Editorial by Sandra K. Lassiter
January 12, 2007
Using the Historic Sumner
School as a public charter school is all about community investment, families,
and children who are failing in school. This wonderful school is standing
empty. No bright eyes and giggling voices walk the hallways. The school begs
to be put back into use. I know others feel the same.
The Topeka Board of
Education said they are afraid of the costs of having Sumner re-opened as a
school. They are afraid that the community of Topeka would not help us raise
over 2 million dollars and that the district would be asked to pay the bill.
What else is this Board afraid of? We are asking the Topeka Board of Education
to get past their fear and to reconsider their negative vote.
Sumner School stands in the
middle of the most crime-ridden area in Topeka. Re-opening it as a school would
make it available to the community after school and on weekends. A pre-school
program, GED program, community area for meetings, Saturday recreation, and a
wheelchair accessible playground would add tremendous value to the
neighborhood.
Next year, when we open as a
public charter school there will be a K-8 state-of-the art educational program
for students most at risk for failure or school drop out. Innovative education
programs and non-instructional programs such as a wellness and health program to
encourage healthy habits and to combat obesity, character education, small group
instruction with no more than 10 students to a teacher, three mentors for each
child with weekly meetings will be featured.
I don’t understand why
anyone really interested in ‘saving our babies’ would be afraid of the good
things we can do for the community and failing children. Certainly we can
HELP-not HURT. I am ashamed that the Board is paralyzed with fear instead of
being interested in helping our most vulnerable citizens.
Kudos to Barbara
Hollingsworth, an excellent reporter. She has always given well-written, fair
and factual information concerning the public charter school efforts.
Retired administrator of
Topeka Public Schools #501, Sandra K. Lassiter
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