s the Houston Schools get the potential cost saving of this
approval for funding new project could mean a lot to
and existing facilities, Houston Schools.
they may also stand to save land
costs and reap benefits from a While Houston Schools would gain
partnership with the Greater about $600,000 from the shared
Houston YMCA. Public discussions land arrangement, many details
between the two involve a shared are still unresolved. For Houston
facility that would house both a Schools the benefits list is
YMCA campus and a Summerwood pretty promising. They include
Middle School. The proposed site saved land costs, state of the
involves 18 acres of land owned art facilities, and ease of
by the YMCA. promoting healthy behavior with
students. Assistant
As more reports are released on Superintendent for Support
childhood obesity, more findings Services of Houston Schools Mark
link a sedentary lifestyle to Krueger has said that the
diseases like diabetes, and partnership could work since the
television watching and video two entities have similar
games seem like national schedules. So what concerns
pass-times, parents of Houston exist?
Schools would love to see the
middle school facility merged YMCA Trustees point to the
with the YMCA. Houston Schools safety, personnel and upkeep
are in a better position than responsibilities that need to be
some other large cities such as addressed before giving this
Detroit where voters refused to project a green light. Liability
fund another penny for critical issues of having Houston Schools’
issues like leaky buildings and students on the same ground will
out of date technology. Still, need to be considered. At this
point only a single entrance Reforming Houston Schools
exists for both the YMCA and the elaborates on the twelve steps
Houston Schools’ building. Also, taken in this successful
some YMCA personnel would have assessment of school reform.
offices in the school. Will the Among his lessons are that
two cultures mix? “Non-traditional superintendents
might be the best reformers” and
Partnerships with corporations, that “Business leaders play an
businesses and other non-public important role in urban reform.”
entities like the YMCA seem to be Houston Schools do have one of
the new direction of education. the better reputations among
Mega grants from companies like large cities.
Microsoft and smaller
partnerships are giving As for the YMCA and Summerwood
inner-city schools funding they Middle School, the anxious
no longer get from the public parents and students of Houston
sector. For Houston Schools the Schools will have to be patient
YMCA partnership may only be the just a little while longer. This
beginning of this approach. partnership would be the first of
its kind and needs more
Donald McAdams, in his book exploration by everyone involved.
Fighting to Save Our Urban
Schools…and Winning! Lessons from
About the Author:
Patrica Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Houston Schools
Read more articles by:
Patricia Hawke
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