Building partnerships : public schools as a catalysts for community development

Abstract

A profile of urban public schools in the United States reveals under-utilized, outdated buildings set in a neighborhood with little or no ties to the surrounding community. A rising trend in urban school reform models is the community school concept where schools serve as centers of communities. These schools are open throughout the year and include a diverse set of programs to enrich the learning experience. They can also provide adult learning opportunities in the evenings and health services for students and their families. The key to providing programs such as these is through the creation of partnerships with surrounding institutions. This thesis discusses three case studies of community schools in Paterson, New Jersey, Brooklyn, New York, and New York City and applies the lessons learned from these schools to the redevelopment of a former Catholic school into a public school in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The school district, Lawrence Public Schools, and a grassroots community development corporation, Lawrence Community Works, are identified as the two key partners in this project. This partnership forms the core of a leadership team responsible for creating a community school in the North Common neighborhood in Lawrence. Recommendations are made for other potential partnerships and key challenges for the two main partners are identified.