sleeves are the ones that ultimately get things done.
Do school administrators get the summer off like teachers?
Churches, not schools, used to pick up the slack if parents weren't good at parenting or as a supplement and/or extension of good parenting. I know that the church was as important to my growing up as was the school or my parents. In fact, I probably learned to read in Sunday School because I received more individual attention, etc. In those days, we had some rather rigorous learning experiences in Sunday School. We are expecting too much of schools--church is the most logical place for children to learn values, standards of behavior, etc.
It's not the schools duty to run social programs. The schools have gotten away from their purpose education. I have been involved with pareneducation for over 20 years in the district. Depending on the school, most parents don't participate in their childrens education. Yes, some outstanding parents are invloved in their children's education, that is not the norm. Until the silent minority can convince other parents to take a stake in their child's education, we will continue to have a sorry state of education in Peoria. Teachers are unable to do their jobs because the teachers are doing the parents jobs. I am not saving all parents are unconcerned about their children's education, what I am saying, the majority feel that once their child turns 3 or 4 it is up to the schoold to raise their children.
Basically, I think the above Anonymous has pinpointed the problem. We tend to think that many parents don't trust schools to educate their children. The reverse is probably truer: most parents believe the school is solely responsible for their children's education. As Jeff pointed out earlier, the real job of education takes place in the home. I might add whether it is a "negative" or a "positive" education--children learn how to live life at home, not at school. Some of what they are learning is destructive, not constructive--but all children are learning at home. The school can't always undo what is ingrained in the child from birth to school age.
The board has done it again. I hear we have a new principal for Irving coming from North Carolina in July.
No, I believe all principals are on a 12 month contract.
I am sure that the new Irving principal will be salivating over which school she will get her pick of after Irving closes. Makes you wonder which principals are being "set up" for failure this year, doesnt it...
Principals get about one month vacation. I am curious as to how much of a vacation all the staff on Wisconsin Avenue get.
Things haven't changed, but now my 30% of my evaluation rides on that.
I went to the following link from a District 150 page...
http://www.bradley.edu/academic/colleges/ehs/centers/community/
Emerge, I've seen that bus once. It was parked in front of Harrison one afternoon as I drove past. I wonder if it was there for one of those parent university nights. I applaud the volunteers who are using St. Bernard's to provide some programs for the youth of that area. Keeping kids active and engaged in activities goes a long way these days. Hats off to them!
Sharon, I agree with your comment about how children learn life at home. At Early Head Start and Head Start, the staff emphasizes that parents are the '1st Teachers' of their children. Parents are taught to enhance their children's development, including motor skills, cognizant skills, and more as the child grows. That is why EHS and HS work with entire families, not just the children.
I believe that many to most principals do not take an entire month. They might get away for a week or two but then work off and on during the rest of the time off. Has staffing been approved for next year? Many still have spots to fill and will need to conduct interviews during July in order to get them filled with a decent candidate. Also, with the new evaluation system, principals will have to do a lot of their required work outside of the school day so they might want to get a start on what they can during the summer. I do not envy the principals their jobs. Most are decent and extremely hard working. Now, they have even more hoops to jump through. I hope that they all can get away and relax a little with family this summer. They deserve it!!
Tried to get the work of the planning committee for Harrison in front of Lathan repeatedly. Those important documents and plans exist- the sup and her team are well aware of them.
A critical component of success was hiring a building manager who could schedule events/groups/coordinate and would run the building after the principal left. Bradley University advocated and proved that this person could be funded out of Title funds through its work and research with other community schools.
So, did any of it happen? No. Is York allowed to do his job? No. Was Norm Durflinger's offer of assistance from Illinois State in community schools via his Policy Center acknowledged? No. Were local groups who only wanted to help those in poverty and need welcomed? No. Were they made to seem as if they were foolish and unrealistic? Yes.
The first year York was involved he did appear to be working to continue building on the ground work that Sandra Burke had laid.
