Bemiss’ ‘Title I’ Program Receives National Award

Forced to restructure programs for the many lowincome students at Bemiss Elementary, school administrators created a community education center now considered one of the best in the country.

Principal Dale McDonald and his staff turned the federal “Title I” program, designed to improve education in poor areas, into a learning hub for the Hillyard neighborhood.

“We are trying to use this building as a total place of learning,” said McDonald.

McDonald returned last week from a national literacy conference in New Orleans with a gold-stamped letter of recognition from the Department of Education. Just 56 others where awarded nationally.

It can have a place next to the letter from President Clinton and a United Way award, commendations earned since restructuring efforts started last September.

A change in the rules governing Title I funds forced Bemiss and other schools nationally to broaden the scope of their programs.

Rather than just catering to a handful of the poorest students, Title I programs now have to help all students in schools receiving the federal money.

Schools get about $814 per poor student. Eight-five percent of Bemiss students qualify.

Bemiss Title I coordinator Vicki Wold spent last year visiting and tutoring 16 Bemiss families living under the poverty line. This year, she runs a community resource room stocked with games, reading tutorials and computer software.

The Family Learning Center, open after-hours three nights a week, has trained staff on hand to give interested parents tips on reading instruction at home. Most of the materials were bought with Title I money.

The room makes parents feel at home, said Wold. “That is the big goal, to make them feel at home and to give them resources that can help their kids’ education.”

“I can see a difference in my kids,” said parent Laurie Austin, mother of 8-year-old twins Bryce and Hank and 7-year-old Carol Ann. They like Dr. Seuss and Goosebumps books, she said.

McDonald, principal at the 600-student school for 12 years, has taken pains to make parents not only welcome, but wanted.

About 20 parents have taken basic teacher training courses. They are paid a stipend, funded by the Title I program, to spend time in one-on-one reading instruction with students.

Austin, who finished training this spring, said the program gave her skills that she brings home to her three Bemiss students. “It kind of helps me at home to continue what the teacher started at school,” said Austin.

The resource room, she says, makes a big difference to parents. “I think a lot of parents hate to come in the door,” said Austin. “Now parents aren’t afraid to be there.”

The school also offers a high school diploma and English as a second language courses for adults.

“We are lucky to have a principal with a vision,” said teacher Lorna Spear.

Principals helping Habitat

Part of their job description is to drop the hammer on others. About 15 principals will be trying to avoid doing it to themselves this weekend when they help build a Habitat for Humanity home.

They will be doing assorted construction chores May 18 at a home at 2482 E. Boone. A group did the same last year - but not without some pain.

“My thumb still hurts,” said Arlington principal John Luher.

Mead hosting students

Look for a handful of Mexican students among the purple blazers at the Lilac parade.

Through an exchange program with a Guadalajara high school, 10 students will be staying with peers at Mead High School. The Mexican students will be called on to return the favor next spring by hosting Mead youths.

Mead Spanish teacher Adam Green said the Mexican students will attend classes and take field trips with their hosts. They likely will visit the Cheney Cowles museum exhibit on Mexican masks, Green said.

Eventually, elements of the exchange will be incorporated into curriculum, Green said. E-mail pen pals are likely, he said.

“It’s supposed to be bigger than just an exchange,” said Green. “We are working to use each school as an asset.”

These Guadalajara students will be staying with the following Mead students: Jorge Rodriguez with Brenda Bailey, Denise Azios with Karly Danner, Fredy Trani with Kristin Ericson, Kevin Varela with Cami Horlacher, Vanessa Cordero with Krya Jacobson, Bertha Talamantes with Karen Justus, Jorge Pineda with Karen Marek, Jessica del Toro with Kim Olvaney and Tiffany Bertenshaw, Candelarro Mayorga with Josh Riddle, Juan Guzman with Stephanie Thompson, and Basiliky Fafouti with Tanya Bos.

, DataTimes MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular source of school news and features in the North Side Voice. Please let us know about interesting people, programs or activities in north side schools and about the noteworthy achievements of north side students, teachers or school staff. Deadline is Monday. E-mail: jonathanm@spokesman.com. Write: Jonathan Martin, Education Notebook, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call: 459-5484. Fax: 459-5482.