Schools Eye Cooperative Effort

By Bill Sontag
bill.sontag@delrionewsherald.com
Staff Writer, Del Rio News-Herald

Reprinted with permission of the Del Rio News-Herald
Published January 23, 2005

Shumla School, a non-profit experiential learning institution about 45 miles north of Del Rio, is expanding programs and facilities to meet recent and expected demands.

Friday morning, seven principles and administrators from San Felipe Del Rio Independent School District made their first visit to the Shumla campus on the Harrington Ranch along the Pecos River.  Their goal was to get acquainted with the school and its staff, and to learn how district schools may benefit by the advantages of an outdoor classroom.

Shumla School founder and director, Dr. Carolyn Boyd, greeted the educators warmly, with a beckoning mesquite fire in the huge stone fireplace of the school's pavilion.

After coffee and refreshments, the group circled with Boyd to make plans.

Boyd introduced the concept of the unique school and its staff, and introduced Jack and Missy Harrington, co-owners of the ranch on which land was donated for Shumla School.

Missy Harrington shared her concern about the significant drop-out rate in local schools.

"The drop-out rate is something we all need to be concerned about, and if we don't turn them (students) on at an early age, we'll continue to lose them," Harrington said.

Lamar Elementary School Principal Jennie Owens added, "It needs to happen by the 5th grade, maybe the sixth."

Getting to Shumla School's potential to help curb the rate by getting kids "turned on" to science, archeology, cultural history and natural history, Boyd implored the district officials:

"What we need to do to have a really close working relationship with all of you folks."

Silvia Gonzalez, the school district's director of secondary instruction, told Boyd that some teachers are a little uneasy about teaching science curriculum.

She asked whether Shumla School would take on a role in teacher training and staff development.

Boyd assured Gonzalez that the idea was sound.

She pointed out that Juan Barrientos, state Title 5 cooperative grant director, has already offered the possibility of funding assistance for such an effort.

"We also have some funds available for staff development activities," Julio Ramos, SFDRCISD assistant superintendent for instruction and implementation said.

In addition, Boyd urged teachers to attend the workshops their students will be attending, and to participate fully.

She said the "learn by doing" approach would serve them well when they return to the classroom.

Boyd explained that the school has benefited importantly from grants, and that support from school patrons is critical to keeping that funding source alive and thriving. 

"After today, I hope each one of you will write a letter saying how badly needed this is in our area," Boyd said, adding that the letters would become part of her grant application packages.

She pointed out that The Bank & Trust has now donated $12,000 to fund classes for kids at Shumla School, that the Del Rio News-Herald, has donated a large volume of blank newsprint for school projects, and other regional organizations have provided similar assistance.

Ramos, said, "We can probably find some funds to match some of that grant funding."

Ramos added that the district can handle transportation needs and box lunches for students who don't bring their own lunch to the day-long experiences planned by Boyd and her staff. 

Boyd summarized the day's agreements: Shumla School will provide "Shumla Survivors" day-long science workshops for all fourth-grade classes in the district, and "Pecos Adventure Camps" to "at risk" students.

"Ultimately we want to include all fifth-graders, too," Boyd said.

In all cases, Boyd will send advance curriculum materials, release forms and logistical information to each teacher, two weeks before the visit.

The group agreed that day trip activities would end at 3 p.m. to ensure safe return of students to their schools.

School district participants will write support letters to better Boyd's already successful record with the Brown Foundation, that has already funded 18 day camps, the Houston Endowment, now considering funding of 14 bungalow cottages to sleep 28 students for overnight experiences.

Kathleen Burgess, Shumla School curriculum coordinator, assured the educators, "All our instructors here are just wonderful with the kids."

Lamar Elementary School Principal Jennie Owens assured Boyd that the group would strive for teacher support of the upcoming programs.

"We're going to go back and get them super-excited," Owens said.

Dr. Fermin Calderon Elementary School Principal Linda Guanajuato commented on teacher training in the sciences.

"I think that would be great!  Science can be so easily integrated with reading and math, for example," Guanajuato said.