Desired State of School

¶ … Dunn School No public school in the United States is so perfectly administered that is cannot be improved. Dunn School in Trenton, New Jersey, is certainly not close to being perfect but there are signs that the school is improving. A school improvement plan has been approved and enabled and it includes: a) effective instruction; b) promotion of a positive school climate and culture; and c) effective community and family empowerment.

The last two goals could become pivotal to the future of the school, if they are approached with solid background thought and good communication between the school leadership, the community, and families. Promoting a positive school environment & involving the community According to the ISLLC Standards #1 and #2 emphasize the need to create a "widely shared vision for learning" and to develop a "school culture and instructional program" that promotes learning while helping the staff become more professional.

Indeed, teachers need to attend refresher courses and seminars to assure that they are utilizing the very latest successful strategies to promote learning not as drudgery but as fun and exciting exploration. The ISLLC Standard #4 relates to the Dunn School's needs as visualized in this paper.

The Dunn School must be seen as a school on the upswing -- a school that is attempting to create a better image and higher quality learning environment while digging out from a legacy of poverty, truancy, violence and poor parental participation -- should be forming partnerships and collaborating with the community. Standard #4 asserts that mobilizing community resources and being responsive to diversity within the community is a good step in terms of reforming a school that has been struggling.

Leadership (not just administrators but teachers, students and parents) in the Dunn School should be meeting with community groups. There are school cultural improvement ideas that are apart from fundraising ideas; these are provided by the U.S. Department of Education (www.edu.gov): have a school assembly where students who have improved their personal lives give testimony; have a talent show with students performing and parents participating; have a "bullying awareness day"; have a community clean-up day involving the school, churches, and businesses.

Launching a series of positive fundraising activities in the community shows the town that the school is out there working hard to not just raise money but to raise the consciousness of the citizens as to the many needs the school has.

Fundraising means partnering with community groups such as the following: Rotary and Kiwanis clubs; the local council of inter-dominational clergy (they represent numerous churches and often help school projects); the chamber of commerce; the NAACP; the media; nearby university student groups that reach out to tutor students; and other community groups. Fundraising ideas include: hosting a pancake breakfast (with materials provided by Rotary) with funds going to the school.

The Rotary could partner with the school to host a "fun run" in which participants pay $20, get a T-shirt, and when the newspaper and television stations cover the event it is positive publicity for the school (and the money can be used for school improvement projects). Other ideas: sponsoring a huge garage sale on the school playground could be very successful when parents and teachers come up with items that are.