Pacers PressThe

www.pacerinc.org

FIRST EDITION FRONT PAGE

Pacers is a non-profit organization of small ru-ral Alabama communities and schools working to-gether to build the good futures that they seek. Pacers programs result in effective school and community collaboration and improved personal and academic outcomes for young people.By Hope HollandPacers Mentor

Pacers is working hard to bring rural Alabama commu-nities and their schools clos-

er together to increase community involvement throughout the state in order to promote education and build strong relationships between students and community members. A Board of Directors, indi-vidual members, local chapters, legislative appropriations, founda-tions, governmental organizations and partner groups support the non-profit association’s programs. With the help of community members and educators, Pacers can introduce more chapters and programs to the surrounding areas. “Pacers is an advocate for programs and policies benefi-cial to rural Alabama,” as stated in the Pacers manual. “It espe-cially affirms the importance and achievements of small rural public

schools. It recognizes that schools and school districts have been and are being consistently closed al-though research does not support the massive closures that have so negatively impacted young people and communities. It is committed to assisting communities to main-tain their schools and build on their strengths.” Pacers programs introduce academics, innovation and cre-ativity through its chapter install-ments. The programs include rural science, community documenta-tion through the arts and sciences and entrepreneurship. Nikki Lane, the chapter membership consultant for news-papers and community documen-tation, works with twelve schools across the state to promote student-published newspapers. The newspaper projects are an opportunity for students to de-velop writing and designing skills, while gaining experience in all as-pects of producing a community newspaper. Through writing, editing, in-terviewing, photography and lay-out design, the students are learn-ing the ins and outs of business, interpersonal relations and news-paper development. Through various academic and artistic formats, students in Pacers’ Community Documenta-tion program move beyond tra-ditional student roles to move forward professionally. By docu-menting an idea visually, the stu-dents are acting as documenters, historians and reporters.

Meanwhile, Pacers promotes rural science programs like aqua-culture and solar and greenhouse energy. In the rural science pro-gram, students innovate clean en-ergy resources to raise fish, study green efforts and grow plants. The project educates students and pre-pares them for the future of sci-ence. Lastly, in an effort to prepare students for the business world ahead of them, Pacers teaches stu-

dents how to operate and create a strong business plan or model. Pacers’ programs are an oppor-tunity for students to learn basic business practices, while creating personal accomplishments along the way. The future of Pacers’ en-trepreneurship program will allow students to embark on their indi-vidual business ideas. Pacers encourages students and community members to de-velop resources and build rela-

tionships with individuals and institutions to better the future of Alabama students and schools. In April, various students, community members and teachers attended the Pacers 2010 Annual Conference, where each program highlighted it’s future efforts. Pacers continues its outreach through its programs and hopes in-crease the positive effect it has al-ready placed on the current chap-ters.

‘An Advocate for Programs, Policies Beneficial to Rural Alabama’

Andy Goetz

The Pacers participants met in Florala, Ala., to discuss the recent projects taking place with the help of Pacers, Inc. It was a successful day for all participants. The students had the opportunity to learn, develop and hear about projects across the state of Alabama.

Pacers Conference at Florala High, Huge SuccessBy Clarissa DenneyFlorala High School

Florala High School hosted the first Pacers Conference that was ever held at a Pacers

school with roughly 250 attendees on Tuesday, April 20. Earlier Con-ferences have typically been held in Montgomery. Pacers is a non-profit asso-ciation of rural Alabama commu-nities and their schools working together to promote good futures. The conference and projects, which have been nationally and in-ternationally recognized, are sup-ported by appropriations from the Alabama State Legislature, grants, individual donations and contribu-

tions by chapters. The conference began with a welcome by Donny Powell, Prin-cipal of Florala High and Mayor Williamson of Florala. Following the introduction, President Jean Mosley and Pac-ers Executive Director Dr. Shelton gave a report on the year’s events. Pacers supporters were given awards during this time, includ-ing Rep. Shelby, David Matthews, John Harbuck and impressive par-ticipants from varying schools, such as FCMS for their newspa-per, The Cat Chronicles. Concurrent breakout ses-sions ran throughout the day. The

Florala High Fishery provided our lunch, serving fried catfish, cheese grits, baked beans and white cake with chocolate icing. During the sessions, rep-resentatives from 13 different schools discussed their work and gave an overview of their projects. Participating schools were Florala/Lockhart—Florala MS and HS, Harlan Elementary, Flomaton HS, Loachapoka Elementary and HS, Camp Hill—Edward Bell HS, Akron Community School West, New Bern—Sunshine HS, Pack-er’s Bend—Monroe Intermediate, Sand Rock HS, Gaylesville HS, Spring Garden HS, Section HS, Beatrice—J.F. Shields HS, Oak-

man HS, Steele JHS, and Monroe Technical School. Sessions were as follows: Rural Science for Life: Aquacul-ture; Rural Science for Life: Solar/Greenhouse; Community Docu-mentation and Entrepreneurship; PACERS Community Newspaper; and a Chapter Meeting. These presentations took place at the Floral Middle School, in the Florala High School gym and library, and at W.S. Harlan El-ementary. The program was very suc-cessful, and students at each school remained undisrupted in their daily schedules.

