Dionne Warwick had a minor hit and Luther Vandross had a bigger hit with the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song, A House is Not a Home. That song dealt with feelings and emotions. It dealt with what gives a structure, feelings, pride, and a sense of belonging. There is a case in King County Superior Court, which deals with what makes a school, a school. School Repurposed?

Tough questions face a King County judge. Is a school just a building? Or, is a school defined by kids, teachers and programs? Judge Greg Canova's decision on that issue may determine the ultimate fate of a Seattle elementary school. Several months ago, the Seattle school board voted to move the kids and the teachers out of Cooper Elementary in West Seattle and move a new program in. So, five days ago, some parents stood at a memory wall and said goodbye. But other parents have a different idea. "Cooper is a home and a family for all types of diversity, all types of families, all types of languages, all types of children - and they are just kicked to the curb," says Amanda Nokes, a PTA board member. "And I think it's a travesty." So Nokes and other parents got aboard a school bus and headed to court on Friday. They argued that under state law they were entitled to a hearing before the school was closed. "We're a school - not just brick and mortar. We have teachers, pupils, administrative staff," says parent Chirpa Dumas. "For them to say we were not entitled to a hearing is ridiculous." That's the question Judge Canova must decide. State law clearly says there must be a hearing when a school is closed. The school district argues the school wasn't closed, it was "repurposed." The parents argue that, to them, it's closed. The school district's attorney says the law is clear, she suggests parents would do better at the ballot box….

The school district’s argument as to why the parents should be denied a hearing is that the school has been “repurposed.” Really? What does that mean?

One definition of “repurpose” is “to use or convert for use in another format or product: repurposed the book as a compact disk.” Dictionary Definition Shouldn’t schools have just one purpose? Shouldn’t that purpose be the education of that school’s population of children? Some in the education profession have an interesting take on what a school is.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Wisconsin School Defintion defines a school in the following fashion:

School definition: A school is an administrative unit dedicated to and designed to impart skills and knowledge to students. A school is organized to efficiently deliver sequential instruction from one or more teachers. In most cases, but not always, a school is housed in one or more buildings. Also, multiple schools may be in one building….

A school:

· has an assigned administrator/principal responsible for all personnel actions

· has a unique identification code assigned by the DPI (referred to as a school code)

· provides or directly supervises the primary PK-12 educational services received by students in one or more PK-12 grade groups.

· has one or more teachers to provide instruction or care

· may be located in one or more buildings; multiple schools may be in one building…

As the Bacharach-David song points out, without feeling and connection all that is left is a sterile and empty building.

A different definition of a school is found in the Needham High School Mission statement:

Mission STATEMENT

To Think; To Respect; To Communicate

Needham High School draws from the strengths of the community to create teaching and learning partnerships between faculty, parents, and students, both on an individual level and in groups, in order to provide a high quality education. The school offers students a variety of opportunities to excel and a diversity of perspectives from which to learn in an environment that is both nurturing and challenging. The balanced student is able to participate actively in school and society, be creative, and self-advocate while determining his or her unique path to fulfillment…. Needham High School Mission Statement

The key concepts, which are embodied in this statement are the ideas that a school is an important part of its community and that education of students is a partnership. This statement does not envision a school as being “repurposed” for administrative convenience.

The school should be the focal point of its neighborhood. It influence should radiate outward like the spokes of a wheel. The school should draw neighborhood support and support its neighborhood. The school is like the center of a wheel.  One cannot “repurpose” a wheel. It is what it is. Just like a house is not always a home if the feeling and the emotion are not there. Some in the education profession should drag out the old music and listen.

Dr. Wilda says this about that ©