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T h e   U C H S   C a p i t a l   C a m p a i g n 
Don't Stop 
Thinking About Tomorrow
click on images to enlarge

Project Appleseed Proposes High School Foundation With A $50 million Capital Campaign

Balancing budgets and fixing old buildings will force the University City Board of Education to raise property taxes and/or close an elementary school - possibly Delmar-Harvard. The really bad news is that there are no tax dollars available to completely renovate UCHS in the near future. The good news is this; there is a campaign to build Lion Heart Center @ UCHS - a privately financed, revenue producing recreation center. The project was originally encouraged by former University City Superintendent Dr. Vern Moore in 2004, with the understanding that all planning expenses and associated risks would be borne 100% by Project Appleseed and our dedicated donors. Under this concept a newly created University High School Foundation would own and operate the facility with 100% of the profits going to renovate University City High School.

Why does U. City need this project?

Concerns about educational attainment: The condition of UCHS does have a measurable effect on student achievement and student behavior. Studies support what educators consider to be common sense: Students do better when they hear well, see well and are not packed into tight spaces. Noise, light, air quality, cold and heat have all been found to influence behavior. While the primary focus is on improving the quality of education within the school day, there has been growing recognition that after-school recreation programs can contribute to meeting this goal.

Concerns about negative youth behaviors: During the late 1980s and early 1990s, many cities reported substantial increases in drug use and violent crime among youth, accelerated school dropout rates and increased rates of teen pregnancy. While declines in these negative trends have occurred in the last few years, the rates are still unacceptably high. Local residents and political leaders have looked for youth development programs to be part of the solution to these problems.

Growth in number of latchkey children: Problems associated with a lack of adult supervision at home are pervasive across communities because of the number of two wage-earner families and the number of single-parent households. If children aren't directed into constructive activities outside the home, then they're likely to spend after-school time watching television or playing video games, or out on the streets, where they may be susceptible to peer pressure to engage in inappropriate or negative activities.

Changing demographics: The proportion of African-Americans to white students has increased substantially since 1970. University City's population is 50% black and 50% white while the birth rate is approximately 65% black and 35% white. The school district's enrollment is 86% black and 12% white - inevitably creating tensions and challenges of assimilation within the community. The situation is exacerbated by the high rates of unemployment among young people and the relatively large number of families living below the poverty level. Hence, communities like University City want to use recreation programs to help with assimilation and enhancing cultural and economic diversity.

Middle-class stability: To guarantee the future of University City schools, the community must work hard to ensure that UCHS has the resources it needs to be a "shining city on a hill" that attracts families from all backgrounds. UCHS must be the place where students from impoverished homes get the help, encouragement and skills they need; it must also be a school that gives all parents confidence that expectations are high for all students, the courses and activities are challenging and varied, and the facilities are first-rate.

School - City Collaboration: The new Centennial Commons recreation facility opened in Heman Park in January of 2006. The Commons is a good start towards meeting some of the recreation needs of University City families but more is needed. Unfortunately the Commons cannot handle all of the recreation needs of the 1,100 students at UCHS. The Commons has two full sized basketball courts, a modest fitness area, an indoor soccer field with field turf, and the renovated outdoor Heman Park Pool. Proposition K, a one-fourth of one-percent recreation sales tax was passed in November 2002 and raises about $550,000 per year. $350,000 to $400,000 is used to pay off the principal and interest on the bonds issued to implement the project.  The balance of $150,000 to $200,000 would be used to maintain the facility and provide programming. Project Appleseed will work to ensure that there is a joint membership with the commons and the larger high school facility.

Seed Funding

The total cost for creating a plan to build Lion Heart Center at University High School is expected to be approximately $220,000.00. Project Appleseed's capital campaign for U. City High School has taken in a total of $34,000.00 in the exploratory phase. Project Appleseed has spent approx. $150,000.00 of time, effort, and materials on project expenses. This is for services that Project Appleseed provided to the high school project but received no compensation. The expenses and income are reflected in our tax filings with the IRS and GuideStar. A complete copy of our plan along with the planning budget, expenses, and a complete list of donors has been available on-line for two years.

The UCHS Foundation Board of Trustees will have all fiduciary responsibility and will be comprised of major alumni donors. Project Appleseed expects the Foundation to be operational in 2008.

Downloads and Links:

Project Background & History

Our Plan - Make A Donation

Web Site

Credits

 

 

 

 

 


  

projectappleseed.org/ucity.html
THE UNIVERSITY CITY CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
projectappleseed.org
THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

  

  
 

  

  
PACE/Project Appleseed U. City
520 Melville Avenue
University City, Missouri  63130-4506
Fax:  314-725-2319