Monday, August 2, 2010

PG article on summer literacy camp

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10214/1076986-298.stm

11 comments:

Questioner said...

Sounds like some nice activities.

But, $5M divided by the average attendance figure to date of 1200 is $4,166 per camper.

In comparison, 6 weeks at Chatham University's Music and Arts Day Camp is $1,735 (http://www.chatham.edu/ccps/daycamp/tuition.cfm), probably a few hundred more if the cost of food is added.

Questioner said...

But, the district's camp is only 5 weeks, so the comparison of camp with food included is about $830/week for the district's camp and $300/week for Chatham's camp.

Anonymous said...

The article mentions the Heinz Endowments is providing funding for the 5 afternoon activities which do not qualify for funding under Title I guidelines. Does anyone posting here know the five?

I hope the plans for next year include making this year's afternoon activities available to other camp locations. In trying to encourage kids I know to participate the response was often, "Why would I want to be indoors all day?" Glad to see some kids got to be outdoors a lot.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the plans for next year should be to send kids to Chatham!

Even if you use the 1500 expected figure it's still $3400/kid. Lots of good food for the extra money.

Mark Rauterkus said...

Some evaluations of Summer Dreamers are in the works to students, parents, providers and others.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a waste of money.

Anonymous said...

Several years ago I heard about an awesome camp at CMU. It was expensive, but scholoarships were offered. If the Chatham Camp and CMU camp and camps like the Berenato camp at Pitt for girls basketball could build in a literacy component that might be the ticket for better use of federal dollars. Another perk could be the exposure to college (a Promise strategy already). To be fair, until a general assessment from participants and first-hand observers is available we don't know how successful Dreamers might be. However, it is hard to argue that a lot of money was spent so the return on the investment had better be significant. Or, at least the camp leadership should be able to make it sould great on a resume. This will be necessary since Pgh can't possibly keep all the management we now have once the money supply dwindles.

Questioner said...

Speaking of costs, a study described in the New York Times found that allowing children to select at a book fair 12 books for each of 3 summers, at a cost of $50/summer, produced a gain in test scores equivalent to three years of summer school:

http://esciencenews.com/sources/ny.times.health/2010/08/02/summer.must.read.kids.any.book

Questioner said...

PG article on the closing of Beginning with Books, a Pittsburgh literacy program:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10220/1078548-298.stm

Literacy camp for about 1000 children costs about $1M per week.

Would the money have been better spent funding Beginning with Books at a cost of $1M for an entire year for the benefit of many thousands of children? (Most likely the organization could have obtained its remaining .5M annual operating costs from another source.) Was this possibility even considered? Is it too late to consider this option for next year?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Mark Rauterkus said...
Face it, the Oliver HS building's location can't match that of the Schenley HS building / location. The district seems to be cashing out on value of location -- and the kids are getting the worse end of the bargain.”

I am not wacky----

the Oliver HS building's location can't match that of the Schenley HS building –you can interpret this as more than just location for transportation. In addition, the kids are getting the worse end of the bargain-hey, you need to quit living in the past sir and deal with the future of our kids and their[potential high school choices. Mr. Wacky‼

Start reading the Pa State laws at the Dept of Education web site and US DEPT OF ED for federal laws regarding reconstruction of school buildings- yes tons of stimulus money-there is a lot of money from stimulus that can flow into PPS.

I think you need to investigate. An yes a North Sider would take that as a insulting.
Sorry, I do really feel bad about Schenley closed-and this is not sarcastic –but that was a mistake n many parameters of this PPS ADM.

Many PPS schools are full of asbestos-like Manchester and we can name more-but it is kept under the carpet

Mark Rauterkus said...

This thread was split -- or forked. So now it seems that the same comment is posted twice (again) by some Anon person. Don't fork nor double post.

An answer to the above from me was elsewhere on the blog and reposted here just so I keep trying to clear my message with one who should re-read what is posted without making up dirt.

- - snip - -

A wacky question and you being wacky are different. I didn't call you wacky -- yet.

Oliver vs. Schenley, as per my thread, and this global discussion is about: 1) location, 2) location, and 3) location.

Transportation counts, perhaps 4th.

I'm talking about VALUE of the property. The land. The central to Oakland, western PA's #2 job hub. And, a blink from Pitt and UPMC -- source of the first $50M of Pgh Promise funds.

Talking of Schenley isn't living in the past. Schenley is still there. Schenley could re-open in a far-fetched universe. And, if you don't know and understand history, expect to repeat the same mistakes in the future.

August 8, 2010 12:44 PM