On Tuesday July 17 four (SouthWest Common Council members), Dawn Noto (Co-chair), Eleanor Coleman, Joan Roby-Davison, and John and Marian Boutet met with School Board member - Mary Adams, retired Principal of School 17 - Ralph Spezio, retired Principal of School 16 - Mary Thomas and longtime 19th ward resident and real-estate agent Adrienne Kllc to discuss the history and future of School 16 which may be closed. We also discussed the need and way to transform elementary schools in our neighborhoods into more successful schools. This meeting was in preparation for the July 19 SWCC meeting at which we requested the SWCC approve a position letter to send to the School Board and Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas in support of reopening School 16 after renovations.

A window of opportunity has opened to significantly improve our schools, but we must act now.  It is important that all neighborhoods, block groups and individuals look at this information and make their views known to the School Board, and the RCSD Administration. The caliber of students that our public schools turn out impacts all of us whether we have students in the public schools or not.  Please read the attached meeting review which contains a lot of important information about the perils and opportunities we face with our elementary schools.

Meeting Notes July 17 2012 - Rev1.doc