Build!

Unprecedented donations to Akiva bring
academic improvements and a new place to learn.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Contributing Writer

F

or students at Akiva
Hebrew Day School, the
upcoming school year
promises to bring new teachers,
exciting resources and innovative
programs — along with a view of
a fascinating site growing across
the parking lot. All this is thanks to
extraordinary summertime dona-
tions.
Professional and teacher hir-
ings already have begun with
funds from a $2.25 million grant
from the local William Davidson
Foundation. Revealed on July 14,
the grant was created for the "aug-
mentation and improvement of
Artist rendering of Akiva's new building
Akiva's academic offerings:'
On the heels of the remarkable
announcement came a second one,
Academic
this time from the William and
Excellence
Audrey Farber Philanthropic Fund
"The funding from
through Federation's Centennial
the William Davidson
Campaign.
Foundation is purely
Last month, the Farbers — who
for growth in academic
made a $3 million donation to the
excellence:' said Jordana
school in 2014 — increased the
Wolfson,
interim CEO
William and Audrey
gift significantly to a whopping $8
of
the
nursery-12
day
Farber
million dollars.
school. "The money will
"The initial contribution kicked off
be used primarily to target three areas:
fundraising in support of Akiva's 50th
teacher recruitment and long-term retention;
Anniversary Improvement Plan, a com-
teacher/administrator ongoing comprehen-
prehensive plan to elevate the school to the
sive professional development; and creation
ranks of the country's preeminent Modern
of professional academic positions in the
Orthodox day schools, addressing teacher
school that will enhance our position as a
recruitment and retention, faculty profes-
21st-century college-preparatory Jewish day
sional development and facility issues," said
school:'
Akiva board member, Dr. Howard Korman
The measures have already begun and will
of Southfield, who leads development of
continue over the next three years.
and fundraising for the plan, along with
"We are trying to raise the level of our sal-
board members Joshua Opperer and Eugene
aries to attract and retain top-level faculty:'
Sherizen, both of Huntington Woods, as well
Wolfson said.
as the school's administrative team.
"The funds will allow us the opportunity
With the increased Farber dona-
to develop a school-wide professional devel-
tion, inspired by the William Davidson
opment plan that incorporates professional
Foundation grant, the school has the funding learning communities in a variety of areas
to begin construction of the first new build-
we want to strengthen in the school — and
ing in the school's 52-year history. A ground- allows us to hire for key positions such as an
breaking ceremony is set for this November.
educational technology director and a grades
1-8 curriculum coordinator, who will contin-
Total contributions, including those from
Akiva families and community members,
ue to enhance the scope and sequence of our
have reached nearly 85 percent of the $15
elementary and middle school curricula.
million needed to fund the school's academic
An additional social worker and resource
upgrades and new construction. Fundraising room teacher have already been hired to
will continue for the balance.
address the needs of a diverse student popu-
lation:'

16

August 20 • 2015

JN

Dani and Ariella Shaffren of Southfield

enjoy an Akiva event with their son,
Koby, 4.

1.

The impact on the school is being felt in
many areas.
"With the generous grant from the
Davidson Foundation, we are able to
enhance both our academic and social-emo-
tional offerings to our students:' said Rabbi
Aaron Leib, grades 1-8 principal. "Creation
and increase of informal educational oppor-
tunities such as field trips, monthly Rosh
Chodesh programs and lunch clubs, along
with enhanced math support for diverse
learners, are just the beginning of how the
funds will be spent:'
For the youngest Akiva students, Anita
Batt, former director of curriculum for
grades K-5, has become Early Childhood
Center (ECC) director, taking over for Lisa
Parshan who made aliyah with her family
this summer.
A facility manager has been hired to
improve efficiency, oversee strategic plan-
ning and day-to-day operations, be the point
person during construction and coordinate
the move into the new building.

A Long Time Coming
Two years ago, Akiva undertook a compre-
hensive study of the school's academic and
overall performance, conducting an internal
assessment as well as securing an evalua-
tion from the Lookstein Center for Jewish
Education of Bar-Ilan University.
The Lookstein evaluation was not the only
consideration, but the positive review was a
contingent factor to the William Davidson
Foundation grant. The foundation suggested
and sponsored the study and is helping to

1
Akiva high schoolers Alex Fischer of
Southfield; Moshe Barash of Oak Park;
and Jason Jubas, Josh Kornblum,
and Raffi Lerhman, all of Southfield; all
age 16, get ready for class.

implement its recommendations.
At the same time as the internal Akiva
assessment and the Lookstein review were
taking place, the school joined forces with
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit and a team of school construction
and design professionals to study options for
repairing, renovating or replacing the cur-
rent facility. The need for a new building was
determined and plans were drawn but put
on hold because of a lack of funding.
"Making such an ambitious dream come
to life requires generosity that we could not
imagine, until we came to know Mr. and
Mrs. William Farber:' wrote Akiva's board of
directors in a July 31 letter to school families.
Founded in 1964, Akiva has been at its
current location on the Schostak Family
Campus on 12 Mile Road in Southfield for
the past 16 years.
Originally a church, the current school
building was bought by Congregation Beth
Achim and expanded before it was pur-
chased by the United Jewish Foundation, the
banking and real estate arm of Federation,
which made it available to Akiva.
When the school ran out of space in 2008,
classrooms were added in the lower level.
The new building will be constructed on
the land to the west of the school's present
location and in the parking lot behind it.
Akiva's physical plant committee, chaired

Ready, Set, Build! on page 18

