On Monday, I told you about Linda, a courageous single mother who's struggling financially to send her kids to private schools. She does this because Allentown's public schools are themselves a failure. What I liked about that post were the informative comments that came from several former teachers, including Dottie, Aphrodite's daughter and a gentleman (?) who simply refers to himself as retired ASD teacher.They care.
Lehigh County Commissioner candidate Dean Browning has an idea that might give Allentown schools a much needed boost. Yesterday, he submitted a proposal to the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners today asking them to adopt an innovative plan that would provide an incentive for Lehigh County students to boost their classroom achievement. Browning calls his program the “Lehigh County Straight-A All-Stars.”
“A major plank in my campaign platform is to refocus government’s spending priorities on things that matter most to the residents of Lehigh County. In my conversation with voters, it is clear that they place a very high priority on the education of our county’s children,” said Browning. “My program would reward deserving 7th and 8th graders in Lehigh County who earn straight A’s for the last semester of the school year by giving them two box seat tickets to selected Iron Pigs baseball games starting in 2008.”
Browning estimates the program would cost the County approximately $16,800 per year, and proposes paying for it through eliminating Commissioners' pay increase ($6,000 savings) and transferring $10,800 from the “Other Special Services” line item which serves as a seldom used catchall fund in the Commissioners' portion of Lehigh County’s budget.
“I have been steadfast in my opposition to the Commissioners' decision to increase taxes on local businesses and to use the County’s borrowing capacity to build a $51 million stadium for wealthy team owners. However, the simple fact is that the project was approved and the stadium will soon be completed so we should make the best of it,” said Browning. “I think my Straight-A All-Stars program is a perfect opportunity for the County Commissioners to make lemonade from the lemons they created.”
Browning said he will also seek to partner with Coca-Cola Bottling Company of the Lehigh Valley where he previously worked as Financial Manager and with Gracie Baseball to incorporate free soft drinks and concessions for the young scholars to enjoy while at the game.
“Encouraging scholastic achievement, helping to draw fans to the Iron Pigs, and spending the County’s money more effectively all in one fell swoop,” said Browning. “It’s a triple play for the people of Lehigh County.”
Next week, I'll tell you about a lengthy and tough interview I had with Browning last week. I disagree with some of his positions. I also have a major problem with one of his PAC contributors. I'll spell that out in detail, with my objection and his response.
Notwithstanding our differences, he is a welcome breath of fresh air in Lehigh County. I wish he could run in both counties.
16 comments:
Does that mean BASD students who achieve straight A's will receive a comped weekend at a casino?
Pretty good, AJ. I wonder what Easton kids get.
Beat up.
This is laughable.
These incentives are useless without books or decent sized classrooms.
These tickets will simply go to kids , mostly in the burbs, who will get straight A's either way.
I think their parents should reward them.
Students that are capable of getting straight A's probably don't need an extra incentive like this to do so. I think this idea would be better if it somehow rewarded students that are performing below grade level that show a substantial improvement.
Anon 8:47:
Why is it laughable? It is just one part of Browning's plan to improve the school district. Why not give an incentive based program a shot as part of a comprehensive overhaul to the ASD? And it is not as if the funding must come from increased tax revenue, rather it is an appropriate reallocation of funds.
Also, the kids earning straight a's need incentive too. All too often young bright minds with so much potential fall off track because they aren't receiving positive feedback and reinforcement.
The story states that these funds would be used for students throughout the county.
It has suddenly become politically convenient to use "helping Allentown" and "poor Allentown kids" as the motivation behind any local initiative regardless if it helps them or not.
This is nothing more than this guy trying to deliver dollars to folks that probably don't need them.
I disagree. Our children are our greatest asset and we should do everything we can to encourage them. I believe that Browning's plan will encourage Allentown's high schools as much as Parkland or Salisbury. A-town actually has two high schools, and they have straight A students, too.
I would not call it "laughable." I would call it positive reinforcement for our kids. They need books and decent sized classrooms, too, but they also need a few pats on the back.
As recently as 5 years ago, Washington D.C had the highest cost per student in the area which included the rich Maryland and Virginia suburbs. It also had the worst test scores. About 15 years ago the valedictorian of one of the D.C. schools had something like an 800 on his SATS and couldn’t get into any decent college. The D.C. schools suffer from many of the same problems as the ASD – old or inadequate materials and deteriorating buildings in spite of the money spent. There was one year where the facilities were so bad that a judge delayed opening the schools until the fire department had inspected the buildings and determined that they were up to code after the summer was spent trying to get the buildings up to code.
At some point money is not the answer, but I doubt if any of the inner city schools have reached that level.
I think Browning's idea is great and gives incentive to middle school kids (7th and 8th grade) who are hard to motivate. Every little bit helps to improve the overall big picture. And baseball is such a great sport.
Wouldn't it be good press for the IronPigs to donate some seats for this purpose, rather than charge regular prices?
anon 11:52 u right. This private business, a beneficiary of millions of public dollars, should do the right thing and donate seats. It is our money, after all, paying for them.
And why just 7th and 8th graders? It is a slippery slope...but browning gets credit for trying. More than what can be said about the educational administrators.
I knew if I performed poorly at school my dad would likely kick my ass. Of course, that was in the old days when kids were being raised in households with dads. I didn't need free baseball tix to incentivize academics, but I guess society should support whatever we can do to paper over the problems caused by our skyrocketing illegitimacy rate. It's not the kids' fault that mom and dad (wherever he is) are a mess.
I commend Dean Browning! There's nothing better than recognizing people for their achievements, especially younger folks!
Every year, Bethlehem Housing Authority residents receive gift MusikFest tickets to all HS grads, essay merit awards for 2 college scholarships, 3 modest cash gifts for most beautiful yard contest, volunteer of the year person award,
roses for seniors reaching a certain age and $50.00 per person recreation fee for any non-profit sports entity working with young residents, Money well spent is my opinion.
BHA also partners with MusikFest and Art teachers doing wall murals with residents on various BHA properties.
Lastly, Mr. Browning should include in his proposal, the entire BASD since west Bethlehem is covered by Lehigh County and the rest of the District would be out of luck...I say: not fair to those students. larry@kisslinger.com
Bernie,
Retired ASD teacher here . .. first of all, I'm a male who did more than 30 years in the Allentown School District. I feel good about my service to Allentown kids, but I feel even better to be out of that mismanaged district. The current superintendent is/has been out of touch with urban education since she arrived.
What Mr. Browning is proposing is a step in the right direction. Let's wish that concept great success.
My purpose in writing is to express my concern over your use of the description "Allentown Public schools are a failure." I'm just not sure what needs to happen to claim Allentown schools are a success.
I believe the Allentown teachers HAVE been sucessful developing young people, and in the face of horrid conditions. I believe Allentown teachers ARE taking kids in September and moving them to a higher level by June.
Problem is, that higher level is being evaluated against the Parklands, Central Catholics, etc., whose 'players' come to practice with far more experience and considerably less distractions.
It's simply not a level playing field.
Mr. Browning's idea identifies him as someone who recognizes the challenges Allentown faces. I commend him for that.
Anon 1:20:
Obviously absentee/deadbeat parents are often the very root of the problem, but you cannot make someone a good parent. You cannot make them parent for that matter. It is rare that you would find me rallying around any sort of governmental program, but when it involves children I will tend to raise my concerns. If parents refuse to take part in their children’s lives someone has to step in and act as a de facto parental figure. Maybe Mom and Dad don’t care about your report card, but someone else does and they are willing to reward your performance with something tangible.
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