Here are the meeting notes as a Word file:  SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2016-10-26.doc

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, October 26, 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

Liz Eng                    Adult Family Educator for RCSD Pre-School Program (Schools 44, 5, 19 & 29)

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

Lee Loomis             School #10 Tutoring Team Organizer

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

Introductions

Meeting with the Superintendent

Superindent (Barbara Williams) to visit School #44 on December 5 – 6-8 p.m. for a “Meet & Greet.” (Hoping that Coffee & Conversation with the Superintendent returns.) Concern about School #44 closing is a little less as RCSD becomes aware that they are running out of space.

School #10

Lee Loomis reported that they are getting their Tutoring Team up and running; always looking for more tutors. Asking for a commitment of 2 hours one day a week. Academic instruction is between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Instruction prior to 10 a.m. is around character building and other types of enrichment. Parents lean toward having their children physically in a safe building vs walking to school which does not support a neighborhood school concept.

Parents need to choose a school in their RCSD “Zone.” Schools with City-wide draws (School #10, World of Inquiry, etc.) require putting your child’s name on a lottery list. If a child is not accepted in a “chosen” school, parents will more often choose schools farther away from their homes which require a bus so children do not have to walk through dangerous neighborhoods.

Are neighborhood schools viable in this day? What would be the ramifications and to whom? Most vulnerable would be affected. Do we have enough schools to make it safe for children to walk?

Working to have 2 dozen tutors by Christmas. Attended Convention Center breakfast by Roc the Future at which they had a panel discussion around how different leaders will be reducing poverty. Lee had sent in questions as instructed but none were addressed. Brought the questions to Williams and was referred to Chip Partner, RCSD PR Communications person.

School #16

Currently on Scio. Jon Laing and John Boutet working on Building Advisory Committee for renovation of Bldg. 16 on Post Avenue. If all goes well, putting in plans for renovation to the state in February and be opening the school in 2018. Will community have input into the plans? Hoping they’ll have another meeting for the community in the future; last meeting in August was rather general. Concern that there is not enough room for community input. Air conditioning for full building still not on the table. Preliminary plans are available for public (John has copy). Number of students = approximately 500 (Pre-K – 6^th).

Betsy Romson asked, “Why can’t high school pool be made accessible to younger children when they are not in use?” Not sure this has been explored. Recommended that she check with Mary Adams on School Board.

John is advocating for one more overall presentation to the community before the February presentation. Contact Mike Schmidt to push for community meeting.

School #29

Community Butterfly Garden on corner of Kirkland and Kenwood is thriving – please take a look. Very successful press conference held in September. Joint effort with 19^th Ward, John McMahon from Neighborhood Service Center; City helped rototill, neighborhood resident watered, etc.

School #44

Donna Anderson has not been able to attend Education meeting. Very busy school. Still working toward getting the school to be able to stay open. Parent Liaison is leaving; was hoping that Beverly Usher (committed volunteer) could take the position but transportation is a barrier.

SouthWest Libraries

Traditional programming is still available.

Wheatley – partnered with Healthi Kids (Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency) to receive $10,000 (grant one of 50 winners across the country) for getting kids to play and be active outside. Story Walk – stations (post and page of a picture book) that will be posted around the campus; gets kids reading and walking around to finish the story. Part of proposal was to hire staff to teach writing and illustrating to create their own book to be included in the Story Walk. Will also be some playful sidewalk installations to have “games” and imaginative play activities.

Next Month’s meeting is night before Thanksgiving. We will cancel the meeting next month.

Other

John has minutes for the School #16 building renovation meeting. Next renovation meeting 11/3.

Managed Choice Policy Task Force (School Choice)

Being able to choose schools outside of the neighborhood leads to increased need for busing, which (1) lowers ability for parents who have transportation barriers to be involved in the schools and (2) breaks down neighborhood cohesiveness (children’s friends do not live in the neighborhood, less impetus for parents to get to know one another). Walking School Bus (parents and community members walking children to school) concept by Healthi Kids has been tried at School #19. Difficult to implement because so many children come from a long distance from the school.

John presented a map that showed stark difference for School #17 population when you pull children from all over the city vs from just the neighborhood. Short distance busing seen as a way to encourage parents to stay in the neighborhood.

Tim Macaluso (City Newspaper) presented a very thorough overview of the School Choice policy and the Task Force’s effort to address its implications: Rochester's School Choice Policy review .

Single parent households change the dynamics of what is and what is not possible in regards to neighborhood schools. We have to be open to new vision of what parent involvement can be.

Note: Roc the Future organized by Rochester Area Community Foundation five years ago. Includes six collaborative action networks focused on 3^rd grade reading readiness and looking at root causes of not enough kids ready to read by 3^rd grade. Networks are: Perinatal Network, School Readiness Network, Attendance Network, Expanded Learning Opportunities Network (out-of-school offerings); College Access Network.

If a child is unable to read by the end of third grade, s/he has a one in seven chance of being successful in school. K-3 is Learning to Read, 4-12 is Reading to Learn.

AQE/MetroJustice

Marched from NY to Albany to push for monies owed to school districts. Were also instrumental in pushing for school environment (changing school climate rules) to avoid School-to-Prison pipeline (perpetual suspension). Staying in collaboration with AQE/Metro Justice.

STEAM Academy

Informational meeting tomorrow at Carlson Commons (Coretta Scott Crossing) on So. Plymouth across from Kennedy Towers. Two more meetings 11/1 and 11/9 to discuss plans for new Charter School focused on STEM but also the arts (Pre-K – 6).

Minutes transcribed from Video ( https://youtu.be/46yxr8REsaQ ) by Eleanor Coleman