Grant to help Brookhaven try 'small school' approachBrookhaven High School will be in for some radical changes in 2004, according to Principal Bob Murphy.
A plan was unveiled last week that will completely revamp the way the school operates -- through an $802,485 grant from the KnowledgeWorks Foundation.
The plan involves dividing Brookhaven into smaller schools within the same building. Each school will consist of around 100 students in each grade level and therefore a target population of around 400 in each school.
According to Murphy, each of the smaller schools will be theme-based.
KnowledgeWorks is a Cincinnati-based public education philanthropic organization that works to improve educational opportunities for students.
Brookhaven was selected to receive the grant after proving that the school had the vision to implement ideas it had presented to the foundation. It's one of eight schools in six Ohio urban districts to get the grant.
"We looked at their strategic plan; where they were and where they wanted to be," program director Barbara Diamond said of the reason Brookhaven was selected.
Murphy said the reoccurring theme of the project they designed is about connections between staff and students.
"I can't teach a student unless I have a relationship with that student," he said.
Murphy stressed that the new plan would create a better atmosphere within the school that would be more conducive to every individual student and their specific needs.
"We want to make sure that each student sees Brookhaven as a family," said superintendent Gene Harris.
Another important aspect of the design is the amount of teacher involvement with each student.
"The students wanted teachers who knew a little more about them and could really bond with them," said one school official.
According to Harris, teachers will have a group of 10-20 students to work with throughout all four years of their high school careers. She also said there will be time in teachers' schedules to meet with those students individually during the school day.
"This is not what you're taught in teacher prep," said Harris. "You're taught to keep your distance. How can you lead them to attain their hopes and dreams if you don't know them?"
Seeking a good start
Harris also said an emphasis will be put on freshmen and helping them get a good start in high school.
A team of staff and students have been developing this plan during the past year under the guidance of KnowledgeWorks to develop a plan that fits Brookhaven's needs.
Murphy said Brookhaven has had a good deal of independence in developing the plan. But KnowledgeWorks provided Brookhaven with a a coach to help the school through the process and lay down some guidelines.
"KnowledgeWorks wanted us to think outside the box," said Murphy. "We took that to mean the ball's in our court."
As the design process for the school moves forward, Harris said she hopes Brookhaven will serve as a prototype for changes in other Columbus schools.
According to Diamond, one of the key areas Brookhaven hopes to improve is in its graduation rates.
Murphy said that in the past the graduation rate has been as low as 43 percent.
"We can talk about data forever," he said. "Data represents students. Bottom line: We are affecting lives."
Schools officials hope the new plan for Brookhaven will be implemented by fall 2004. But, they know they have a long road ahead of them before they can meet their goals.
Phil Hayes, chairman of Brookhaven's social studies department, said he has been working with many students in an attempt to gain insight to what the students want out of their school.
"Students voiced their concerns and said what they want their school to look like," said Hayes.
"All of the angles we wouldn't be able to see from our perspective, the students can bring in."
Getting out the word
Not all of the students have been informed of the school's intentions. Sophomores Lanisha Wahley and Brittany Coleman said they had no idea the staff was planning to make such drastic changes.
"I think they need to be more clear about it to the students," said Coleman.
"They need to tell us what's happening ."
Wahley thought the idea had potential, but was skeptical about how much it would change the school.
"It sounded like it's going to be nice," she said.
"But, we don't want to come next year and have everything be different."
But school officials said now that the plan is on track, they can share more information with the student body at large.
Ultimately, officials said the grant money will go to teacher development and instructional materials among other things, but Harris said this project is about more than KnowledgeWorks throwing money at the school.
"Don't look at this as a grant, but an investment."