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'A' School Money Goes Toward Outdoor Classroom At Brooksville Elementary

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By LINNEA BROWN

Published: January 28, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - More than $70,000 in "A" school money is good for something.
Like a state-of-the-art outdoor education center at Brooksville Elementary School on Broad Street in Brooksville.
Two years ago, the school's staff voted unanimously to use their "A" school money — or $70,000 obtained from obtaining an "A" ranking on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test — to build an outdoor classroom large enough to house an entire grade level at one time.
Due to state budget cuts and cutbacks in field trips, they felt it would be nice to bring presentations "in" to the kids instead of sending them "out" on field trips, Principal Mary Ledoux said.
"We, as a faculty, wanted to give back to the kids. We wanted them to be able to look at it and say, 'My FCAT scores helped build that,'" she said.
It was also intended for outdoor science experiments, LeDoux added.
"I used to be a math teacher, and I can imagine all sorts of leaf counts and other (activities)," she said. "It's more than just shade. It's pretty substantial."
Presenters will include a hands-on science expert for fifth-graders and a traveling zoo for younger children.
"There are so many things out there that our kids aren't going to get to do, or won't get to go to — particularly because field trips are getting expensive. Being a Title One school (with a substantial population of students receiving free or reduced lunch), it's hard for me to justify asking parents to spend $30 for a field trip," LeDoux said.
"There's also not enough time in a school day to take off with all the (state standards) we have to cover to go on a trip," she continued. "So if we bring the programs to the kids, then we've saved money for the parents and travel time."
The first phase of the project was constructed last year. The second phase is under way this year, which includes power, water, ceiling fans and a paved brick floor, instead of the sand bottom that was put in during the first phase.
School officials found a company that engraves bricks — much like the ones at the Jerome Brown Community Center in Brooksville — and are now offering local parents and business owners the chance to buy a brick and have it engraved for the floor.
Priced at $20 each, they are beige and the size of regular bricks, with black lettering.
"They really stand out," LeDoux said. "You can stand across the room and read them."
With the first round of engraved bricks scheduled to be delivered Thursday, school officials are searching for an affordable bricklayer. Extra money earned from the bricks will be used to landscape the outside of the outdoor classroom with native Florida plants.
"We try to turn everything into something students can learn from," LeDoux said. "We've even thought that some of the kids might be interested in helping to lay the bricks, if we can just find someone to do it."
Several bricks are dedicated for some of the school's students who died, including Curtis Bashaw, 9, who died of an unknown heart problem last spring, and JaMiyah Langley, who was killed in an automobile accident last summer.
The third phase of the project — due to be constructed next year — will consist of adding an attached storage area, which will allow school officials to store equipment such as microphones, power cables and science equipment for outdoor experiments.
With fire alarms installed last week, teachers may start using the classroom as soon as an inspector has signed off on the project.
"We're pretty excited, and I'm very proud of my staff," LeDoux said. "They were adamant that they wanted to give something back to the kids."
The school has earned an "A" on the FCAT for the past three years. The state sets guidelines on what schools can and can't spend their money on, and whatever they choose must be a non-reoccurring expense.
School officials also used part of the money to purchase other miscellaneous items, such as several computers.
For more information or to purchase a brick, call the school at 352-797-7014.
Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or by e-mail at lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

By LINNEA BROWN

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