High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

Incubation and a One-Year Reprieve

By the time you read this, the decision to "incubate" a new school at Maxwell Park and give Horace Mann another year will be a month old, and the communities will be on their way to the next phase. The most dramatic change was the decision to close the third (and smallest) neighborhood elementary school, Elisabeth Sherman, a move that surprised the community and influenced the fate of Maxwell Park. Many of the Elisabeth Sherman children are expected to move to Maxwell Park, where the State Administrator will choose a leader/principal to administer the ongoing program and head the year-long design of the new school, selecting teachers and emerging from the incubator in the fall of 2008.

In response, a new Support Maxwell Park School group emerged from the Education Neighborhood Action Team, complete with its own yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SupportMaxwellParkSchool. Group coordinator Ashley Keller and Principal Rubin Aurelio each stressed the need to reach out to the Elisabeth Sherman families. The Horace Mann community also sees the importance of reaching out, bringing neighbors into the school, and attracting their children. They understand that the long-term viability of both Maxwell Park and Horace Mann depend on their ability to attract students to their classrooms.

Movies to Homework to College

Spring will mean new programs for young people at the Melrose Branch Library. Look downstairs for a quiet study room that's available to individuals, or groups by reservation. For up to two hours, you can watch a DVD or VHS tape, hold a discussion, or study in a quiet environment. Schedules are tentative for other new programs. The branch will be serving popcorn to five- to 12-year-olds on movie day, to be held one Saturday a week. Teenagers can find homework help, including tutoring two days a week, beginning in April or May. Monday (late day) will be one day, and Saturday is possible. And if you're looking beyond high school, come to the college fair early in May. Stop in or call 535-5623 for details.

From Earth Day

After the recent warm weather, it's easy to believe that spring is here, and with it Earth Day. Bring your gloves, hats, and sunscreen to Courtland Creek Park on April 21. We'll sign in at Fairfax and Courtland at 9 a.m. Other events will meet at 9 at the Walgreens parking lot on Redding and Courtland, and at 10 at Horace Mann School on Congress and Ygnacio.

To Earthquakes

A week later, a simulated earthquake will shake Oakland at 9 a.m. on April 28, initiating the annual citywide emergency-preparedness drill. The Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team (MPERT) will gather at Maxwell Park School, Fleming and Monticello. Cochair Nick Stoughton and the planning team will happily welcome any neighbors who want to participate, whether you are a novice or you've completed CORE training. Bring your walkie-talkie along if you have one.

Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.