Here are the meeting notes as a Word file:  SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2016-06-22.doc

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Boulevard

Minutes Posted on: www.locationSW.org/group/sw-education-forum

(Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 6:30 pm at the Arnett Library, 310 Arnett Blvd.)

June 22 Meeting Convened at 6:33 pm

Attendance:

Jim Bearden             AQE/Metro Justice Education Committee, 503-1722, jeb.bearden@gmail.com

John Boutet              SWCC Education Committee Chair, 328-4271, jboutet@frontiernet.net

Eleanor Coleman      OACES & ProsperRochester, Inc. 224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

Andrea Ebner           School #16 Teacher, 733-9168, andrea.ebner@rcsdk12.org

Paula Givens            School #16 Teacher, (585)325-0935, paula.givens@rcsdk12.org

Bill Nichthauser        19th Ward Resident, 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

Lee Loomis                   Retired Engineer & Volunteer @ School #10, leeloomis46@gmail.com

Introductions

School 10 - Update

Assembly Bill 9758 impact - petition circulated asking Governor to sign the Bill approved by senate and assembly to allow schools in RCSD to lump two 5-yr allocations into one to be able to handle large projects, like School #10, #16. Actual renovations likely finished minimum of two years from when planning starts and 1 year after kids move into swing space site and work can start. Currently the district plans on using 44 for swing space.

School 16 - Update

School #16 started operating out of Freddie Thomas on Scio Street 4 years ago. Laniak putting in for medical leave of absence (full year). One asst. principal will not be staying; another asst. principal, Carla Roberts, is highly respected by the current staff and has done an excellent job turning 7th & 8th grades around. Interim Superintendent was asked that School Based Planning be involved in the replacement of the new principal. Harry Kennedy (Human Capital Initiatives) says “no,” because it is not a permanent position so HCI will make the decision. The proposed replacement is a High School Administrator with no elementary background and not a good track record at the last school from which he was removed. Andrea maintains that the school needs a person who works well with staff, community and parents and there is no faith in HCI’s proposed replacement. Significant number of teachers putting in for voluntary transfers (90%). Mary Adams informed school staff that a SIG (School Improvement Grant) is available; very competitive; SBP could be a part of it. Now the information is that Matt Laniak will not be returning as principal because of the priority status* of the school. This means Laniak is not an interim principal so Kennedy has been reached out to again asking if SBP can be in on the decision.

School #16 feeling there is a definite equity issue within their own building. In addition to lacking a voice in staff selection that affects the teachers, students & parents, Montessori has ample space on the second floor while School #16 is using closets for meetings with students.

• School Status Categories include (highest to lowest): In good standing, Focus, Priority, Receivership

Difficult to get parent support since most are on the other side of the city. Was better when they were in the neighborhood.

Learned today that Superintendent candidate from Ithaca chosen for RCSD will not be coming to Rochester.

School 29 - Update

Blocks In Bloom - lots of planting took place today with children. Parents down the street have been helping and we’re hoping they continue watering and maintaining the garden. Have located a bench that will be installed in the lot across from the school

Tanya Wilson, School #29 Principal, now moving to East High School. Could have a huge impact on community engagement at this school as she has been a strong supporter.

School 44 - Update

Final CET meeting was scheduled for this past Monday; moved until next week or week after. Have not been robust CET meetings in the past; need more teacher and parent participation. Out of receivership at this time. Big issue at this time is the looming closing of the school; Mary Adams got approval for it to stay open until School #16 children return to Post Avenue building. No more 7th & 8th grades.

Managed Choice Policy Task Force

Meets tomorrow at Central Office at 4:30 p.m. Appears to be a very concerned group and dedicated to bringing back neighborhood schools; still a desire to maintain some choice options.

School #1 is now the swing space for another school; School #1 children learned today that they will no longer be attending there.

AQE/Metro Justice Update

Big event of past week was getting new Code of Conduct accepted by School Board. Now need to influence implementation; need more social workers and counselors to actually make it work. Jim noted that some schools are already using restorative practices.

Campaign for Fiscal Equity - Every year the statewide office releases a report about how far behind the State is in living up to paying out the monies due to schools. There are 130 schools in NYS that are in high need and behind in payment of funding due. Rochester has only received 14-15% of promised infusion of money ($485 million). Students in Rochester need more services than are being supplied in the schools. Suburban schools often seen as an alternative for students with special needs because they actually make those services available.

NYS Lottery the most successful in the U.S. Where are the designated dollars? State Education budget is enormous; lottery wouldn’t touch the deficit.

Library news

Arnett

• Summer reading starting after 4th of July; RCSD has paid for summer literacy aids; 30 HS kids will be deployed to all the branches assisting with summer reading.

• Tomorrow Job Fair for teens with Department of Labor.

• ZooMobile comes July 27, 4 p.m.

• Teen Marshmallow Engineers 7/19 at 4 p.m.; construction and architect building using marshmallows

• Summer reading program for adults (Exercise Your Minds) starts July 1.

• Welcome to Windows 10 - Thursday, 7/14, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (new features, how to install it, and why you’ll like it.

Phillis Wheatley

• Dan Esler helping with edible plantings for the Phillis Wheatley Food Forrest.

• Phillis Wheatley flyer available soon.

• County funds Central Library; City funds neighborhood libraries.

Walk-in Items

OACES

ProsperRochester advocating for revisiting the significant cuts made to OACES programming. OACES CNA program one of the programs that has been cut and REOC listed as one of the schools who can absorb CNA students. Based on Eleanor’s experience and a phone call to REOC, the pre-enrollment requirements are not flexible and there are “no breaks.” Further, Louise Slaughter made available a large grant health careers grant to ABC who were counting on OACES graduates, among others, and may not be able to meet their grant targets by end of August. Six major support staff were removed and placed at Central Office. Employment Services Group disbanded. This includes the staff person who has 32 years of experience with the Department of Human Services (12 as Employment Coordinator) who provided a link between students with DHS issues (transportation, childcare, adequate interview clothes, mental health issues, etc.).

Eleanor expressed concern that the very population the RMAPI is focusing on will be the target of the cuts being made to OACES. Another feature of OACES is “rolling enrollment” so that students can start at anytime during the school year and not have to wait for class start-up times.

Lee Loomis noted that he has made presentations to students at OACES and was very impressed with the school structure and the course offerings preparing people who can function in society wherever they are.

Meeting adjourned at 7:58 pm

Minutes submitted by Eleanor Coleman