Building a memory (11/26/2008)

DUNKIRK - The death of a first grader shocked and saddened the Westlawn Elementary School community in January.

Less than a year later the teacher making plans to memorialize him has been struck by a terminal illness.

James Roberts was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given just a few months to live, forcing him to take a leave of absence both from school and the project. Now others, including the mother of the boy Roberts sought to memorialize, have taken up the cause in hopes of completing the project in time for the beloved teacher to see his dream realized.

"To be honest with you, (Roberts) is our modern-day super-hero," said Brandy Foster, whose son Dalton died unexpectedly of natural causes in his sleep on Jan. 24.

"He is very special to us. He makes the kids feel like they are part of his family. And he's part of our family."

Roberts, 49, who is affectionately referred to as Mr. Jim by his life-skills class students, was inspired by Dalton, who was just 7 years old when he died. The youngster had a love of the outdoors and plants.

So Roberts came up with the idea of building a greenhouse, to be named "Foster Gardens", at Westlawn in memory of the special student. His hope is that the facility, a planned 10-foot by 12-foot structure to be built on the west side of the school, would be used to help other students learn about the things Dalton enjoyed so much.

He'd like it to be used to help both the life-skills classes and the science classes at the Dunkirk school.

"This greenhouse will provide an opportunity for the life-skills students to learn about plant growth and to develop an understanding of the life cycle," he wrote in a recent letter seeking contributions for the project. "It will also provide an opportunity for the life-skills students to become responsible, productive citizens. It will give them a chance to feel pride in their accomplishments and give them a way to become a more active part of their school community. Thus, they will feel a sense of belonging."

His thoughts about the children in his class show just why he made such an impact on Dalton, and why principal Jeff Davis said Brandy is "trying to pay Jim back for all that he did for Dalton."

"Each one of my students is special in their own way," Roberts, who also organized a Celebration of Life balloon launch in Dalton's memory last year, continued in his letter. "I wish that you could meet my students. You would fall in love with them, like I have."

The life-skills classes have previously raised money for school projects by selling snacks in the teacher's lounge. That effort has raised about $1,100 in each of the last two years, but that falls far short of the estimated $10,000 to $15,000 needed to build the greenhouse.

With Roberts away because of his stage 4 terminal cancer, Brandy and other parents have taken up the fund-raising effort. They are backed by support from from Rock Fuqua, who is leading a group of Dunkirk businessmen that hopes to raise another $10,000.

The Jay School Board also adopted the project as its own during Monday's meeting. And they approved Roberts for a Star of Character Award, giving him a standing ovation.

"There needs to be all kinds of Jim Roberts' in the world," said superintendent Tim Long. "We're going to make sure these efforts on the greenhouse happen."

"Mr. Jim truly lives and reflects the six pillars of character in his life," added Davis. "Mr. Jim is fighting a tough fight against an opponent who doesn't fight fair."

One of the parents who have joined Brandy in the fund-raising effort is Jenny Hodge. Her son, Mason, who has cerebral palsy, was Dalton's best friend and is a student in the life-skills class at Westlawn.

She said both her son and his best friend loved Mr. Jim, and the greenhouse would be a fitting honor to the memory of the student and teacher.

Dalton's death "really tore up the school," Hodge said. "It's heart-breaking. It really is.

"Every time I think about the current situation, I cry."[[In-content Ad]]