Barton Elementary Selected to Participate in President's Arts Program

San Bernardino City Unified’s Barton Elementary School is one of only 10 schools in California selected to participate in the Turnaround Arts: California program, which is an affiliate of the national Turnaround Arts initiative, aimed at improving under-performing schools through art, music, and dance. The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, an advisory committee to the White House, began the Turnaround Arts program in 2012 as a way to trigger academic improvement, narrow the achievement gap, and increase student engagement. The newly expanded program is funded through a public-private partnership, providing over $5 million over the next three years from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Ford Foundation, and other private foundations and companies, to bring arts education into low-performing schools. Program partners will provide an additional $12 million, and the money will be used to hire new art and music teachers, bring teaching artists, art supplies, and musical instruments into schools and support arts integration in other core subjects such as reading, math, and science. San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden and Barton Elementary Principal Janice N. Gordon-Ellis traveled to Washington, D.C. last month to attend the May 20 Turnaround Arts launch hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. Marsden welcomes the arts initiative as another way to help transform District schools. “The arts are a critical element to ensure high engagement of our students in their education,” Marsden said. “Being selected for this national initiative signals a renewed hope, not only for this school but also for our District and our community. We could very well have the next Dizzy Gillespie or Carlos Santana sitting in a Barton classroom.” “Through Turnaround Arts: California we hope to expand our successes in and out of the classroom by adding more opportunities for our students, families, and teachers to learn through dance, art, drama, and music,” said Gordon-Ellis. “The arts are a proven way to boost student achievement, keep kids interested in school, and help schools connect with their communities. We are thrilled to have been chosen to participate in this cutting-edge program.” In addition to the funding, prominent artists have signed up to adopt each school and work closely with students. Among the volunteers who will work to support individual schools’ arts education curriculum are Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, Yo- Yo Ma, Jason Mraz, Forest Whitaker, Kerry Washington, Frank Gehry, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Marc Anthony, Tim Robbins, Chad Smith, and Russell Simmons. Rashida Jones, the daughter of musician Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton, will mentor Barton Elementary School students. Rashida Jones’ credits include Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, Karen Filippelli on The Office, and the CDE Executive in The Muppets movie.