By Fritz Edelstein
September 11, 2006

For parents, teachers, principals and school children, the first day of school is always exciting; and for Mayor David N. Cicilline – who helped open the doors of five different elementary schools this morning - it was no different.

As children hugged their parents once last time and huddled around their classmates, Cicilline gave them a warm welcome and urged them all to remember how special they are, how very important every school day is and how necessary it is to be at school every day on time. For teachers, he had special praise for their ability to rise to the challenges they face and to guide children to their potential – whatever that potential is. And for the parents, he offered the hope that they would stay as engaged as they were this first school day, throughout the education of their young.

The mayor – along with School Superintendent Donnie Evans – greeted children as they hurried across the school yard, some in uniforms for the first time. They spoke to the parents of plans to “Realize the Dream” and implement the Whole School Effectiveness Model, which Evans successfully employed in Tampa (FL) raising school “A” ratings from 7 to 87 under his leadership.

Cicilline also encouraged parents to restore the aged school buildings into “21st Century learning environments,” as DeJong, a nationally respected planning firm, helps transform and upgrade the schools.