3030 N. McMullen Booth Rd.

Clearwater, FL 33761

SCHOOL'S GOAL: ATTRACT AND TURN STRUGGLING KIDS AROUND

Jane Madden Welch

The St. Petersburg Times

June 22, 2007

Here, good grades and golf fit into the plan.

Two years ago, Thomas Zagursky was struggling socially and academically in the third grade at Eisenhower Elementary School.

Then he was given the option to attend the Modesta Robbins Partnership School for fourth- and fifth-graders. He took it, and the decision became the first in a series of smart choices.

At his new school, Thomas, now 11, has made the honor roll every semester, has not missed a day of school for two years and has improved his reading test scores dramatically.

"I came here and did a lot better than I did before," said Thomas, who lives in Clearwater and recently received a $3,000 scholarship for future college expenses.

And along the way he discovered he has a natural affinity for golf.

"Golf teaches you other things than how to swing," Thomas said. "It teaches you etiquette and to respect the course and other people around you."

Progress like that is the goal of the school, which was established to help at-risk students and is supported by the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation.

"We're the only privately supported public school on a golf course that we know of in the country," said Cary Stiff, the foundation's senior vice president.

The foundation opened Modesta Robbins in 1993 as a partnership school with the Pinellas County school district. The school is a voluntary education program for fourth- and fifth-grade students who are performing below their grade level and are at-risk for dropping out. The ratio of students to teachers is 9 to 1. Students are integrated back into public middle schools upon graduation.

"We are a unique school, very hands on," Stiff said.

Students plant gardens and eat what they grow, their physical education is taught through golf played on the Chi Chi Rodriguez public golf course, they shadow professionals to learn about job skills. A full academic curriculum and required FCAT testing are also part of the program.

"Typically potential students are identified by the school system as being at-risk," said Jayme Pecci, a counselor at Modesta Robbins. Pecci observes referred students in their classrooms and she interviews teachers and parents.

Students might be performing below grade level, have poor attendance or a previous retention. No skills or knowledge of golf are required for enrollment.

"Two years of very individualized attention can make a dramatic difference for our struggling learners," Pecci said.

Currently Modesta Robbins has 38 students, but plans are underway to double the enrollment. The foundation plans to add four new classrooms. In the first phase, to be completed by the start of the 2007 school year, two existing structures will be enclosed.

"We hope to be able to serve 250 at-risk students in expanded grade levels in three years," said Fred Whaley, managing director at Raymond James & Associates and Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation board member.

The foundation was formed in 1979 by the Robert James, founder of Raymond James, professional golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez, and former educator Bill Hayes. Its mission is to serve low-income youths at risk of dropping out of school by improving their self-esteem, work ethic, social adjustment and academic performance.

Tom James, son of Robert James, took over as chairman of the board in 2006. For 10 years, the foundation operated an after school program at the Glen Oaks golf course on Court Street until it moved to its current location on McMullen-Booth Road. The 140-acre property is leased from the city of Clearwater.

Shaina Neuhardt, 10, of Palm Harbor was the other 2007 recipient of a $3,000 scholarship from the foundation.

Scholarship money is paid directly to the student's selected institution of higher learning after high school graduation. Scholarship recipients agree to abide by certain criteria and return to mentor young students after they graduate high school.

"It's all about the kids," Whaley said. "If they are falling behind, we've got to catch them at an early age."

Fast facts

Summer camps

The Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation operates the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club, Modesta Robbins Partnership School and an afterschool program, the First Tee of Clearwater Summer Golf Camp.

There are openings at the weeklong summer camps that run through Aug. 10 at 3030 N McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. The 9 a.m. to noon program is for 5- to 10-year-olds; the 1 to 4 p.m. program is for 11- to 18-year-olds. All golf equipment is provided.

More information: Call (727) 726-8829, ext. 214, or visit www.chichi.org and click on First Tee logo.

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