It's almost like deja-vu all over again, trash-wise. The Adopt-a-Block program, which failed in 1995, has been reinstated in an effort to keep open-campus. This time, according to teachers and some neighbors, it seems to be working.
Various groups have "adopted" blocks in the two-block radius around the school. Clubs and classes responsible for keeping these areas garbage-free include: speech and debate, Astronomy Club, annual, FHA/Hero, Student Council, JROTC, Chess Club, cheerleaders, French Club, Kaber and Longhart's calculus classes, VICA and period three aerobics. The kids and their sponsors take time within or outside of the school day to clean up.
"I wasn't willing to give up a whole class period each week, so the kids divided up into teams of four," said Lori Smithwick-Hann of her aerobics fitness class. "Each group misses maybe 15 to 20 minutes of class every third week."
"The other day, my fifth period calculus class went out," said Larry Kaber. It took us only a half hour to go around the block. "The interesting part is that after we'd gone out for a half hour, we came back and got the same lesson done which took my other class the entire hour to finish."
Despite the huge amount of trash reported and collected by neighbors, many teachers claim there isn't a lot to pick up.
"There hasn't been much to do. I recommended that the kids go introduce themselves so the neighbors know who to call if there is a problem," said Geoffrey Hughes about his Astronomy Club members. "I just don't want it to get to the point that we're cleaning up peoples' yard work. We should stick to cleaning up the mess which kids are making."
Introductions are not the only public relations moves taking place.
"The foods and nutrition class made cookies the other day and took them to the neighbors," said Shirley Spurgeon, head of FHA. "I think that people are pretty receptive about trying to be good neighbors. The kids haven't minded doing it either."
"As soon as one neighbor saw us out there, she was out too," said Smithwick-Hann. "She thanked us for doing this."
That neighbor was Marlene Allen. Allen said she and her husband have been living next to the high school and picking trash off their lawn for years.
Although many neighbors seem to like the program, the Allens don't think it's going to work.
"I'd rather live next to a topless strip joint than this school," said Glen Allen. "I think it'd be a better neighbor."
"Last year I'd go over to the parking lot and pick up trash, but I was told not to," said Allen. "I grit my teeth and try not to look at it."
Allen appreciates the effort put into the Adopt-a-Block program, but doesn't believe that it's enough.
"The whole aerobics class came over on a Sunday and once on another day and did a fabulous job," said Allen. "When I talked to them about this parking lot, they said it would be cleaned as needed. As far as I'm concerned, if they want me to call them when it's needed, I'll be calling every day. I called and asked, but they haven't come and picked it up yet."
Another neighbor, Geo Herrin, has a different view: "I noticed the kids out cleaning up. It's been better since they came. They did a great job."