Ideas Blossom

I’d like to tell you about Cuyahoga Falls High Schools new greenhouse. “Promise” is the name it has been given. It is an effort that involved too many people to mention but a few groups of people deserve some kudos.

Last fall the board took its annual tour of the buildings. While at the high school someone mentioned that they’d like to see if a greenhouse could be erected near the multiple disabilities area of the building to benefit these children academically as well as therapeutically. It was one of those comments that seemed more like wishful thinking than something that could happen.

Then three weeks ago DECA (the marketing class) scheduled a presentation for the board. They proudly unveiled their class project. Promise Greenhouse. They worked tirelessly and creatively all year long to market and raise funds to purchase a top notch greenhouse and have secured the labor and materials necessary to install it this summer. They have collaborated with the city to incorporate the Adopt-a-Spot program into the greenhouse by winter housing plants for sponsors.

Not only that, a 2001CF alumni Tim Madden of HydrOranics has donated a hydroponics system along with installation as a congratulations gift to the class and Promise Greenhouse. Not just any system either. An 8 section, solar powered system. He has also offered to come in and help with set up and training with the staff and students on optimum usage. I’m getting choked up writing this because this project will help people with special needs in more ways than most of you realize. Besides the obvious therapeutic and sensory experiences these kids will have, they will also gain life skills. A DECA student said it best when he said “they will leave with something on a resume”.

Promise will be wheelchair accessible. All students in the MD unit will be able to grow and learn, pardon the pun, and leave high school with a real world skill. Something usable and a local job source boon. Just leafing through my check book register I can tell you there is no shortage of greenhouse and nursery businesses around these parts! And my hope is that the district can forge partnerships with these businesses and learn what their needs are so that this special group of kids from Cuyahoga Falls can graduate and have a usable skill, rather than have to face long waits for social services and the few resources currently available once you age out of a protective and coddling public school system.

This is also an example of how to be selfless rather than selfish. DECA needed a project for a grade. They chose something that not only helped them reach their goal but something that gave to many layers of our community. From the kids in the MD unit, the sponsors of Adopt-a-Spot, the citizens of Cuyahoga Falls with beautification projects and even those grouchy tax payers. How Taxpayer may ask? By providing job training and skills before the “system” must get involved.

Thank you to everyone involved in this project but especially Ms. Kilgore, the DECA coordinator. The lessons taught this year reached far beyond your classroom.