Despite flaws, deep pride at East
Justin Murphy
@citizenmurphy
Monday is the last day of classes at East High School. When students start again in the fall, it will be under the terms of a partnership with the University of Rochester's Warner School of Education, yet to be finalized.
It's the most recent in a long series of efforts to improve the city's largest school, and the one whose population most clearly reflects the challenges that afflict Rochester and its youths in general: 88 percent of students eligible for free and reduced lunch, 12 percent with limited English proficiency, 26 percent with disabilities.
Some of those challenges, like the over-large population, have been there since East High School first opened its doors on Alexander Street in 1903. Others have evolved with the city population, exacerbated by the flight of the middle class and persistent racial and socioeconomic segregation.
What remains, across generations of East students, teachers and administrators is a sense of pride and history and a conviction that the school, despite its flaws, is a valuable asset to the community.
"East High has always been open to everybody," said optics teacher Paul Conrow, class of 1995. "There's enormous pride in that. There's a misconception about how terrible it must be, how people are always getting into fights, that it's the toughest school around and nothing good comes out of it. But you ask the students, and 98 percent of them would give it rave reviews."
Conrow is one of several current East staff members who came through the school as students, but his connection goes far beyond that.
His grandfather attended in the 1920s before dropping out to take a job at Gleason Works. His parents were ranked first and second in the class of 1968 and sent their six children there, too.
Conrow has taught at East since 2001, and has five kids of his own whom he plans to send there as well.
"We think the benefits of an education that's open to anyone in the community are (worthwhile)," he said. "It just has such a strong emotional mark on so many people."
By the turn of the 20th century, it had become apparent that the Rochester Free Academy on Fitzhugh Street was no longer sufficient to serve the city's booming youth population. Money was found for two new buildings, East and West high schools; the former opened April 15, 1903.
"When a family moves from the old house with its inconveniences into the new that is superior, there is great satisfaction," acting schools superintendent George Forbes said that day, according to the Rochester Union and Advertiser. "The new high school building is a model and is not surpassed in rooms or equipment by any school in the country. ... Rochester may well be proud of her new school."
The original East High School, on Alexander Street near East Main Street, was built for about 1,000 students. It had separate entrances for boys and girls, sophisticated science labs and one of the first school cafeterias in the country.
Albert Wilcox was appointed principal in 1903, and remained in that role for 35 years. His successor, William Wolgast, continued for another 19 years, until 1958, marking more than half a century under two leaders.
At that time, there were three academic tracks: general, for college-bound students; commercial, for prospective white-collar workers; and "practical," or vocational.
Arthur Agnello, class of 1944, recalled the dedication of the staff and administration. One day, Wolgast called him into the office and announced he'd be attending Union College in Schenectady to study electrical engineering.
Agnello's parents, Sicilian immigrants, were raising seven children on $18 a week. He told Wolgast he couldn't afford room and board, even with a scholarship, so Agnello's elementary school principal loaned him $200 to cover it. He eventually went to law school at Cornell University and became a lawyer.
"Even though we were poor, we were fortunate to have people willing to help us," he said. "The teachers I came into contact with were very, very good people. They paid attention to your needs and were very conscientious to find out what talent you had that they could encourage."
Joseph Bellanca, class of 1955, also was encouraged by his East teachers to go to college and went on to a career in education. He recalled the respect that Wolgast commanded at Friday morning assemblies in the school auditorium.
"Once the back door opened and the principal started walking in, the entire assembly stood up and was silent as he walked up the back aisle. He'd look out at the audience, and you'd swear he was looking directly at you."
As Rochester's population continued to grow, the overcrowding that had plagued the Free Academy became a problem at East as well. Students were sent to annexes on Chestnut, Fitzhugh and Goodman streets and University Avenue.
In 1946, students petitioned the school board for a new building.
"As long as 25 years ago, the recreation facilities were considered antiquated, according to some of the alumni, and they've grown no better," the Democrat and Chronicle reported. "And they added that a school with so great a past ought to be dedicated to a great future."
For about a decade, the city and school district were consumed with the project of building a new East High. After an extensive search, they settled on the site at Main Street and Culver Road, where the University of Rochester had playing fields.
The city paid $650,000 to buy the land in 1953, and after several delays and cost overruns, the new school was built and opened in the fall of 1959.
From its inception to the 1960s, East High was a neighborhood school, drawing immigrants from near the public market and more affluent children from the Browncroft neighborhood.
Beginning in the 1960s, changing city demographics started leading to strife inside the school.
