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Group Wants To Open Century Elementary; Council Questions Plan (With Video)
January 4, 2011
A group wants to return an elementary school to Century — an idea that town leaders are questioning until a formal plan is presented. The town has been without a school since Carver/Century K-8 closed two school years ago.
Leola Robinson (pictured) told the Century Town Council Monday night that her group needs a building for the planned “Century Elementary School”, but she provided little insight into the specifics of the plan.
For video from the meeting, click here.
When asked by Council President Ann Brooks exactly what organization was making plan for the school, Robinson first responded, “The peoples of Century. You want me to bring you all the people that say it was alright?”
Later in her presentation to the town council, Robinson said organization behind the request is the CFIA — the Century-Flomaton Improvement Association.
“We have everything in place; we ready to go,” she said. “The only thing we need now is a building and that’s about all.”
As for funding the “Century Elementary School”, Robinson said it would be funded “through a grant”.
“Have you already applied for the grant?” Brooks (pictured) asked.
“Well, I can say we, we, we are able to take care of the school. All we need is a building,” Robinson replied after a lengthy pause.
She pressed the council for a fast answer, because the CFIA plans to open to the school in August with 20 parents and “more than 20″ students ready for the school.
The school, Robinson said, would likely be private but not charge any tuition, but “we might have to; we don’t know”.
“We want to make sure if the town is participating, whatever we do, that we are doing something that is legal and appropriate,” Brooks said, prompting Robinson to complain that the mayor and council had not done anything about the closure of Carver/Century K-8.
“We are not going to give our children away to be carried way out there for now own forever,” Robinson said, presumably referring to Bratt Elementary School where elementary aged public school children from Century are bused daily. “We are not playing. We never have given up. But we didn’t see the mayor none or council member doing anything about our children.”
“We did try to save our school,” Mayor Freddie McCall (pictured) said. He said that if the group forms a legitimate charter school, the Escambia County School Board would probably allow the group to use the former Carver/Century K-8 building.
“I’d like to go on record to say that we will do everything that we can, legally, on our behalf to do it to help. But there again, it will take a plan that someone can look at and evaluate,” McCall said.
“I think the first thing we would need is a plan,” Brooks said,”…as to what you are proposing and what the funding will be.”
“We are going to have a school in Century,” Robinson said. “We are financially able to do that.”
The council took no action on Robinson’s request Monday night..
For video from the meeting, click here.
Pictured top: Leola Robinson addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured below: Century residents listen to Robinson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
26 Responses to “Group Wants To Open Century Elementary; Council Questions Plan (With Video)”
I think that any time you come before the City Council, you should have a proposal. You can’t play cat and mouse. I asked around and the C.F.I.A. has no information about this. Perhaps it’s just wistful thinking on Mrs. Robisnon’s part. All of Century is not against Mrs. Robinson. We just NEED concrete information. I heard that the Carver Community Center got a big grant this past summer. What did they do with that money? How, mind you can a school open in August 2011? She needs a plan for the years to come. Counci members and Mayor please don’t make any hasty decisions.
REGARDING:
“This is not the first time the council has asked questions inappropriate of a new opportunity for the town”
Inappropriate?
Who are you as a group?
Do you have a plan?
Who’s going to run it?
How will it be paid for?
Who will be served?
Are you complying with the law?
They SOUND like appropriate questions for public consideration.
I agree with “worried Resident”, she probably doesn’t want to publicly air whatever specifics that she and her group have. This is not the first time the council has asked questions inappropriate of a new opportunity for the town. There is a time and place for public announcements but in the early part of a process is not when anyone would want to publicly show all their cards, so to speak. Why did it matter what the name of the school would be?
Support from the city and the people of the city would be extremely important for a school.
A city should have certain qualites of life that are necessary to attract viable
businesses that will employ very many people. When companies are looking for a place to expand to or open up in…
They usually want to know about ( in no particular order)…
1. Schools- where are the schools, how good are they
2. Broadband/High speed Internet Access
3. Housing- what is available to rent or lease for workers relocating to the area
4. Public transportation- buses, taxis etc
5. Extracurricular activities available in the area- I.e. lessons for Music, karate, dance, voice, swim teams, drama…places to go: theater, fine dining, ballet, arts and various performances.
