The following letters were written by students to the Zoning Board for a hearing that would determine the future of the school in its present location.  The hearing was held on September 18, 2007 and was successful.  The staff of the Zoning Board cited both the students’ words and the way they conducted themselves as helping to make the case for the school.

Dear Zoning Board,

 

As a student, I feel that it is crucial that The Community School remain open and in our current location. It is so important that my classmates and I get our education because corporate America is becoming less lenient on hiring employees without some kind of recognition from school. When you think about it, The Community School is a magnificent program that takes in teens with past problems in other schools and gets them off the streets. The school, as a whole, has been a successful program since it was started.

 

I don’t see any overwhelming reasons why the school should no longer exist. It provides teens with another opportunity in school after they were denied from previous schools or programs. It’s also a program that teaches teens hard work, vigorous training, and prepares them for independence in the real world. If you were to ask anyone who knows a substantial amount about the school, they would tell you that the program works. It motivates the students to come to school and even like school. As a student last year, I can verify our dedication to the school by stating that we had a 99.2% attendance rating for the whole year.

 

I can personally say that this school has changed my outlook on school and life. Before this school, I was unsuccessful at my previous school. School was a drag and I didn’t care about my education or future. I slept everyday, but between this year and last, I’ve never gone to sleep during school. This school takes a different approach that applies school to real life and helps you analyze every situation and interpret it to where you can better learn your studies.

 

I used to be a shadow in my other schools, but Tom Culotta has changed me into a leader and an above average student. He has revealed my hidden talents and helped me apply them to school. I’ve inherited habits that I couldn’t have received anywhere else. I’m even feeling healthier because my physical, mental/emotional, and social health’s are balanced. He’s made me feel as if there’s no limit to my educational studies, opposed to how I felt in other schools.

 

Now that I have entered my second year at The Community School, I know that there is no other program or school for me. I can’t speak for my classmates, but I don’t want to go to any other school and I refuse to. I am committed to this school and I know that the program works for my classmates and the community it’s in. Our support from others is amazingly positive and they know that when they invest in us, they’re investing in a successful and complete program.

                                                        Thomas J. Magaha

Dear Zoning Board,

I am writing in support of The Community School. I started out in public school as a normal student, but towards the end I started to slip. I was in the tenth grade and I was failing just about every class except for gym. I knew right away that the school I was attending, W.E.B. Dubois, was not good for me. I was on my way transferring when my guidance counselor gave me the brochure to this school. That was when my life changed.

When I first arrived in this school, the first thing that I noticed was that it has a good atmosphere. The people who work here are welcoming and inviting. The one thing that makes this school so good is that you have to want to come here, not just your parents making you. This school started me out from where I needed help and then built from there. It doesn’t matter what level you are on when you come in this school because there is no teasing. This school also gives you a sense of responsibility.

This school helps you through high school and through college. If this school was to get shutdown I would not have anywhere to go. This school is a last resort for a whole lot of students and if it gets shutdown then that would mean more dropouts in Baltimore. Instead of trying to close this school down they should be trying to build more like it.

                                                                                                                                                                        Kenyon Paye

Dear Zoning Board,

I am a student of The Community School and I am writing on behalf of the school and the students, as well as everyone who supports us and this program. The zoning board should really consider granting us this appeal. There are a lot of reasons on why you should grant this appeal. One of which is if you don’t, you will be denying us young adults of an education that we as a class assure you we are getting. There is no problem in the community about this school. What reasons would you shut down something that is doing no harm?

This is a really good school. Just look at the success rate of this learning center. The attendance rate of this school is way above average. The thirty years of this place has been wonderful and has had many students graduate from it and actually take something with them from this school. Many of the students who attend have had problems in public school systems, why would you want to send them back to failure?

This is why I think you should grant the zoning appeal for The Community School. All of us here at The Community School and parents of the kids attending, supporters, friends, everyone would like you to make the right decision. If you would please let us operate this program inside of this facility we would be very thankful. Thanks from all of us here at The Community School!

                                                            Russell Morgan

Dear Zoning Board,

The Community School should be able to continue to operate at this location. To support my opinion I have facts. I had gathered my facts not by doing research but actually learning and being there when our school has been growing into a better educational environment. If school was to close there would be a lot more teens running the street doing stuff they’re not suppose to do because they have nothing better to do.

