Neighbors Making a Difference by Terri Shonder

Neighbors Making a Difference, “Building Schools” January 24, 2008

I attended a roundtable discussion, Neighbors Making a Difference. The discussion literally focused on “Building Schools” and schools’ positive effects on the neighborhood. The speakers were two neighborhood women who saw a desperate need for a new school in their low-income neighborhood. Their strategy focused on improved teachers, improved curriculum and the knowledge that school success equals community success.

Both groups of parents were professionally trained by groups such as Little Village Community Development Corporation (LVCD) and Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI). Through these organizations parents were taught to lead and mobilize other parents for their cause which allowed them to participate in discussions and the design of the building. They discussed obstacles they faced such as information not arriving home, that was solved by personally passing out literature at drop off and pick up. They requested families to attend meetings as well as for their input, this lead to more families and neighbors becoming involved. Principals at both schools were supportive and provided meeting rooms.

Trung Le, a designer of learning spaces spoke about the future competition for jobs and that school curriculum needs to change in order to compete with students overseas. The future goal should be customized learning centers that reflect the multi-tasking of 20th Century children.

Robert Guerico, Principal of Bell School in Chicago spoke with pride of the schools successful parental involvement. As Principal, Mr. Guerico encourages parents to challenge the school board, attend meetings and ask questions. Bell School has an open door policy; the parents feel welcome which fosters strong communication between the school and its parents. The school administration supported parents to form a non-profit group called “Friends of Bell”. This group writes a school newsletter (funded by business donations); helps educate students in fine arts, formed an inclusion group for special needs and technology committees, and budgeted by the school. The priority at Bell School is to serve the community and their key to success is people are “proud to be there”.

The common theme of the speakers was the schools were part of the neighborhood and the school/parent/neighborhood partnership works. The parents were so inspirational, they would not take no for an answer, they continued to knock on doors until they were heard. I related their situations to ours in Berwyn; I reminded myself that the schools were in Chicago, run by the government of Chicago. Even though Berwyn has a different school structure parents should not be afraid to question the school board and band together for the good of the students.