In forgotten corner, school shines light

By Christopher O'Donnell
STAFF WRITER

Published: Friday, December 19, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.

Samoset Elementary School Principal Scott Boyes tried the traditional methods of helping low-income students at his school succeed -- FCAT preparation, reading coaches, computer programs.

But he had limited success until one day he had an "ah-ha" moment.

Boyes was reading a newspaper when he saw a letter to the editor from a nearby resident who complained the Samoset Elementary playground was locked after school, leaving children with no safe place to hang out in their crime-ridden neighborhood.

The letter jolted Boyes, who suddenly realized that whatever he did at school would never work unless he could improve the lives of students outside of school.

"How can you come to school if you have all these fears going on?" Boyes said.

Boyes met with community leaders and opened the playground to neighborhood children after school.

That simple move led to a new, deeper relationship between the school and its neighborhood, one that could be a model for how they can not only coexist, but grow together. ...
__________

Read the entire article and post a comment on heraldtribune.com.
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081...=73339642464322

Click to view attachment