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September 18, 2007
Dear Friends,
Today in a press conference I declared my intention, as Mayor, to create an active, constructive partnership between the Mayor’s Office and FWCS, focusing on the areas of academic achievement, student discipline, and student test scores—and the vital relationship between schools and their neighborhoods. The Mayor’s Office must take a hands-on approach to public education and the difficulties faced by the city’s urban schools. As I walk the neighborhoods, people tell me they are tired of those who pretend the challenges of our schools are “somebody else’s problem.” As mayor I will lead the way in reaching out to assist FWCS.
I believe the City and the schools either sink or swim together. In order for us to create the prosperous, safe community we desire, we must have a public school system that performs at the highest levels. Conversely, as Superintendent Robinson has reminded us, FWCS faces unique challenges in serving the highest numbers of low income, single parent, and non-English speaking children in the area. While we rightly demand high achievement from our schools, we must be willing and prepared to help them overcome the obstacles they face. Dr. Robinson cannot change the character of the neighborhoods or increase the safety of the streets. As Mayor, I can and I will.
I propose four specific initiatives that will improve academic performance, enhance student conduct, elevate student test scores, and begin the process of strengthening neighborhoods. They are as follows:
First, when I’m elected Mayor of Fort Wayne, I will vigorously promote established volunteer mentoring and tutoring programs operated in cooperation with FWCS. Project READS, Study Connection, and Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Lunch Buddy program are successful and require no additional public funding—only greater public participation. I pledge to use the Mayor’s office to encourage these and other programs. The Kelty administration’s City website will promote our public schools and provide information about the many volunteer opportunities available to help the schools succeed.
Here’s the key, friends: At almost no cost, these programs achieve startling results. With a budget fast approaching $300M, we must maximize the opportunities presented by proven, no-cost programs such as the work of the Rotarians at Washington Elementary. After four years of volunteer mentoring and tutoring, Washington rose from having one of the lowest Math pass rates in the system to having a 95% pass rate today. Imagine the impact if we were to duplicate these results in every school in the system!
Second, I plan to work with the School Corporation to identify infrastructure needs and public safety issues in the neighborhoods immediately surrounding each school. These efforts will most likely include consultation with school principals and area administrators. It will always be difficult to prioritize street repair, curb replacement, code-enforcement, and similar city services within our neighborhoods; but it is absolutely appropriate for the next Mayor to focus on improving the safety and stability of the neighborhoods surrounding our schools. The schools are important social and economic anchors in our community, and supporting them is a great way to begin improving our struggling neighborhoods.
Third, as I announced last week, I intend to change the City’s approach to Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, which tie up the increased property tax revenues generated by the district for as long as the district remains in place. Keeping these districts open long after their purpose has been accomplished—and constantly amending them to fund chosen projects—has deprived the School Corporation of millions of dollars of property tax revenues. I’m going to change that. It will take a while to turn the ship around, but help will be on the way.
Fourth, I will create the office of an Education Advocate, a volunteer position designed to 1) promote and coordinate volunteer assistance within the schools; 2) regularly ask school officials the question, “What can the City do to help?” and coordinate the city’s response; and 3) act as a direct liaison between the Office of the Mayor and the FWCS Board. The Education Advocate will work from an office on the ninth floor of the City/County Building and will meet with me on a regular basis. I expect to collaborate with the Education Advocate several times a month; and my hope is that he or she will meet with schools officials even more frequently.
While I am determined to be an advocate for and partner with the schools, I will not insist that the schools embrace my particular ideas. These are my proposals, but I am not the education expert. My ideas are offered as a starting point. I would like the School Board to consider these action steps, discuss how the City can help the schools succeed, and send me some ideas of their own. The important thing is that we start working together to lead Fort Wayne’s schools in a new direction. Our children’s future depends on it.
Sincerely,
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