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Community Participation Lacking In Effort To Save School
August 14, 2008
Community participation has been less than stellar at events designed to show support for the area and Carver/Century K-8 School.
And that has left some on a town committee wondering what to do next, just days away from the recommendation to close the school by Escambia County School Superintendent Jim Paul. The school closure is officially on the August 19 school board agenda.
Principal Jeff Garthwaite told the Century Blue Ribbon Committee that the closure seems to be imminent. Garthwaite, who is also a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said about the only thing that would save the school at this point would be the enrollment of many more students.
So far, six more students are enrolled this year, he said. There are almost 240 total students enrolled for the school year that begins Monday. That number, he said, needs to be at about 300 to save the school.
“For whatever reason they left, there is now good reason for them to come back to our school,” he said of the dozens of students that transferred away from Carver/Century under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. He said that the school had improved, moving it school grade from an “F” to a “B”, it has more technology than most any other school in the county, and has newer, more modern facilities than any other school in North Escambia.
“I think people are running away from this, not to things,” Garthwaite said of the schools “F” grade last year. “The problem is not just Century, but the others in this district, like part of Bratt, McDavid, Byrneville and Bluff Springs.”
“We are down to the point that if we get the students, the school is there. If we don’t get the students, we won’t have the school, he said.
Blue Ribbon Committee members agreed that community apathy has been a big hurdle to overcome for the committee. At a recent rally to support the school, only two people showed up. At the last Community Market Day sponsored by the Blue Ribbon Committee, Mayor Freddie McCall said that he, one committee member and one vendor were the only ones there.
“Why can’t we get more people concerned,” asked Rev. Willie Carter. “We need to get more people involved.” Carter noted that no one on the town’s Blue Ribbon Committee has children in Carver/Century, and that parents frequently don’t attend school functions.
Another meeting to show support for the school will be held tonight, 6:30 at the school.
Comments
One Response to “Community Participation Lacking In Effort To Save School”
People of Century:get behind YOUR school!! This lack of support is one of the very reason that has caused the school to faulter. Be careful of the people you have who are acting on behalf of citzens of Century-even more cautious of those who say that they are doing it for the betterment of the community and are not vested in your town, except for maybe for some kind of personal gain? The north end does not need any more help like that offered by people who have an apparent “hidden agenda! ” I’m certain that Brynville, Bratt and Ernest Ward don’t want and surely doesn’t need the help of people like Mr. Moran or Mr. Stallworth to dilute their thriving schools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!