Before I came to this school I was smoking weed and drinking and didn’t think I would be successful at all because I got kicked out of Mervo.  Just being here makes me feel important and like I will actually having an opportunity to be someone. So I knew I had to clean up my life and I stopped doing everything I wasn’t suppose to do. Now my grades keep going up and my confidence is sky high.

If this school is shut down, I really don’t know what I will do because I was no one until I came here. Now I have dreams. Every one has a dream at some point of their life and I don’t want to be like most of my friends. All of my old friends are throwing their life away. So I guess you can see that my school’s future is up to you.

                                                                Samanatha Sloat

Dear Zoning Board,

Shutting down The Community School (TCS) would be a big mistake.  Closing down the school could mean messing up students lives. Kids with be out of school and will have nowhere to go to. This school provides everything for its students. Books, pencils, a good teacher, and one-on-one assistance for each student. This school meets every students learning level.

TCS is much more affordable then any private school.  Parents are very involved, and are proud that their children are understanding the material that is being taught.  The grade levels in TCS are set high. This makes the students strive to reach that high goal point, and makes them more involved in there work than public schools.

Students and parents love to come to this school. Shutting TCS down would affect families in a negative way.  Students would struggle to get to their goals without this school.  Families would be so disappointed to see a perfectly good education that they deserve, go to waste.

                                                            Sara Ciulla

Dear Zoning Board,

I am a current student of The Community School and it has come to the attention of the student body that there is an organization that has found that we are improperly zoned. This is great for us to know; it presents an opportunity for us to fix the problem. However they have decided to oppose our appeal for the proper change of zoning to allow us to continue to operate a stable, successful, and sound learning environment for youth, provided within the Remington community. This has given many people a better chance of learning.

This school has provided a sound learning environment for me. I was a past student of the Baltimore City Public School system, were I found that I was learning very little in a completely unsafe facility where no one cared about anything but going home and if they were employed getting  a paycheck. This caused me to locate an alternative place to further my education. At first I had planned to transfer to another school but when I heard what was really going on at that school I decided it wasn’t the best idea. So a friend told me about this school and I checked it out; only to find that it was the best school I had ever been to. This school is small which means there is a better student teacher ratio, so there is more available in depth help. The school also has a sound honor code which all students agree to follow, and if they don’t then they will be dropped from the school’s roll. That matters here because the students have the will to learn and want to be here. Due to this the school has an amazing success rate where the students on average are college ready in two years, and do not require remedial courses for college.

I believe that had I never found this school or it be unable to operate I would become a mere number to this city and state. That number would likely represent the unsuccessful people in terms of not obtaining a high school diploma or college degree, and that is not something I want for either my peers or myself. I also believe that had I not been able to be part of the school, then I would be on the streets getting into trouble like the rest of the kids with nothing constructive to do with their lives.

This school has been an amazing addition to this community because of the key fundamental education program that it provides. And I hope that it will be able to continue to provide these services and hopefully many more. So, members of the Zoning Board I hope you seriously consider allowing us to continue our program. I would also like to thank you for your time that you have put in to this matter and hope you have a good day.

                                                Kristopher Watt

Dear Zoning Board,

The Community School is where I can learn and further my education. This school is a good learning environment where people care about their education. The Community School encourages you to go for your goals and not be afraid to achieve them. It prepares you for college and the outside world. That’s why this school is very important to me.

If the school was closed not only will my fellow students and myself be disappointed, the people in the community will be to. If it is closed, students will have to go back to public schools or private schools. Students will lose education instead of gaining. Some teachers won’t be as encouraging for you to go for your goals. Some students will drop out of school because of the public schools and some parents can’t afford private schools.

I like this school because in my other school we always had fires and fought while in class, but in here we don’t fight or do illegal things. If the school closed I will have to go to Thurgood Marshall or Georgia and that wouldn’t be good for me because that means I will fall into my old habits and disappoint my family again. The Community School is a good school for me because it makes me believe in myself and what I can accomplish. At my other schools, my teachers always told me I can’t do something or won’t make it in the world. So now you know my opinions and thoughts about the school.

                                 

                                                                                                                    Ebony Love

Dear Zoning Board,

I know you don’t probably don’t care about me or this school but I do and if something happens to the school, what happens to me and the other kids at The Community School. I started coming to the Community School because I couldn’t stay in the Baltimore City Public School? just because I didn’t learn anything and I always got into a fight.

