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Tensions rise over Schuler Scholar program
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May 28, 2009
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
Number of Waukegan students to be reduced this fall
WAUKEGAN --Since its inception in 2001, the Schuler Scholar program has put nearly 300 Lake County high school students on the path to success at the nation's top colleges and universities.
Nearly 200 are currently enrolled in the program through high schools in Waukegan, Round Lake, Warren and, just added, Highland Park. The Lake Bluff-based Schuler Family Foundation provides mentorship and money to high-achieving students, many who are the first in their families to attend college.
But the Waukegan School Board learned Tuesday that the program, which chose to start in Waukegan because of the high-level of community support, is reducing the number of Waukegan High students it will accept this year to 25. In previous years, as many as 42 students advanced through a rigorous selection process to receive assistance including one-on-one and group coaching, tutoring, college tours, workshops, summer camps, cultural excursions -- and $5,000 per year for four years at a top school.
Candace Browdy, Schuler executive director, said the downsizing was related to challenges in preparing Waukegan students for the rigors of highly-competitive four-year schools.
"We need to make sure we can provide the right level of support and properly prepare them so they can go on to be successful in college," Browdy said.
Browdy cited "opportunities" for improvement in the district where, she said, some departments have shown a lack of cooperation. Schuler staff have had difficulty obtaining grades, transcripts, test scores and responses from teachers, she said. While lauding improvements under new Principal Steve Hamlin, Browdy cited an overburdened guidance department and "disengaged" guidance counselors. Another problem, she said, is a lack of attention to class assignments. Students with potential are not taking core subjects, she said, and are not enrolled in honors courses.
Browdy also said that she had been subjected to "pressure from a sitting board member to pay said board member" to help recruit more African American scholars.
School Board member Anita Hanna confronted Browdy after her presentation and threatened legal action. Browdy then met in closed-door session with administrators and board members. An ethics investigation has been proposed.
Browdy refused to comment on her run-in with Hanna.
"We're not interested in dividing the community," she said.
But Hanna said Browdy's charge was related to one conversation last year in which she told Browdy "If I wasn't on the school board, I could work for you and you wouldn't have this problem.'"
"She blew it out of proportion," said Hanna, who works as a juvenile probation officer. "I never asked nor intimated I wanted a job."
Hanna said she believes Browdy, board member Mark Hawn and others want to drum her off the board because of her resistance to a charter school.
Hawn, the only member to vote in favor of a charter last December, accuses Hanna of leaking information discussed in executive session. He said the board chose to ignore a warning months ago that Schuler was growing frustrated with a lack of cooperation at the high school.
"They're downsizing us while they're expanding everywhere else, to me that's a knife in the heart," Hawn said. "It's a huge loss for our school district and I'm deeply disturbed by it."
Browdy also informed the board that, beginning with the class of 2012, scholarships for all scholars have been downsized from $20,000 to $10,000.
"This is not a hit that will be felt by the students," Browdy said. "Colleges are willing to step up and fund them."
Funds will be redirected, Browdy said, to increase summer programs and to move the selection process to the eighth grade.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1595729,5_1_WA28_WAUSCBRD_S1-090528.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 28.article</a><!-- m -->
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Congratulations to the Schuler Foundation for taking a stand. The board has been playing games with our children's education for years. Finally, we have someone from outside the community, who actually was taking an interest in our students, publically pointing out that there are problems. Wonder how the the Super will spin this?
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There are some very interesting comments at the link....  hock:
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Did anyone make it to the board meeting? I'm pretty much going to be unable to go to the meetings (I've not even been able to go to Bingo lately!) for a few months at least - we've got a couple of rather severe ongoing medical issues in the family (extended family members; my husband, kids, and me are all fine) and I don't have time (or energy) to attend any meetings these days.
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sunny Wrote:I thought this thread was about the Schuler Program. WHy all the bickering? How can we help the kids if we act like kids?
So yes, how do we get the Schuler Scholar Program and even more like them to invest in our students.
It is interesting that the city website now has a link to scholarships. If this is an interest of the city (educating our youth so that they can live and thrive here) perhaps they can get involved in mediating what went wrong. Or soliciting other scholarship programs to come here.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.waukeganweb.net/scholarships2009.htm">http://www.waukeganweb.net/scholarships2009.htm</a><!-- m -->
We've heard how many of our high school youth drop out. We need help in turning this around.
**And I'll fully admit it all starts at home. I don't even know how to begin countering the message some children are getting at that level....
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Copied topic and removed off topic posts.
