Tight time frame for ambitious proposal at Lincoln

By Clare Jensen

Tacoma Weekly
cjensen@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: July 03, 2008

A matter of months doesn’t seem like enough time to launch a bold, history-making program for the upcoming school year, but that’s not stopping the passion-driven proposal in Tacoma.

The first vague public reference to what is now known as Lincoln Center was made by then Interim Superintendent Art Jarvis at a City Council study session March 18.

His comments of extended days and services at Lincoln High School have now taken on a full form, as co-principals for the school Pat Erwin and Greg Eisnaugle work to get the ambitious plan fine-tuned by mid summer.

The idea for the school, which has some of the lowest test scores, highest mobility and highest poverty in the district, is to get incoming 9th-graders off to a good solid start, and leave high school “college or career ready” through extended school days, longer weeks and more challenging and enriched work.

Ninth-grade is a crucial time for students, as many of the district’s dropouts do so during their first year of high school.

Erwin, who has been principal at Lincoln since 2004, said he sees his incoming freshmen entering high school ill prepared to succeed.

“[Students are] so far behind (when they enter ninth-grade) catching up is just not logical.

There is no one thing, except they have to work longer, they have to work harder,” and they need more structure and support, “to catch up with other kids in the district,” Erwin said during the first formal proposal of the program to the school board June 12.

The pilot for the Lincoln Center would corral one-third (or about 150) volunteers out of the school’s incoming freshmen to participate. The program would aim to represent the demographics of the entire class, not just high achieving students. All freshmen who choose to participate in the extended program would be required to take Honors English (regardless of ability level), commit to one hour of relevant homework a night, as well as enriching educational activities at least every other Saturday.

At the June 12 study session, Erwin and Eisnaugle revealed the plan thus far to the board. With a little over two months before the program was expected to launch, and no extensive details of how the program would operate, some board members were hesitant to show full support.

“My only concern is that we have one shot at it,” said board member Kurt Miller. “This is too important… I want to make sure it’s done right the first time.”

Two weeks later, Jarvis invited the team to update the board on the progress of the planning during the superintendent’s report at the June 26 board meeting.

Erwin and Eisnaugle had contacted a plethora of community partners, confirmed interest with parents and incoming freshmen, as well as staff members who have committed to the longer days.

Organizations such as Upward Bound, Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Education, Tacoma School of the Arts’ existing partnerships, Centro Latino and the School, Family and Community Partnership office had already given their stamp of approval to the center. Meetings with organizations such as University of Puget Sound, Frank Russell, Washington State History Museum, Black Collective Education Committee and educational consultant Tom Bailey are scheduled during the first week of July.

“We’re seeing that people really want to do this kind of work,” Erwin said.

The students who participate in Lincoln Center will receive an additional 540 hours of class time over their peers. They will be in class from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, and spend three to five hours at least every other Saturday involved in a fun learning experience or field trip.

And while the days may seem long for a high school student, Erwin noted that most of Lincoln’s most successful students already spend extended hours at school anyways, whether it be for sports, student government, or other after school activities. “That’s what successful students do. They spend as much time at school (as possible).”

Eisnaugle agreed, especially for an area where crime rates and gang activity is high.

“There’s too much street time versus school time,” Eisnaugle said.

To monitor program effectiveness, there will be student success assessments regularly to compare with students who don’t participate in the extended model. Health services and educational opportunities for parents during the evening will also be offered.

“We (the school board) moved from skeptical to consensus support,” said board member Jim Dugan on June 26.

The Lincoln Center proposal will receive its final determination during the July 24 board meeting, where the 2008-2009 budget will be subject to approval.

At this point, a clearly defined cost for the program has not been established.

Erwin and Eisnaugle are currently working with the teachers union to establish stipends for teachers based on extra time and responsibilities.

The cost for Eisnaugle to switch from Mount Tahoma to a co-principal at Lincoln will be the difference between a principal’s and assistant principal’s salary, not the price of adding an entire administrator.

“We’re trying to do this at a minimum cost, with the maximum benefit for our children,” Eisnaugle said.

Erwin and Eisnaugle agree the timeframe has been tight, but both say they are committed to seeing this project launch for the upcoming class.

Additional parent information meetings for Lincoln Center will be held at Lincoln High School July 15 and August 5.

For more information on the Lincoln Center project, contact Pat Erwin (253) 571-6664 or Greg Eisnaugle (253) 571-6663.

Tight time frame for ambitious proposal at Lincoln

By Clare Jensen

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