[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 54 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE WEED AND SEED PROGRAM WORKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, Members often take to the floor to talk 
about our government, how it is working or not working. In fact, I have 
done that myself occasionally.
  Today, my colleagues, I will talk about a government program that 
does work. My colleagues will hear about how a little funding in the 
hands of a caring and committed group of individuals can make a huge 
difference in the lives of hundreds of young people. I want to share 
with my colleagues today a story about the Weed and Seed Program that 
has helped transform the Howard Middle School in my hometown of Ocala, 
Florida.
  In 1993, I contacted the Attorney General, Janet Reno, in support of 
bringing the Weed and Seed Program to Florida. Since then, communities 
near and about my district, including Gainesville, Jacksonville, and 
Ocala have received funding through this program.
  The Weed and Seed Program coordinates the use of law enforcement and 
criminal prosecution to weed out criminal offenders in the targeted 
neighborhoods and ``seeds'' the community with housing employment and 
various social programs. I have long supported the goals of the Weed 
and Seed Program because, Madam Speaker, it is community based and not 
an entangling government bureaucracy.
  The Howard Middle School in my home town of Ocala, Florida, has 
nurtured this seed into a wonderful product. The school has developed 
creative after-school activities that keep the students positively 
engaged. This is important because, as we all know, Madam Speaker, 
nearly 5 million school-aged children spend time without adult 
supervision during a typical week. Research indicates that during these 
unsupervised hours, children are more likely to engage in at-risk 
behavior, such as crime and drug use. In fact, the FBI reports that 
most juvenile crime takes place between the hours of 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  Unfortunately, 70 percent of all public schools do not offer after-
school programs. Howard Middle School is one of the valuable 
exceptions. Last week I visited this school to witness firsthand the 
community services it has developed. I was greeted by the principal, 
Scott Hackmyer; Joan Spainhower, public relations officer; Dan Greer, 
safe and drug free school specialist; and Ms. Myers, the comprehensive 
health coordinator.
  I was escorted to a small conference room where the principal gave an 
overview of the program. During this briefing a student, Sharika 
Palmer, an 8th grader in the Hair and Nails Program, instructed me on 
how a manicure program is implemented. Miss Sharon Samuels is one of 
the teacher assistants hired using Weed and Seed money, and she created 
the Hair and Nails Program. Coach Ron Nealis is another caring 
individual who was hired using these funds.
  The principal has staffed the school with dedicated individuals who 
give unselfishly with their time and talents, including Barbara 
Flemming, who coaches ``The Steppers,'' dancers; and Ms. Weaver and Ms. 
Faso, who coach the cheerleaders. Together they have created an after-
school support group, rich with instruction in many studies and 
activities, and providing supervision during those critical hours when 
most parents are at work.
  There are sports, cheerleading, dancing groups, chess clubs, and the 
Hair and Nail group. Unique to this program is a ``neighborhood 
mentor,'' a program designed solely for those children who ride the bus 
to school and, consequently, must leave school at the normal time. 
Instead of depriving them of these special programs, arrangements were 
made with two neighborhood churches to allow a teacher to accompany 
these children and use the building for these programs. The principal 
has received a commitment from six churches to participate next year, 
meaning that after-school mentoring will reach into virtually every 
student's neighborhood.
  The coach told us an example of a young person, a young man, who was 
getting D's and F's in school until he got into the coach's fitness and 
basketball program. Now, I am happy to say this student is an honor 
roll student. This last semester there are 436 students on the honor 
roll, and that is nearly double the numbers before this after-school 
program was instituted.
  Not only have the students become better students, but vandalism and 
police calls in the area have greatly diminished. The principal is to 
be commended and his caring faculty and staff have indeed put the Weed 
and Seed money to exceptional use. I congratulate him, the staff, the 
faculty, and, most importantly, the students of Howard Middle School in 
Ocala, Florida for a job well done. Keep up the outstanding work.

                          ____________________