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I would like to apologize to everyone for my off color remarks, as they were, indeed, uncalled for. If anyone here actually knew me, I support friends and family, that is what we have in this world.
The Schuler Scholar Program is one of the best things to happen to the students of Waukegan that wish to abide by their demands. What they have done for my daughter is amazing, even though there are many of her coaches that are opposed to their stringent program. My response would be, they have been upfront from the moment this program was offered. The opportunity to participate in this wonderful pursuit of excellance, was presented to the families from the beginning. My child will be going to Smith College in Mass. for four weeks this summer. She has been to numerous functions this year, that more likely than not, she would have not been to if this program was not present.(This all happens on their dime). The demands are numerous, but my child embraces it, and it is wonderful of this man to do something that helps the youth of Waukegan. I am grateful to this foundation. Hard work is not supposed to be easy.
I hope there is an ethics investigation. One of the two are lying, I think one of the two has no reason to do so!
Shawn White
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An article I just read on the Daily Herald.
First Schuler Scholars graduate from Round Lake HS
By Thomas Edwards
Published: 6/6/2009 12:00 AM
Stefanie Fuentes is among 17 Round Lake High School seniors who made school history last week when they accepted diplomas as Schuler Family Foundation Scholars.
Round Lake's first batch of Schuler Scholars are heading to top-notch schools like Brown University and Johns Hopkins University. Fuentes will attend Pomona University in the fall, becoming the first in her family to go to college.
"I was part of the first Schuler class so nobody knew what to expect from it, but it has really opened my eyes," she said. "We have grown and the school has grown with us."
The original Round Lake Schuler Scholars say they have encouraged and motivated fellow students to seize the opportunities a college education can provide.
Notre Dame-bound Susan Tith said she and fellow scholars have helped to "spread the word" by sharing their knowledge of the college search process.
"We've told the others, 'Hey you're smart, and you can achieve what you want to achieve,'" she said. "The teachers have seen this and they have helped them too."
Round Lake is one of four Lake County high schools receiving Schuler funding, and officials say it has created a presence that has changed the way every student thinks about their college admission chances.
"The Foundation has helped create a high school culture that values higher education among our entire student population," said District 116 Chief Financial Officer James Tenbusch. "They bring in a whole new dimension of assistance for our students."
Schuler will bring more Round Lake students under its umbrella next year, with more than 90 total scholars expected between the four grade levels.
Students eligible for the Schuler program must be in the top 10 percent of their respective eighth grade class, demonstrate financial need and undergo thorough evaluation process to determine the candidates with the highest academic potential.
Each scholar partners with a Schuler Educational Counselor to improve academic performance, career skills and assistance in the college admissions process. Schuler scholars also study abroad, attend educational camps and make college visits at an average annual expenditure of $24,000 per student. Each student receives an additional $20,000 in scholarship funding during their undergraduate studies at a university.
Administrators noticed that more college representatives visited Round Lake High School this year than ever before.
Candace Browdy, executive director of the Schuler Family Foundation, praised Round Lake High School's administration for improving the availability of honors and AP courses, providing office space and fostering a strong partnership between their district and the Foundation.
The Foundation was created by former Abbott executive Jack Schuler in 2001, and also partners with Waukegan and St. Martin de Porres high schools in Waukegan, and Warren Township High School in Gurnee.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=298788&src=3">http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=298788&src=3</a><!-- m -->
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The Schuler program is really helping students.
Does anyone know about this high school? After reading the comments about our high school I am already researching other high schools in the area.
St. Martin de Porres graduates 29 seniors
Second four-year class graduation
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June 7, 2009
NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT
WAUKEGAN â St. Martin de Porres High School graduated its second four-year class of seniors Saturday morning during ceremonies at Holy Family Parish.
The Class of 2009 featured 29 seniors who hail from Waukegan, Beach Park and North Chicago. This group of seniors earned more than $800,000 in scholarship awards from colleges and community organizations.
âIn addition to their academic achievements, I have been impressed all year by the strong relationships that have been built between and amongst members of the senior class over their time here at St. Martin de Porres High School, Principal Michael Odiotti said.
âThey have built many positive relationships with their peers and adults, and have created a strong sense of community here at the high school.â
Ninety-seven percent of SMdPâs Class of 2009 applied and were accepted to various four-year colleges and universities from Albion College to St. Norbert College to the University of Puget Sound.
Some of the future plans for a few of the graduates:
Senior Wendolly Esparza has been invited to become a Cristo Rey Scholar at Loyola University in Chicago. She will receive an annual full-tuition scholarship and room and board, estimated at $41,000 per year. The 2009-10 academic year marks the first year of the scholarshipâs existence.
