Start the Presses: 'Roosevelt Highlights' to Resume Publishing

by Paul Kozakiewicz

The award-winning journalism program that publishes "Roosevelt Highlights" has been restored at Roosevelt Middle School and students are hustling to get out the first issue of the year.

The journalism course was canceled at the start of the school year, despite the fact that numerous students signed up to take the class. Roosevelt teacher Nancy Maxson, who has taught the program for the past seven years, joined with students, parents and teachers to fight the loss.

After communications with Roosevelt Principal Diane Panagtacos were deemed unproductive, concerned speakers addressed a SF School Board meeting with schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman in attendance.

After she heard the plight of the concerned students, parents and teachers, Ackerman called for a Dec. 3 meeting at her office. During the meeting, the superintendent assured them that the class would be reinstated for the remainder of this academic year and in the future, and that funds for the program would be found, according to Thomas Hammel, one of the parents at the meeting.

The reinstated journalism program at Roosevelt is now an after-school program, with Maxson back at the helm. Maxson will be paid for teaching the course.

Twenty-seven students signed up for the program, which will once again produce the 73-year-old "Roosevelt Highlights." The expenses for the remainder of the current school year are being paid for by the Richmond Beacon Center.

According to Maxson, trouble started brewing for the journalism program after a student ran a letter to the editor critical of the principal. The principal allegedly called the student to her office and berated the student for the letter. Later, the journalism class was canceled and financing was diverted to a Yearbook Class. Panagtacos did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Maxson said editors for the newspaper were elected Jan. 20 and the program hopes to produce two or three newspapers before the school year ends. The first issue is slated for publication in early February.