High Street Neighborhood Newsby Adelle Foley |
A Tale of Two Schools |
It seems to me that Oakland can't succeed without improving its schools. Without good schools, we can't attract and retain the families our community needs. Good schools improve the quality of life for our children and our city. Two of our neighborhood schools Maxwell Park and Horace Mann are under scrutiny. Their future could range from restructuring to closing down. Or new, possibly charter, schools could emerge in their place. Both schools have experienced significant reductions in enrollment and disappointing performance. Turnover is high among the student population. Ironically, during the last 18 months the schools have shared a significant increase in support from the surrounding community. Maxwell Park's new principal, Rubin Aurelio, arrived in September 2005. Since that time, Maxwell Park has become an Arts Anchor school. There is a free after-school program, as well as tutoring and a Scrabble tournament organized by a math teacher on special assignment. The community has planted trees, cleaned the school, and chosen the site for its NCPC meetings and emergency response exercises. At Horace Mann, Principal Alanna Lim and Vice Principal Patricia Sheehan have also worked with the community on landscaping, planning a mural, and reconstruction of a library. Community leaders at both sites Ashley Keller at Maxwell Park and Jeanne Nixon at Horace Mann are passionate about the future of the schools. Positive momentum is building. Maxwell Park has received a Continuous School Improvement Plan grant; Horace Mann looks great after a multimillion-dollar renovation. The schools are central to the neighborhood as a place where young people can see the community working together, respecting its diversity, and caring about the children and their future. At the end of February the School District will make its recommendations to the School Board and the State Administrator, who will make the decision. The resident NCPCs of both schools are speaking out in their support. Will the decision makers listen? Improving Brookdale Park
On a Saturday morning in February, a diverse group of neighbors turned its attention to Brookdale Park. Sponsored by Councilmember Jean Quan's office, the community meeting focused on how to make the park a more attractive resource for the neighborhood. The articulate Nevil Street contingent cited problems of illegal activity and noise near their homes. Rec Center manager Jose Ortiz pointed out that staff could not see most of the park from the building. The group suggested improved lighting, trimming foliage, and installing a gate on the Nevil
side of the park. They also suggested relocating some activities to improve visibility. Ortiz and Discovery Center's Rich Bolacek looked forward to working together. The energy and focus on solutions bodes well for the future of the park. In March, staff will present the suggestions and cost estimates to the Rec Center's Advisory Committee as the basis of future projects. Handprints to Jelly Beans at Melrose Branch
When I stopped by the Melrose Library, one of the large windows sported a poster-sized paper decorated with children's handprints in bright finger paints. It read "Thank you Sharon" an enthusiastic message from a preschool class to children's librarian Sharon Senser. The older children have been equally enthusiastic about the new Tween Time program, writing to pen pals in Kentucky, making valentines, and taste-testing jelly beans (including Harry Potter flavors) on Wednesday afternoons. On Tuesday, April 3, Active Artswill present Manzi:
Adventures of a Young CŽsar Ch‡vez, at 1 p.m. Space is limited, so interested elementary school groups should call Sharon at 535-5623. Shades of pink and rose
Despite the chilly morning
Valentine blossoms
Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.
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