Wednesday, August 11, 1999
Schools want students back on time
BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Public Schools launched an aggressive campaign — “Back to School — Ready to Learn” on Tuesdayto fill empty seats the first week of school.
Of the district's 47,200 students, about 3,500 students failed to show up for the first day of classes last year. District officials say students are absent during the first week because some parents think school starts after Labor Day, or that registration begins on the first day of classes.
“It may be a communications issue,” said Brewster Rhoads, national president of Parents for Public Schools and parent of two CPS students.
Mr. Rhoads, along with business, religious, civic, social service and civil rights leaders, helped kick off the campaign Tuesday at Douglass Elementary in Walnut Hills.
“When you come in late, you seem to sometimes have trouble trying to get caught up,” said Louise Stevenson, principal of Eastwood Paideia in Madisonville. “We want to make sure that we eliminate any obstacles that students might have because they're not aware when school begins.
“There are many parents who still believe that school starts after Labor Day. We're trying to make sure that everyone is of the mind-set that school starts on the 31st, so that teachers will be able to start instruction the very first day of school for all of the students.”
Most schools in the district begin classes Aug. 31.
The Rev. Duane Holm, director of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition, said his group is encouraging churches in Greater Cincinnati to remind parishioners during worship services about the start of school.
“We're also — because this year kids go back to school before the welfare checks come — encouraging those congregations that have pantries or ways of helping people to be prepared to help out just before school starts when kids are going to need new clothes and school supplies,” he said.
Also, the Cincinnati branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will notify its more than 3,000 members of the start of school through mailings, said Edith Thrower, education committee chairwoman.
Dawnya Allen, a sixth-grader at Douglass Elementary, said many of her classmates don't attend school the first day because they are shy or scared.
“It's important to be here on the very first day of school so you know which class you're in and so you can get to know everybody in your classroom,” Dawnya said.
Parents can register their children at neighborhood schools on weekdays during school hours.
For more information, call FACTline at 475-7099.
The only students who need to register are those who are new in the district, those who have changed addresses within the district or those enrolling in kindergarten.
If new to the district, bring proof of address (a utility bill), immunization records, birth certificate and Social Security card.
If moving or changing schools, bring proof of address and the student's last report card.
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