Why Does UCHS Need A 
New Pool and Recreation Center?

  

    

      

      
 
      
      
 
      
      
 
      

      
 
      
      
 
      
60% Of black and hispanic children can't swim, black children 2.5 times more likely to drown

  
  
  
      
      
      
      
      

       
      
      
      

      
      
      
      

         
      
      
      

      
      

         
      
      
      

      
      
     
      
 
      


Plan calls for turning UCHS into the center of the U. City community







      
      
  
      
 
      
    
  

The passgage of a $53 million dollar bond issue for U. City schools in April of 2009, does not include funds to renovate UCHS and keep the Nataorium open. The good news is there is a campaign to build a privately financed, revenue producing recreation center with an Olympic Pool. The school district is being aided by Project Appleseed in a $30 million capital campaign to improve the high school facilities and establish them as the major recreation center for a large portion of St. Louis County.

Project Background & History

Chances are that, when you were growing up,school clubs, sports, and social activities played an important role in your life and in the life of your community. Today, in addition to hosting traditional student clubs and activities, many schools are open from morning to night hosting daycare, prekindergarten, adult, and senior learning programs as well as communitywide educational, health, social, cultural, religious, and recreational services and events. Schools used for these purposes can be referred to as a full-service school or community learning centers.  (Click images to expand).

Key facts:

Keeping schools open longer--before- and after-school, and during the summer and weekends--can turn schools into community learning centers, providing students, parents, and the community with access to valuable educational, cultural, and recreational resources in a safe, supervised, and drug-free environment. Recent research has shown that quality after-school and summer programs reduce crime, delinquency, and victimization of children and youth.

Youth are at greatest risk of violence after the regular school day. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are most at risk of committing violent acts and being victims between 3 p.m and 6 p.m.--a time when they are not in school at the end of the regular school day. Organized activities help children resist unsafe behaviors and enhance learning. After-school and summer programs can offer the support and supervision children need in order to learn and to resist the influences of unsafe or violent behaviors. Community public school facilities can offer the venue for such programs, for, otherwise, from the last bell of the school day to the first bell of the next day--16 hours each day--one of the community's largest capital investments sits mostly vacant.

Youth need opportunities outside of the regular school day to be mentored by adults and introduced to new activities that they can master. Research clearly shows that positive and sustained interactions with adults contribute to the overall development of young people and their achievement in school. After-school activities also allow children and youth to explore and master activities (art, dance, music, sports) that can contribute to their overall well-being and achievement.

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.

Funding

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.

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 2009.