Hundreds of black children get good news as more white students find their way to Sanderlin and Jamerson elementaries.
By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published June 1, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - Scores of African-American children sitting on wait lists for seats at two new elementary schools in predominantly black neighborhoods now have a better shot at getting in.
School officials are telephoning black children who chose Sanderlin and Jamerson elementary schools but were originally told they couldn't go. Those students sought spots in the brand-new schools under the district's "controlled choice" plan that takes effect in August. But they were assigned to other schools to balance federally mandated racial ratios.
The two schools attracted a large number of black children because parents wanted their children to attend schools close to home. Sanderlin, at 2350 22nd Ave. S, and Jamerson, at 1200 37th Ave. S, were built as part of a court settlement to end busing for desegregation.
In February, a computer matched students and schools. Because rules cap African-American enrollment at Pinellas schools at 42 percent through 2007, many children were turned away until the district was able to bring more white children to the schools.
Two things have happened in recent weeks. The schools have attracted white students, and the district has ordered others to go there.
Sanderlin will be the first school in the district and one of a handful nationwide to offer a Primary Years International Baccalaureate program. The liberal arts curriculum is administered by the same organization that oversees high school International Baccalaureate programs, but it is a good fit for all children regardless of their skills or talents, principal Denise Miller said. Students are not required to take the strenuous IB exams required at the secondary level, but they become prepared for intense programs at levels past elementary school.
At Jamerson, classroom instruction will be balanced with laboratory activities so students can actively participate in learning. A mathematics curriculum developed by the National Science Foundation will encourage students to develop skills they can apply to engineering design and construction, said principal Robert Poth. All teachers will either be nationally board certified or working toward certification.
As of Thursday, the district had placed 223 additional nonblack children at Sanderlin and 240 additional nonblack children at Jamerson. The district has drawn in part from a pool of nearly 7,000 children who did not apply to any school.
With racial ratios back in balance, more black children will be invited to fill available seats at the schools.
"Part of it depends on the grade level," said choice plan director Jim Madden, who explained that kindergarten and third grade at both schools are full. "At Sanderlin, there are six openings at second grade. We will go to the wait list and invite the next six students who are black. We'll do the same thing when we look at first grade."
Among the 463 nonblack children who have been placed at the schools since April, some chose the schools as a result of direct communication with the principals. District officials have no way of knowing how many children are in this category, but say they received a number of requests for placement at the schools, some from parents who had already been placed at other schools.
"Probably within the last month, there have been no less than 20 requests for Sanderlin and probably close to 15 for Jamerson," Madden said.
Miller, the Sanderlin principal, thinks parents have been searching for an academic program like the one at her school, but it took a while for them to find out about it. Once a few heard the news, they shared it with others. Think of it as soccer mom syndrome.
"They talk at ballet practice, they talk at soccer or basketball or karate practice or at picnics in the park," she said. "That's why I think my numbers have risen."
Laree Butler learned of the school from a parent at Bay Vista Fundamental, the well-regarded public school where her two children just finished kindergarten and second grade. She decided to visit the school based on the parent's recommendation.
"After I toured Sanderlin, I thought, "This is something that is going to help my son learn best,' " Butler said. She was so pleased with Sanderlin that she decided to give up her much-coveted spot at the fundamental school.
Karen Richardson, whose twin girls attended first grade at St. John's School in St. Pete Beach this past year, made a similar discovery when she visited Sanderlin. Richardson had decided last fall to enter the controlled choice lottery but received none of her choices. Instead, she was placed at Sanderlin.
"When I got the notice we were going to be assigned there, I didn't like it. I was reluctant to go to Sanderlin because of where it's at," she said. "But when I went there and met the principal, I fell in love with the school. Meeting her made me feel so comfortable and so good about the coming year."
Poth, the Jamerson principal, has heard similar comments from parents who have found their way to his school. He is convinced that many of the children are coming voluntarily, rather than through the district's student assignment process.
"For the past month, there hasn't been a day that's gone by that I haven't given one or two tours," he said. "The families went back to wherever they were from, either private or public schools, and told people, "I just went on a tour. I think I'm going to make it home.' Their neighbors and their friends came the next day."
Both Miller and Poth acknowledge that their schools will ultimately be more successful if they are filled with children who want to be there. But they also believe that regardless of how children are introduced to their schools, they will flourish.
"We're a school for every child," Poth said. "We're going to take each one from where they are and move them forward."
To learn more
For more information about Sanderlin Elementary, contact principal Denise Miller at 552-1700. For information about Jamerson Elementary, call principal Robert Poth at 552-1703. Or visit the Family Education and Information Center at 3420 Eighth Ave. S or call 552-1595.
