Rarely used outside the English muffin business, the phrase “nooks and crannies” was until very recently an everyday utterance for Denise Ashley, principal of Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #237.
With more than 700 students, her school was bursting at the seams, and she had students learning in every nook and cranny of the building, located at Eaton and Gough streets.
“We were teaching classes in closets,” she said. “It was insane.”
Closets? Really?
“We have very big closets, and we managed,” she explained, “but the bottom line is that’s not where we want our kids.”
It’s no longer necessary. The former John Booth Senior Center, located next door to the school, has just been fully renovated, providing five new classrooms that will primarily be used for pre-K and kindergarten students.
“We’re still over capacity, but we’re out of most of our nooks and crannies,” Ashley said. “We’re in much better shape than last year at this time.”
Among its student body of almost 750 this year, Highlandtown #237 has a large number of English language learners. Typically meeting in groups much smaller than the average class, it was these students who were having to learn in the closets and other odd spaces. With new and dedicated space for the kindergarten and pre-K children, English language learners can now spread out some in the main building.
“We’re excited,” Ashley commented. “They’ve really done a phenomenal job of pushing to get this together for us so quickly.”
Pre-K students from Highlandtown #237 perform at the Grand Opening of the new early childhood wing, which houses Pre-K and Kindergarten classes.
Her compliment could be taken as surprising, considering the widely-known fact that Baltimore City Public Schools has its hands full with numerous building and infrastructure challenges as well as its sheer scope of responsibilities.
As a designated “community school,” Highlandtown #237 enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with the surrounding neighborhood, coordinated by Greg Clouturier, a staff member of the Southeast CDC. Put simply, community schools draw upon the maxim that a school should be a resource for its community, which should in turn be invested in the success of the children being educated at the school.
Regarding the space issue at Highlandtown #237, the Southeast CDC enlisted Councilman Brandon Scott to work with Dr. Gregory Thornton, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, to come to a solution.
Councilman Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Schools CEO, Councilman Jim Kraft and students cut the ribbon at the new entrance of the school wing.
“The Highlandtown Early Learning Center is one of the proudest community achievements that I have been a part of as Councilman,” said Councilman Brandon Scott. “While it was unpopular for me to make the decision to have the senior vacate the space I knew it was in the best interest of our children. Today as a result of the partnership between Dr. Thornton, Highlandtown and the Southeast CDC our children are learning in a great space.”
“As a man of his word, Dr. Thornton said, ‘I’m going to come and see what you’re talking about,’” Ashley remembered.
He came, he saw, and Highlandtown #237 now has some breathing room as the city continues to work on its long-term plan for Southeast schools.
“From where we sit, Dr. Thornton is very much committed to helping children learn,” Ashley said.