The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Boulevard

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

Attendance:

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

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

Paula Givens           School #16 Kindergarten Teacher, 325-0935, pgivens01@aol.com

Bill Nichthauser       19th Ward Resident, 235-0851, inky389@frontiernet.net

Jennifer Lenio         Rochester Public Libraries (South District), 428-8272, jlenio@libraryweb.org

Carla Roberts           School #16 Acting Principal, 235-1272 x3176, carla.roberts@rcsdk12.org

Betsy Romson          Arnett Block Club/School #16 Alumna, mesromson@aol.om 328-8313

Amy Schramm           School #16 Art Teacher, 966-9170, amy.schramm@rcsdk12.org

Michelle R-Wilson    School #16 Pre-School Para, 303-8410, michelle.richardson-wilson@rcsdk12.org

Introductions

School 10 - Update

Struggling with performance issues. Will be on the list to be renovated when School #16 is finished.

School 16 - Update

• Renovation Planning - Check out video: https://youtu.be/yqJ85k2v8x8 (8/24 architect meeting)  Note that this review of renovation plans at a 19th Ward community meeting had been requested from the district for well over a year.
  

• Should a Rec Center be Included in School 16? Switch off of the gym/assembly area with cafeteria was discussed 8/24; that could allow expanding the gym into current food prep area, then you could have 2 classes in the gym at once. For use as an assembly area a stage would need would need to be added. This location of the gym/assembly room would allow its use as a Rec Center also.  See Rec Center Diagram.
  

• John noted it would be good to engage Metro Justice, who has been advocating for monies owed the RCSD; if we are considered a “community school” offering a Recreation Center, perhaps some of those funds could be used for the school.

• All schools now have a fully-equipped cafeteria which is required to address the poverty issues.

  We have a tremendous number of hungry children; libraries are also offering meals to address the issue.

• Basic renovation of School #16 is already over current budget of $29.4 million. School #16 Design Team Committee decided that basic restoration should be the focus as opposed to exploring moving the gym into the cafeteria, which would add significant expenses. It has been difficult getting an itemized budget from SWBR (architectural firm). Committee members are being told that it is premature to ask at this point as they are “fine-tuning” the figures; this presents a problem because there is a 10/19 design deadline which is hard to provide when a budget amount is not being made available. School renovation is going to need much in the way of basic renovation: foundation, plumbing, electricity, flooring, walls, new office space necessary (social workers, psychologists, other service providers). State-of-the-art equipment being promised. Air conditioning for the entire building is being challenged.

• Concern about the lack of transparency in not being forthcoming with the planned renovation expenses breakdown since all renovations are ones that have already been done in other schools and it should not be so difficult to estimate the same for School #16.

• John has spoken with Dana Miller and Lovely Warren to orient them to School #16 needs. Community Center aspect could possibly lead to other funding.

School 29 - Update

Butterfly Garden & Little Free Library successfully installed (see the Location19 Banner Photo). Dedication is 10/4 at 9:15am. Joe Baldino is the new principal at School #29 and we hope he attends. Young man down the street has been watering the garden.

School 44 - Update

Working with Mary Adams and Beverly Usher to move School 44 issues forward. Difficult to address parent involvement with parents coming from all over the City. School facility is a decent size. As we move toward return to neighborhood schools, we need to evaluate if closing 44 still makes sense.

Managed Choice Policy Task Force

• Bussing issue is one of the main issues being discussed on this task force. Current system makes it difficult for the establishment of neighborhood schools (parents take advantage of busing child across the city to accommodate schedules and making sure children are not walking in bad neighborhoods). Currently, approximately 80% of children getting bused 1.5 miles or more ($60 million a year); RCSD and other advocates lobbying the State to change the regulations to permit short distance busing.  A map of School 16 enrollment distribution tells the story of how busing destroys community building potential of neighborhood schools. Red dots are home location of students.  Blue area is the assigned feeder area for the school:
  

• Jen Lenio/Library created a PowerPoint to highlight the Managed Choice issues and policies. Plan is to do Focus Groups with information that could be passed on to the School Board.

Library news

  Arnett

• 10/12, 3:30 p.m. American Red Cross Youth Leadership Program; community service, leadership, resume building, public speaking, etc.

• Adults 10/13, 5-6:30, Brad Willows - Kiva loan program (small business start up funding; interest-free loans)

  Wheatley

• In partnership with Healthi Kids, awarded $10,000 grant to do StoryWalk - stations around the property where each station holds one page from a picture book and they have to walk around to look at the entire book stations; also a playful sidewalk component. A program series with children who frequent the library has been developed to have them write their own story and then mount it into the StoryWalk program; will start in late winter

• Rochester Broadway Theatre league - shows have a book based on them; can get a discount via the library for any of the shows. Working to offer a book discussion after the show at the theatre (limited to 20).

• RocSOUP - 10/22, 4-7. Community gets involved in voting for a community improvement or small business that will benefit the community in some way. Applications accepted; 3-4 chosen to present their projects or businesses on the evening during a $5 dinner; presenter with the most votes gets all the funds raised plus a match of up to $400.

OACES

• Although it has been reported that the CNA program will be returned to OACES, we have not yet seen evidence of that. Customer Service program and Level 2 Maintenance (home remodeling) were also cut. All of these programs are career paths that are beneficial for disengaged or challenged populations and the elimination will have an impact on job placements for OACES.

• Significant cuts to support staff (data entry, grant oversight, operations, etc.) have resulted in data entry backlogs and operational slow-downs.

Walk-in Items

• ProsperRochester Board meeting tomorrow evening to discuss tying the PR Vision/Mission to SW Common Council Objectives. Going for a mutually beneficial relationship.