Are full service community schools servicing the community?

At one time Community Builders oversaw the Community School effort.

Glen Oak Community School (click images to enlarge)

I thought we were told that the multi-million dollar Glen Oak School, would be a full service community school. However, on any given day or time, you can drive by the building and it is clear that the building is currently being under utilized in a neighborhood filled with crime and children with nothing to do.

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.

St. Bernard's School on Kansas

A local group is turning the old St. Bernard's School into a community center. St. Bernard's School is currently being used for summer youth basketball leagues. But city leaders, community members, and local pastors want to expand that by opening part of the building as a neighborhood outreach center.

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 Stone

The 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.

I can't get mad about Trewyn getting much needed attention.

For generations now, Peoria District 150 has underserved the children of Peoria. The disservice to the black community has been and/or is vast. From what I can see, the NAACP and/or the ACLU could have instituted a class action lawsuit against the District for the violations against student civil rights and the inequality in the schools. They did not/they have not.

Today, to hear people complain about what they call “special treatment” that the students at Trewyn are getting saddens me. These children and their families are the very people who have been done a disservice by this District and this City for generations. Sure, they appear to be getting a little extra, but it’s still a drop in the bucket when you consider how long the education of black children in this City has been neglected.

While the complaints about the arrogance of the Superintendent may be well founded, the big stick that the Superintendent is welding is directly related to power that was given to her when our District violated student’s civil rights with an unequal education.

Many may not like it, but the Superintendent is doing a great job of CYA for District 150, which is exactly what the BOE wants/needs for her to do. Sorry folks, but as long as she is protecting the civil rights of the children who have obviously consistently received the least in this City, her power will remain intact.

Restorative justice in schools

While prepping this post, I hear a call on the police scanner to come to Trewyn School. A five (5) year old was slammed into a locker and the older sibling was assaulted. The mother called the police. Should this issue be handled within the school, or should the parent press assault charges? 

Restorative Justice 

Restorative justice is a practice characterized by bringing together administrators, educators, advocates, school resource officers, parents and students with a history of truancy for a series of goal-oriented meetings in order to counsel towards problem solving in the area of daily and class based attendance, or other behavioral or academic issues at hand. Typically, a restorative justice model will maintain conducting three to five meetings of the necessary personnel to bring the student at fault to understand how his/her absence is affecting his/her potential. The meetings will often be centered on discussion of offenses and consequences, which will lead to the creation of a contract between students, parents and educators, promising change in a student’s attendance rates. The restorative justice model is emerging as one of the most dynamic and effective ways to address truancy without the use of suspension or court order. Source

Issues of discipline in our school have teachers and many in the community at their wits end. We want children to just behave already and fall in line. Regardless of how much we want that and secretly wish these children will just go away to a place made just for them, we realize that it's really not that simple.

Recently people commenting on the blog have begun to talk about issues of restorative justice. After taking a look at an article recommended in comments by Jon (Sharon Crews' arch nemesis), I realized that I have seen some aspects of restorative justice in use. However, I don't feel like it was effective, because school administrators did not name the process, nor did they follow through on it. If there are no efforts to get students, families and the community to buy in, piecemeal applications will not work.

The expectation of zero tolerance makes the restorative justice process a complete paradigm shift for schools and it takes time. Unfortunately, some children enjoy the drama and attention they get when misbehaving and as a result, bad behaviors can be slow to change. A district's suspension rates may begin to go down, but in the meantime, the children who are prepared and want to learn are losing valuable time. Parents who may have options are giving up and looking for safe havens. However, if given time and resources, with buy in from students, parents and community members, I believe restorative justice to be worth the efforts.

A positive report about Trewyn School

From the EmergePeoria e-mail box...

"Trewyn seems to be really turning around this year. I don't know if it is due to Ms. Andrews, or Carl Cannon/Elite group, or all new teachers and the facelift the school has gotten, but there is definitely a different feel this year, the kids are behaving much better so far, and the teachers seem to be really invested as well.

We had an evacuation drill recently and I couldn't believe how well it went. Kids were in straight lines walking in an orderly quiet "elite style" manner, all the way to Harrison and back. They went into the gym at Harrison and all sat down in an orderly fashion (I didn't go in to the gym, so I can't say for sure) but I can tell you that when they were leaving the gym, still in that orderly fashion with the older kids holding the hands of the younger kids, still in straight lines, I almost cried, I couldn't believe it. That would never have happened last year.

