This is one of five chapters that address safety and law enforcement, community schools, circulation, transit, and parking of the Neighborhoods. Being a neighborhood of choice requires that streets and parking areas are safe and access is adequate to public transit and other key services such as quality community schools.
Community Schools |
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Due to the proximity of the Neighborhoods to the university, the schools in the area can become some of the best in the City, sharing the resources of the university faculty and programs. The basic premise of Chapter 11.0 is to enhance and increase the opportunities for the schools to become "teaching schools." An important linkage through to technology to electronic information at The Ohio State University should not be overlooked as a cornerstone for improved education.
11.0 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
A. Objectives
Public education is a cornerstone in building an exemplary community committed to educational excellence. University faculty teaching and inquiry are critical resources for strengthening public school excellence in the University District. Schools that serve the children and families in the University District can become the best schools in the City through their proximity and programmatic linkage to the resources of The Ohio State University. They can serve as models for other schools throughout the area and nation. Schools play an expanded role in providing a forum of excellence for life-long learning and support for families as well as education for children. The schools serving the University District are strengthened by linkages with each other, community agencies and the university both programmatically and electronically. Again, the partnership between the community, its schools, and the university will establish a benchmark for creating an environment of educational excellence in urban areas.
The following objectives address the public schools in the University District:
Objective 1: Improve the quality of K-12 education in the University District to increase desirability for families to live in the area.
Objective 2: Increase professional development opportunities in University District schools for professionals, university faculty, and students.
Objective 3: Increase use of technology in university area schools.
Objective 4: Strengthen community learning opportunities for families in the University District.
B. Policies and Recommendations
Policy 11.1: The number of "teaching schools" in the University District should be increased so that preparation of school professionals can occur in a teaching school context in which teachers, administrators, and other school-based professionals, faculty, and students explore and learn together. School professionals can be engaged directly in the university’s programs to prepare their counterparts for the future.
Recommendation 11.1.1: Establish additional professional development schools, including faculty and student placements in University District schools.
Recommendation 11.1.2: Develop and provide additional seminars for teachers and other school professionals to improve skills in curriculum development and instructional strategies in urban schools.
Policy 11.2:
Recommendation 11.2.1: Develop a Partnership for Technology in Education to link the 12 university area schools, Columbus Public Schools at its North Education Center, and The Ohio State University through its College of Education.
Policy 11.3: Increased learning opportunities should be available for all area residents.
Recommendation 11.3.1: Establish a Center for Community Learning in at least one university area school.
Policy 11.4: Support for families should be enhanced throughout the University District.
Recommendation 11.4.1: Establish a Family Focus Center in at least one university area school.
C. Setting and Current Issues
Strong public schools are essential to achieving the housing stabilization and home ownership goals of the Plan. Likewise, best practices in professional education preparation programs include strong teaching schools as the context in which to prepare future education professionals. Teaching schools also bring additional resources to the communities in which they are located and provide outstanding educational opportunities for public school pupils. Combining the strengths of school staff with those of university faculty and students from a number of disciplines to forge a strong alliance for preparing professionals may be the most effective means of assisting the schools in reaching their full potential.
The schools in the university area must prepare students to participate fully in the opportunities of the next decades. Many opportunities will depend on access to and knowledge of computerized information, learning, and communication. The Ohio State University is a major center for generating, storing, and disseminating electronic information related to education and a host of other disciplines. Linking area schools electronically to the university, building technology into the curriculum of the schools, and preparing teachers to use technology throughout their teaching will develop a strong and essential base for students to explore the world.
The revitalization concept calls for creating a model teaching and learning community characterized by educational excellence. Learning opportunities must be available for all residents to achieve their maximum educational and personal potential. Strengthening and supporting families is also an essential dimension of building a strong community. Both these policies build upon the Columbus Public Schools’ 5-year Strategic Plan.
| Schools Which Serve University District Children and Families | ||
| School | Address | Mission |
| Fifth Avenue Elementary | 1330 Forsythe | Traditional/Community |
| Hubbard Elementary | 104 West Hubbard | Traditional/Community |
| Indianola Elementary | 104 East 16th Avenue | Alternative-Informal/Literature Based |
| Medary Elementary | 2500 Medary | Traditional/Community |
| Second Avenue Elementary | 68 East 2nd Avenue | Traditional/Community |
| Weinland Park Elementary | 211 East 7th Avenue | Traditional/Community |
| Everett Middle | 100 West 4th Avenue | Traditional/Community |
| Indianola Middle | 420 East 19th Avenue | Traditional/Community |
| Fort Hayes High School | 546 Jack Gibbs Boulevard | Alternative- Arts/Academic/Career Ed |
| Linden McKinley H.S. | 1320 Duxberry Avenue | Traditional/Community |
| North Adult Education Center | 100 Arcadia Avenue | Education for those 16 and older/Community Outreach |
| Whetstone High School | 4405 Scenic Drive | Traditional/Community |
D. Programs and Concepts
Professional Development School Sites And Placements:
Additional Professional Development School Sites and Placements in University District schools will expand opportunities for public school teachers; and other school professionals from a variety of disciplines and colleges; and pre-service students and faculty from the Colleges of Education, Social Work, Human Ecology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Health Sciences, and other colleges with interest and expertise to address the needs of urban school children and youth. This program will provide opportunities for pre-service students to learn to teach, offer counseling and health services, prepare for administrative posts, and provide other school-based services for children and their families in real classrooms and schools under the tutelage of practicing teachers, other professionals, and faculty from their college. It will also enable practicing teachers and other professionals in community schools to improve skills by collaborating with university faculty equipped with the most recent research on teaching and learning, school administration, counseling and health care, integrated service delivery and other urban school issues. Additional professional development school sites will also provide increased access to the schools for faculty interested in the needs of urban school teachers and youth.Neighborhood residents, families, and children will benefit by having a more comprehensive approach to urban school issues and access to the most current research and technologies in education and other services. Current teachers and other school professionals will benefit by becoming part of the professional preparation team, having direct access to university faculty and current research, and by having a more direct mentoring and teaching relationship with pre-professional students in their field. University students and faculty will benefit from a comprehensive approach to professional development in actual urban sites.
