School 16_Community Mtg 081512.pdf

SWCC Education Community Meeting

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

SW Community Center

275 Dr. Samuel McCree Way

Focus:  School #16

In Attendance:  Mary Adams (19WCA Resident, School Board Member), Nancy Ares (19WCA Resident, UR Warner School), John Boutet (19WCA Resident, SWCC Communications Committee Co-Chair, Location19 Administrator), Marian Boutet (19WCA Resident, Location19 Administrator),  Eleanor Coleman (SWAN Staff, SWCC Communications Committee Co-Chair), Brenda Driscoll (19WCA Resident, School #16 Teacher), Linda Dunsmoore (RCSD Communications), Jackie Farrell (19WCA Resident, Westside Farmers Market), DeWain Feller (Resident, 19WCA President), Esther Karlar, Kathy King (School #16 Volunteer), John Lightfoot (Changing of the Scenes Neighborhood President, COTS Resident,), Bill Nichthauser (19WCA Resident, School #19 Volunteer), Dawn Noto (Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Assn President, Chair for SW Common Council), Betsy Romson (19WCA Resident), Chojy Schroeder (19WCA Resident), James Swank (Location19), Diane Watkins (19WCA Resident, 19WCA 2^nd VP, RCSD Teacher), E.J. Watkins, (19WCA Resident), Deb Wight (19WCA Resident)

Resolution language amended by Mary Adams & Malik Evans says school will reopen after renovations.  Concern expressed that this language leaves room for not opening should the renovations not take place.  Important that we make it very clear to the Facilities Modernization Project (FMP) committee that we want a neighborhood school.

Diane has sent a letter to Candace Lucas, as the parent representative to FMP, making it clear that we want her to solicit and include our input.  It was also noted that she has missed at least two of the meetings since being appointed to that committee and Diane asked that, if she is not able to honor this commitment that she select another representative who can sit in for her when she can not attend.

Principal Laniak’s Vision for School #16

• “Please call me Matt”
• Feels strongly that school should remain active where it is; neighborhood has many children and it easily lends itself to being a neighborhood school
• Important question to existing residents:  Why aren’t you choosing a school so close to you?  (Needs to be a set of developed questions established by a focus group; surveys need to be door-to-door; Children’s Zone successfully used youth to assist with this task)
• Schools serve as an anchor in a community; currently, School #16 only open from 9-3.  How do we expand the usefulness of the building beyond school hours.
• Would like to see a swimming pool, expanded gym, health facilities, and activities for community (youth and families).
• Reconfigure the parking lot to be more inviting and accessible (not clear where to park)
• Would like to see more visibility to pieces that offer community access (e.g., playground in front)
• Academic programming:  For next year, Math & ELA Coaches added to staff; expanded library support with enhanced media services; asking for additional support in 1^st and 2^nd grade; (only had a librarian 2 days a week last year; no formal library media program)
• K-8 = 520; K-7 = 480
• School #16 moving to Freddie Thomas; request made for Foreign Language teacher for 8^th graders.
• What are other schools offering and how do we compete with those schools?  If we want to keep neighbors at this school, need to be comparable.
• Noted:  There should be School #16 families at the table as we plan for this school.

Dunsmoore – City of Rochester actually owns the building. 

I want to see ________________ at School #16:

• See Location19 notes from Monday, 8/13, meeting:  “…list of community expectations…”  (9 listed)
• School should be open before & after school hours.
• Liaisons for community groups
• Expand community bridges
• Extended cafeteria services – dinner after school; breakfast.  (Current set-up is “warm and serve”)
• More coordinated way of dealing with volunteers; teachers being clear on their needs; more programmatic way of dealing with people who want to help the school.
• Vision of academic excellence; break the current cycle
• Curriculum should be culturally reflective of the population being served.
• Challenge the current school system and establish one that is reflective of today’s society (not the one upon which today’s system is modeled based on a very different population and set of needs.
• State-of-the-art technology capacity (consider on-line educational course) to prepare for entering the global society; teacher/parent should be connected via email from first day of school
• Mental health as part of the wrap-around services

What do Principal & Community agree on:

• School #16 should be there on that site
• School should remain open beyond school hours (including summer)

D. Feller:  Needs to be some responsibility attributed to parents and students, especially when dealing with dysfunctional families, not just school staff. 

M. Meath, K. King, N. Ares, EJ Watkins:  Would like to stop using the word “dysfunctional.”  All families have challenges, as does the school system.  Labeling them as dysfunctional is not helpful.  Many families are working with fewer resources.

J. Swank has information on how other counties have used technology base to enhance educational model.

B. Nichthauser:  Do families have the technology resources needed to communicate with the school.

M. Adams:  Have youth be part of developing the curriculum and the survey that drives how the school looks and what it offers.

C. Schroeder:  Enlist UR to co-sponsor the school.  Need to be addressing green issues and sustainable living issues.

J. Lightfoot:  Youth need enrichment.  Participate in parades to market school pride and showcase their talents.  Promote competition.

E. Coleman:  Not supportive of competition models.  Would like to see collaborative education models.  Project-based learning that builds on student strengths and fosters collaborative learning.  We have enough energy around “class” (levels of importance, wealth, etc) and a focus on weakness and differences; would like to see a focus on strengths and what we have in common.

D. Wight:  Use AND instead of either/or = Pride from healthy competition AND collaborative learning.

K-8 Model

• Could be a positive setting if structured in a healthy way
• Physical separation more the issue; not wanting 15 year old 8^th grader connected to Kindergartener (PreK-3 separated from 4-8; 8^th graders should NEVER be in the same bathroom as a 3^rd grader)
• Prepare youth at beginning of the year to highlight their skills and successes at the end of the year; must first get along peer-to-peer; group team building important
• Increased success when you can grow your Kindergarteners into the 8^th graders; currently, 7^th graders planted in the school have no bonds with teachers.

M. Adams:  Don’t assume that the school will return to a K-8 model; this needs to be on the table.

D. Noto:  If you don’t make it flexible for K-8, it will incur costs down the road when RCSD pushes to include 7^th and 8^th grade again.

M. Laniek:  Community pool is a high need; youth should learn how to swim at a young age (for pleasure AND for safety).

E. Coleman:  SW community is at a deficit in regards indoor swimming opportunities for youth and families.  More pools also provide more youth jobs (lifeguards).

B. Nichthauser:  NPR/1370, Tell Me More:  Documentary:  The Curatives of Dixon School; Michael Martin interviews Pamela Sherrodd Anderson.