By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HELL'S KITCHEN — The tween-age students of the Clinton School for Writers and Artists are in contention for a $20,000 prize that could help give them the outdoor space they are sorely lacking.
The school, which does not have a playground but recently received approval for a lunchtime "play street" between Ninth and 10th avenues, is currently ranked fourth in the GreatSchools Network's "America's School Spirit Challenge." The contest's winner will be determined via online balloting, and as of Wednesday afternoon, the school had collected over 1,000 votes.
"Everyone in Clinton is enthusiastic," said eighth grader Tai Barron, who lives in Battery Park. "There's no one here that just says ‘oh I have to get up at 6:30 and it's boring' — everyone loves it here."
If the Clinton School wins, Principal Joseph Anderson said the money could go toward the creation of a sculpture garden and green space on the 425 W. 33rd Street building's rooftop.
Other possible investments include more computers, seventh grade language arts teacher Chelsea Boyd said during lunch period Wednesday.
This year, the school is adjusting to $60,000 budget cut, which forced the axing of an eighth grade creative writing class, according to student Jaad Benhallam, 13. Another student said one of her teachers buys extra books for the class out of her own pocket.
But while the $20,000 prize would go a long way toward alleviating that shortfall, the school faces an uphill battle to overtake the current frontrunner, Minnesota school Ely Esy (over 3,000 votes). Coming in at second and third as of Wednesday are California's West Hollywood Elementary School and Maryland's From the Heart Christian School.
"It's got to be exponential or we're not going to win this thing," said Boyd, who pledged to shave her head if the school wins. "$20,000 is as good a reason as any to do it…Plus, it freaks the kids out, and gets them to get out the vote."
To that end, Anderson, who helped the school jump from a 100th ranking just two weeks ago to number four through Facebook and email recruiting, decided to "let the students sell the school," during lunch on Wednesday.
As some students passed out fliers asking neighbors and passersby to "vote it forward" by getting friends to cast their support, others student in small groups on the school steps performing songs including Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours."
"We're hoping anyone who ever went to the school or knows about the school will click on it and vote," Anderson said.