Participants were very com-plimentary of Florala High School and its student representatives. “I enjoyed myself,” said Do-ris Patterson from Edward Bell. “I used to live here in Florala where I worked at the Franklin & Fergu-son shirt factory. I think the thing I enjoyed the most was the aqua-culture department, and I loved the fish.” “I appreciate the Florala schools,” said Shelton as the day concluded. “They stepped up. It was so important for everyone to see this first-hand. Schools are just a perfect venue for Pacers pro-grams.”

FIRST EDITION PAGE 2

Maria Padron/Loachapoka High

Above: Dorsey Walker, solar and greenhouse chapter membership con-sultant, attended the Pacers Confer-ence on April 20, where he conducted the solar and greenhouse sessions. Walker discussed the importance of the greenhouse affect and solar en-ergy, and the impact both will have on our environment in the future. Left: Walker used Florala High School’s solar efforts as an example for other schools. He spoke about the upcom-ing efforts of the solar and greenhouse program.

With the green movement playing a vital role in the future of our environment, Walker introduces students to the importance of the greenhouse effect and so-lar energy during his ses-sions at the conference.By Maria PadronLoachapoka High

Dorsey Walker, solar and greenhouse chapter mem-bership consultant, attend-

ed the Pacers Conference on April 20. Walker participated by giving solar and greenhouse sessions to the various schools in attendance. In his sessions, Walker asked his audience to consider so-lar energy as part of their every-day living. Walker spoke to the students about the importance of greenhouse efforts and solar en-ergy, and he described the proj-

ects and information “fun.” In the sessions, he explained to students how the greenhouse effect and solar efforts can be in-volved in the every part of life. Walker gave various examples of new and healthier ways of grow-ing plants. He also stressed the importance of getting energy, the need for comfortable, healthy living. Alexis Williamson, a sixth grade student at Loachapoka Ele-mentary School, said she enjoyed the session. Williamson also said the session helped her better under-stand how a greenhouse is used and how solar energy is involved in the process. Throughout the day, Walker helped his audience understand the possibilities of solar energy in heating living space and water. He also talked about a greenhouse model, and the differ-ent ways for each school to start and maintain their greenhouse.

Walker Discusses Solar Energy, Greenhouse Effect

By Hope HollandPacers Mentor

Pacers and its partners continuously increase their work with schools

and the sciences. Through the aquaculture program John Harbuck, the aquaculture chapter membership and lead-ership consultant, can educate teachers and students in the Alabama area to develop and maintain aquaculture units. Harbuck spent several years working with the Fresh Water Institute in West Virgin-ia, where he learned the nec-essary things to move forward with the project. He began working with Pacers in 1992 with a strong interest in bettering the way science is taught to high school students. “To test my idea, I started the first aquaculture program at Florala High School,” Har-buck said. “Pacers was very helpful in obtaining funds and giving me the opportunity to travel to West Virginia, where I got the training and information that I needed.” According to Harbuck, about 10 years ago, Pacers and others funded the new facility, which is now in use at Florala High School in Florala, Ala. It is recognized across the southeast as a state-of-the-art facility, and it continues to be a source for teaching science and math.

With Pacers, the schools are provided with professional consultants, workshops, sup-port for teachers and materials to install recirculation systems. After retiring from teach-ing in 2002, Harbuck joined Pacers as a board member and later as a consultant. He trav-els across the state, working hard to set up aqua programs in small school. The aquaculture programs act as a service and teaching facility to educate students in science, business, time man-agement and teamwork by helping them become fish bi-ologists. The students use the tools and concepts necessary to raise healthy fish. This year’s conference was an opportunity for stu-dents to learn more about the program and its effects on oth-er schools in order to increase participation across the state. Between Harbuck’s ef-forts and those put forth by Pacers, various systems have been opened. In the past two years, Gaylesville, Loachapoka and Florala schools have joined the program and installed systems. “A new program was started at Flomaton High School in 2008-09, and work is underway for adding a sys-tem at Section High School,” Harbuck said. “Schools and communities interested in the program should contact ad-min@pacersinc.org.”

Using Aquaculture to Enhance Science Education

Andy Goetz

At Florala Middle School, Pacers has helped install a Aquascience and Greenhouse Center where students can learn how to grow plants and maintain marine life. As part of the Pacers science projects, Florala sets a great example as to how students can benefit and learn from hands-on experience.

