School programs sponsored by group may benefit
from collaboration with Duke Foundation
By:Marnie Kunz
Representatives of the Hillsborough school district and Hillsborough Education Foundation met with Duke Foundation Properties Manager Patrick Lerch on Friday to launch what may become a working partnership for educational programs at the estate.
After touring the public gardens, the guests were invited into the mansion to meet with estate coordinators and discuss possible partnership programs.
The mission of the nonprofit HEF is to encourage educational and cultural opportunities in Hillsborough, and provide support to Hillsborough schools.
The visit was arranged by former Township Committeewoman Sonya Martin after she spoke to Mr. Lerch at the Feb. 24 Township Committee meeting.
Jonathon Fernald and John Cassimatis of the Hillsborough Education Foundation, schools Superintendent Robert Gulick and school board President Lou Possemato were among the visitors.
"It’s a magnificent estate," Dr. Gulick said. "When I worked there as a teacher in the summer of 1966 and ’67, the philosophy was to keep it in prime condition and that’s the way it remains today. I was very pleased to see how well it had been maintained."
The main purpose of the tour and meeting with Duke estate affiliates was to develop a more active relationship between the HEF and the Duke estate, Dr. Gulick said.
"The Education Foundation and Duke estate are partnering in curriculum development in order to use the assets of the gardens to become an extension of the science curriculum of the Hillsborough classrooms," Mr. Fernald said.
The district is hoping to develop off-campus programs at the estate that will allow students to learn about science and the environment in a hands-on atmosphere.
"The Duke estate currently has college-level programs at the gardens," Mr. Fernald explained. "But we are hoping to expand the educational program to the high schools and junior high level as well."
In addition, the district is working toward allowing as many of the high school students as possible to participate in the upcoming Duke Poetry Festival to be held Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. Currently each high school is allocated a limited number of tickets for their students, but Hillsborough hopes to glean additional seats.
"Our high school students will not just be attending the festival but will be playing a role to facilitate it," Dr. Gulick said. "We’re hoping to create an opportunity for more of our students. We’ll see how that develops. It’s a wonderful opportunity at no cost to the high school students and is right here in their backyard."
The Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival is the largest poetry event in North America and focuses mainly on high school students and teachers, in an effort to deepen understanding and appreciation of the art form. The biennial event will be held at the Duke estate in Hillsborough for the first time ever and is expected to draw over 25,000 participants.
For more information on the Duke estate or the Poetry Festival, visit www.dodgepoetryfestival.org.