"Whenever you have racial tensions in the community, they are bound to spill over into the schools," principal Charles Clark said on the occasion of racially motivated fights in 1963. "We have youngsters from neighborhoods where there is tension day and night, and this is likely to be reflected in school the next day."
Larry Neal, a 1971 graduate who now teaches chemistry at East High, recalled a chair-throwing brawl in the cafeteria that closed the school down for a week. He used to hide his lunch money in his shoe to avoid shakedowns in the bathroom.
"People remember the good old days, but we had some bad times," he said. "It's always been a tough school."
From 1970 to 1985, the minority population went from one-third to two-thirds; it has since gone up to 90 percent. The poverty rate also increased precipitously, from 20 percent in 1970 to 40 percent in 1985.
That, combined with a student population of over 2,000, led to more and more students falling through the cracks. But those who succeeded described an environment with many outlets for talented and motivated students.
Deirdre Flynn, class of 1988, was in an accelerated academic program and went to Columbia University. She's now a lawyer for the University of Rochester.
"I had teachers who were really focused on challenging the kids at the school who were academically inclined," she said. "I was afraid when I got to (Columbia) that since I went to a city school, I wouldn't be prepared. But I found I actually was."
In 1991, Superintendent Manuel Rivera singled East High out as a school in need of intervention. Low attendance, high student turnover and violence — all common problems today — were cited as serious problems.
Anibal Soler Jr., the current East principal, was a student there from 1992 to 1994 before his family moved to Greece for his last two years of high school. He recalled a strong arts program and many extracurriculars, but comparatively low standards.
"Leaving East and going to a suburban school was night and day in terms of students' self-expectations," he said. "In Greece, doing well was the norm. At East, it was the exception."
With a graduation rate below 50 percent and one student in five absent from school every day, those doing well are still an exception. But East's defenders are quick to point out the successes.
The students in the optics program, for instance, made and distributed free eyeglasses to 200 Rochester students grades K-12 this year, Conrow said. The Teaching and Learning Institute and the culinary program are frequently and justly praised.
Regarding the students who aren't being prepared for work or college, those same East High adherents say most of the blame belongs to political and district leaders who haven't supported the region's most vulnerable students.
Agnello, the 1944 graduate, noted how his experience as a poor student is different from that of students today.
"When I see what the kids are going through today, I feel sad because it doesn't seem like anyone's paying attention," he said. "There was a different kind of community in terms of helping neighbors."
Bellanca still gets together every month with his old friends from the class of 1955. He attended East High's 100th anniversary in 2003, where bandleader and 1928 alumnus Mitch Miller led the festivities.
After speaking with current teachers and students, Bellanca came away believing the school spirit he remembers is still intact.
"Very honestly, I'm surprised when I read some of the things that apparently have happened with the low graduation rate and the bad press," he said. "We always thought it was a pretty special place."
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Changes looming
In March, the New York State Education Department informed the City School District that East High could close because it failed to make required academic progress.
It gave the district five options to be taken before the 2014-15 school year begins, including shuttering the school altogether.
In May, the state gave preliminary approval to a collaboration between the district and the University of Rochester for a takeover at East.
As the educational partner organization, or EPO, UR's Warner School of Education would serve as superintendent of East, with authority to change scheduling, curriculum and other aspects of the school, with the money allotted to it by the school board. The leader there would be Steve Uebbing, a professor and former superintendent in Canandaigua.
Batten: 'There's a role for people like me'
Before Kim Batten was an Olympic silver medalist or world-record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, she was a three-sport star at East High School and the beneficiary of a strong set of mentors and supporters.
"The leadership in guiding my life and career to where I am today is based on the foundation around sports at East," she said. "Those were strong leaders who were very influential to student-athletes like me."
Batten, a 1987 graduate, now lives in Atlanta, Ga., and works as an athletic trainer and corporate coach. She credited Betty Rich, a longtime East coach, and others with keeping her focused.
"I remember going into the gym every single day, no matter how I was feeling about the day, and (being) in a great mood based on my interactions there," she said. "Even if was just in between classes to say hello, we always walked away feeling loved, like we belonged. They kept us inspired."
Batten doesn't return to Rochester often, but her mother still lives here. During her running career, she often worked with East athletes and said she's willing to find a way to get involved again.
"The challenges for kids are different now, and it takes unique individuals to provide leadership and guidance for them," she said. "However I can be involved, I'd love to. I understand Rochester is in a difficult time as a whole, and there's a role for people like me coming back to help."
— Justin Murphy, staff writer