Promise Zone plan for Pontiac draws praise
By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Oakland Press
PONTIAC – The resolution to create a Promise Zone and scholarships for all Pontiac graduates hadn’t even been approved by the Pontiac school board before donations of money and time came flowing in at a public hearing.
In a meeting filled with excitement, determination, accolades and even tears over the prospect of guaranteeing every Pontiac district child a college education, Leon Jukowski said his family of longtime Pontiac business owners would pledge $10,000 toward the effort.
The public hearing on the Promise Zone resolution brought out so many supporters that they filled the board room to standing-room-only and brought many accolades to state Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, who sponsored and fought for passage of the Promise Zone legislation for two years.
Melton expects the Promise Zone guarantee not only to help children but to bring more residents and businesses to communities in the Pontiac district — like it has in Kalamazoo — to take advantage of the opportunity. “This is for the kids. This is life changing ... it is also community changing,” Melton said. “When I look at the combination of high schools in the fall, it is possible that first graduating class could be the first to be guaranteed a college education,” he said, to applause.
Pastor after pastor, several mothers with children in the school district, an Auburn Hills councilman, longtime Pontiac school supporters and representatives of neighborhood organizations were among the many who advocated approval of a resolution to make the school district a Promise Zone before the Pontiac Board of Education approved it.
Funds must be raised by the community for two years before a percentage of growth in state education tax dollars will be added to the pot to provide scholarships to Pontiac students.
Continuing fundraising may also be necessary, depending on how many tax dollars are available.
The original projection of need for the campaign last year was $750,000, “which would pay tuition for all kids that graduated high school that would go to college for year one and year two,” Melton said.
“But it is a rough number until the authority board is established and the criteria is in place.”
The amount of federal Pell Grant money available will also impact the amount needed and “there are a lot of other moving factors. I don’t believe the money is going to be an issue from the interest I’ve seen,” Melton said.
Several supporters noted they have little to donate but would give their time trying to raise the funds.
The board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution, with Vice President Gill Garrett absent.
Now, the state Department of Treasury has 30 days to certify that the school district meets requirement of poverty higher than the state average and allow the process to begin.
Melton wants Pontiac schools to be the first Promise Zone, since it is students in the district who first motivated him to introduce the legislation. Only 10 Promise Zones can be created around the state.
The Pontiac Promise Zone will be similar to the one created by a private group in Kalamazoo four years ago.
Since then, Kalamazoo has attracted 1,600 new students, increased the number of students going to college by 30 percent and has had a 5 percent increase in property values, Melton said.
Pontiac school district graduates, whether low income or not, will be eligible for funds that make up the difference between what a student can obtain in scholarships and grants and the full tuition at a public Michigan college or university or a similar capped amount for a private college.
A yet-to-be created Pontiac Promise Zone Authority will set the other criteria for eligibility and plan and implement a fundraising campaign and a sustainability plan. Two authority members will be appointed by legislative officials and nine by the Pontiac school board.
Renee Redmond, who is part of the Title 1 parents group at Emerson Elementary School, where her son David, 7, is a student, said, “I am so excited and so proud. I know we’ll be able to raise the money,” she said, offering the group’s help.
Contact staff writer Diana Dillaber Murray at (248) 745-4638 or diana.dillaber@oakpress.com.
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