COLUMN: Carmel Hopkins

Several months ago my friend Glenn Barton, a honcho at Stewart Title of Nevada, approached me about a reading program he was involved with at Marion Cahlan Elementary School in North Las Vegas.

Barton knows I'm a book keeper (not the accountant type, but the type who buys a book and keeps it forever), and asked if I'd be interested in reading to the children at the school.

I told him it would be my privilege, then never heard another word about it -- until May 9. That's when I was made aware of the Focus School Project run by the Clark County School District.

Candy Schneider, who participates in community involvement with the district, told me the project has nearly 70 schools partnered with more than 100 businesses, involving 70,000 students.

"These are high-needs schools," Schneider said with her characteristic enthusiasm. "These are schools in the older parts of town that have been neglected as new schools go up where new neighborhoods are being built."

Schneider told me that only four home builders currently are involved in the Focus School Project. They are: KB Home, which works with Robert Taylor Elementary and Sue H. Morrow Elementary, both in Henderson; Centex Homes dba Real Homes with Reynaldo Martinez Elementary in North Las Vegas; Richmond American Homes with Wendell Williams Elementary (formerly Madison Elementary) in Las Vegas; and American Premiere Homes with Cahlan Elementary.

"The home builders seem to get involved with the schools that are in the new communities they are building and the older schools fall by the wayside," Schneider said. "I'd love to see more builders pay attention to these high-needs schools."

So, when I headed toward Cahlan Elementary on May 9, I really didn't realize where it was until I saw the sign, "Donna Street." There's an address whose reputation precedes it: the street has its own probation and parole office; a few years ago, it was the turf of the Donna Street Crips.

I carefully drove just under the speed limit to the end of the street, where the school opens up the block. After parking and speedily exiting my car, I saw hundreds of children sitting cross-legged on the grass, watching tradespeople build a playhouse for the school.

Todd Stratton, regional vice president of American Premiere, told me the Career Day program was one of several his company is involved in with Cahlan Elementary. Other programs included giving 920 pupils Christmas bags filled with school supplies. Another was the donation of 150 Leap Frog Pads and 300 accompanying books -- a program valued at $12,000. And the aforementioned One-on-One reading program.

The playhouse was built in record time. John Armstrong, the builder's director of construction, credited the subcontractors for their donation of time and materials to make the project a success.

Stratton credited Principal Jean Jackson for making the youngsters a success.

"These children love and respect her," Stratton said. "The first time we met, there was a room full of yelling children. She held up a fist and let out one finger. By the time she got to the third finger, the room was totally silent. Once we met Dr. Jackson, we knew we couldn't have made a better choice."

OK, now for a heart wrencher. Barton told me he volunteered to contact Office Depot for the goodie bags that were given out at Christmastime.

"I give all the credit to Office Depot manager Jim Guanci, who gave us rock-bottom prices," Barton said. "We also received splendid cooperation from the Target on Rainbow (Boulevard), which gave us a great price on the special crayons the school district requires."

Barton joined the people from American Premiere when the goodie bags were delivered to the children, who he said acted as though they were being given the world.

"I was wearing a suit (he always wears a suit) and a little boy came up to me and shyly asked, `Are you the president?' I could have cried."

Help me get the lump out of my throat.

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

Real Estate home