To be honest, with no disrespect to York Powers, Sandy Burke had the knowledge and experience to pull the plan together with parents. She was hardworking, devoted and had community connections that York would never have. If the current Administration was not so insecure when dealing with people who have prior knowledge of what is successful in this District, we would not be having this conversation about the Parent Plan. Why they didn't keep Sandy Burke is a mystery to me.
Even when Principals are "vacationing", there is never rest. They are "at will" employees. If the Super wants them, she can call on their cell phone to inquire what is needed.
Unfortunately, when an individual becomes a Principal, his/her life is no longer theirs. Intusiveness by the Administration, parents, students, and the community is always before them. Any Principal who thinks he/she can maintain the same quality of life pre principalship is very much mistaken. Those who have tried to maintain that pre principalship lifestyle have been deemed ineffective because they chose to put family first.
The job, by far is not for the faint or weakhearted. You either got what it takes or you don't.
With the present Administration, if you are unwilling to show your toughness by requiring more of you and your staff, you need to re-think your options. You are no longer the site-based manager who can make decisions for your specific school community. You are a puppet. You are told what to do and how.
Good luck.
True, Sandy was effective at what she did and seemed to really enjoy it. However, York did come with some experience in planning parent "events" and combined with the ground work Sandy had already laid, seemed to be capable of continuing to make progress with the program as set out by Board Policy.
Wouldn't it be great if both of these individuals good collaborate?
Toy put the kabosh on that.
Is this the same Sandy Burke who told the students at Manual in an assembly that they could trust that everything she told them was true including that only the teachers would have an extra hour added to the school day and the not the students? Then, those same students came to fee day to learn that not only did they have an extra hour added to their school day, they also had been put into an extra class that they did not choose.
So when was the Monday, July 1 noon BOE meeting first announced? Anyway the agenda doesn't state that the new officers will be installed (or voted on), but that is what is going to happen.
Sharon, meeting is on Monday, July 2nd at noon. Called Reorginization. Posted on their website.
Sorry--I hit #1 key instead of #2--I did get the info from the website, but I don't think the announcement of a meeting has been up for very long. The agenda itself doesn't say anything about reorganization or electing officers.
Sharon, it is considered a separate meeting. They info I posted came from that agenda. Look under BOE meetings on the district website.
Anonymous, I think you're trying to make a point, but I haven't figured it out yet. To my knowledge the info about the July 2 meeting is only one place on the website--we both seem to be looking at the same information.
My point is why did they wait so long to inform the public about a meeting--especially, this one? It should have been announced at the June 18 BOE meeting and put up on the calendar and board agenda at that time. I am fully aware that this is a separate meeting for the purpose of reorganization and that said meeting must be held early in July--so I have been waiting to find out when it would be held. Also, I believe the agenda should be specific by stating that the new officers will be chosen
About principals--I believe they do get a month off and that they deserve that month. I don't think you'd have much luck making an appointment to see a principal during the vacation time. They might show up casually when they so choose to get some work done but the school isn't open to the public or for appointments to see the principal.
Another note about the Board meeting agenda--no where does it state where the meeting will be held--we can make logical assumptions, but that doesn't always get us to the truth. Also, the "Adjournment sine die" notice at the end means the following:
Adjournment sine die (from the Latin "without day") means "without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing".[1] To adjourn an assembly sine die is to adjourn it for an indefinite period. A legislative body adjourns sine die when it adjourns without appointing a day on which to appear or assemble again.[2]
Is the board so disorganized that they don't even know when the next meeting will be--when might we find out about that. Is it customary for the board to go through two weeks of June and all of July without a regular meeting?
I'd like to believe that the longer agenda was added after I looked at the website three times--I'd hate to think I was too stupid to scroll down. That seems to be the case, however. In my own flimsy defense, why would I expect to have to scroll down?
It wasn't there when I looked at it either.
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