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The Play’s the Thing for Malcolm X Students By REBECCA TUREK

Special to the Planet
Tuesday March 08, 2005

Inspired by the need to pay for the school’s beloved drama program, the Parent Teacher Student Association at Malcolm X Arts and Academics Magnet School has come a long way from bake sales. 

In 1998, Malcolm X, at 1731 Prince St., was selected to become a magnet school, and receive a $650,000 federal grant in three annual installments. The one requirement was to establish a program that would prosper when the money ran out. 

Principal Cheryl Chinn says the money was used for teacher training workshops and construction, but the majority was spent on the visual and performing arts program. 

“We had to go with our strengths,” Chinn says. “We had to give parents a reason why they would choose Malcolm X over the other schools.” 

When the magnet money ran out, the Malcolm X PTSA took over the responsibility of paying for the drama program. 

Starting with a fall membership drive and ending with the Spring Fair in May, the 150-member PTSA works to ensure Malcolm X students have the same opportunities as private school students. This year’s goal is $40,000, said Jill Wild, co-chair of the fund-raising committee and mother of a third grader. 

“Every child has a right to go to a good school,” Wild says. “The parents involved in the PTSA feel strongly about public education and we want it to work.” 

As early as kindergarten, arts are incorporated into the student’s curriculums through classes such as drama, singing, art and cooking. Every year, Malcolm X students present many different productions, including an All-School Singing Chorale and operas, like last year’s An Adventure like No Other, that are written, directed and produced by the students.  

“When you see a kid on-stage singing and dancing you can see it empowers them. It’s incredible,” Wild says. “You see confidence in a child to do that.” 

In addition to a boost in self-confidence, the students learn that art is a way to express themselves, says drama teacher Simon Kaplan. 

“It’s good to show kids that you can take emotions and put them into something constructive,” he says.  

The money raised by the PTSA pays for programs not included in the school’s annual budget, which consists of $50,000 from Berkeley Schools Excellence Project and $80,000 in state funding, says Chinn. 

Last year, the school’s sports, drama and after-school programs like karate and ceramics, as well as salaries of the school librarian and drama teacher were completely paid for by the PTSA’s fund raising.  

For PTSA members, the benefits are well worth the time, says Stina Charles-Harris, co-chair of the fund-raising committee. 

“This school is in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city and there’s kids being bussed in from the other side of town because they want to be a part of the programs we fund,” she says. 

The school’s motto, “Together We Can,” is exemplified by the relationship between the parents and the teachers, said Chinn. 

“Each piece is equally important,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without the parents and the staff working together hand in hand.” 

The newest PTSA event is the May Spring Fair raffle, started by Wild three years ago. The raffle prizes range from theater tickets to a digital camera. The grand prize is a trip to Disneyland, including round-trip airfare purchased with PTA members donated frequent flyer miles. Last year’s raffle raised $15,000, says Wild. 

Thanks to the efforts of the parents and the teachers at Malcolm X, the school’s visual and performing arts program will be protected from state budget cuts, says Chinn. 

“We’re family,” she says. “We have a mutual respect and when we come to a budget challenge, we work together and rise above it.” 

 

This is the eleventh and last in a series profiling the Berkeley elementary schools. The reports were written by students of the UC Berkeley Journalism School.