As newspapers continue to change and develop, Pac-ers newspaper participants strive to keep up with the industry developments. From print to online media, the schools are creating Facebook pages, interac-tive websites and blogs to integrate the changes into their communities. By Amanda CrawfordSection High School

Some schools have big sci-ence fairs with the ever-pop-ular volcano that spews over

when a certain chemical reaction occurs. A blue ribbon, at least on T.V., always is awarded to that particular volcano. Other schools have band competitions, spelling bees, or they may go to state in

some kind of sport. However, for the 12 schools that attended the 2010 PACERS community newspaper confer-ence, it was all about the ink. Approximately 400 people attended the 2010 PACERS con-ference, and 204 staffers and con-tributors were involved in the com-munity newspaper project during the 2008-2009 school year. At the 2010 meeting, schools were introduced and given and op-portunity to speak on behalf of their own projects. The reports included how many editions were put out, what they’ve learned from this ex-perience, and sharing plans for the next big step for their school pa-per. “[The community newspaper project is] an academic project that Pacers promotes in schools to be supported by local communities,” said Nikki Lane, the newspaper chapter membership consultant. Schools in attendance this

year put out anywhere from one to four editions, while others are still working on their first. Several Pacers schools this year are adjusting to new sponsors or dealing with printing problems. Like most Pacers staffers will tell you, the newspaper is not an easy business. Through the good and the bad, the Pacers schools are learn-ing about both themselves and their surrounding communities. “We didn’t realize how big our community was until we start-ed selling papers,” said a repre-sentative of the Camp Hill Times. “People were coming up to us and asking when our next edition was.” Another topic of much dis-cussion was the next big step for these programs. For some schools it will be the challenge of getting their first edition of the year out. For staff-ers on the Akron Rambler it will be adjusting to a new school size.

Putting the News in Newspaper

By Jealae JacksonSunshine High School

The 2010 Pacers Conference includ-ed a community documentation and entrepreneurship session led

by Andy Goetz, the chapter membership leader and consultant. Florala High School and Section High School were among the schools be-ing reviewed for the session. Clarissa Denny and Justin Seay were the speakers for Florala High School. The discussed their document, which was about how generations have changed over time.

Their documentation included quotes from the elder people in the sur-rounding community. For the Florala High School stu-dents, the project was included in the classroom curriculum. Denny and Seay said they put 100% into the project, be-cause it was worth two and half test grades. During their research and reporting, the students came to find the differences between past generations and the current time. For example, the past generation used $1 to go on a date to the movies,

while a date now requires at least $20 or more. During the session, Denny was happy with their accomplishments, and said she plans to invite everyone who was involved for a celebration upon the completion of the project. The session was an all-in-all suc-cess, and the students project proved to be an interesting documentation of gen-erations. They said they learned the differ-ence between now and then. Representing Section High School was speakers Augusta Hailine, Holli

Walden, Gabe Bailer and Erin Massey. Their project covered the changes in gen-eration as well. However, during their project, the students invited the elder people to come to the school for a session. The students learned about the dif-ferences in generations as they ate lunch with their guests. The community documentation session is part of the arts and sciences as-pect of Pacers, and it is an opportunity for students to learn writing, communica-tion, computer, public relations and busi-ness skills.

Pacers Students Document Generations With Video

FIRST EDITION PAGE 3

By Hope HollandPacers Mentor

The Pacers Community Newspaper Project Awards Competition 2009-2010

was in full force this past confer-ence. Pacers newspaper chapter membership and leadership con-sultant, Nikki Lane, was excited to see a high number of submissions this year. All school participating in the Pacers Community Newspa-per Projects are eligible to submit entries to the newspaper competi-tions. Following the entry submis-sion period, the entries are judged by a panel of professional journal-ists and Pacers consultants. The Best Paper Award is giv-en to the paper that demonstrates a high quality as demonstrated in layout and design, writing, fea-tures and sections. Because a special emphasis is placed on papers that report on local topics and those that give value to communities, the award went to Section High School’s April 2010 edition of The Lion’s

Roar. Section High School’s news-paper also took home Best Business Plan and Best Over-all Layout and Design. The Li-on’s Roar received several other awards for staff member, such as Best Community Article for Whit-ney Stiefel, Best Sports Article for Amanda Crawford, Best Business Article for Caitlin Brock and last-ly, best photograph was awarded to Cody Evans. Meanwhile, the Most Com-prehensive Involvement Award was given to two worthy papers, Florala City Middle School’s Cat Chronicles and Akron Community School West, The Akron Rambler. The Cat Chronicles also received Best Ad Sales and Best School Article written by Victoria Powell and Josie Dorsey. Best Community Article was awarded Regiana Fields of The Akron Rambler and Jamie Binns of The Sunshine Times. Lastly, the Akron Rambler took home the Best Page Graphics award for their Fall 2009 edition.

