To all the wonderful TSAS families and supporters,
Last year everyone was so helpful with communicating our concerns and our questions to state and local business leaders and elected officials. Your letters and calls most certainly helped clarify our concerns and provided first hand input for everyone to better understand these issues.
I have included at the end of this message, my most recent letter to the editor of the Tulsa World, explaining a new concern that has come up. If you have the chance to look at the September issue of Tulsa People, check the article beginning on page 60. This involves your tax dollars being spent on a school that hopes to accomplish what TSAS has already done. What a wonderful opportunity it would be for John Brock and his foundation to channel his enthusiasm and funding connections towards helping TSAS continue to do what he envisions with his proposal.
Sen. John Williamson, R-Tulsa, has already filed a bill to fund this vision (Senate Bill 928) for $5.5 million per year, averaging $27,000 per student annually. A contribution of land has been requested from the City of Tulsa and $20 million in private donations is projected as a need to build facilities.
My question is why? TSAS already is a school with this same vision and we have demonstrated success both academically and artistically. What we need is the backing of the city and private foundations to help us achieve this vision by having land and a new building dedicated to TSAS. So again, if you have contacts or wish to send letters of support for TSAS, it would be MOST appreciated. As I say below, why reinvent the wheel or dress it up when it already exists and is TSAS!
Thank you again for entrusting your child's education and future with our school.
Sincerely
Pat Lubas
Director, TSAS
August 30, 2007
Letters to the Editor
letters@tulsaworld.com
Tulsa, watch out! It looks like someone wants to reinvent the wheel
with your tax dollars. A feature article in the September issue of
Tulsa People entitled "A New Claim to Fame" describes a new project by
local philanthropist John Brock to bring a statewide arts high school
to Tulsa, similar to the math and science school, OSSM, in Oklahoma
City. He explains how his grandson attended the Oklahoma Summer Arts
Institute at Quartz Mountain in photography, loved it and is currently
attending the Art Institute of Chicago.
There is already a school in Tulsa, a charter high school, Tulsa School
of Arts and Sciences (TSAS) that has accomplished much of what Mr.
Brock hopes to begin. Last summer four TSAS students participated in
the summer arts program in photography at Quartz Mountain out of a
total of eighteen from the state, with many other students also
attending during previous years. The Art Institute of Chicago
currently has three students from Oklahoma; two of them are TSAS
graduates! And we are already in the process of forming "art-nerships"
with the Jazz Hall of Fame and others to enhance and enrich our
programs.
Mr. Brock compared his school's vision to having the success of OSSM's
academic record. Not only does TSAS have the arts background and
success, we also currently have the third highest ACT composite average
in the state and are second highest in the Tulsa area with End of
Instruction (EOI) results of satisfactory or better.
TSAS has accomplished all of this on the public school allocation of
less than $5000 per student. Mr. Brock wants the taxpayer to support
his dream for $27,000 per student. Why reinvent the wheel, with
diamond studded spinners when, after it rolls along, the destination is
the same?
He hopes to have land donated by the City of Tulsa. Yes, please, we
would love that - and private contributions of $20 million to build
facilities - we certainly would appreciate that too! TSAS has the
staff, the history of success and the educational know-how. We would
enthusiastically welcome the financial support of Mr. Brock's
foundation and the City of Tulsa to find a more permanent location, yes
- downtown would be ideal. We could save a lot of repetition and
duplication of services and for far less tax dollars.
Let's build upon what we now have and together with TSAS, Mr. Brock can
realize his vision of arts excellence in Tulsa.
Sounds to me like they should use those funds to expand the program they have now. And if it could be downtown, especially near the Brady Arts District or OSU Tulsa, all the better.
I wonder if it would be plausible or acceptible to encourage OSU Tulsa to have an arts program? Something like that could have such great synergies with downtown and the expanding Brady Arts District. Better than Stillwater imo and more opportunities for the students to get exposure or sell their work.
I would like to see the TSAS expanded as opposed to building a new school. Also, as I understood it, TSAS is open to TPS students only, whereas OSSM is open to students statewide.
Just think what a draw it would be to get folks to move downtown if students who live within the IDL would have automatic enrollment at TSAS? This could be the missing link to downtown revitalization and to realize the dream of a full fledged arts district downtown. I hear there is some space for lease in the new City Hall.
I have long thought that the Tulsa Club building would be ideal for an Arts and Design school...Plenty of room for administration, studios, and the top floor, which was a ballroom, would be an ideal dance studio or a gallery. It's a great building...
