Family support program up for consideration in Othello recently
Cheryl Schweizer <Staff Writer> | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 9 months AGO
OTHELLO — An effort is underway in Othello to start a new non-profit organization that would help kids and families prepare for school, and what comes after graduation.
Othello superintendent Chris Hurst and a group of 11 teachers, community members and administrators spent a few days in New York City studying the program of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a private organization mostly supported by donations. They reported on what they found at the Monday meeting of the Othello School Board.
“I think we walked away with our minds just blown,” Hurst said. The Harlem program provides support for families from the time children are born to the time they start college.
The Children’s Zone provides services for parents of newborns and toddlers, a preschool, after-school tutoring and activities. The program is open to all children in the designated area, whatever school they attend, Hurst said. “If they can do it, why not us?” he said. The program is successful now, but “they didn’t start there. They started just like we’re starting right now, sitting around the table, trying to figure it out, lot of questions, lot of struggle.” But, Hurst said, he was confident Othello could build something similar.
Attendees said they brought back both inspiration and good ideas.
The program provides interlocking classes and support for parents and kids, starting with the baby-toddler program, moving to preschool, then the school support program. There is a charter school, Hurst said, but children don’t have to attend it to participate.
“It was birth to through college commitment,” said Othello High School teacher Charlotte Simpson. “They not only support students, they support families,” said Heidi Wagner, the district’s early childhood coordinator. “If they have to hold your hand along the way, they will.”
Teachers took lessons to the kids if they had to, Wagner said. The commitment includes counseling for high school students, helping kids get experience in possible career fields, filling out college applications, financial aid and college class schedules. The children “love them (the teachers and staff) because of that,” Wagner said. Hurst said about 70 percent of the funding comes from private sources, and about 90 percent of the budget is spent for programs. Administration is about 10 percent.
The initial steps toward building a similar program in Othello are already being considered, Hurst said. A 501(c)(3), a business plan and the end goals are being considered. One important component, Hurst said, will be a director who is willing to ask potential donors for money – a lot of money, because it would be expensive. The goal is to start installing some of the programs for 2017-18, he said.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER <STAFF WRITER>
Othello School Board approves property purchase
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board has approved an agreement to purchase 81.14 acres of land along 14th Street and Lee Road. The district will pay $2.4 million to the current owner, Terra Gold Farms. The draft agreement was approved during the regular board meeting Monday. The land is located at Lee Road between Seventh and 14th streets. Assistant superintendent Gina Bullis said there are no plans to build on the property now, but district officials plan to keep it as a site for any additional schools. The sale should be completed by the end of January. In other business, a discussion of a site visit to Wahitis Elementary prompted questions about traffic on 14th Street. Construction closed part of 14th Street during the spring, summer and fall, including the stretch in front of Wahitis Elementary. Prior to construction the road had a four-way stop outside Scootney Springs Elementary, but the stop signs were removed during construction and haven’t been replaced. Board member Juan Garza said he had received inquiries about the stop signs, and whether they would be reinstalled. “It sounds to me like they (the stop sign removals) are permanent, right? It’s going to stay that way.” Bullis said she had received inquiries too, and had asked city officials about them, including a question at the Othello City Council meeting earlier Monday evening. City manager Wade Faris told her, Bullis said, the city wasn’t required to reinstall them. The original purpose was to eliminate some of the congestion on 14th, Cemetery and Ash streets when kids and parents were coming and going from Scootney Springs. City officials think the extra lanes will accommodate any congestion, she said. Board member Mike Garza said the stop signs were installed as the result of a traffic study conducted by the district at the city’s request. He asked if the city had done an additional traffic study prior to removal. Bullis said city officials didn’t give a reason for the change. Mike Garza also asked if city officials planned to paint crosswalks across 14th Street at Wahitis Elementary. “I noticed there are no crosswalk designations across 14th” at the school, he said. Bullis said she would ask city officials.
Othello School District land purchase moves ahead
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board is scheduled to review a draft purchase and sale agreement for 78 acres of property along Lee Road at its Oct. 10 meeting.
Othello School Board discusses 14th Street with city officials
OTHELLO — Traffic, traffic flow and pedestrian safety, especially for elementary students, were the subjects of a lengthy discussion at the Othello School Board meeting Monday.