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A school's corporate buddy
By KELLY RYAN GILMER, Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG -- Branimir Damjanovic loves the four new computers in his third-grade classroom at Mount Vernon Elementary School. He also knows whom to thank for them. "Without Raymond James, we couldn't have all this," the 9-year-old said, sweeping his arm to include computers and a new software program that teaches reading, math and typing. "They gave us colored pencils the other day."
Mount Vernon has Raymond James Financial. The St. Petersburg brokerage firm has pledged $100,000 over three years -- cash that's bought 12 computers, classroom supplies, T-shirts, after-school programs, help from a university professor and stipends for teachers who attend extra training. But Raymond James has pledged more than money. Thirty-seven Raymond James employees volunteer weekly as mentors and tutors. A senior vice president attends staff meetings and serves food at family nights. A customer service representative designed a series of coloring books about characters named Ray and Jim, who sell lemonade or deliver papers to earn money. A team of Raymond James workers performed a rap song -- or what they call a rap -- at the talent show. "It's not just an involvement on paper," said principal Valerie White. "To actually live it is a real plus." Mount Vernon is a small neighborhood school that looks like a castle that's part tan, part pink. The original building was finished in 1926. Except for new paint, not much has been done to it since. Mount Vernon has about 480 students who come from families that tend to move a lot, which poses challenges for teachers. For years, few parents attended monthly family information meetings. For the first three years the state gave out grades based on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Mount Vernon got a D. Yet, even with school choice coming, the district didn't tag Mount Vernon as a school that needed special help to attract students. Mount Vernon's staff members tout its stable group of teachers, its intimate atmosphere, its heart. But teachers feared that wouldn't be enough to entice families away from brand-new schools and fancy theme programs. "Two years ago, we would have been really nervous," said Deena Rustemeyer, a dropout prevention teacher. "We're just a little neighborhood school." Even so, White and her staff were skeptical when they met Elliott Stern last year. White's school had been invited to participate in a statewide program that pairs low-performing schools with private businesses willing to donate their time and $100,000. The partnership included matching funds from the state. Mount Vernon had gotten pumped and come up with a wish list, only to have the partner pull out of the program. When Raymond James decided to step in, White was worried she and her staff would be disappointed again. But Stern, senior vice president of office services for Raymond James, surprised her. He's on campus weekly, and he's already talking about maintaining the partnership beyond the required three years. "The partners have to get their fingers dirty," said Stern, known around campus for his cowboy boots and generosity. "I guess they consider me like staff now." Only two schools in the Tampa Bay area have such partnerships: Mount Vernon and Bing Elementary School in Tampa. They're nothing like typical pairings where, as a goodwill gesture, the business offers free stuff, like pizza, coupons for bowling or guest speakers. After just one year, Mount Vernon has improved to a C. Monthly family meetings are now packed, with up to 150 people, because Raymond James provides dinner from Outback Steakhouse, Hooters and its own cafeteria. School Advisory Council president Maggie Gillan doesn't have to beg for volunteers anymore: "People are more willing to be involved when you see how hard the school's working." "Our morale is higher," said Sherrie Lee, a third-grade teacher who said her students fight for the chance to spend time with Raymond James mentors. "We know we're not alone." Stern says Raymond James "didn't go into it to get anything out of it." But personally, he hopes that other companies will be inspired to invest their energies in public schools. Pinellas County alone has more than 120 public schools, and most companies lack the vast resources of Raymond James. But more business involvement in schools is a reasonable goal, says a chamber of commerce official. Sometimes, the biggest challenge for a business is figuring out how to get involved, so schools need to take the initiative and ask for help. "There's almost a flip side of Sept. 11 and the economic downturn, an increase in giving," said Sandi Jones, director of member and media relations at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. "A lot of times we just don't know where to go or what to do." Stern visits White about once a week. Together, with input from the faculty, they wrote a business plan with short- and long-term goals. They studied their budget -- with $8,000 less than they expected from the state this year because of the economic downturn -- and set priorities. Some are academic. Others are luxurious. After-school tutoring programs were started to help students struggling in reading and math. An eight-week training program offers teachers new strategies for teaching reading. With a science FCAT on the way, a science club will be created to make the subject fun. A MIND club -- for Math Is Not Difficult -- rewards students who master basic skills with a T-shirt. A University of South Florida professor visits classrooms, teaches lessons and provides materials to help boost math scores. One of the improvements that excites the staff the most is the technology. Raymond James saw that the wiring was improved to support additional computers and software. The company bought 12 computers and paid for half of the $60,000 software package. Technology specialist Charla Pinnow had coveted the software for four years. "It was just unattainable because of the cost," she said. Then there's the gravy. Raymond James designed a new school logo, a shiny color brochure, bumper stickers and professional stationery. Every member of the staff -- from custodians to cafeteria workers to classroom teachers -- got business cards. "I've never had a business card," said Rhonda Burkholder, the learning specialist. An annual school supplies fair provided students with lunch boxes, notebooks, crayons and pencils. Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica gave a motivational speech. Every summer, the staff returns two days early for training. Usually, it's in an air-conditioned portable classroom, and teachers bring covered dishes for lunch. This year, it was held at Banquet Masters, where lunch was served "on real china, not paper plates. It was real professional," Rustemeyer said. Later this month, a dinner for the staff will be held at the Museum of Fine Arts to celebrate higher test scores. A harpist will perform before the meal. And then there are the attendance incentives, based on the idea that the school can't run and the kids can't learn if they aren't there. Last year, about 20 employees won $100 each for a semester's worth of perfect attendance. A similar reward program will run this year, with an end-of-the-year drawing for $1,000. Students will win, too -- either Toys "R" Us gift certificates or bicycles at the end of the year. But the rewards of the partnership with Raymond James come more often than monthly or yearly. For first-grader Michael Symes, they come once a week when Ann Murray arrives. Together, the mentor and student have made sock puppets and chocolate-dipped pretzels. They've played bingo and swung on the swings. Murray, 46, is teaching Michael, 6, how to hold a guitar. When she broke her foot, he decorated her cast with glittery penguin stickers. "I wouldn't trade this for anything, to see a child grow and learn," Murray said. "It's just as good for Raymond James as it is for Mount Vernon." Mount Vernon Elementary School
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