The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The division on Wednesday kicked off a drive to recruit volunteers and businesses to support the city's schools, citing fiscal pressures and potential benefits for student achievement.
Interim Superintendent Michael Spencer said one goal is to have each of Norfolk's nearly 50 schools "adopted" by a business or local organization no later than next year.
Currently "we have schools in Norfolk that have no full, sustained partnerships with local businesses or community organizations," Spencer said. "This should not be the case in our community, where we know people care about its children and their education."
School volunteerism is an old tradition around the country, with the PTA being a classic portal for encouraging parental involvement.
Business support for public schools is not a new idea, either; the Norfolk Education Foundation already hosts The A+ Community Partners Program to channel business help for Norfolk schools.
But with nearly $50 million in budget cuts in the past two years and about $20 million more looming in the next school budget, the division says it is less able to treat volunteerism and community support as optional.
At the same time, the division is laboring to improve student performance over last year, when 10 of 45 schools failed to get full state accreditation.
"It has become abundantly clear that our school division simply cannot achieve these results on its own," Spencer said.
As part of the initiative, the website www.SupportNPS.org will list every school and its volunteer needs.
Tanners Creek Elementary, for example, needs "reading buddies" and math tutors.
Norview High seeks $10,000 to replace lost grant funding for its summer leadership camp, a consultant to train earth science teachers and volunteers for algebra classes.
Cash donations are helpful, Spencer said, but "giving of yourself certainly has a more lasting effect on the lives of children."
Steven G. Vegh, 757-446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Problem's at the top
It speaks volumes about the incompetence of the Norfolk School Board for this really great idea to be introduced and promoted by interim Superintendent Spencer. Of course the School Board --- as well as the City Council --- is populated by a number of businessmen and women, all of whom couldn't come up with this themselves.
I think most everyone believes it's a leadership problem at the top. It'll be hard for anything positive to happen --- including the hiring of a really great Superintendent --- until that changes.
Not a bad idea
We could have books and services complete with ad inserts. Your child could soon come home with books brought to you by .... printed in them, with full page ads between the lessons. Heck, forget lessons, buy $100 of our product and your child gets [insert letter grade here].
Not that I'm against the idea of sponsors and volunteers but great care MUST be taken to ensure it DOES NOT interfere with the learning process like the SOL's do.
**
Riddick Funeral Services and Winn Nursery will be the first to step up.
From those who much is given, much is expected. It's for the children.
Here is a bit of friendly advice...
Don't hold your breath waiting for Riddick to reach into his pocket for anything, including to pay taxes. Winn... well, I seriously doubt that he could possibly care less about his constituents or their children.
Vote them OUT!
It's a rough draft I hope
Why not encourage your students to design a website where they can sell tshirts, lunches, football tickets, etc. Teach them the value of work, and the meaning of a dollar.
Approaching the community and suggesting your reaching out for a handout is only going to get your hand slapped.
Public schools need to stop acting like victims and start strategizing for ways to survive without placing more of a burden on the citizens.
Rather than providing a class on OWS, try providing a class on developing new thought for money makers - think new designs, new creations, think of things people want and need, and learn how to market it and sell it.
You know, teach the kids pride and work ethic.
Let me re-phrase that for you
We the all knowing city council have squandered an enormous amount of your hard earned tax dollars on that wonderful vision known as Light Rail. We are sorry we dont have enough money to educate your children but it's just their future so who cares. Maybe you could all do like Daun Hester suggested many years ago i.e. get a second job and help us out with the jam we are in. As soon as the outsize benefits of LRT kick in you can quit your second job if you want. Until then we will set up Salvation Army like kettles for your convenience at all school entrances.
Oh yes and please have a nice life.
LRT= 1/3 of a billion $$ with a $100 mil overrun. Somewhere Phil Shucet is smiling as he collects his $40,000.00 a month salary.
LRT=Heavy Taxes
City council resolution
We hereby propose to change our city slogan from "Norfolk-Life Celebrated Daily" to "Boosted Sales Along The Rails". All in favor please raise your hand.
Volunteer Screening
How will volunteers will be screened? Will guidelines be strict...a paid school employee present at ALL times when the volunteer is present with the students (or in an open place such as the cafeteria/library)? we will have to make sure that volunteers do not have criminal records, are not sex offenders, are not drug users and I could go on and on.
Senior Citizens from retirement homes could volunteer. How wonderful for the elementary students who may not live near grandparents to have a "volunteer grandparent" come and read to them or help them with math facts. And think about how wonderful that is for the senior citizen too. Just a thought.
I wish
You want to maybe do a drug screen on people that come in contact with our children?
I think that is a great idea!!
I also think its a great idea to perhaps drug screen those who are coming in contact with MY money...welfare recipients.
We are willing to give a drug test to volunteers who want to help kids, why cant we screen those who are doing nothing and helping society in no way?
It seems like we punish those who want to help, and reward those who do nothing.
who cares??
you have light rail and soon that will generate so much development your streets will be paved in gold and honey will come from water fountains. You just have to be patient.....