Minutes of the March 14^th, 2016 meeting of

The 19^th Ward Community Association Schools Committee

Attendees: John Boutet, John Laing, Dan Ross, Jay Ross, Beverly Usher

Approval of February minutes

Accepted

School 16 status

FMP needs to be passed by the school board, but it will move forward.

School 44 status

A walk-through to assess the welcoming nature of the school is scheduled for Thursday, March 15. John B and Beverly were planning to attend and others were encouraged to make it.

Beverly has been lobbying for a food share table where left over non-perishables could be distributed to students.

Spelling Bee

April 9^th is the date for the 6^th Annual Spelling Bee. The venue has changed to Hoyt Hall on the U of R campus. Please communicate to potential attendees. Some schools have completed their in-house determination of finalists and alternates and all will be done before spring break. Feedback from the schools is that the students are excited about participating in the Bee and have been working at their words to be the best. The T-shirt design was shared and the students will have their t-shirts (each school has their own color) for the Bee.

Despite our position that we had incentives in place and we opposed paying participants, Diane Watkins went around us and contacted the schools to offer cash gift cards to their students for participating. Our discussion focused on our response to this action. Given the lack of time before the Spelling Bee we decided to meet with the executive committee after the Spelling Bee when we can look at the data from the Spelling Bee process and get feedback from the schools.

Volunteer information

Now is the time to identify someone to chair the Spelling Bee next year.

Old/New Business

There is a link on the RCSD website for a survey of the qualities we want in the next superintendent.

Next Meeting

Wednesday, April 20^th (note change in the date) at 7 pm in the 19^th ward association office.