Century and surrounding area would not fair very well on this checklist, so to speak.
-Schools…none within the city limits
-Internet… Only essentially in parts of city limits…
-Housing… Not much … Only low income apartment housing, no regular apartments,
very few average quality single dwelling homes available
-Transportation- only to and from P’cola, no inner-city puic transportation
-Extracurricular Activities: Very little, if any, offered within the city limits… Have to go to another community sometimes driving long distances to enjoy what is so common place in many cities.
I believe, the city needs to understand the importance of having a school in order to be a viable city and to attract viable businesses. If one has to go somewhere else to get these “Qualities of life” then they will probably choose to go to that “somewhee else” instead of coming to Century. Mrs. Leola Robinson knows & understands the importance of a school to a city. Respectfully, her years has granted her great knowledge. Perhaps the town could benefit from “listening” to her seriously instead trying to shoot her ideas down or pick her for info And “learn” from her. Mrs. Robinson’s vision appears to be miles ahead of that of the city leaders, city council…. Kudos to you,Mrs. Robinson!
So what does our city have to ATTRACT new viable buisinesses from the outside
extracurricular activities… If you are willing to drive to another town or community
love what you said meemee, let’s give hope a chance! what with the school voucher program set to expand, surely it would be viable to have a charter or private school in century for the kiddos to attend. “Hope isn’t about wishing for things to happen; hope happens when there is a will and freedom of choice to act without prejudice.”
Byron Pulsifer
MRS. ROBINSON heart has always been for the sake of the children of century it just people with a one track mind think just because she is of age that she not aware of what going on sure if your child get sick at school you must go get the child the school will not give you time to get there you dont have acar then you have to pay at least fifteen dollars to come get your the little kids on the bus with the big kids that aproblem itself yes iam all for a school back in century however its funded let all give hope a chanc and MRS.ROBINSON group the same……..
Sounds like her heart is in the right place.
When I first watched this video, I assumed she was wanting the city to take over the old Century Carver K-8 building on Hecker Road. I knew the city could not speak on that, since it belongs to the County School District.
However, the second time I watched it, I heard her say “the Habitat Building.” That’s the old Carver High School/Middle School building on Pond Street which the city does own. Maybe there is something the city could work with there if they’d talk to her with an open mind. I am sure there are others involved who have business acumen and might be better able to answer questions Miss Leola couldn’t.
She means well and has good intentions, but like someone else said, “wanting” it and getting it done are two very different things.
When she was asked what the name of the school would be, there was a long pause and then it sounded like she said “Century All American School.” It seemed like she was making it up on the spot.
She also said that all they needed was a building and that they had everything else in place. Later, she said the first thing they needed was a building.
She wants the Mayor and the council to give her an answer as soon as possible, yet she gave them no concrete details to work with. Yet, she thinks they can open the school in August and this is January!
So this woman who can offer no concrete plan wants to open and staff an elementary school (as she said, K-6th), with “more than 20″ students. I would like to know her educational and career background. Who are the members of the CFIA?If all the need is a building, then what teachers have they promised jobs to? What curriculum will they use? Who will be the principal? This woman doesn’t have a clue as to what it takes to run a school. She is a prime example why the kids need to be transported out of Century and sent to a properly functioning school.
Sound education of ones kids is probably the most important gift a parent can hope to give their kids and the community of Century has a repeating track record of underperforming. Schools sometimes need sufficient size to be able to draw quality staff and have programs that challenge students. How will this be funded in a time of funding cuts?
During the past fifteen years the town has lost the high, middle, and elementary schools. A tremendous loss for a small town. However, insufficient parental support was shown to the middle and elementary school by the large loss of students to Byrneville Charter and the Flomaton schools. The school district used these facts to close the school. This group is talking to the wrong authority. The Escambia County School System owns the schools and land on Hecker Road, not the Century Town Council. Since Bratt is a solid A/B school there seems to be no valid reason for the District to “lend” this group a building with its large associated costs. Twenty students do not constitute a favoring body. Many of the comments regarding this new action are valid and to the point. Wanting does not produce a right. The costs of running a successful school are way over this group’s head. Getting a local church to donate space for twenty students would be more appropriate and realistic. Too many holes in this plan at best.
