School garden grows into community effort
-- KENNETH KNIGHT , Tampa Tribune

Florida: February 21, 2012 -- For fifth-grader Amauri Banks, the small garden tucked behind Riverhills Elementary is where he goes to be at one with nature. It's where the 11-year-old dug his first hole and discovered the wonders of plant life. "Science makes it easier to work with the plants," Amauri said. Amauri is a member of the Dragonflies, a group of Riverhills students chosen to assist teachers and volunteers in the garden. In recent months, Amauri and his schoolmates have seen a lot more activity at the garden just outside the school's backdoor. A group of volunteers has stepped in to transform the butterfly garden and vegetable, fruit and herbs patch into a manicured community garden. The site also that covers an area 30 feet by 85 feet has become an inspiration for a larger community garden the adult volunteers plan at nearby Riverhills Park. Members of the Temple Terrace Community Garden group have won the support of Mayor Joe Affronti and the Temple Terrace City Council to create a large-scale garden in the park nestled next to the school. The volunteers hope to establish a system of individualized plots to give more people a chance to participate. City officials and organizers of the community garden initiative have been meeting recently to work out the details. "The focus has always been on breaking ground on a garden of about 100 feet next to the tennis courts at Riverhills Park," said Elizabeth Leib, president and communications director for the Temple Terrace Community Garden Initiative.

Gov. Christie's N.J. schools construction plan unlikely to conclude during his term in office
-- Jessica Calefati, The Star-Ledger

New Jersey: February 20, 2012 -- Thirty schools are now slated for construction or renovation by the Christie Administration in the state’s poorest cities, but it’s unlikely any of those buildings will open their doors to students by the end of the governor’s term in office, law makers and school officials said. Last week, Christie announced plans to start construction on 20 projects serving students from New Brunswick, Phillipsburg and West New York among other districts. Progress on 10 projects he announced last year, however, has been sluggish, leaving the time line to complete the new projects in question. "I’m happy it appears we have the governor’s attention about the need for these schools, but it doesn’t change the fact that not a single school will be completed during the Christie Administration," Assembly Education Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan said. "This is not some discretionary situation. It’s court mandated, and it’s a travesty." The Schools Development Authority must construct and repair school facilities in 31 low-income districts across the state formerly known as Abbott districts. When Christie took office, he put all construction on hold for more than a year before unveiling the first 10 projects he planned to start.

Chicago Public School parents take concerns to mayor's doorstep
-- Evelyn Holmes, ABClocal

Illinois: February 20, 2012 -- A group of parents marched past the home of Mayor Rahm Emanuel Monday night, protesting Chicago Public Schools' plans to turn around or close 16 underperforming schools. About 200 protesters marched from Lakeview High School where several groups held a rally before walking about a half dozen blocks over to Emanuel's home. They held a candlelight silent vigil just feet from the mayor's front door. Activists say the turnaround plan destabilizes schools and communities while displacing good teachers who just lack resources. Wendell Smith Elementary School is on the list, once again leaving some parents shut out. "This is outcry to have everybody all over the world pay attention," said Sharisa Lee Vaval, parent. "It's not just happening here, it's happening everywhere." "We have been pushed to the last step," said Darcell Ezell, Wendell Smith school aide. District officials say Smith is not meeting educational standards and has been chronically underperforming for years. In a statement CPS spokesperson Becky Carroll writes, "with almost one out of two students not graduating high school, and only 7.9 percent of our 11th graders testing college ready, we can no longer accept schools that fail." Officials also created the new Office of Community and Family Engagement last July. The purpose of the little-known office is to focus on solely on parents and school communities. Still, the turnaround program angers those at Smith who blame a lack of funding for the problems at the South Side grade school.

Education shackled to school buildings’ past
-- Nick Kotsopoulos , telegram.com

Massachusetts: February 19, 2012 -- Few would argue that a high quality education system begins in the classroom. But as Brian Allen, chief financial and operating officer for Worcester’s public schools, put it last week: “To be able to offer 21st-century educational programs, a school system needs 21st-century facilities.” That is a point well taken when you consider that Worcester’s public school buildings average 70 years in age — not exactly 21st-century-like facilities. Yes, many folks marvel at the new Worcester Technical High School and the new North High School, but out of the school system’s 44 elementary, middle and high school buildings, only 11 have been built or renovated since 1990. Those school buildings are “kids” in terms of age compared to some of the others. One school was built in the 1980s, five in the 1970s, five in the 1960s, four in the 1950s, two in the 1930s, five in the 1920s and five in the 1900s. And there are even six school buildings built pre-1900, with the oldest one 133 years old (Grafton Street No. 1, built in 1879). At a joint meeting last week of the City Council Education Committee and the School Committee Standing Committee on Finance and Operations, Mr. Allen said the Worcester public school system loses about 400 students a year to other school districts through the school choice program. Of that, about one-third of those students attend the Wachusett school district, he said.

Rosenwald schools’ history being preserved with building, program
-- Charmaine Smith-Miles, Independent Mail

South Carolina: February 19, 2012 -- Building construction student Frank Kay has worked on framing a building before. But the one he’s helping build on the Tri-County Technical College campus in Anderson is different. Kay, 41, is proud of this building, because when it is finished, it will teach the local community something about what his ancestors went through to be educated. This one-room schoolhouse will be a replica of a Rosenwald school that was built for the local black community in the 1920s and 1930s. “Anything to do with education and our heritage is good,” Kay said. “Maybe these younger kids will see what their ancestors went through to get an education. Maybe that will inspire them to go on and get an education. Because everybody needs an education these days.” In this schoolhouse, people will see that those who went to class in a Rosenwald school made the most of natural light instead of using a lot of electricity. They did not have indoor plumbing. Books for the classroom were scarce, and often were worn and ragged after they were passed on from the local white schools. There were 5,357 Rosenwald schools from Maryland to Texas, funded by Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck and Co. and contributions from the local black communities. The schools were built between 1910 and 1932.