Orchard parking project-based learning turns into approved district project
CMSD NEWS BUREAU
12/20/2021
CMSD CEO Eric Gordon recently made the following announcement to a roomful of Orchard STEM students -- The district is using their solution to fix the school’s parking problem.
“I thought it was just a math assignment. I didn’t know it was going that far,” said Jomar, an eighth grader.
Gordon, with other District leaders and an engineer from Moody Nolan, had returned to the school to present the students’ plan to add more spaces.
“There are not many students in this country or this city that can say the work they shared is being used because they said a problem needed to solved,” Gordon told the students.
During a “demonstration of learning” in October, second, fifth and eighth graders proposed remedies for a parking shortage to Gordon, District leaders and City of Cleveland Councilman Kerry McCormack.
The students’ research showed the school has 45 parking spaces for 55 teachers who work at Orchard every day. They said some teachers are forced to park on the street.
Orchard STEM students measuring the property
As a math assignment, students measured the green space on the property and determined it is possible to add 10 more spaces if a garden is moved.
CMSD architect Hollie Dellisanti presented the district’s plans, which include adding more than 20 spots, double the number in the students’ plan.
“I think it was really cool because they acknowledged us,” said Jomar, one of the students who gave during the demonstration of learning. “I think it is better, because if there are extra spaces teachers won’t have to park on the street.”
Jomar says this assignment was life changing for him. He first thought about becoming an architect in the fifth grade. But this assignment helped him realize that is the career he wants to pursue.
“I really liked drawing, planning and sharing it to Eric Gordon,” he said.
Other students said they are also thinking about becoming an architect as a result of this project.
“I hope this is a moment that no matter what you do, it reminds you of your power, your voice and your ability to be an advocate,” Gordon told the students during the District’s presentation. “It is your ability to do anything you want.”
After years of struggling to find parking spaces at Orchard, teachers Tamera Zelwin and Deborah Schmidt decided to make their challenge the focus of a project-based learning assignment.
“We both were trained in project-based learning 10 years ago, said Zelwin. “We have already had this lens for STEM and problem-based learning. And we wanted to make it real and authentic for the kids, so they would be engaged.”
Zelwin said community partner and director of Great Lakes Education Exchange John McGovern will help the students move the garden to another location on the property to make way for the new parking spaces.
Dellisanti told the students it will take several months to design the new parking lot, hire a contractor and obtain building permits. Construction is expected to begin once the school year is over in the spring.
Jomar says he can’t wait.
“I think that later in my life I will look back and see that I made a change,” he said.