Comments on: Group Wants To Open Century Elementary; Council Questions Plan (With Video)

By: Concerned Century Citizen

Concerned Century Citizen — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:31:24 +0000

I think that any time you come before the City Council, you should have a proposal. You can’t play cat and mouse. I asked around and the C.F.I.A. has no information about this. Perhaps it’s just wistful thinking on Mrs. Robisnon’s part. All of Century is not against Mrs. Robinson. We just NEED concrete information. I heard that the Carver Community Center got a big grant this past summer. What did they do with that money? How, mind you can a school open in August 2011? She needs a plan for the years to come. Counci members and Mayor please don’t make any hasty decisions.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:35:07 +0000

REGARDING:
“This is not the first time the council has asked questions inappropriate of a new opportunity for the town”

Inappropriate?

Who are you as a group?
Do you have a plan?
Who’s going to run it?
How will it be paid for?
Who will be served?
Are you complying with the law?

They SOUND like appropriate questions for public consideration.

By: Century girl

Century girl — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:18:54 +0000

I agree with “worried Resident”, she probably doesn’t want to publicly air whatever specifics that she and her group have. This is not the first time the council has asked questions inappropriate of a new opportunity for the town. There is a time and place for public announcements but in the early part of a process is not when anyone would want to publicly show all their cards, so to speak. Why did it matter what the name of the school would be?

Support from the city and the people of the city would be extremely important for a school.

A city should have certain qualites of life that are necessary to attract viable
businesses that will employ very many people. When companies are looking for a place to expand to or open up in…
They usually want to know about ( in no particular order)…
1. Schools- where are the schools, how good are they
2. Broadband/High speed Internet Access
3. Housing- what is available to rent or lease for workers relocating to the area
4. Public transportation- buses, taxis etc
5. Extracurricular activities available in the area- I.e. lessons for Music, karate, dance, voice, swim teams, drama…places to go: theater, fine dining, ballet, arts and various performances.

Century and surrounding area would not fair very well on this checklist, so to speak.
-Schools…none within the city limits
-Internet… Only essentially in parts of city limits…
-Housing… Not much … Only low income apartment housing, no regular apartments,
very few average quality single dwelling homes available
-Transportation- only to and from P’cola, no inner-city puic transportation
-Extracurricular Activities: Very little, if any, offered within the city limits… Have to go to another community sometimes driving long distances to enjoy what is so common place in many cities.

I believe, the city needs to understand the importance of having a school in order to be a viable city and to attract viable businesses. If one has to go somewhere else to get these “Qualities of life” then they will probably choose to go to that “somewhee else” instead of coming to Century. Mrs. Leola Robinson knows & understands the importance of a school to a city. Respectfully, her years has granted her great knowledge. Perhaps the town could benefit from “listening” to her seriously instead trying to shoot her ideas down or pick her for info And “learn” from her. Mrs. Robinson’s vision appears to be miles ahead of that of the city leaders, city council…. Kudos to you,Mrs. Robinson!

So what does our city have to ATTRACT new viable buisinesses from the outside
extracurricular activities… If you are willing to drive to another town or community

By: art

art — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:47:14 +0000

love what you said meemee, let’s give hope a chance! what with the school voucher program set to expand, surely it would be viable to have a charter or private school in century for the kiddos to attend. “Hope isn’t about wishing for things to happen; hope happens when there is a will and freedom of choice to act without prejudice.”
Byron Pulsifer

By: meemee

meemee — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:43:11 +0000

MRS. ROBINSON heart has always been for the sake of the children of century it just people with a one track mind think just because she is of age that she not aware of what going on sure if your child get sick at school you must go get the child the school will not give you time to get there you dont have acar then you have to pay at least fifteen dollars to come get your the little kids on the bus with the big kids that aproblem itself yes iam all for a school back in century however its funded let all give hope a chanc and MRS.ROBINSON group the same……..

By: K

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:02:27 +0000

Sounds like her heart is in the right place.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:46:42 +0000

When I first watched this video, I assumed she was wanting the city to take over the old Century Carver K-8 building on Hecker Road. I knew the city could not speak on that, since it belongs to the County School District.

However, the second time I watched it, I heard her say “the Habitat Building.” That’s the old Carver High School/Middle School building on Pond Street which the city does own. Maybe there is something the city could work with there if they’d talk to her with an open mind. I am sure there are others involved who have business acumen and might be better able to answer questions Miss Leola couldn’t.

She means well and has good intentions, but like someone else said, “wanting” it and getting it done are two very different things.

By: just call me joe

just call me joe — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:07:43 +0000

When she was asked what the name of the school would be, there was a long pause and then it sounded like she said “Century All American School.” It seemed like she was making it up on the spot.

She also said that all they needed was a building and that they had everything else in place. Later, she said the first thing they needed was a building.

She wants the Mayor and the council to give her an answer as soon as possible, yet she gave them no concrete details to work with. Yet, she thinks they can open the school in August and this is January!

By: just call me joe

just call me joe — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:52:56 +0000

So this woman who can offer no concrete plan wants to open and staff an elementary school (as she said, K-6th), with “more than 20″ students. I would like to know her educational and career background. Who are the members of the CFIA?If all the need is a building, then what teachers have they promised jobs to? What curriculum will they use? Who will be the principal? This woman doesn’t have a clue as to what it takes to run a school. She is a prime example why the kids need to be transported out of Century and sent to a properly functioning school.

By: T

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:05:29 +0000

Sound education of ones kids is probably the most important gift a parent can hope to give their kids and the community of Century has a repeating track record of underperforming. Schools sometimes need sufficient size to be able to draw quality staff and have programs that challenge students. How will this be funded in a time of funding cuts?