I told every kid that I came into contact with that day how proud I was of them and actually had a 7th grader, who is a member of the elite leadership team tell me, "It's because this year the teachers care about us.".

I think they cared last year to be honest, at least most of them, but the teachers didn't have the support this team has either. The same student told me that boot camp made the difference and said " we need it again, because kids are getting bad again"."

They will be having it again, Phase 2 was set to start that week, with assemblies.

Missed opportunity for D150

A recent editorial in the PJStar Forum, which spoke to how wonderful the March 18, Trewyn Middle School Fine Arts Night was, got me to thinking about how you seldom ever hear good news reports about what is going on in our schools.

Unfortunately D150 missed another opportunity to illustrate the "good things" that we keep hearing about happening in the schools. This was an opportunity for free advertising. A simple p.r. effort to showcase a school that is constantly reported on as being "troubled", would have been worth the time for Trewyn's image. I think the media would be interested in showing the positive side of schools, but first somebody has to notify them.

These special events at schools are a chance to sell the District to citizens. The editorial, by Jim Bateman of Community Builders, described the event like this:

"Trewyn's Fine Arts Night was the culmination of a nine-week after-school and Saturday-morning pilot arts program sponsored by a grant received by Community Builders Foundation from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Community Foundation of Illinois. Thanks to the outreach of ArtsPartners, the students were led in their endeavors by Susie Somerville Brown and Matthew Garrett, both excellent artists, who willingly volunteered their time and talents to bring the arts to students at Trewyn.

The amazing thing is that the whole thing was done on a small budget - just money for supplies. The unpaid volunteers were all professionals in either art or theater. They loved working with the students, and it showed."

The fine art exhibit was a wonderful example of collaboration between the school and community volunteers. This is the type of community involvement that is going to make the difference in D150 - we need to shine a light on it whenever possible.

Following an Anonymously dropped dime

An Anonymous poster left a link (aka the "dropped dime") to a YouTube video which is alleged to be of Trewyn students "kickin it"...

Anonymous said...
Nothing is wrong at Trewynn either!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hgXj8whzZY
Video of students "kickin it

Of course out of curiosity I looked at it. The video appears to be shot inside of a classroom and Anonymous was right - the kids are kickin it.

At first the video didn't phase me, just kids clowning in class. Then I looked at it again and began to wonder who took the video; kids can't use cell phones in class (can they); cussing, wrestling, running around - where are the adults? I caught a glimpse off to the right of what appeared to be adults. So I looked at the clip again - the "adults" are in the classroom. Take a close look - about three or four "adults" are standing off to the right having a conversation. WTH!

So Anonymous, what more can you share about the conditions surrounding the taking of this video? Was this a "free period", home room or "mach clasz" (whatever that is)? Are you in the room? Give us a little background instead of just dropping an inflammatory video link.

Trewyn teachers come out fighting

At last night's school board meeting, Trewyn teachers stepped up to the mike to speak out against what they call "an attempt to tear down Trewyn and Manual Schools".

The teachers felt that comments that are made on the blogs and at last week's school board meeting were based on the comments of a few disgruntled employees who were not giving a clear picture of the culture of their school.

They spoke to the positive measures being taken in health services, security, teacher quality, and the dedication and commitment of the Trewyn staff. They closed with a challenge to those who have placed a thumbs down on the students and believe that Trewyn is a zoo with untrained animals. The challenge is to come down to the school one day a week, for six weeks and they will see that they are making a positive difference for youth. The comments were said to have been made on behalf of several outraged parents, upset co-workers and students.

What is confusing is that the first teacher who spoke, mentioned violence and then seemed to also mention an agreement that schools throughout the District have not to discuss it. She stated that Trewyn is by far not the only school with violence and discipline issues; the problem is rampant throughout the District. She made it clear to state that this included the schools north of War Memorial. For that reason, she seemed to feel that it is unfair to continue to slam Trewyn for a problem that all schools are facing.

Now I am left wondering, what is the real story on violence in our schools and is there a cover up as to how bad the situation really is?