The University of Georgia and the Clarke County School District Thursday announced a major agreement to improve student learning through the creation of partnership schools.  The new initiative is historic in its comprehensive approach to bringing together the university, local schools and community for education renewal. It is the first such collaboration in the state.

"We are dedicated to the well-being of our citizens, our communities and our state," said Louis Castenell, dean of UGA's College of Education. "Our children deserve the very best in education. They deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. What we hope to do is provide an umbrella - a way to collect and focus our many resources and those of other agencies in a manner that the community can best use."

The initiative also supports UGA's new 10-year strategic plan which includes a commitment to invest in the community to improve education. Spearheaded by the College of Education, the collaboration will also include involvement from UGA colleges of Family and Consumer Sciences, Arts and Sciences, and the School of Social Work.

In addition, Athens-Clarke Mayor Doc Eldridge pledged the support of the local government and the community at-large during a news conference held in the school district's offices.  "I've said many times, that at a city level, we do a lot of things that affect people's lives - pass laws, levy taxes - but nothing we do is as important as what goes on in this building and in the schools," said Eldridge.

Officials say the initial five-year partnership will lead to research-based processes and practices that can be adapted by other schools. The school district and UGA will work together to assess the specific needs of students in the district, pool resources and to research the effectiveness of innovations on student learning.  Under the plan, university researchers across campus will avail their knowledge and expertise to help determine and implement teaching practices that are proven to raise student achievement. UGA student teachers will spend more time in classrooms learning how to interact not only with students, but with parents as well.

"The Clarke County School District is excited about the possibilities to tie research and best teaching practices into real life opportunities for students. This broad spectrum approach will allow many major initiatives to operate together with a focus on improving students' learning. It's a great opportunity for our staff and students to work hand-in-hand with researchers," said Clarke School Superintendent Louis Holloway.

He also stressed the desire to include families in the partnership process as well. "We want this to be a holistic process and consider the family component, too. There's a huge need to help the parents in the school district as well as the students," he said. "The schools (that participate in the initiative) are going to be mirrors of the families we serve."

A 21-person design team has been named which includes three teachers, three principals, four district administrators, three community service agency leaders, two parents and six UGA faculty members. They will identify working committees that will involve other key stakeholders.  The design team will also investigate flexible use of resources at UGA and Clarke Schools, with the needs of students as its primary focus. Efforts will initially focus on elementary and middle schools.

Components of the design will include curriculum, assessment and technology. UGA students and faculty will work with Clarke school teachers and administrators to support such services as speech therapy, social work, music and art, guidance and counseling, and psychological services.  The design team will also explore different ways of establishing schools that serve as community learning centers. Parents, teachers and staff will be involved in the design of partnership schools. The design team will develop a timetable for study and implementation.

Although the design team is just beginning its work, some exciting ideas have already emerged in preliminary discussions. For example, the partnership school's instructional time could be extended through a variety of approaches such as those outlined in Gov. Roy Barnes' A-Plus Education Reform Act. The new law includes a provision for a 20-day extension of the existing 180-day school calendar in Georgia.

The design team will also explore possible changes in school hours to better meet the needs of students and their families. Students needing extended time to learn and families seeking extended day and year opportunities for childcare would benefit from such a design. These programs will be at no cost to student.

Members of the UGA/Clarke County School District Partnership Design Team include teachers Paul Thiel, of Cleveland Road Elementary, Alyssa Huelsman-Bell of Clarke Middle School, Tad MacMillan of Hilsman Middle School; principals Jerri-Lyn Williams of Chase Street Elementary, Bonnie Jackson, Fourth Street Elementary and Valdon Daniels, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School; administrators Norman McNair in curriculum, Ginger Davis-Beck in assessment and Ginger Jewel in technology; parents John Sienbentritt and Edward Bolen UGA faculty members Julia Atiles, College of Family and Consumer Science and College of Education, Jenny Oliver, JoBeth Allen, Janette Hill, Pam Paisley, all of the College of Education, and Trisha Reeves, of the School of Social Work; community service providers Tim Johnson of Community Connection, Barbara Archibald, Athens Tutorial and Melvin Hayes, Stonehenge Community Association.

Friday, February 2, 2001

Writer: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mchilds@coe.uga.edu
Contacts: Jenny Penney Oliver, 706/542-3942, jpo@coe.uga.edu
JoBeth Allen, 706/542-4528, jobethal@coe.uga.edu
Norma McNair, 706/546-7721 ext. 255, mcnairn@clarke.k12.ga.us