The government already provides schools (ie public schools).
If you are indigent (since you can’t afford a vehicle, or have no means to drive 14 miles to pick up a sick child from school—I am basing my indigent status on this)…you probably don’t have the educated means to securing funding for a FREE private school.
If you can secure funding for a FREE private school…you probably shouldn’t be getting everything FREE in life…but should be working and therefore probably wouldn’t be indigent.
she needs a building which would house twenty children.
she wants it from the Town of Century, not from the school district.
she’s not planning on charging tuition but “we might have to; we don’t know”.
if wishes were horses, beggars would ride
David thinking this looks like wishes
You have a school in Bratt that is not over capacity, provides excellent educational opportunty and is within a reasonable commuting distance from Century. Can anyone give me a good reason for a charter school other than “we want a school in the neighborhood”? Century doesnt need a school, it needs a manufacturing plant and the jobs that come with it. Put your misguided efforts in that direction.
I have no vested interest.
I am far removed from the area…and don’t intend on returning, except for visits to my family.
Take a step back and look at the situtation as a whole.
If an area as poor as Century—can’t support a public school…they sure as heck can’t support a private school.
I can’t imagine a grant would be given to provide private schooling…when a public school system IS accessible.
What are vouchers? They pay for people who are indigent (or just plain can’t afford to pay the price) to go to school. You need to think about the REAL reason you’re so against this, and examin yourself!
A private school for the indigent?
It seemed to me she did not want to give all of the information in such a public form, but I’m sure, before the school can be used, she’ll have to. Her hesitation in answering some of the questions, along with her saying “All we need is a building”, leads me to believe she already has the grant (or whatever) in place. She just seemed like she didn’t want to jinx it. I think that all she wanted that night was a statement ” If you can get everything else in place, we will be behind you”. Schools, Hospitals, City halls, etc. help when trying to draw businesses to a town. Century is a poor community, and not everyone has a car. Seventeen miles is a long way to have to catch a ride to gp pick up a sick child. The grants are out there, someone is going to use them! If they can get the school re-opened … MORE POWER TO THEM!! Good Luck!
By the way, 25 years ago, I had to get on the bus at 6:30 in the morning…and ride it until it reached Ernest Ward at 7:45. I was the first kid picked up. Every day I rode that bus with no air or heat through all the dirt roads in Bratt…nothing bad happened.
An hour on the bus each day—would be a good reading time…plenty of time to study and do homework…
Look for a way to make a bad situation good…instead of just griping.
Instead of give me, give me, give me…poor poor pitiful me…how about streaming that self pity into something useful. Riding a bus is a priviledge that the taxpayers provide the school system. Teach your children to be respectful and thankful for what they are given.
Check out the group shot!
Are these people awake?
Sounds like a gimme situation. The way to start something of this magnitude is first secure funding, next buy a parcel of land, then start all the testing of the site so it will be in compliance. Once complete I would think you would need 7 to 9 million in an escrow account to start the initial funding. WOW lots of luck folks.
these residents want their community intact. i see a lot of heart ache in these folks faces. who can blame them for wanting their kiddos and grandchildren, nephews and nieces, the children of the neighborhood to remain in the community to be schooled rather than bussed miles away every day. my kids had to ride the bus every day and spent close to an hour and more riding and believe me it is not good. if it means more in taxes to have a healthy happy cohesive community, then so be it! good luck and best wishes to ms robinson, et al, in her endeavours to bring a school back to century. fabulous idea!
I’m with Sandra on this. Sounds like more talk than any thing else. We want a school–no we don’t have the money in place–we just want.
Ms. Robinson, I commend you on your stand for the children! I live in the Walnut Hill area and do not know you but it is very obvious your heart is in the right place.
I pray that God will bless you and all those involved on your stand to protect the children. I also, would be upset if our elementary children had to travel to Century to attend school.
Uh oh….I see another drain on the taxpayers in the form of a grant to open a charter school which will duplicate services already being excellently provided by the Bratt school. If one can only receive a better education in a school located within the town limits then why do the students from century that attend Northview do so well? If I were the mayor I would look at the issues that other “charter schools” in the county have had and then run from this proposal as fast as possible.