Just imagine if TSAS could be located in the Brady District near the Matthews Project. I think it could spur the nearby OSU and TCC campuses to take a look at expanded curriculum in Music and Fine Arts Programs. Don't forget that TSAS also excels at Math and Science which could be very useful in regards to the nearby Vision 2025 OSU Advanced Technology Research Center. Not to mention the fact that the Tulsa Achieves program could keep many of the best and brightest of Tulsa's young, not only in town for college, but in downtown. I think this might increase the likelihood that these downtowner students for most of their young adult lives would have such deep relationships and roots in the community that they would desire to stay in Tulsa, making the city more desirable for companies to locate here, due to the highly skilled, well-educated, workforce available. A great public high school like TSAS downtown could very well be the spark that ignites a synergy downtown that explodes into the scenario above, maybe not. I think it at the very least deserves a honest evaluation and debate. We don't have to reinvent the wheel, or even redesign it. TSAS is clearly the best bang for the buck, IMHO.
quote:
Originally posted by Kenosha
I have long thought that the Tulsa Club building would be ideal for an Arts and Design school...Plenty of room for administration, studios, and the top floor, which was a ballroom, would be an ideal dance studio or a gallery. It's a great building...
You'd have to steal it first.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by Kenosha
I have long thought that the Tulsa Club building would be ideal for an Arts and Design school...Plenty of room for administration, studios, and the top floor, which was a ballroom, would be an ideal dance studio or a gallery. It's a great building...
You'd have to steal it first.
Maybe eminent domain? I would say a public school is a public use. A school at the Tulsa Club is the best idea I have heard in a while.
hello everyone.
i am representing the proposed oklahoma school for visual and performing arts (osvpa). i will be more than happy to address any questions or concerns.
tsas is a great school. my best friend graduated from tsas three years ago. we are not trying to compete with tsas.
the big difference between tsas and osvpa is that tsas is only open to tulsa public school students, while osvpa would be open to every student in the state.
also, osvpa does not have to be in tulsa, we just thought it would be the best place for it.
quote:
Originally posted by osvpa
hello everyone.
i am representing the proposed oklahoma school for visual and performing arts (osvpa). i will be more than happy to address any questions or concerns.
tsas is a great school. my best friend graduated from tsas three years ago. we are not trying to compete with tsas.
the big difference between tsas and osvpa is that tsas is only open to tulsa public school students, while osvpa would be open to every student in the state.
While you might be intentionally trying to compete, the overlaps are somewhat evident. What is planned so that these two schools could compliment each other or partner?
quote:
Originally posted by osvpa
also, osvpa does not have to be in tulsa, we just thought it would be the best place for it.
Sounds great and the Tulsa Club Building idea is perfect.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by osvpa
hello everyone.
i am representing the proposed oklahoma school for visual and performing arts (osvpa). i will be more than happy to address any questions or concerns.
tsas is a great school. my best friend graduated from tsas three years ago. we are not trying to compete with tsas.
the big difference between tsas and osvpa is that tsas is only open to tulsa public school students, while osvpa would be open to every student in the state.
While you might be intentionally trying to compete, the overlaps are somewhat evident. What is planned so that these two schools could compliment each other or partner?
because we would be a statewide school, our student body would come from all over oklahoma. the admission process would be very competitive, so only a couple students from each district would attend. i dont think that a tsas student would be too interested in osvpa because tsas already has a great art program.
i have a pdf that talks about the goals and curriculum of the school. if anyone wants a copy i would be more than happy to email it to them.
If osvpa wants a school in Tulsa, admitting only the best and brightest and bringing them into Tulsa, I see that as a good thing.
I just happen to believe that educating Tulsa Public School Students to that already proven degree of excellence will be a much better draw to revitalize downtown and attract new residents for a whole lot less money, by relocating TSAS downtown. I can't help but ask why a term limited ultra right wing conservative who has consistently voted against the arts and the conservative godfather of unconstitutional workers comp deform and advocate for the illegal Great Plains/BOK loan repayment scheme would be pushing a publicly funded pork barrel arts boarding school?
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
I just happen to believe that educating Tulsa Public School Students to that already proven degree of excellence will be a much better draw to revitalize downtown and attract new residents for a whole lot less money, by relocating TSAS downtown. I can't help but ask why a term limited ultra right wing conservative who has consistently voted against the arts and the conservative godfather of unconstitutional workers comp deform and advocate for the illegal Great Plains/BOK loan repayment scheme would be pushing a publicly funded pork barrel arts boarding school?
Wow.
