Perry Gets A Promise

Perry Robertson wanted the mayor to know the school system is behind the times on technology. So he popped by City Hall to tell her — and left with a follow-up promise.

Robertson (at right in photo) was one of more than 20 people who dropped into the Mayor Toni Harp’s office after 5 p.m. Tuesday for an inaugural ​“night in” with the her and her city department heads.

Some, like Robertson, arrived solo to speak their piece with the mayor. Others like Rosa White (pictured) and her fellow senior citizens came as a group to see the mayor. White and co. wanted assurances from Harp that the city will look out for them during the renovations of the Dixwell/Newhallville Senior Center at the Communtiy Outreach Center, which will soon house a homeless facility for teens. They told the mayor know they should have a center just for them, not a shared space with teens. ​“We’ve got nothing against the youth,” White said. ​“But we’re taxpayers, and we’ve done a lot for the city. We deserve a place of our own.”

Andrea Atkinson stopped by to let Harp know about her ongoing quest to stop the building of apartments next door to her Upper Westiville home in two historically all commercial buildings at the corner of Westerleigh Road and Whalley Avenue. (You can read about that here, here and here.)

And Roberston? He told Harp that the school system has done a poor job of using technology to connect students and teachers throughout the district to share information. He said the technology is there, but there is no one to run it. He suggested improving collaboration between the school system and the city’s public libraries.

As a former volunteer at Augusta Lewis Troup School, he said he saw devices like smart boards go unused because teachers didn’t know how to use them, and had no plan for how to incorporate the tools into how they teach. This only left students bored and unmotivated, he said.

Robertson, who worked in the broadcast industry, said he once designed a multi-week program for students that taught them how to develop, produce and record video projects by organizing them as video production teams.

He said the school system could use technology to teach kids basic skills like web design. That way they’d learn what they need to know using technology they’re already interested in, and graduate with marketable skills.

“I shared all of this with you two years ago,” Robertson said. ​“You’re the mayor, and I think you’re going to be reelected. But what’s happening in these streets, with young people dying, your luck is going to run out.”

“I remember you,” Harp said. She said she was intrigued about Robertson’s ideas for connecting students using technology. She promised to connect him with three people: Gemma Joseph Lumpkin, the executive manager of district strategy and coordination for the school system; Youth Services Director Jason Bartlett; and City Librarian Martha Brogan.

“Will you meet with them?” Harp asked.

“I’ll meet with anyone,” Robertson said.

After the meeting, Robertson said he’s not totally convinced that he’ll see any improvements based on his meeting with the mayor.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said.

But he said he’s ready to answer the call for help if it comes