Supporters of Stanton refining counter-proposal
by Will Treece on Feb 02 2012 Posted in Latest news
At last month's momentous School Reform Commission meeting, Supporters of Stanton (SOS) presented a proposal to keep the tiny neighborhood school open.
The District has cited low enrollment, crumbling infrastructure, and the ability of nearby schools to absorb Stanton’s students as compelling reasons for the school’s closure.
SOS hopes to change Stanton’s fate with their new counter-proposal.
“The crux of our proposal is to increase enrollment in a targeted way,” said parent and SOS member James Wright.
SOS calls for aggressively marketing Stanton as a viable alternative to lower-performing schools. Additionally, SOS hopes to expand Stanton's catchment area, arguing that current boundaries prevent the school from operating at capacity.
The proposal also describes Stanton as a “model school” that should be “replicated, not closed.” Stanton has made adequate yearly progress for the last eight years, and a long list of Stanton’s community partnerships for cultural arts programs accompanies the proposal.
SOS has been a constant presence at SRC and South region facilities meetings since the list of recommended closings was released in November. The group is distinctively clad in yellow shirts, and at one entertained the commissioners with a student Shakespeare performance.
The District has taken notice. After Stanton advocates presented their proposal in January, Commissioner Dworetzky praised SOS for offering a proactive solution to the problem rather than simply criticizing the District.
“They have been the absolute most active group of stakeholders,” said Deputy for Strategic Initiatives Danielle Floyd.
“This is exactly the reason we have community outreach, and this is why we're still in the proposal-and-recommendation stage,” said Floyd. The District will make final decisions on which schools will close sometime this spring.
After presenting their proposal to the SRC in January, SOS continue to work on a final version. We will share it on this site when it becomes available. The counter-proposal is now online.
A version of this story will also appear in the Notebook's February edition.
Comments (22)
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 18:41.
Good for you Stanton SOS members. Thank you Notebook for tracking this.
Submitted by William T. (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 18:42.
It's a farce--Gamble want it--it's over !!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 19:07.
SOS is inspiring!! It would be encouraging to all of us if a school that does right by it's students, and a community that supports it's school... is rewarded for it's efforts and is allowed to stay open. If not, we should all pack it in and call it a day.
Submitted by William T. (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 20:05.
Pack those bags, if Gamble wants it.....................
Submitted by Timothy Boyle on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 19:42.
What is hard to understand is way the SDP didn't start at a place of how to save successful schools. The partnership model that has worked so well for SLA, Constitution, and Penn Alexander would clearly work with E.M Stanton and its art focus. They already have partnerships with U. Arts and Moore. If getting kids into the school is the problem, using an open-enrollment policy like Fitler or maximizing the District's voluntary transfer policy would go along way to increasing capacity. Clearly the Stanton community is adept at responding to crisis. While the District is to be truely commended for seriously listening, we can't always plan from a posistion of crisis.
Submitted by William T. (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 20:08.
What?? When will you ever get over yourself and see the facts for what they are. They don't care about the kids. It's about money first, last and only and your good body, Obama is doing nothing to end this abuse of the people who saw him as a savior.
Submitted by William T. (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 20:10.
Sorry, I meant Buddy, of course.
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 09:17.
You've touched on a key issue, and that is "ownership". That is the real problem with the SDP. The compact (which is ludicrous) only shows in a glaring light that the decision makers don't have real ownership, that is, a true stake in the kids. The only stake they have is in political staging; playing with mores is the world they live in it seems.
Submitted by John Kennedy (not verified) on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 11:22.
Mores, smores---it's all about money. If mores were involved, Stanton would remain open. Gamble and his slithering friends have called the shot in that area for 10 years. His Muslim connections, at the expense of everybody else, makes him even more ridiculous. In any case, ask anybody in Point Breeze about Gamble and be ready to cry. This power grab is what happens when the masses remain quiet and run to church to pray on it. Action is what's needed--big time.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:40.
Do you have something against Muslims? This is not a Muslim issue. There are plenty of investors who are trying to stay under the radar in the area including Point Breeze. They are trying to buy up everything not nailed down. They are only concerned with lining their pockets and do not care about the current people who reside in the area. Do you consider that as being slithereing? The the people and residence in Point Breeze are are not ready to cry about Mr. Gamble. They are concerned with these new investors who want to develop and kick them out from where they are currently living. For the record, they are speaking out and not in the Church houses quietly praying. They need a proper forum to address their concerns. You are right. Action does need to take place regarding all who are praying on the disadvantage and less resourceful.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:00.
I agree with you--it is disgusting no matter who is doing it. I know Gamble and he is a crud but no worse than others doing the same, I agree.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:53.
