Local Group Closing Achievement Gap in 21st Century

In 2008, Bolingbrook resident and retired College of DuPage administrator Sadie France Flucas put a plan in motion to involve community members in a grassroots effort to close the academic achievement gap between students attending local schools.

The academic achievement gap refers to the disparity between the performance of groups of students defined by race, gender and income.

Flucas drew heavily from experience gained in leadership roles from COD’s Community Development Department and Public Policy Institute. Her vision involved establishing a link between community and schools in order to assure an equitable learning experience for all students.

To this end, the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group, known primarily by its acronym BAAWG was formed. At its inception, BAAWG drew from a large citizen base where diverse issues were brought to light through monthly forums.

The manner in which the group solicited information and included partners garnered national attention. In 2009, a film crew dispatched by the Kettering Foundation captured conversations between action groups.

Many local individuals such as Bolingbrook High School Principal Jim Mitchem are featured on the educational video presentation that is planned to be featured on PBS. A part of the video has been released and is posted on BAAWG Facebook page.

Today, with leadership in place that includes Flucas’ daughter Dorletta Flucas-Payton the letters of the acronym BAAWG have been changed.

This year the mission of the group remains the same. But its scope includes not only Bolingbrook but all schools that make up Valley View School District 365U.

"The leadership felt it would be more appropriate to rename ourselves," Payton said. "BAAWG now stands for Building Academic Achievement Within this Generation."

BAAWG consists of an ever-growing team of concerned citizens who have assumed responsibility for addressing issues that contribute to the achievement gap. Leading a team of around 40 concerned citizens is Executive Director Leroy Brown Jr., first chairman Chrystal Hansen, second chairman Dorletta Flucas-Payton, secretary Patti Chow, treasurer Gwendolyn While and member at large April Ballinger.

Recently, the thrust of monthly meetings (held every third Saturday at 11 a.m.) has included outreach to insure proper representation of the Latino community.

"We generally meet at Living Water Church, however our meeting on (Feb. 19) will be held in the library of the school district," Payton said. "Its no secret that the largest groups affected are Blacks and Hispanics. We believe that a dialog about issues affecting the Latino community should include perspectives from those who are experts in the area of bilingual education as well as those who are living it every day."

BAAWG’s hope is to uncover deficits, as was the case two years ago when the Parent Education Initiative was launched. Many students who are victims of the academic achievement gap come from households in which the parents may or may not have attained more than a high school education.

The idea was that parents unknowingly held their children back from exploring post secondary education because they knew little about it. Therefore, the Parent Education Initiative consisted of a series of free seminars that educated parents on how to equip the student with the tools they would seek and gain acceptance to a higher learning institution.

Another way BAAWG positively impacted community was through the organization of the FANS program.

"FANS (Friends, Families and Neighbors Supporting Students) was our way to have extra eyes and ears at the high school." Brown said."The program grew out of a conversation at one of our meetings about the school needing help to monitor activity."

 The idea was that students were more likely to carry themselves in a responsible and respectful manner in an environment that includes community members they readily recognize.

 Conversely, BAAWG could gain valuable input by having volunteers ‘on the inside’ to understand what students face. Further, volunteers can readily pinpoint and alert school administrators should unusual activity appear to be brewing.

 If you are interested in learning more about what BAAWG does, Living Water Church will host two community forums on April 16 and April 19. For more information, please contact Brown at 630-965-9432.