[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 161 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING PHILIP JOHNSTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 8, 2010

  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Philip 
Johnston, Chair of the Board of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, for his 
stewardship in the opening of the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools 
Complex in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2010. Named after 
U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, my uncle, the schools are devoted to 
social justice. Phil's work on behalf of the young people of Los 
Angeles is simply remarkable.
  The 24-acre, $578 million schools complex on Wilshire Boulevard 
consists of six different schools for grades kindergarten to 12, with 
more than 4,000 students, the vast majority of them from Latino and 
low-income neighborhoods. Philip, 85, was a driving force behind the 
project, which was fraught with obstacles from the start, including 
Donald Trump's plans to build five towers at the site, one of them 125 
stories tall. Later, Wal-Mart wanted to put a store there.
  Senator Kennedy's commitment to social justice is evident throughout 
the campus with murals, quotations and similar exhibits.
  Originally designed as a large, comprehensive K-12 school that would 
house more than 2,400 students, the school district determined in 2008 
that the facility would host wall-to-wall pilot schools, which opened 
this fall. Pilot schools are innovative small schools that have 
charter-like autonomy over their budget, curriculum and assessment, 
governance, schedule and staffing, but are part of the public school 
system.
  Among the new school's many features is a 500-seat auditorium and 
cafe at the site of the old Coconut Grove nightclub, built adjacent to 
the hotel in the 1920s, where LA's rich and famous would go to party. 
Howard Hughes was a regular there and several Academy Awards events 
were held there during the 1930s.
  Groundbreaking on the new schools took place four years ago.
  Phil has been instrumental in the improvement of public education in 
Los Angeles. I wish him all the best as he continues his important work 
on behalf of young people. He will continue to carry my own admiration, 
and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

                          ____________________