How can the Norcross community improve local schools?
Vote for Keith ShewbertNorcross City Council
November 7th, 2006
“Thoughtful Progress Together”
v Smart Spending
v Secure Neighborhoods
v Community Involvement
How can the Norcross community improve local schools?
Over the last year the PDC has made one of its four primary objectives supporting Summerour Middle School. We believe that there is no single improvement that can have a greater impact on quality of life in Norcross then upgrading out schools After meeting with Dr. Dana Pugh, the Summerour principle, and touring the facility with the council and Mayor we have come to believe that the community can have a significant impact on the schools performance.
Meetings with teachers, administrators, and school board member Mary Kay Murphy have resulted in a clearer understanding of how the Norcross government and community can aid the school. First the community must get out the word that our local schools are offering quality programs, that the vast majority of students are succeeding, and that the challenges of educating in a diverse environment are being addressed. Of over twenty categories Summerour is tested on it exceeded state requirements in all but two (mathematics for limited English proficiency and learning disabled students). Dr Pugh and our friend Carol Polak are helping to address the mathematics issue by creating an after school mentoring program. It will be up and running in October and I invite you to join me in volunteering for this important program. One hour a week can change a kid and maybe change you. Many other programs can use our communities support. Summerour has an award winning band program and debate team. These and many other programs need your support. By embracing our schools the community not only maximizes our impact at the grass roots, we also send a message to county and state representatives that we expect results.
A major factor in our schools test performance is student mobility. The county is just beginning to capture statistics and measure the impact of student mobility (attending several schools in the same year). When our teachers have the opportunuity to teach a student for several consecutive years their results are outstanding. Students who come and go demand more resources and tend to have lower test scores. High percentages of rental property are a direct cause of student mobility The census tract that surrounds Summerour has less then 35% home ownership. The national average of home ownership is 66%. I am working with the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance, Impact Resources, and the Latin American Association to change the residential dynamic in the area east of Buford highway. The city can have a huge impact by joining us in this enterprise.
Since our tour the Norcross Women’s and Garden Clubs have taken initiatives to improve the school and its appearance. Please follow their example by helping in any way you can. Let’s start a conversation in this community on how to bring about positive changes in local education. No one person has all the answers, but by engaging the issue we create the environment for success.
Let me know what you think. What is your vision for Norcross? What things need to be addressed by the city council? How can all of the citizens of Norcross work together to achieve our shared goals?
Please feel free to contact me by email at keithshewbert@gmail.com or by phone at (678) 429-6039.
Regards,
Keith Shewbert
posted by Norcross2020 @ 9:29 PM
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