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| Welcoming Our Future. Celebrating Our Past. |
| Volume 1, Issue 6 ____________________________________________ Wednesday, September 1, 2010 | |
Legislative Tuesday, September 7 CONNECT TO JACK
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Baltimore Goes Back to School Dear Baltimoreans, The vehicles that ran red lights while speeding through the intersection of Orleans Street and North Lakewood Avenue may not have cared that their City Council President, disguised as a school crossing guard, was the one holding the metal stop sign. But the large number of youngsters, carrying backpacks and sporting neatly pressed uniforms, should have inspired more caution. Monday morning, as 83,000 City students officially ended their summer vacations and returned to the classroom, I headed to William Paca Elementary School, which since 2006 has experienced more pedestrian-related accidents than any City public school, according to the Department of Transportation. The school was also the scene of a pedestrian-related fatality a few years back. I chose to begin my day at Paca because I wanted to stress to the students – 96 percent of whom walk to school – to remain vigilant while crossing busy intersections, like Orleans and N. Lakewood. I realized, however, that the hurried adults behind the wheels of multi-ton vehicles are really the ones who are in need of a lesson on pedestrian safety. I have asked DOT officials to immediately remedy the speeding situation at Paca Elementary by installing speed cameras or another appropriate speed-reduction tool.
I would have remained at Paca directing students much longer than my allotted hour, but I had to continue my back-to-school visits. Next, I headed to Northwood Elementary School, where I welcomed students back from summer vacation and toured several classrooms with the school’s principal, Ms. Erita Adams. At Dr. Rayner Browne Academy I answered questions from civically-engaged middle schoolers who wrote to City Hall over the summer looking for solutions to problems plaguing their communities. “We need the vacant houses knocked down so we can make more community gardens and ponds,” one student wrote. Over lunch, Councilman Warren Branch – who represents the area where Rayner Browne is located – and I talked policy with the students, and offered tips on how to bring about positive changes to their communities. The promising students are enrolled in a life skills program run by Elev8 Baltimore, the local arm of a national initiative that seeks to link students and their families to wraparound services, like health care and educational enrichment. I also had the privilege of visiting students at Commodore John Rogers Elementary/Middle and Dr. Nathan A. Pitts-Ashburton Elementary/Middle Schools. During each of my five stops I had the opportunity to witness education at its finest. I saw teachers and school employees who took pride in their responsibilities. They came to class on the first day of school prepared to shape impressionable minds. I also witnessed students who came to class prepared to soak up knowledge and grow academically. I am inspired by what I saw and I’m confident that Baltimore’s schools will experience continued growth. I was very proud to spend my Monday with the very best and brightest Baltimore has to offer. Welcome back to school, Baltimore!
Maryland Schools Win Race to the Top! Congratulations to Maryland students, teachers and parents on winning a $250 million grant from the Department of Education’s national Race to the Top program. The grant funding will be used to revamp the state pre-k to 12th grade curriculum; build a statewide technology infrastructure; redesign the model for preparation, development, retention and evaluation of teachers and principals; and fully implement an innovative approach for transforming low-performing schools and districts.
"The Temporary Nature of Ideas" Exhibition Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open Studio Day Ride Around the Reservoir 34th Annual Ukrainian Festival |
| Office of the City Council President 100 N. Holliday St., Suite 400 Baltimore, MD 21202 Copyright (C) 2010. All rights reserved. |
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I have a simple message to the careless adults who barreled through red lights near Paca Monday morning: your time is not more precious than a human life. Slow down before it’s too late. 
