
DATE: Friday, July 25, 1997                 TAG: 9707230179

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Cover Story 

SOURCE: BY CAROLE O'KEEFFE, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:  112 lines

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TUTORING ORGANIZATION GETS HIGH MARKS FROM STUDENTS THE GROUP IS SEEKING PORTSMOUTH LOCATION TO ASSIST LOCAL STUDENTS

Even during the summer months, students who want better grades, better skills or better SAT scores, attend Making a Difference Foundation tutoring classes at assorted sites all over Hampton Roads, but not in Portsmouth.

Some are referred by a teacher or principal. Some are told by their parents to attend. Others did not get passing grades in one subject or another and want to go back to school in the fall prepared for success.

Making A Difference Foundation is an award-winning, non-profit organization with programs after school, at night and on Saturdays throughout the year.

Except in Portsmouth.

Tutoring sessions are held in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin, Hampton and Newport News. The founder of the organization, Robert A. Bobulinski, who serves as president and executive director, said its not that they don't want to be in Portsmouth. They have been there before and quite successfully, he said.

Making a Difference used to be based at I.C. Norcom High School. A student there, Terry Ricks, encouraged lots of students to come out for academic help. But once he left to attend Hampton University, interest dwindled, Bobulinski said.

``Ricks would bring the kids out,'' he recalled. ``We had a presence in Norcom. Kids came from Wilson. Kids came from Churchland.''.

He added that Portsmouth needs a tutoring service more than other cities because of low performance ratings on literacy passport tests, a high drop-out rate, low Scholastic Aptitude Test scores and a high rate of teen pregnancy.

Volunteer teacher Dan Crute said participation dwindled at Norcom ``due to lack of volunteers.''

Bobulinski's wife, Alicia, who is Hispanic and teaches English as a second language, said Making a Difference ``won't continue at a site if the school people are not promoting the program. We cannot go for only one child.''

Portsmouth resident Michelle D. Raposa, 16, a sophomore at Portsmouth Christian, traveled to Princess Anne High School as many as four nights a week during the school year to get help with her weaker subjects.

``I'm here at Making A Difference for my algebra,'' she said. Her principal, Mark Sibley, recommended she attend the tutoring sessions. It takes her mother about 30 minutes each way to transport Michelle.

``If not for Making a Difference, I would be failing right now,'' she said while school was still in session. She'd gotten a perfect score on her last test and before that her grades had been in the 30s. Raposa passed her algebra finals and will not have to repeat in the fall.

Portsmouth Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Richard D. Trumble, said of the tutoring foundation, ``I guess I don't know why they're not here. I have not had any conversations recently with Mr. Bobulinski.''

Trumble also said Making a Difference isn't the only group in Portsmouth tutoring students. ``We have hundreds of parents doing it. But obviously the students and the staff would welcome the help,'' of the foundation, he said.

``We welcome a discussion. If there's a problem, we'd love to remedy it.''

Bobulinski said while there has been no recent discussion, his organization recently sent packages of information to the superintendent's and mayor's offices.

Donna Darden, office manager at Norcom High School, whoonce hosted the tutoring program, remembered that while athletes were targeted at that Portsmouth school, ``it was open to all students.'' She made the loud-speaker announcements often reminded students the tutors were in the school.

She would welcome them back. ``I think it would be great. I really do. From what I understand, the kids got a lot from it.''

Bobulinski said for the fall, tutors are searching for a Portsmouth site to help students from Norcom, Wilson and Churchland high schools.

The tutoring is not free. Students donate $50 for an entire year of help.

Those unable to pay are forgiven. Most of Making a Difference's money comes from grants.

The foundation is now in the process of trying for grants in Portsmouth. Bobulinski says the Beasely and Portsmouth Community trusts are looking at a Making a Difference proposal for seed money to get back into Portsmouth.

``It is one of the areas in greatest need. We would use the money, in part, to hire a staff person there,'' Bobulinski said.

Among the awards the non-profit organization has won are Governor Allen's Partnership in Education Awarded, called the Virginia Award for 1996. Also the 1997 Volunteer Hampton Roads Award. The organization provided more than 26,000 hours of tutoring in 1996.

``We are on-track to hit 70,000 hours in 1997,'' Bobulinski said.

In its five year's in existence, Making a Difference has done just that.

It has assisted more than 10,000 students in their school work and helped to send 2,204 seniors to college or careers. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]

Staff photo/GARY C KNAPP

Staff photos/GARY C KNAPP

Mary Parker, 17, a junior at Kellum High School in Virginia Beach

attends tutoring sessions to improve her SAT scores.

Stacia Bobulinski, standing, assists rising seniors from Western

Branch High School, left to right, Samantha Mattoon, Amanda Franks

Jennifer Rice.

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Kempsville High School

Monday thru Thursday

7 to 8:30 p.m., grades 7 through 12.

Lake Taylor High School