Tuesday, July 04, 2000
'Learn by doing' school's focus
By Andrea Tortora
The Cincinnati Enquirer
At the heart of plans for a charter school in the East End is residents' desire to draw on the way the community learns and functions.
The “apprenticeship model” is what the East End Community Heritage School will adopt, board member Bonnie Kroeger said.
“Schools have gotten too far away from being the heart of the neighborhood, and we want to take that back,” Ms. Kroeger said.
That desire is already taking shape inside the former Highlands School, leased by the charter from Cincinnati Public Schools for $61,200 a year.
That apprenticeship model means students will learn by doing. They will work with a skilled teacher, or even other students, until they master certain skills. The method will be used for academics as well as job skills, like computer technology or day care work.
Volunteers, parents, supporters and students are at work daily, cleaning floors, painting walls, setting up computers and doing everything necessary to start a school from scratch.
A host of community agencies and Tristate businesses are donating time, services and supplies.
With plans to open Sept. 5, there is still much work to be done.
The building, which once housed Clark Montessori and later Project Succeed is charming, but old. Large wooden bookcases with glass
doors grace each classroom. A tiled water fountain adds character to the second floor. Friezes original to the building and more recent murals painted by students provide color and culture.
Numerous windows need to be replaced. Lots of paint is peeling. Old, stained rugs need to be removed.
But the spirit of those involved in this project — one of the first charters in Ohio to be started by a public school system — is infectious.
Nearly everyone involved with starting the charter school attended classes in this same building.
Take Anna Haire, a third-generation East End resident who will handle personnel matters for the school. She attended Highlands, as did her daughters.
“We have many cultures in the East End, it's not just Appalachian,” Mrs. Haire said. “The students need to understand why people do what they do. Not understanding this causes problems. We want to break that.”
The school's goal is to focus on the heritage of the neighborhood in a K-12 environment where students feel safe and at home.
Parent Jane Crabb also went to school here. Now her daughter must ride 45 minutes if she goes to school elsewhere.
“I never thought they should have taken the school out of the neighborhood,” Ms. Crabb said.
The school will target students who've already dropped out. Official drop-out rates for the area are 49 percent, which counts students older than 16. A study by the Urban Appalachian Council found that the rate of “school leaving” for all ages is closer to 100 percent.
To combat this tendency, which crops up after the eighth grade, the charter school will offer high school classes that start at 1:30 p.m., allowing students to work in the morning hours.
School will be open at least 12 hours a day, providing breakfast, lunch and night-time activities.
More than 110 students are already registered. Of those, 31 have special needs. Nearly 40 grandparents are signed up to tutor and offer other help.
There will be one teacher for each student and nearly one computer for each child, thanks to a donation of 100 computers from Fluor Daniel.
That's a huge increase in computer power in a community where only seven of 400 households have computers.
Students will work in multi-age classes with changes in groupings based on interests and various projects. Older students will assist the younger ones.
“Most of the kids we will see are just ordinary kids who need a chance,” Ms. Kroeger said. “They've not felt welcome or involved before.”
There are even plans to work together with CPS, sharing what's learned and what works at the charter school with the district's teachers, Ms. Kroeger.
As part of the school's contract, 85 percent of its students must pass the Ohio Proficiency Test by the third year. That's a standard only a handful of schools, including Indian Hill Schools, now meet.
Staff member Ruth Coon also went to school at Highland, as did her parents. The East End charter is her life's passion.
“The community has wanted this for a long time,” she said. “Everyone will do everything that's needed. That's the way this neighborhood is.”
IF YOU GO
• What: Open house.
• Where: East End Community Heritage School, 2423 Eastern Ave.
• When: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
• University of Cincinnati, College of Education. Mentors and coaches for teachers and students, technical support, research and evaluation.
• Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Job training for high school students and residents, college courses, financial aid counseling, mentors for teachers, support for school lunch program.
• Data Processing Sciences will provide technical support for computer labs and classrooms.
• LeBlond Recreation Center will offer physical education, art and other extracurricular activities.
• Cincinnati Area Senior Services will provide funding to support seniors working with students.
• A center co-managed by UC's Arlitt Child and Family Program will offer child care as well as training for community residents who want to work in a day care program.
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