Leadership academy meeting its mission

Responding to concerns of a group of parents who felt their children’s educational needs were being overlooked in the existing public school system, the Fort Wayne Urban League explored the possibility of providing an alternative. For several years the league has run an afterschool tutoring program and summer enrichment classes for young people of the southeast community. In 2012 the Urban League expanded its educational programming.

The Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy at 2310 Weisser Park Ave. was established to provide an innovative quality neighborhood option in turn fostering a new sense of community pride, culture and identity.

More than 100 students are enrolled in grades K-8. The school is managed by American Quality Schools, selected by the Fort Wayne Urban League after noting the success of another AQS-run school, the Theo Bowman Academy in Gary, with a 70 percent college entrance rate.

Since the August opening of the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy, I have observed the children, teachers and administrators. I have seen motivated students led by excellent teachers. Although we lost our principal a few weeks ago, we were fortunate to have a qualified assistant who capably stepped in to fill the role. To date the school is continuing smoothly toward meeting the educational needs of the students.

The governing board of the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy is dedicated to making the school successful. Along with all the other school systems in our city, we are doing our best to make sure our children will succeed, become responsible citizens of Fort Wayne and meet tomorrow’s challenges.

ALAN GRINSFELDER Chairman, Governing Board Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy

Christmas denigration costs stores business

The Christmas season is on us and, as part of the tradition, consumers celebrate heartily by buying gifts for family and friends. This is a make-or-break season for most retailers who benefit greatly from the Christmas season.

Given that Jefferson Pointe has decided that “Christmas” is not a permissible word for the “Celebration Tree” extravaganza, I think it would be more than fitting that we all abstain from frequenting those establishments until the “Celebration” holiday arrives since “Christmas” is relegated to the politically correct junk pile. I will only frequent those merchants that are not ashamed of Christmas.

For me, I will not spend a dime in those establishments until at least January 2013 or the “Celebration Day” arrives.

ROBERT F. SHONHOLZ Fort Wayne

Moss apology ends a rotting saga

“Dead skunk in the middle of the road,

Dead skunk in the middle of the road,

You got your dead skunk in the middle of the road

Stinkin’ to high heavens.”

This little ditty sums up the Paul Moss-Ken Fries saga. Too bad others pulled over don’t have Fries’ cell number. They could end up spending 90 days in jail. Moss had to write a contrite letter. Ethics Commission decision? What a load of sewer gas. Any wonder why the public loses trust in government officials?

SAM BLYTHE Decatur