News 12 First at Five, April 5, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---It can only be described as a year-round open house. It is Tubman Middle School's latest attempt to get back on track after failing to make adequate yearly progress over the past eight years. If Tubman fails to make the grade this year the state could make history by stepping in to manage the school.

Runette Walton once walked the halls of Tubman Middle School as a student, and now years later, with two kids of her own, she's back in class as a visitor.

"I'm hoping that parents listen to me and they say in they heart...if she can do it...I can do it," said Runette. It's part of a new push to get parents involved as the school works to get kids on the road to success.

"You gotta put the right people on the bus, and you gotta put those people in the right seat," said Valerie Kelly who is assistant principal at the school.

The school hopes the community will get on board the visitor's seat. Once in the class...you get the lesson plan for the day and an evaluation form. School leaders say the premise is simple....

"That's a public building. Taxpayers pay for it. They should have access to it," said school principal Dr. Wayne Frazier.

Like Runette, Sherron Garland is taking advantage of the opportunity. "When my daughter first came here I was kinda scared for her to be here, but now it's a total difference. You got peace and quiet...I can't even explain the difference people need to come and look for themselves," said Sherron.

"It's nothing to do. It's a small thing, but it means so much out in the community," said Dr. Frazier.

"The writing is on the wall. Teachers and parents say things are changing for the better. The community [Chick-fil-A] is giving free incentives for kids with good attendance."

"I'm not gone be part of anything that fails. I haven't failed with anything yet... I don't plan on starting failing," said Dr. Frazier.

This all comes at a school struggling to make the grade and being threatened by state takeover. "I know it's gone get better, because I'm gone make sure it gets better. I'm gone continue doing what I'm doing to make it better," said Runette.

School leaders say they are fighting an uphill battle. More than 70 percent of certified teachers are new this year. AYP results come in this July. Those results will determine the future of the school.