Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: School officials plan to offer Clinton their idea of change Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 17:03:26 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD School officials plan to offer Clinton their idea of change \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT WELLESLEY, Mass. WELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) - Not all urban school systems are disasters, said educators and community leaders from smaller cities who want their plans for reform used as an example nationwide. Schools in Akron, Ohio, and Albuquerque, N.M., are managed on the neighborhood level, making those who work at individual schools more accountable. In Des Moines, Iowa, school-based governing councils have been set up, and parents in Indianapolis can choose to send their children to special "select schools." Sensing an opening in President-elect Clinton's promise of change, the nonprofit Community Training and Assistance Center in Boston brought school officials from these and other urban districts together from Thursday through yesterday. They were chosen because of their success at reform. Political and business leaders also joined in the discussions. The conference's participants are scheduled to launch a National Urban Reform Network today in Boston and present their ideas to Mr. Clinton in his first 100 days and to congressional leaders and other policymakers. "People want to hear from people who are dealing with the problems," said William Slotnick, the center's director. "Advocacy hasn't worked before because educators have said, 'Give us the money and we'll show you results.' We'll show you results first." The group of about 90 educators, business officials and community leaders met at Babson College, but the participants shied away from saying just what policies they might propose. Some said they would push to bring representatives of health and social service agencies directly into urban schools and to transform school boards into child advocacy boards. Ben Canada, the superintendent of schools in Jackson, Miss., said the group wants to move quickly to get its proposals to Mr. Clinton. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM