The Rawlings-Blake Review #35: Better Schools

Baltimore City Website

In This Issue

Baltimore Integration Initiative Project Director

America's Best Walking Cities

Youth-led Community Organizing Project Grants

Free Fall Baltimore

Fire Department Thrill Show

Baltimore Social Action Awards

Community Tailgating Event

Susan G. Komen Maryland Race for the Cure

Dance...Dance...Dance!

Fall Fashion Fling

Loving Myself Conference

Dear Friends:

Over the past few years, students in the Baltimore City schools have made significant improvements in academic achievement. Test scores in math and reading are up. System-wide attendance is up, as is our graduation rate. This success is worth noting, but it is not a cause for celebration-it's a call for further action.

This week, I joined City Schools CEO Dr. Andres Alonso and the Baltimore Teachers Union for an announcement that will change the future of Baltimore's public school system. School administrators and teachers came to an agreement on a landmark contract. This new contract respects the hard work of public school teachers and honors the sacred truth that our students deserve the best. With the contract in place, Baltimore will lead the state, and even the nation, in making the necessary changes to improve academic achievement in public schools.

As Mayor, a public school graduate, and as mother of a child in the public school system, I know that we all share a simple, fundamental belief that a quality education starts with excellent teachers in the classroom. Under the new contract, the starting salary for Baltimore City Public School teachers will be the highest in Maryland.

The contract breaks new ground by ensuring that we provide teachers and schools with the tools, resources, and flexibility they need, increase accountability by tying compensation to instructional effectiveness, and reward our teachers for excellence and professional growth.

Just yesterday, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) announced that Baltimore City Schools is the 2010 winner of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence [Press release]. NSBA said, "Baltimore City Public Schools is a shining example that school reform can work in large, diverse urban school systems."

A quiet storm of education transformation is happening right here in Baltimore. The school teachers and administrators in Baltimore, under the excellent leadership of Dr. Alonso and the school board, are not "Waiting for Superman" to improve public education in Baltimore.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore

Special Notices

Baltimore Integration Initiative Project Director

Baltimore has been selected by Living Cities to participate in its Integration Initiative. Through the Integration Initiative, Living Cities intends to seed and support bold approaches to improve the lives of low-income people. The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers is now hiring for the position of Baltimore Integration Initiative Project Director. For more information, click here.

Baltimore One of America's Best Walking Cities

Prevention magazine has named Baltimore one of the most walker-friendly locales in America. The publication cited The Baltimore National Heritage Area Walk, a 3-mile tour of the city, which links 20 historic sites and museums just beyond Inner Harbor. Heritage Walk offers guided walking tours Monday-Friday at 10:00 am and Saturday-Sunday at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. For more information call 443-984-2639 or visit the website.

Youth-led Community Organizing Project Grants

Youth As Resources, Baltimore's youth-led grant making organization, has funds available! Youth (up to age 21) in Baltimore who want to put their community improvement ideas into action are invited to apply for funding. Grants range from $500-$3,500 and are available for community organizing projects created and carried out by young people. Workshops will be held on Saturday, October 2 at 10:30 am and Monday, October 4 at 5:30 pm. Applicants are required to attend one of the workshops and must be represented by one or two youth and no more than one optional adult. Application deadline is on Monday, November 8, 5:00 pm. Registration is required. To sign up for a workshop, or for more information, call 410-576-9551 or email jreeder@bcf.org.

Upcoming Events

Free Fall Baltimore

October 1-31
Various locations
Visit Baltimore's top area attractions during the month of October for free! Area organizations join to provide residents and visitors more than 300 diverse, free activities including dance and musical concerts, classes and hands-on projects, lectures, history and heritage tours, theatrical shows, art and museum exhibitions and workshops.