10-08-1997 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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H E A L T H Y Y O U T H /HEALTHY C I T I E S Cities and Schools Education is central to every city's quality of life and economy.Although most municipalities have very little jurisdiction over the public schools, mayors and city councils recognize that it is in their best interest to work with schools to strengthen the education of their youth. - duration must be seen as much more char what happens in school rooms between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday Jthrough Friday. It starts in the very early years oflife and extends throughout adulthood. Education in a healthy com- j munity includes a continuum of life -long learning, each phase of which brings many benefits co che community. Municipal governments have che opportunity to play sig- nificant roles in every aspect of this continuum, from participating in helping children enter kin- dergarten ready to succeed, to achieving success in school and graduating, to making a successful transition co the world of higher education and che adult world of work, family, and commu- nity, and beyond. Holmes Braddock. long -time member of the Dade County Board of Education and former President of the National School Boards Asso- ciation. states chat the most important thing cit- ies can do to help children achieve better in school is to "help that child get ready to go to school so chat the edu- cators can do their job. I£ we had kids come to school basically healthy and weil- nourished. from cnme -tree and clean neighborhoods. they would be much more ready to learn.' While municipalities may not be directly in- volved in schooling, chey have a major and direct role in ensuring chat schools understand their roie and are ac- tively involved in building the !earning community. By John E. Kyle What can cities do? There are many examples of excellent individual city programs that exemplify how municipalities can play a role in furthering educational out- comes for their communities and work produc- dvely with their schools to achieve their goals. As concern for the state of our children —our future work force— mounts, tides are realizing that isolated efforts and good intentions must be transformed into more institutional and holistic approaches. In some large urban cities. local and state concern for improving the public educa- don system has translated into broad new au- thority for the mayor to administer and reform che schools. That is not likely to be the solution in most cities. Instead, changes in federal and stare responsibilities will likely place thither pressure on local governments to respond locally with new and creanve collaborative arrange- ments. There are three basic can play important roles clonal opportumdes and AUGUST ..) Page 56 arenas in which cities in improving educa- student achievement: within city hall in che communtty, and in partnership with che school distncr. All three are necessary as- pects of a holistic ap- proach chat reaches beyond projectias" —che dreaded disease chat creates isolated quick fix projects instead at lasting, institutional responses. Within city hall. Local officials can make che most direct impact by ensuring Mac the cuicure within