If something were to happen to the school where would I go? Let me tell you I wouldn’t go to the public schools. So I would just stay home all day and just get in trouble just because there is nothing else to do, but to be another black child on the news dead or in jail for something stupid that just could have been prevented with a yes instead of a no.

Most of all my family loves that I like to go to school and that I am more into my studies, And if something bad happens to me I don’t know what would happen to them. This is my last chance. So make a decision, but make a smart one.

                                                            Jarrad Gladden

Dear Zoning Board,

I am writing to defend The Community School (TCS) against those who oppose our current location. I’ve grown to love this school and all the members of it, as well as those who support us from outside. You see, TCS has done so much for me even though I haven’t been a student very long. Being a student at TCS helped me to realize that I’ve got much more potential than I thought. It also got me interested in history, which used to be a very challenging subject to grab my attention. Unlike city schools, TCS challenges my mind in everything. The subjects I used to find very easy have now become a bit difficult.

Not only has TCS helped me, they also help kids and teens from outside the school. In city schools the teachers make it seem like they don’t really care, but here you can tell that the teacher cares. Also, the location of the building is convenient for students with disabilities and those who can’t get around easily. I know the students and the people that support TCS would be very upset if the school were to shut down. I most definitely would.

                                                                Erin Foltz

Dear Zoning Board,

I am in support of The Community School. When I started here at The Community School I was a student who didn’t know how to better my life. I was in public school up to the 10th grade when I was through with the teachers and the students at Thurgood Marshall High School. My problem at Thurgood Marshall High was I couldn’t learn because of the violence and the disrespect students had for the teachers. In The Community School we don’t have such problems because unlike public schools we have an honor code. The honor code is what keeps the school a safe environment and everyone is honest to one another.    

 

If this school gets shut down the only alternative I have is to take the G.E.D test and stop there. If I finish in this school I could attend BCCC to keep my education dream alive. There is no way that I will be able to go to college if I don’t have the material in my brain. I guarantee if anyone come to The Community School they will love to extend their education by going to college.

I think the community will suffer educational wise, because the community school graduates over 75% of their students. This school helps this community and helps students that don’t attend The Community School. We have a session where people could come in and Mr. Tom helps them with projects and homework. Please don’t shut down the place that turns not only my life around but lots of other kids lives too.

                                                            Desmond Carter

Dear Zoning Board,

This is why the community program run by Tom Culota should continue to operate in the location it’s in. His program has been in existence for many years in the community, and he’s been working on it for almost thirty years and counting. It needs to stay where it is in order for youth to learn in a safe and caring atmosphere. Without this program I wouldn’t know all the things I know now. I used to go to public schools and I never liked it. I didn’t go to school and I felt like when I turned sixteen I would drop out. The community program has provided education for hundreds of community neighbors and youth including myself.

Next, is to keep kids capable of learning off the streets before their incapable to do so. I never used to like school before I came here. Now I’m always ready and willing to learn anything that comes my way. Our teacher is always willing to teach us and that’s what I like about him because he would like nothing better to do than crack open a book any day to teach us (besides Fridays). I like this program because there is no violence or fighting. I also have somebody to walk with me everyday so we can always get to school early. 

Finally, the community youth and neighbors strongly feel that the school should stay where it is. If the school wasn’t here anymore than we would have to find someplace else to go to school. Keeping the program in the community will prevent people from dropping out or going to unsafe schools or neighborhoods. Doing this would help the school in a good way.

                                                                    Jackie Bales

Dear Zoning Board,

The Community School has been successful for a lot of people. This school is like no other. The Community School motivates me to want to come to school everyday and learn new things. Many people want to come here. I have learned a lot throughout the past year and a half that I been attending the school. Also I lived in the Remington community my whole life and had known Mr. Tom for many years. He tries his best to help everyone.

No other school can top The Community School. All the students that attend the school want to be here. We spend most of our time at school rather then running the streets. This school encouraged me to want to be something later in life. When I went to public schools I didn’t get the help I needed. Also the teachers could care less if you do the work or even come to school. It is the total opposite of The Community School. Students get the help and attention they need to understand the work.

What else could be better then this school, not another public school. This school is the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s not far from home and it’s a small, comfortable class. You don’t have any conflicts or people running around insane. All the students care for one another and help one another out. Most of the students here came from other schools that weren’t working out for them. If this school happens to shut down the majority of the people are not going back to school and just run the streets. Think about the decisions you are making.

                                                                                                        Destini Miller