subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Students line up for free and reduced lunches at Thurgood Marshall School in Ashtabula. More than 90 percent of the students there are economically disadvantaged, qualifying them for the government assistance. Throughout the district, the percentage is 61 percent, indicative of the low wages and poverty in the city.
CARL E. FEATHER


Published June 25, 2008 06:35 pm - To grasp how pervasive low-wages and poverty are in Ashtabula, take a look at the state report cards for the buildings in the Ashtabula Area City School District.

School statistics reflect low wages
Nearly 92 percent of students at Thurgood Marshall classified as ‘economically disadvantaged’

By CARL E. FEATHER - Lifestyle Editor - cfeather@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

To grasp how pervasive low-wages and poverty are in Ashtabula, take a look at the state report cards for the buildings in the Ashtabula Area City School District.

The cards include an “economically disadvantaged” percentage for each school. The figure is based upon the number of students receiving free or reduced-rate lunches, says Patrick Colucci, who administers the district’s federal aid programs. A child from a family of four is eligible to receive free lunches if the family’s total income is equal to or less than $26,845. The child qualifies for reduced-rate lunches if the income is $38,203 or less.

The former figure translates into $12.90 an hour, the latter to $18.36. Both are higher than what many of the manufacturing, retail and hospitality jobs pay in this area. Indeed, the former figure is higher than per capita income in Ashtabula County.

It’s little surprise, therefore, that districtwide, 61 percent of Ashtabula City Schools students are classified as “economically disadvantaged.” At Thurgood Marshall Elementary School at least 91.8 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-rate lunches.

The burden on the educators is staggering, says Joseph Donatone, district superintendent.

“There is absolutely a difference with regard to the socio-economic level of the student and the way in which we educate them,” says Donatone, who has the unique perspective of having worked for both the county’s wealthiest and poorest districts. “In Ashtabula Area City Schools, because it is a low-wealth district, we must provide more resources in terms of personnel and dollars on intervention.”

The district receives about $7 million annually from state and federal sources to help students overcome the roadblocks to learning that accompany them to school every day. That is almost 20 percent of the district’s $36 million annual budget, $22 million of which comes from outside the city.

“We get a lot of money because of the low socio-economic level of these students,” Donatone says.

Like her counterpart in Ashtabula, Mary Zappitelli, superintendent of Conneaut Area City Schools, deals with the double-edged sword of overseeing a district where more than 50 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged. The district receives $655,000 annually in poverty-based assistance (PBA), which is used to fund the all-day kindergarten program. Zappitelli feels the money is best spent giving the youngest students a good start on their 13 years of public education.

“Poverty does create its own set of issues, and we need to help overcome those issues when (disadvantaged students) get into the school system,” Zappitelli says.

No administrator wants to get caught stereotyping financially disadvantaged students, yet the realities are undeniable because of the tremendous stress low wages place on family life. It takes a certain amount of money to raise a family, and when that amount is not in the paycheck at the end of the week, it has to made up somehow. For many low-income families, it’s a sacrifice of time — a second or third job — that must be made.

“It doesn’t make you a bad parent,” Zappitelli says. “It makes you a parent who is trying to keep a roof over your child’s head.”

Without parental involvement and/ or the money to purchase educational materials for the home, youngsters come to school ill-prepared to learn.

“These kids come with a lot of baggage,” Donatone says.

Although much of it falls outside “education,” districts with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students first must address the students’ physical and emotional issues if instruction is to be effective.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

PREMIUM JOBS

Finishers
FINISHERS - Fiberglass
OPenings--progressive company!
INFINITY RESOURCES INC.
2608 W. Prospect - ASH
...>MORE

NURSES
We are looking for
STNA’s and LPN’s.
All shifts are available.
Call (440)951-8899
or apply onlin
...>MORE

STNA's
The Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is now accepting applications for the following positions.
Pl
...>MORE

CASHIER
Mature Male or Female for service station. Cashier weekends & evenings. Corner of State Rd. & S. Ridge E. No phone calls...>MORE

THERAPIST
Part time Therapists to work with psychologist in area nursing homes. Call 1(330)524-3070...>MORE

CLEANER
Mature person to clean offices
Ashtabula 2-1/2 hrs 3 days/wk
Conneaut 2 hrs; 3 days/wk
Must have transpo
...>MORE

CLERICAL
Collections $12-15/hr
Customer Service $10-15/hr
Office Asst $10-1
...>MORE

REGISTERED NURSE - FULL TIME
Nursing

You can have it all.
Life balance. Competitive
salary. Bar-setting benefits.
 