Do you have something against Muslims? This is not a Muslim issue. There are plenty of investors who are trying to stay under the radar in the area including Point Breeze. They are trying to buy up everything not nailed down. They are only concerned with lining their pockets and do not care about the current people who reside in the area. Do you consider that as being slithereing? The the people and residence in Point Breeze are are not ready to cry about Mr. Gamble. They are concerned with these new investors who want to develop and kick them out from where they are currently living. For the record, they are speaking out and not in the Church houses quietly praying. They need a proper forum to address their concerns. You are right. Action does need to take place regarding all who are preying on the disadvantage and less resourceful.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:55.
Do you have something against Muslims? This is not a Muslim issue. There are plenty of investors who are trying to stay under the radar in the area including Point Breeze. They are trying to buy up everything not nailed down. They are only concerned with lining their pockets and do not care about the current people who reside in the area. Do you consider that as being slithereing? The the people and residence in Point Breeze are are not ready to cry about Mr. Gamble. They are concerned with these new investors who want to develop and kick them out from where they are currently living. For the record, they are speaking out and not in the Church houses quietly praying. They need a proper forum to address their concerns. You are right. Action does need to take place regarding all who are preying on the disadvantage and less resourceful.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 22:54.
It's sad Stanton's going, sure, but I'd much rather get rid of costly infrastructure so that there's more money to fund all other schools. Hopefully much of the success that happened at Stanton can be replicated at nearby, larger, schools that don't need as much work on their buildings.
Submitted by SOS 60 on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 23:57.
Hey, Anonymous. How many of you are there?
Action defies the belief that something is a 'done deal." Nothing is a done deal until you think it is.
If you think something is a done deal you are giving power to the other.
Maybe we can meet some day after the deal is done.
We feel like going on......
Submitted by Eileen Duffey (not verified) on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 09:37.
SOS 60:
We nurses loved seeing Stanton community at the last SRC meeting. We applaud your insistence that action defies belief that something is a "done deal". We too, will continue to rally in support of our students right to a certified school nurse as well as in support of our REAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
Won't you please send some of your positive energy our way- by having your members join us at 440 on Wednesday at 4pm?
We are broadening our coalition and we need all our parents, especially the likes of what we see in Stanton parents.
SAVE THE REAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PHILLY!!!!
And Will, I sooo agree with much of what you say, but..... we need to talk. I'll be at Johnny Brenda's next Wednesday after the nurse rally.
Hope to see you there. (You could also join us at the rally... Come on Will... We are really a delightful group of ticked off folks. I am sure you would fit in nicely! :-)
Solidarity,
EDB
Submitted by SOS 60 on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 00:02.
What work is needed on the Stanton building, Anonymous. Have you been there? Do your work there? Or are you simply believing the FMP documents?
Submitted by SOS 60 on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 00:10.
Will, what qualifies as "tiny?"
Submitted by SOS PJ on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 01:45.
Hey Anonymous, it is tragic that you think the recommendation for E.M. Stanton makes sense for the long term health of the district. E.M. Stanton is the kind of school the parents in West Philly are working hard to make at Lea. It is the kind of school that the Compact talks about shifting students into. E.M. Stanton turned around before the term become popular. E.M. Stanton is a real alternative for parents that don't get into Meredith or McCall. Costly infrastructure? Please visit our school. You will find that while old the infrastructure is fine. Our building needs are no worse than other schools. Our building does not need "much work", that is fact. By the way, there is no larger nearby school that can fully accommodate our students. Aurthur actually has a lower capacity. Meredith, McCall, and Childs are close to full, When we stay open, we will teach others how to create a privately funded and sustainable cultural arts program. Thanks Will.
Submitted by Ms.Cheng (not verified) on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 09:25.
I am so glad to hear that the Arts are given the credit they deserve here. There is no reason this can't grow and spill over into the neighborhood community; yes you must foster this. The Arts are healing and provide essential connectors in learning, for all ages.
The fmp does mention that the building has potential for reuse as a pre-K, which means it must be in good condition. I believe the enrollment is what needs to be tackled.
Submitted by SOS 60 on Sat, 02/04/2012 - 08:35.
Eileen,
I concur, action always makes a difference. Always. When anyone gives an off-handed, knee-jerk, arm-chair comment that something is a "done deal," it reveals just that. Keep on keeping on. Just a few people committed, dedicated, persistent, speaking up, acting up with strength and dignity can change a course. It has happened countless times throughout history. You are in that stream. Thank you for the leadership you are giving.
Submitted by Elizabeth (not verified) on Sun, 02/12/2012 - 14:52.
So sorry to hear about what happened to your wife. I'm sure she is an excellent, caring teacher. I work at an "exemplary" elementary (K-5) in Texas which is also Title I. All of our classrooms have reading centers like you described. Many of our children don't have books at home or a way to get to the public library since their parents don't have transportation. The only books they have are the ones we provide at school.
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