The Award Goes To...

Andy Goetz

Students gathered in various rooms, gymnasiums and outside areas to discuss their projects with Pacers. New Bern Sun-shine High School was in full attendance this year.

This year brings good news for Pacers. After struggling with the potential for closure, several schools will remain open in the upcoming year. Celebrations are in order for Edward Bell High School in Camp Hill, Akron High School and Akron West in Akron and Pintlala Elementary in Pint-lala.By Dr. Jack SheltonPacers Director

Since 2004 Pacers has been orga-nized through local chapters. This year Pintlala formed a chapter and

joined Pacers. Camp Hill’s Edward Bell High School and Packers Bend’s Mon-roe Intermediate chapters have initiated community gardens as local projects. Although the projects will involve students, they are the first community-sponsored projects in Pacers, and dem-onstrate the potential that Pacers has for assisting in local community develop-ment. Steele developed a local chapter website (www.steelepacers.com). The Loachapoka chapter has taken the initiative in helping to renovate the greenhouse and aqua facility at the ele-mentary school and has held successful fundraisers.

Pacers’ future is very dependent upon successfully organizing its current local chapters and recruiting new mem-bers. For further details on chapters see http://www.pacersinc.org/chapters.html.

MAKING PROGRESS

In 2009-2010 good progress was made in all Pacers school project areas: rural science (aquaculture, solar, garden-ing), community documentation, entre-preneurship and publishing. In aquaculture, new programs were established at Monroe Tech, to serve students from Shields and other small schools in Monroe County, and Floma-ton. Local grants-supplementing Pacers contributions-made it possible for Flom-aton High School to build a new aquacul-ture facility. Section High School greatly expanded its aquaculture program during the year fully utilizing an outstanding fa-cility. Florala High School continued its long-term work in aquaculture expand-ing its facilities and the scope of its pro-gram. Gaylesville developed a new sys-tem and plans with Pacers to add a pas-sive solar greenhouse to its aqua build-ing. Florala Middle School added a ter-rific hydroponics component to its aqua unit, and Loachapoka Elementary con-tinues its program. These developments in aquaculture were matched by ongoing facility and

program building in both solar and gar-dening. New passive solar greenhous-es were completed at Florala Middle School, Edward Bell, and Florala High School, and renovations and additions were made at Section and Sand Rock. Passive solar workshops were held at Edward Bell, Monroe Intermediate, and Pintlala where students also used the solar living lab for alternative energy studies. Students in several schools dem-onstrated strong interest in their commu-nities and their ability to undertake suc-cessful documentation programs. At Monroe Intermediate students published a very fine school/community annual. Section High School students con-tinued to work on a program that will result in a video, exploring important themes in the lives of elders whose life stories they have recorded. Harlan Elementary continued its ef-forts to document the history of Lockhart and added to the Lockhart history room at the school. Florala High School students main-tained their photography program that for many years has created still and video images documenting their community. Funds are available for new programs in 2010-2011.

INNOVATION AND BUSINESS

The big news in entrepreneurship was the opening of the student-operated

Section Feed and Seed store. With the assistance of Barry Bailey, former Pacers consultant, students and faculty at Section High School prepared a business plan for which they received venture capital from Pacers. Following its plan and using a fa-cility donated by a local family, Section opened its feed and seed store this spring. The program is an important model for Pacers. Also during the year several PAC-ERS newspapers prepared business plans as part of the effort to strengthen the proj-ect and improve papers’ capacity to make money. Funds are available for new pro-grams in 2010-2011 (http://www.pac-ersinc.org/news.html). Twelve schools participated this year in the newspaper project, which has had a successful run of almost 20 years. The project continues to receive critical support from Auburn University’s Journalism Department, which provided a free-of-cost newspaper workshop in the fall of 2009. During the year consultants, stu-dents and sponsors have been making plans to develop online formats for the papers. Student interest in the move is strong and probably by the end of the se-mester there will be some online publish-ing. Because it reaches a wider (unlim-ited) audience, uses current technology, and is cheaper and less complicated, on-line publishing is an important option for the papers.

Look at the Pacers 2009, 2010 Year in ReviewFIRST EDITION PAGE 4

Andy Goetz

Above: Students, teachers and community members celebrated the grand opening of their latest endeavor --- a feed and seed store in Section, Ala. With the help of Pacers’ entrepreneurship program incentives, students and schools are given the opportunity to present a business plan and innovative idea. Section High School received assistant from former Pacers consultant and received venture capital from Pacers.

Right: Florala High School constructed and completed a passive solar greenhouse as a part of the Pacers science program. The students are learning green initiatives and gaining hands-on experience.