Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 18, 1994 TAG: 9402180239
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But this one has.
The first to take hold since the mid-1980s, Hurt Park's parent-teacher association may be the glue that finally bonds this school to its community. Already some goodwill is starting to stick. As the parents at one of the city's poorest schools prepare for their first fund-raiser - a carnival in the school's cafetorium Saturday - they marvel at how the city has rallied behind them.
"It's amazing - the support," said Albert, one of two presidents elected on parent-teacher night last fall.
Parents are volunteering by the dozen. Not only from Hurt Park, but also from the school's self-appointed big sister, Crystal Spring Elementary. Teachers are busy baking. And businesses have opened their wallets with cash, coupons and raffle prize donations.
Albert can't believe it. She can't explain it, either.
"Right now I don't care, just as long as it just keeps going," she said.
Albert - and the 40 parents and teachers who have joined her group since September - hope to raise enough money to install an air-conditioning system at the school and make improvements to its playground. Already they have sold 1,000 raffle tickets. At $1 a pop, that's a nice pile of change to drop into the PTA's treasury.
Hurt Park hasn't had a viable PTA since the group dissolved nearly a decade ago under a cloud of accusations that members were embezzling money. Since then, PTAs have sprung up in fits and starts, all of them failing to make any significant headway.
Parents complained of other obligations. Many worked nights. Few had cars. And nobody wanted to take charge.
The groups fell apart.
Principal William Shepherd, who inherited this problem from his predecessors five years ago, has gotten much of the blame. Some in the community felt that he failed to show any leadership, that he failed to step in to save the fledgling groups before they foundered.
Albert said Shepherd's support for the current PTA has been inconsistent. Some days he seems enthusiastic; others he is noncommittal.
"It's like talking out of both sides of your mouth," she said.
Shepherd insists that he has been trying, that he is still trying.
"I have been more than cooperative," he said.
Shepherd arranged for two of the raffle's grand prizes: a portable, hand-held cassette player and a "jam box," donated by Lee Hartman & Sons Sound Equipment. He also secured donations from Mitchell Clothing Co., Davidsons and Valley Cadillac Oldsmobile, which gave the school key chains and vehicle sun shields.
"I know a lot of people," he said.
More important, he knows how to get them involved.
Albert gave Shepherd credit for recruiting more parents for the group early on. In November, the school held a musical program with songs by some of the prekindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade pupils. About 30 parents attended.
At the end of the program, Albert said, Shepherd stood up and asked, "Who's on PTA?"
"He really did stress how important it was," she said.
He also was the main attraction at a PTA meeting this month, when he performed a parachute routine with 16 pupils, who dipped under the billowing cloth at his command.
The meeting drew record attendance from parents, who showed up nearly 100 strong.
"It was excellent," Shepherd said. "I was impressed. I'm still impressed."
So was Uneita Anderson, president of the 300-member Crystal Spring PTA. She came to the meeting with volunteers from the South Roanoke school, who provided child-care services and refreshments for the Hurt Park parents.
The Crystal Spring PTA, which sees itself as a service organization as well as a school advocate, also will send backup volunteers to Saturday's fund-raiser in case they are needed, Anderson said.
The two groups - which represent parents from two extremes of the socioeconomic spectrum - have been working together since last fall. Anderson said her members have been there to offer guidance, but that Albert and co-president Shelia Hairston have done most of the work.
"I don't know whether Su and Shelia will take it another year," she said, "but they're taking good notes and making it easy for whoever does take over."
Albert said she can't believe she has stuck with it as long as she has.
"It's been a chore, I'll be honest with you," she said. "But I just can't drop it. I don't know what it is. I'm not the kind of person to start something and not finish it."
Her work - and that of the other parents - has impressed the city's top school administrator.
"I'm just thrilled at the fact that the PTA is thriving this soon," said Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris. "Already they are showing a leadership role. I'm ecstatic about that."
He's also pleased with the progress he's seen within the school, which has been plagued in recent years by low morale.
Harris said he will try to stop by the carnival on Saturday, where there will be bake sales, games and face painting.
If Albert has anything to do with it, he'll also find enthusiasm, commitment and hard work. And he's likely to find her at it again next year - the PTA is calling it Hurt Park's First Annual Winter Carnival.
"It's just not something that's over in a year," said Albert, whose youngest child still has seven years to go at Hurt Park.
"I'm hoping everyone else feels the same way."
Hurt Park Elementary School's First Annual PTA Winter Carnival will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school cafetorium. Admission is free; games cost 25 cents and raffle tickets $1. Proceeds will benefit the school.
by CNB