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Promise efforts continue without grant

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By Megan Gildow Staff Writer 5:43 PM Friday, November 12, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield City Schools will continue to pursue plans to replicate the success of a New York charter school, despite losing a competition for a federal grant.

A collaboration of 12 organizations — ranging from nonprofit foundations to education groups and government services — submitted a start-up grant proposal for “Promise Neighborhood” funding to the federal government this summer. But the district did not win one of the 20 grants, despite high marks in organization and community support.

“I think it was very clear in our discussions as a group from the very beginning that we thought what we were planning and hoping to do at Lincoln (Elementary School), we would do with or without the federal grant and it was because we thought, very simply ... it was such critical and important work,” said Superitnendent David Estrop.

“Promise Neighborhoods” hope to replicate the success of Geoffrey Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone by providing wrap-around support for children and families in low-income communities. The Springfield Promise Neighborhood would be around Lincoln Elementary School, where 95 percent of students qualify for subsidized lunches.

Despite losing the grant competition, organizations such as the Springfield Foundation have pledged $300,000 over three years in seed money to help kick off the program. A kickoff meeting was held in October and they’ve started a tutoring program with the help of Wittenberg University students.

The key components of the Springfield Promise are school transformation, community and parent partners, youth enrichment and school readiness.

A four-person team has established offices at Clifton Avenue Church of God to facilitate work in the neighborhood.

To learn more about the Springfield Promise Neighborhood, visit the website at springfieldpromise.com.

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