Dear Friends:

"Baltimore students show strong gains; City results go up in every grade and almost every subject..."

If you have been reading the newspaper this week, you might think that quote is from a headline published in Tuesday's newspaper. In fact, the headline is from 2004. This week's headline about Baltimore City Public school student performance on the Maryland School Assessment Tests was eerily similar: it read, "City Schools Post Big Gains."

You might ask yourself, why is the Baltimore Sun headline from four years ago so similar to the headline from this week? It is a simple answer: Baltimore City Public School students have been making steady progress. Since 2003 elementary and middle school MSA test scores have posted increases, in almost every grade, in both reading and math. Baltimore City Schools continue to make some of the biggest improvements on the statewide tests. Or, as The Sun reported today, "Baltimore students' scores improved not only in relation to past years but also in comparison with those of students around the state."

This is great news for our kids, and while the media often casts about for a particular initiative or individual to credit for successes like this, we all know there's plenty to go around. President John F. Kennedy once said, "Victory has a thousand fathers..." In this case, that statement couldn't be more true. Credit for the progress in improving our students’ test scores belongs to the more than 75,000 children enrolled in Baltimore City Public Schools, their parents, teachers and administrators.

Together, we are making progress improving our public schools in Baltimore, and we need to do more. While it's important to celebrate the progress that has been made, a new school year is right around the corner. We need to be ready. On Monday I'll be introducing a City Council Resolution for the purpose of conducting hearings on preparedness for the 2008-2009 school year. Will we have enough teachers in classrooms on day one? Are newly-recruited principals fully prepared? Will construction and renovation projects be completed on time? Are new safety and discipline policies in place and ready to be implemented? These are just some of the issues that will need to be addressed in the next month in order to prepare for a successful new school year.

Since becoming CEO of Baltimore City Schools a year ago, Dr. Andrés Alonso has worked diligently in partnership with local and state leaders—including the City Council—to improve our public schools. These collaborative efforts are paying off, and by working together we can continue to advance our shared vision to make our schools as great as the children they serve.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Summer Fun in the City Elroy "Big Chris" Christopher of Covenant Community and the 40 YouthWorks kids at the Garden of Eden Summer Camp take a day off from the regular work of landscaping, tutoring, babysitting and neighborhood cleanups to play. Located on East Eager Street in East Baltimore, the Garden of Eden is a former vacant lot that over the years has been converted into a green oasis with gazebos, gardens and a barbecue pit. The Garden of Eden hosts the daily summer camp activities that have the young adults of the community connecting with the youth through mentoring, educational activities and community-building endeavors. Baltimore Neighborhoods: Celebrate National Night Out August 5 The 25th Annual National Night Out will be celebrated across the country on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Each community decides how it wishes to join in the celebration and in Baltimore, the evening has been celebrated with parades, cookouts, ice cream socials and candle-light vigils. To find out more about NNO and to get ideas for your event, visit the website for the National Association of Town Watch at www.natw.org. Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake encourages all Baltimore neighborhoods to participate in National Night Out and she wants to help you publicize your community's events. Send us your brief description of Who, What, Where, When and a Contact Phone Number, and we will include your event with all other Baltimore neighborhood celebrations in the Rawlings-Blake Roll Call. For example: Who: High Hill Community Association What: Cook Out Where: Main & Broad Streets When: 6:30 PM until dusk Contact Phone Number: 410-555-5555 Send us the good news about your Baltimore neighborhood! Do you have a neighborhood event or good news you would like to highlight? Let us know so that we can feature them in the Council President's CitySpot. Call Council President Rawlings-Blake's office at 410-396-4804 or send an e-mail to Marva Williams at marva.williams@baltimorecity.gov

City Council This Week

Monday, July 21

Voting Session: Executive Appointments Committee, Robert Curran – Chair
1:30 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
EA08-0091 Dana M. Cole - Member - Board of Finance - 5th District

City Council Meeting
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
The Council meeting will be broadcast live on TV25.
Draft agenda

Community Events

ARTSCAPE 2008, July 18-20, 1200 block of Mount Royal Avenue, Friday, 12-10pm, Saturday, 12-10pm and Sunday, 12-8pm. Artscape is the nation's largest, municipally-produced arts festival that remains free and open to the public. www.artscape.org

Baltimore Shakespeare Festival presents Taming of the Shrew, July 18-August 3, Evergreen Museum and Library, 4545 N. Charles St. Celebrating its 15th season, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival is the region's home for professional classical theatre and exciting educational programs. Tickets and info: 410-366-8596 www.baltimoreshakespeare.org

Friday, July 18

Little Italy Outdoor Film Festival
High and Stiles Streets, Little Italy, 9pm. This year's festival continues presenting feature-length Italian-themed films on consecutive Friday evenings outdoors in the heart of Little Italy. Free and open to the public. Folding chairs are provided, on a first come basis, although attendees may wish to bring a lawn chair to assure seating comfort and availability.
Featured film: Seabiscuit

Rec And Parks Outdoors Summer Concert Series
Cherry Hill, 634 Cherry Hill Road, 6:30 pm.
For more information 410-396-7900 or www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks.
Featuring: Corinthia Cromwell & The Evolution Band

Summer Sounds at the Square
Belvedere Square, 6-9pm
Free outdoor concert featuring: The Voodudes

Saturday, July 19

Mortgage Matters Workshop
Enoch Pratt Library/Hamilton branch, 5910 Harford Rd., 10:30 am-noon. Find out how to improve your chances for avoiding foreclosure. For more information, call 410-727-0169 x1802, or visit www.preservehomeownership.org.

4th Annual Charm City Community Blockfest
Parade steps off at 1:30pm, 1800 N. Caroline St. 443-865-1573 or rashidiscott@yahoo.com.

Sunday, July 20

Orquestra Son de Aqui Concert
Patterson Park Pagoda Hill, 6:30pm. This 11-piece Latin music band has performed at the Kennedy Center and has played with well-known Puerto Rican singers such as Yolanda Rivera. 410-276-3676.

BMA Family Free Sundays
Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., 410-338-4397. www.artbma.org

Monday, July 21

Rec And Parks Outdoors Summer Concert Series
Carroll Park- 1500 Washington Boulevard at Bayard Street, 6:30 pm
Featuring: Rush Hour Band
410-396-7900 or www.baltimorecity.gov/recnparks

Thursday, July 24

Flicks from the Hill
American Visionary Arts Museum, 800 Key Highway, 9pm. Outdoor film series. Museum is open & free between 5 and 9 pm on Flick nights. Free hands-on workshops in the Jim Rouse Visionary Center Classroom 5–8pm.
Featured film: Quiz Show

TransForm Baltimore: The Zoning Code ReWrite TransForm Baltimore is the City Planning Department's outreach campaign to gather input from citizens, businesses, developers and others to review, rewrite and replace the City's current zoning code. The Review phase begins with these public meetings: Saturday, July 19, 2008 11am–1pm Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Avenue Monday, July 21, 2008 Noon–2pm Department of Planning, 417 E. Fayette St, 8th Floor 6pm–8pm Morgan State University Alumni House Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6pm–8pm Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane A draft of the Zoning Code Diagnosis will be posted on the Planning Department website. For more information contact the Planning Department at plan@baltimorecity.gov or (410)396-PLAN.

Upcoming/Ongoing