...>MORE

CHEMICAL OPERATORS

Solid computer exp/Physically fit
Excellent wage/benefts
Interviewing/testing now!
INFINITY RESOURC
...>MORE

Positions Available
Openings with the Ashtabula County Board of
Developmental Disabilities
for the following positions:

...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

2000 Dodge Dakota
6cyl. 5spd manual transmission, high mileage, runs good $1200. (440)466-5067 after 7pm. ...>MORE

1996 Ford F250 XLT
4x4, 5.8L, 50,000 miles. Asking $6000. (440)466-6778...>MORE

2000 Toyota Avalon
V6, 4dr, LX, loaded, leather, sunroof 119,000 5800 obo. (440)2241273...>MORE

1999 Chevrolet Conversion Van
106k, nice shape $4500 obo. (440)951-9705...>MORE

TIRES!!
Tires: 6 new 8 R 19.5 tires on GM Rims $75 ea. Also over 150 good used tires 13, 14, 15 & 16 $15 and up. 998-0462/ 319-0...>MORE

Mercury
‘03 Sable LS, FLA. car, 69K, leather, $7200. 992-3427 5p-9p...>MORE

Truck for Sale
1985 Ford F150 4x4, Runs good, looks good, $1,500. 440-593-1721...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES

OWNER FINANCING
Ashtabula 2BR, 1BA, C/A, vinyl siding, new roof, carpet, plumbing & paint $30,000. 10% down & $324.05/mo. 5312 Madison A...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
1967 Globemaster 14x70
decent condition $1,000, new furnace
440-466-7885
...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
Nice 2BR N.Kings park, $4750 obo or RTO. 440-593-4512...>MORE

Kingsville Home for Sale
3-4BR/2ba Home for Sale;
2.25 ac., 2.5 car gar., 2bay carport,
shed, $85,000; Will consider land contract....>MORE

FALL CLEARANCE SALE!!!
4 used Mobile Homes
Financing avail. (440)466-8555
...>MORE

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
Oakwood MHP East Side Ash. 2BR/1BA & 1BR/1BA Rent to Own available. Newer Homes. Call Stacy 440-812-2404...>MORE

House for Rent
Saybrook 2 & 3BR mobiles $550 & $440+sec. dep. 998-1190...>MORE

APPRAISALS - INSPECTIONS
INDEPENDENT Real Estate
Appraisals -Home Inspections-Bankrupt-Divorce - 466-9236
...>MORE

FALL CLEARANCE SALE!!!
4 used Mobile Homes
Financing avail. (440)466-8555
...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
Must sell 2BR 1BA mobile home located in nice park $6000 obo.
FMI Call (440)998-4762
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

Cemetery Lots
Greenlawn 3 spaces SOM section 2 $500 each. 1 burial vault $700 each. 1 - 28x16 granite base installed $280. Please cal...>MORE

Wanted To Buy!
Immediate Cash for unwanted items.
Call for details 440-319-4274
...>MORE

FIREWOOD
Seasoned firewood, cut & split. $50 a pick up load. No deliveries. Details (440)344-7664/ 645-7215...>MORE

Childcare
Loving Childcare in my Jefferson home, (near Rt.11)
Call Roxanne Prine 440-576-8114
...>MORE

MACHINERY & TOOLS
SAFES- Large & small, Forklifts, extra forks, Pallet Jacks, air compressors, (1-20HP), complete torch sets, welding gass...>MORE

WANTED:
3BR House for Land Contract or Rent to Own for $600/mo.
Need 2 car attached garage with one or more acres. (440)813
...>MORE

Misc for Sale
(1) P215-75R-14 tire; (4) P175-80R-13 tires, like new.; Compound bow (Bear Whitetail Hunter); 3 womens bikes & 1 mens bi...>MORE

BUYING JUNK VEHICLES
WE PAY SCRAP OR BETTER
Budget Auto Parts,
6015 Woodman Ave. 992-1111
...>MORE

"WE NEED LAND!"
Paying top prices for farms or acreage in OH, W. Virginia and PA. Call Bruner Land Co. at (740) 685-8138....>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS

Conneaut House for Rent
Conn. 115 Garden St. 3BR/1.5ba lrg yard, att. gar.,
quiet neighborhood. $525 dep & $525/mo.
440-969-0096 or e
...>MORE

Hartsgrove House for Rent
Hartsgrove 3BR/2ba ranch
Att. gar, $600/mo
440-537-1061
...>MORE

Ash. House for Rent:
3BR 1.5BA $650/mo+util. 440-228-5925...>MORE

ASHTABULA & CONNEAUT APTS. FOR RENT
Ashtabula
Free rent
Bunker Hill Apartments
2BR starting $480
Call Patrick
(440)993-7411
...>MORE

Kingsville Apartment
1BR up Kings; newly remod. VERY NICE! No pets. Deck/cable/ AC/gas/elec/wtr/ trsh/stove/refrig all incl. $500+sec 440-224...>MORE

House for Rent Andover
Andover; Newer 3BR colonial, 2-1/2BA, free gas heat, $1000+dep. 440-344-0741...>MORE

House fro Rent
3BR Cottage View of Lake $600+utils/ Refs. Priv. Drive. Plow /Trash incld. Call 440-812-1800...>MORE

House for Rent
Ash. Buckeye Schls 3BR twnhs, appl/swr inc. $575/mo. 275-1925...>MORE

Ash Apt
Ash;1BR dn, Sec 8 ok W/D hkup swr/trsh incl $390+utils. 964-7872...>MORE

Jefferson Apartments
Jeff. Manor 1 & 2BR
partial utils paid.
(440)275-2011 Ext. 132
...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index