This program will enhance the quality of schools in the University District by increasing contact with a variety of departments, students, and faculty in the university and greater access to the best research and thinking to address urban school issues. Expanded and comprehensive professional development school sites will provide a structure for improving teaching, learning, and other school services in urban settings. This program will also provide an ongoing forum for the discussion of educational policy and practices at both the local and State levels.
Off-Campus Seminars For Teachers:
Developed by faculty from the College of Education, Off-Campus Seminars for Teachers will improve teacher skills in curriculum development and instructional strategies in urban schools. The seminars will provide access to continued professional development for the 300 teachers in the 12 schools serving University District residents. They will also provide opportunities for college faculty to work with practicing teachers to improve instructional techniques in urban schools as well as the development of a forum for discussion of educational policy and practices in urban schools.Teachers will benefit from site-based continuing professional development opportunities that address their needs as urban school professionals. Neighborhood children and families will receive better instruction in the schools. Faculty and graduate students will have enhanced opportunities to develop and demonstrate urban education skills, programs and research.
This program will establish a systematic, school-based professional development opportunity for area educators based on their needs. It will also result in increased University District participation by university faculty and graduate students.
Partnership For Technology In Education:
A Partnership for Technology in Education will be developed to link the 12 public schools serving University District residents, Columbus Public Schools, and The Ohio State University through its College of Education. The partnership will provide access to information systems for all teachers and other school professionals at the 12 schools as well as to residents through the North Education Center. School professionals and students will be able to access technologically based curricula and information systems. Low-income persons and others not likely to have such access and training will have access to computer technology and education. The partnership will provide an opportunity to develop a "Model for Collaboration" between schools and universities to help teachers and other school professionals and university faculty take advantage of innovative methods to improve teaching and learning in urban schools.Teachers and other school professionals will benefit from training in the use of technology and access to state-of-the-art equipment. Neighborhood children and families will receive better instruction in the schools and enhanced access to technology. Faculty and graduate students will have increased opportunities to develop and apply skills in the use of technological resources in urban education.
The Partnership for Technology in Education will enhance the technological resources of the university area schools and provide training opportunities for school professionals. It will consolidate distant education resources into one visible center along High Street that will serve as a technological nerve center and locale for outreach education to the community, county, state, and nation. The program will also provide a model for "Partnerships Between Schools and Universities" in bringing the latest technology to urban areas.
Family Focus Centers:
As a part of the Columbus Public Schools’ 5-year Strategic Plan, family Focus Centers will assist University District schools in developing and planning programs for strengthening families in the community. Faculty from the Colleges of Education, Social Work, and Human Ecology, the Health Sciences Center, and other interested departments will assist with program design. State departments and professional associations with an interest in collaborative, family-focused, child-centered urban support should also be included. The program will provide planning assistance to the Columbus Public Schools in conjunction with families and community agencies in establishing Family Focus Centers. It will be an opportunity for faculty and graduate students to use the centers as laboratories for learning how to best serve families. The program will establish important links between and among the University’s Colleges of Education, Social Work, Human Ecology, and the Health Sciences Center.Families will be strengthened through a school-based center. Children will have an improved family environment in which to grow and develop. The community will become stronger as families are strengthened. Faculty and graduate students will have increased opportunities to teach and study family skills and development in urban school contexts.
The centers will develop a collaboration between schools and the university that will assist University District families in becoming stable and healthy. They will strengthen the schools’ role in supporting and nurturing families. Faculty and graduate and professional students will participate more fully in the life of University District.
Centers For Community Learning:
Schools serving University District residents will become Centers for Community Learning, open evenings and weekends to make life-long learning opportunities available to all area residents. The university will provide planning and technical assistance to Columbus Public Schools in partnership with residents and interested community agencies as they design Centers for Community Learning. The centers will provide access to learning opportunities for community residents.University District residents will benefit from extended hours and services at area schools.. University faculty will benefit by gaining access to sites in which adult learning will be the focus. This access will be particularly attractive to faculty with concentrations in Adult Education, Workforce Education, Health Education, and Adult Literacy. Faculty will have enhanced opportunities for both teaching and research through these sites.
Adult learning sites will assist residents in becoming economically self-sufficient. Their quality of life will be enhanced through additional community-based learning opportunities. The program will increase faculty and student participation in the life of the University District.