Here are the meeting notes as a Word file:  SWCC Educ Min 042716.doc

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Boulevard

Attendance:
John Boutet             SWCC Education Committee Chair, 328-4271, jboutet@frontiernet.net
Eleanor Coleman     OACES & ProsperRochester, Inc. 224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com
Jeremy Coleman      Lincoln Ave Resident
Dr. Dan DeMarle      Resource Allocation Doctor, 206 Melrose St. 748-2222
Thomas Felton, Jr.   STEAM Charter School, tfeltonj@streamacademycharter.org, 230-1830
Bill Nichthauser       19th Ward Resident, Volunteer at #44, 235-0851, inky389@frontiernet.net
John Laing               19th Ward Schools Committee Chair, Volunteer @ Schools #16, #19 & #29
Jennifer Lenio          Rochester Public Libraries (South District), 428-8272, jlenio@libraryweb.org
Betsy Romson         Arnett Block Club, mesromson@aol.om 328-8313
Aggie Seneway        Brockport College & CET at School #44, 392-7438

Introductions

Managed Choice Policy Task Force Review

• Wide variety of attendees attending committee to explore community school options. Addressing the managed choice policy (people have a choice of what school their children go to; managed because school doesn’t automatically let anyone go to the chosen school); in conjunction with busing requirements and reimbursements for children who live 1.5 miles, which is appealing to parents, we’ve seen a breakdown of neighborhood schools. How can we rework the policy to move toward neighborhood schools; change the busing reimbursement regulations.
• Neighborhood School - kids from the neighborhood go to school there; Community School - wraparound services are provided in the school enhancing the environment; building can be used by the community.
• When District makes the choice about where students go, families could have each child attending a different school.
• Need to update data on where children are attending schools (home address vs school they attend) and how many are attending RCSD schools vs Charter Schools.
• Could we get back to schools having input on principal selection?
• At a UR Minority Leadership Academy meeting two police officers suggested that busing children out of their own neighborhoods often promotes violence. Develop a relationship with someone at school, but you won’t be able to play with them after school.

School 10 - Update
School in need of renovations; not yet in the queue for this.

School 16 - Update

• Still no word on renovations; no planning meetings have been set up yet. State controls the funding; still awaiting money for renovations, which are slated to be done in two steps at this point. Trying to get State approval for combining the two steps.
• SWCC Education Committee members have had a strong voice of support for School #16 by staying involved with school committees and attending Superintendent Coffee Sessions.
• What are plans if renovations never happen? Charter school? Housing? Original plan to combine 16 and 44 at that site was not accepted by neighbors - too big, would have to knock down some homes.
• Charter Schools - how do they deal with students who don’t “fit” - special needs, violence, etc. Students often dismissed. Parental involvement is a requirement for students to attend.
• David Hursh - “Where the Money Goes” - PowerPoint and book that shows where the source of Charter School funding (hedge funds, etc.) and the resulting impact. Suggested reading.
• Helene Biandudi in 2012 reported on School #16 in regards to the statistic that 40% of American Public school buildings being in poor condition. Has a 4-minute video we can view. We will ask her if she could be on our agenda.

School 29 - Update!

• Blocks in Bloom - will use lot across from #29 to create a butterfly garden with city bench and Little Library. City will release butterflies when it’s done. School will start flower beds May 16; homes in area will also be involved with sprucing up their gardens.
• School #29 administration has a good track record of community engagement.

School 44 - Update

• 19th Ward Spelling Bee Champs are on the front page of their newsletter.
• Concern that School #44 is slated for closing just as they’ve done to Charlotte; we were promised that #44 would to stay open until #16 was re-opened. If District goes back to “neighborhood schools,” we would need #44 in addition to #16 to house the number of children that live in these neighborhoods.
• Aggie recommended that John Boutet invite the Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia to this meeting and the schools involved.

19th Ward Spelling Bee Report!

• Was held 4/9 @ UR for grades 3-8 (award at each grade level). Participating Schools: 10, 16, 19, 29 & 44.
• Annual event is a consortium of many groups: 19th Ward Schools Committee, libraries where kids practiced, RACF who gives the money, UR Fraternity who organizes all the campus activities, and UR Admissions Office (lunch, graphics for t-shirts, location, etc.). All-day event on UR campus.
• For coverage, go to RCSD Website - look for “Spelling Bee”
• Winning 6th grader had to spell 32 words correctly.

AQE/Metro Justice Update
Community Schools Press Conference; Article in WXXI  http://wxxinews.org/post/push-fundingcommunity-schools  Rally tomorrow, 6 p.m. at School Board regarding the new Code of Conduct.

Library news

• Every Child Ready to Read - didn’t get huge attendance numbers but they’ve been well received and program is making a dent in the lives of the people who are attending; parents and caregivers receive learning tips while their children learn; offering free meal with each session. Parents have a chance to practice new skills on their children during the session.
• SW Quadrant meets at NSC; sub-committee forming to advocate for libraries; work with residents and neighbors to encourage them to speak with funders about adequately supporting our libraries. Central Library (funded by County of Monroe) has had flat funding for several years; city libraries have been cut systematically each year limiting valuable services that support academics and literacy for all ages; open hours continuing to decrease.
• Arnett: Protect Your Financial DNA - Keeping Your Identity Safe Thurs, 4/28, 3-4
• Wheatley has started their permaculture project; meets every Tues 4-5; Dan Esler will be working with kids on planting, weeding, mulching, etc.
• May 19, 4:30 Study skills

Walk-in Items

• Open E-Books App - Dan DeMarle!

Available free of charge for children who need them. Openebooks.net is designed for high poverty (70%) school districts. Any school, library, teachers, etc. can get access codes; individual parents cannot. Each child gets their own code; runs on Android or I-phones; not on computers yet. A number of major publishers have donated books; take one out and return them. Codes for Elementary, Middle, High School, or all. Can have book read to you. Puts brand new, just published e-books in the hands of our children.

Library has their own e-books vendor named “Overdrive;” don’t have to go to a separate website to access it; free, no fines and they return automatically. E-books will expand the variety of books available to the public for a wide variety of ages.

Anybody in NYS can get a NYC ebook membership card online at their site. You’ll get a temporary card in the mail and a permanent one when you send in a copy of your driver’s license.

• Rochester STEAM Academy Charter School - Thomas Felton, Jr.

Newly proposed Charter School looking to Provide education that is data-driven. Constant improvement and adjustment to the model. Heavy in literacy, math, science, enrichment, and expeditionary learning.  Big on parent involvement. Importance of putting minority teachers in front of minority children.  Children’s Institute collects parent and student data for use by programs for effect and improvement.  Hope to present to this committee next month. Want to avoid the existing “discipline ladder.”  Check out the video of this discussion:  https://youtu.be/yi_4qn2AUwY

• Detrimental Cuts to OACES

Detrimental budget cuts will eliminate programming at OACES including very successful CNA program with high placement rates (98%) and the Customer Service program which offers training in all of the Microsoft applications. CNA has been a model for 20 years. Only school that offers “rolling enrollment” and hands-on training WHILE you earn your high school equivalency vs having to have your high school equivalency BEFORE you can start your technical training.