Dr. Comer --- Plans For Inside the "NEW" School

Received an email from an interested, engaged, solution minded Peorian (aka taxpayer):

The Dr. Comer Method:

"The program is derived from the idea that when students feel supported and nurtured in school, their outlook, life skills and academic performance will improve. Since 1968 when the model was created by Dr. James Comer, a Yale University child psychiatrist, it has been utilized in more than 1150 schools nationwide. Approximately 300 schools are currently at different phases of implementing the model."

The local PBS program has a Chicago school for an example, more info here:http://www.pbs.org/makingschoolswork/sbs/csp/il.html

"Now attendance is at 95%, and approximately half the students are performing at or above grade level in reading and math, up from 12% in reading and 19% in math. The kids feel safe, and cared for, with much improved behavior and a warm climate at the school. Even parents have felt the impact. "Note: the kids were from poverty areas of Chicago.

The Comer method used as a solution involves concepts that unfortunately have not even been followed for the new school siting issue, so would D150 be interested in trying such an approach to really change the situation at any D150 school? Let's hope that the D150 Board would be willing to try such a method.

The Comer Process puts the responsibility for the schools on their principals, administrators, teachers and parents to come together to agree on an action plan for the school, with both social and academic components.

Teachers, principals and parents make decisions collaboratively, in the best interests of the students. The Comer Process guides schools to set up a network of teams to manage the school and to deal with various facets of the social and academic needs of the school.

A part of a series: "Making Schools Work"http://www.pbs.org/makingschoolswork/index.html

A collaborative, community, inclusive decision making process.

No money you say????? Perhaps the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, education section, would be able to be utilized for a grant... http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ForGrantSeekers/

Sounds like a viable solution to some of the challenges facing D150.