Four members of the graduating class â Hilton Arnold, Erik Carrasco, Daisy Estela and Irving Reyes â are Schuler Scholars. They will each be receiving college scholarships of $20,000 from the Schuler Family Foundation as a result of their participation the past three years in a program designed to motivate high-potential students to strive towards the goal of graduating from high school and college.
Domanique Kindle will be receiving the SMdP Outstanding Senior Service Award for her work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lake County during the 2008-09 academic year.
As a student mentor, she worked with her âlittle sisterâ, a fifth-grade student at South Elementary School in North Chicago, on a weekly basis, helping her to improve her academic success, build self-esteem, and encourage a healthy and hopeful future.
Senior Laura Arellano was recently hired by Abbott Laboratories Employee Credit Union in Gurnee as a loan clerk upon her graduation from SMdP. Because of her success in SMdPâs unique Hire4ED work-study program, she has the opportunity to begin a professional career while pursing a college degree locally.
Senior Daisy Estela has been offered a seasonal position with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc., in Vernon Hills and will be attending a six-week in-house CAD class offered by GHAâs senior CAD technician due to her career interest in civil engineering. Daisy will attend Bradley University in the fall.
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fedupinwaukegan Wrote:Tensions rise over Schuler Scholar program
Comments
May 28, 2009
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
Number of Waukegan students to be reduced this fall
WAUKEGAN --Since its inception in 2001, the Schuler Scholar program has put nearly 300 Lake County high school students on the path to success at the nation's top colleges and universities.
Nearly 200 are currently enrolled in the program through high schools in Waukegan, Round Lake, Warren and, just added, Highland Park. The Lake Bluff-based Schuler Family Foundation provides mentorship and money to high-achieving students, many who are the first in their families to attend college.
But the Waukegan School Board learned Tuesday that the program, which chose to start in Waukegan because of the high-level of community support, is reducing the number of Waukegan High students it will accept this year to 25. In previous years, as many as 42 students advanced through a rigorous selection process to receive assistance including one-on-one and group coaching, tutoring, college tours, workshops, summer camps, cultural excursions -- and $5,000 per year for four years at a top school.
Candace Browdy, Schuler executive director, said the downsizing was related to challenges in preparing Waukegan students for the rigors of highly-competitive four-year schools.
"We need to make sure we can provide the right level of support and properly prepare them so they can go on to be successful in college," Browdy said.
Browdy cited "opportunities" for improvement in the district where, she said, some departments have shown a lack of cooperation. Schuler staff have had difficulty obtaining grades, transcripts, test scores and responses from teachers, she said. While lauding improvements under new Principal Steve Hamlin, Browdy cited an overburdened guidance department and "disengaged" guidance counselors. Another problem, she said, is a lack of attention to class assignments. Students with potential are not taking core subjects, she said, and are not enrolled in honors courses.
Browdy also said that she had been subjected to "pressure from a sitting board member to pay said board member" to help recruit more African American scholars.
School Board member Anita Hanna confronted Browdy after her presentation and threatened legal action. Browdy then met in closed-door session with administrators and board members. An ethics investigation has been proposed.
Browdy refused to comment on her run-in with Hanna.
"We're not interested in dividing the community," she said.
But Hanna said Browdy's charge was related to one conversation last year in which she told Browdy "If I wasn't on the school board, I could work for you and you wouldn't have this problem.'"
"She blew it out of proportion," said Hanna, who works as a juvenile probation officer. "I never asked nor intimated I wanted a job."
Hanna said she believes Browdy, board member Mark Hawn and others want to drum her off the board because of her resistance to a charter school.
Hawn, the only member to vote in favor of a charter last December, accuses Hanna of leaking information discussed in executive session. He said the board chose to ignore a warning months ago that Schuler was growing frustrated with a lack of cooperation at the high school.
"They're downsizing us while they're expanding everywhere else, to me that's a knife in the heart," Hawn said. "It's a huge loss for our school district and I'm deeply disturbed by it."
Browdy also informed the board that, beginning with the class of 2012, scholarships for all scholars have been downsized from $20,000 to $10,000.
"This is not a hit that will be felt by the students," Browdy said. "Colleges are willing to step up and fund them."
Funds will be redirected, Browdy said, to increase summer programs and to move the selection process to the eighth grade.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1595729,5_1_WA28_WAUSCBRD_S1-090528.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 28.article</a><!-- m -->
I wonder if this has been swept under the rug, or if there is an actual ethics investigation proceeding?
Shawn White
224-381-2834
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