Education

Take Note

October 30, 2002 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Dialing for Dollars

Schools in Harvey, La., will get their 15 minutes of fame next year when their district holds a telethon to highlight schools’ achievements and make clear their needs.

The 50,000-student Jefferson Parish district plans to produce the four-day program, with six hours of programming a day, for a local cable channel in January.

In July, local voters turned down a sales-tax increase that would have benefited the schools. But the telethon—which was in the works before that defeat—won’t be just a fund-raiser, said Sal LaRock, the district’s director of community education.

“We want to get the local community back into their schools,” he said. “People might see it and say, ‘We can go over and paint on the weekend.’ ”

Of the district’s 83 schools, 51 have signed up for the program, which is being produced with the help of local cable outlets and personalities from area television stations.

The schools will star in 15- minute segments, now being taped, that underscore their students’ talents and also let viewers know what they need—which could be fresh paint, new whiteboards, or computers.

At one school, for example, the program will feature a mentoring program called Helping Hands that links 5th graders with special education students, said Karen Boudrie, the executive producer of the telethon and the owner of a communications firm.

And viewers will learn that one of the district’s high schools operates a branch of the district’s credit union, staffed by student tellers.

In addition to taped segments on the participating schools, the telethon will feature information on how community members can either get involved or help meet schools’ needs, contained in their “wish lists.”

Schools are requesting materials, such as equipment, and help with such tasks as painting, gardening, and repairing sidewalks. They’re also looking for mentors and tutors for students, Ms. Boudrie said.

Viewers also will be treated to live entertainment put on by students, including cheerleaders, thespians, and members of debate teams.

The program is being produced with money from the district’s community education program, which is financed by private dollars, not tax money.

“Hopefully, this will be a whole new day for education here,” Ms. Boudrie said. “We want to bring everyone together and get moving in the right direction.”

—Ann Bradley

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
The Future of the Science of Reading
Join us for a discussion on the future of the Science of Reading and how to support every student’s path to literacy.
Content provided by HMH
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
From Classrooms to Careers: How Schools and Districts Can Prepare Students for a Changing Workforce
Real careers start in school. Learn how Alton High built student-centered, job-aligned pathways.
Content provided by TNTP
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: July 16, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
5 min read
Education Follow Education Week’s K-12 Coverage on Bluesky
Education Week has joined the social media platform Bluesky.
1 min read
Illustration of Education Week and Bluesky logos.
F. Sheehan/Education Week
Education Quiz Who Qualifies to Receive the First-ever Federal School Voucher? Take the Quiz to Find Out
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz Trump’s Surprise Freeze on School Funding—How Much Do You Know?
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read