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
I just happen to believe that educating Tulsa Public School Students to that already proven degree of excellence will be a much better draw to revitalize downtown and attract new residents for a whole lot less money, by relocating TSAS downtown. I can't help but ask why a term limited ultra right wing conservative who has consistently voted against the arts and the conservative godfather of unconstitutional workers comp deform and advocate for the illegal Great Plains/BOK loan repayment scheme would be pushing a publicly funded pork barrel arts boarding school?
Breath dude, breath.
The TSAS event of the season is only two weeks away. Tickets are on sale
now for Thursday, November 8th. We are having this event at the Historic
Jazz Depot, located at 5 S Boston, Just off of first street.
The event starts at 6:30 with a silent auction and performances by the
orchestra and Jazz combo. Delicious desserts from local vendors will be
served as well as coffee from our friends at Starbucks. At 7:30 the
combined choir and music theater classes will perform a condensed version of
Anything Goes with help from the jazz band and orchestra. Finally the TSAS
Jazz A will finish the night with a few of your jazz favorites.
Tickets can be purchased at the TSAS front desk and soon online at the Jazz
Hall of Fame's Website. All tickets are $10.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p315/TYProle/serenade07invite_proof.jpg)
Besides guesswork, is there a way to determine whether or not the two schools can complement each other?
My first thought is that it would be fine to have 2 similar schools in Tulsa. The more the better actually. However the main point to me, if what doubleA says is true, is that TSAS spends 5,000 per student and does a good job, now this new proposal is a school that will spend 27,000 per student. Now I am not against spending more on our students, IF the results are better. But if TSAS is managing quite well for 5,000 per student, 27,000 seems awfully high. I would rather see the TSAS program expanded. Its program would be able to serve 5 times more students with the same amount of money this new program would.
Is that 27,000 per student the yearly quota per student? Or does it also include the amount of building a new facility, etc.? As in start up costs for a new school will cost more but after that the average yearly payment per student will not be as much.
We have friends with a daughter who goes to TSAS. They are so sold and think it is the best school the child has ever attended.
The day is so different than traditional school that it has captured her fancy. She used to hate school and was bored, now she wants to learn as much as possible and looks forward to every school day.
Whom would be the individual that would make the decision to place the TSAS in the Downtown area.?
quote:
Originally posted by Rico
Whom would be the individual that would make the decision to place the TSAS in the Downtown area.?
TSAS has a board of directors, a director, and an organization of parents and teachers on the TSAS side. The sponsor of the TSAS charter is TPS, so the school board might have some say. Getting a building downtown would require help from the city(Council, Mayor, TDA, etc.). The best way to support TSAS right now is to buy a ticket to the show, charter schools like many other public schools, have to fund raise to fill in the funding gaps.
I thought this was an interesting article about TSAS and its selectivity. It would make a great addition to downtown where they could possibly expand beyond 75 students per grade.
TULSA -- Its test scores are some of the best in the city. But getting into this local charter school has nothing to do with grades, just the luck of the draw.
An envelope full of names and dozens of high school hopes on the line.
This is how you get into one of Tulsa's top high schools, the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences. TSAS, as it's called, is Taylor Dayton's first and really only choice.
"This seems to be a really good school," she said.
"Yeah, if we don't get in here, we'll be moving out of the Tulsa area," Jody Dayton, Taylor's mother, said. "She won't go to Tulsa public high."
They call it a lottery because it's all a matter of luck. There's no required GPA or test score, just your name on a slip of green paper.
There are 75 slots in TSAS's freshman class. That means some of these teenagers won't make it.
With every name, there's a wish fulfilled and a hope dashed. Mothers can go from worried to excited in a matter of moments.
A big hug and thumbs up from one lucky winner, while Taylor keeps betting on just one more name.
Number 74 comes and goes and no Taylor. It's now down to the final slot.
A Taylor is called, just not Taylor Dayton. Taylor Black is admitted.
"I couldn't believe that they called her name. I just had a feeling that they were going to call her name. And it was the last name," Allyson Black, Taylor's mother, said.
"I was really excited when they drew my name. I didn't realize they were only drawing 75," Taylor Black said.
Meanwhile, Taylor Dayton is put on a waiting list.
"I think her heart dropped. She sat here and watched the current students. And she said 'They are so me. I am so them. I so fit.' So, we'll see. We'll cross our fingers," Jody Dayton said.
TSAS's Principal Eric Doss says he wished they could take everyone, but the school is capped at 275 students.
Several TPS schools have admissions lotteries like Thoreau Middle School and Mayo Demonstration Academy.
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=14080377 (http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=14080377)