SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2016-12-28

Here are the meeting notes as a Word file: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2016-12-28.doc

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, December 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:

Mary Adams Commissioner RCSD, 317-2367, maryb_adams@urmc.rochester.edu

John Boutet SWCC Education Committee Chair, 328-427, jboutet@frontiernet.net

Maya Broady 19th Ward Resident/past Sch 29 Vol, 328-2325, broady.maya@rocketmail.com

Liz Hallmark Commissioner RCSD, 414-7285, 262-8525, elizabeth.hallmark@rcsdk12.org

John Laing Chair/19WCA Schools Comm & Sch 16 Vol, 235-5236, jlaing1@rochester.rr.com

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

Tim Louis Macaluso Ed Reporter, City Newspaper, 244-3329 x18, tmacluso@rochester-citynews.com

Corey McMichael Sch 44 Teacher, 739-2550, corey.mcmichael@rsdk12.org

Bill Nichthauser 19th Ward Res, Volunteer @ 19 & 22, Oboist, 235-0851, inky389@frontiernet.net

Dean Schove 19th Ward Res, 748-1760, dschove@rohesters.rr.com

Songe Schove Student @ Leadership Academy for Young Men

Tamara Schove 19th Ward Res, SW YMCA, 563-6027, tbschove@rochester.rr.com

Introductions

Managed Choice Task Force Presentation - Liz Hallmark - RCSD School Board Commissioner

Board’s job is to set policy; superintendent’s job to carry it out. Managed Choice Policy in place now was created 16 years ago; went from neighborhood schools to managed choice. Idea behind the policy was that, if there are failing schools, families need to be given more choices - broaden the choices/options so families would not be “stuck” in a failing school. Neighborhood schools changed to three zones - now had a broader area from which you could choose your school. Folks were supposed to stay within their zone; this did not happen. Students now all over the city. Transportation reimbursement from State comes for distances 1.5 miles and greater from the school. Closer than 1.5 miles, kids have to walk. For various reasons, parents want the transportation so they choose schools further away. Task Force met for 6 months to understand the policy; elicited community input. Next stage is to move this toward the superintendent for her recommendations.

On 12/14, the Task Force findings were presented to the School Board; lots of discussion stimulated. Board must now charge the Superintendent to put it into her next 100-day plan; then she studies it for 6 months - lengthy process. Findings of the Task Force were summarized in a Powerpoint.

Powerpoint includes:

History
Creation of School zones - NorthWest, Northeast and South
Complications - (1) transportation reimbursement from State limited to 1.5 miles from school, (2) uneven access to special ed and ELL services limits full student choice, and (3) only 50% of families participate in lottery - complexity of lottery leaves families feeling disenfranchised and powerless. Example of institutionalized racism.
Distribution & Catchment Concerns - very scattered and completely outside of zones
Preferred Model - Neighborhood School Model w/ Short Distance Busing; access to 2 or 3 schools closer to your address
New Managed Choice Policy Goals - (1) Implement best aspects of the 15-year old policy and update its least effective parts, (2) Create incentives and remove obstacles so families choose their neighborhood schools (move resources around instead of people), (3) Establish safety and equity through budget priorities.
RECOMMENDATIONS:

Safety - offer busing for less than 1.5 miles; create safe walking routes
Neighborhood Schools - increase parent participation in school through proximity to home, build better partnerships between schools with nearby organizations and city services in order to strengthen neighborhoods
Simplicity & Communication - re-establish parent info & registration in zones/schools/libraries, create street maps where every address has a guaranteed neighborhood school seat with registration between Sept-April, limit choose to closest three schools and Citywides
Improvement - Review & rebalance Sp Ed and ELL services, conduct regular analysis to ensure equity among school addresses, revisit PreK placement legalities (not currently addressed in the policy), begin phase-in of adjusted plan with youngest families

NEXT STEPS

Have superintendent create recommendations and conduct further community feedback sessions
Send recommendations to Policy Committee for revision of Managed Choice Policy

Superintendent asking for 6 months to review policy recommendations, compare to other schools across the nation, determine if there are any details that the changes may impact, etc. John expressed concern that presentation is not yet being used for parent focus groups to elicit parent input. Liz feels more comfortable having the entire Board provide input on the presentation before using it as a tool for parent focus groups (Cynthia and Jose have not seen the presentation).

Mary expressed concern that parents are often not made aware of changes and that a priority needs to be making parents aware of potential upcoming changes and soliciting feedback. Mary recommends adjusting the Board Resolution that was drafted that included a January timeline hope it goes through in January - offers a timeline; develop wording around ongoing community input. Get board to foster a community dialogue that would highlight the changes. Parents will be more receptive if they have input.

Macaluso - Does monitoring actually take place? Board makes policy, Superintendent implements it. Joint responsibility of Superintendent and Board to make sure monitoring takes place. Current Superintendent notes that monitoring needs to be happening; Board must ensure that monitoring is taking place.

Macaluso - Safety issues at home - real or perception? Could be a variety of safety issues (snow removal, not knowing your neighbors, etc.). Perception does play a factor.

Original intention was to replicate desirable schools into other zones. Current barrier is that failure generates dollars. Strong community, neighborhood schools - nurturing parent environment and high expectations would move toward parents driving the demands for their schools.

Parent: Constant mobility (renting) creates unstable neighborhoods. We are losing parents; the Superintendent needs to make this issue a high priority.

Important to realize that Superintendent has many other issues on her plate at this time. Want to hold onto this Superintendent; will continue to prioritize the issue.

Student perspective of school choice: Parent decides by reputation of school; level of education the teachers have, taking tours and seeing what type of condition the building is in, etc.

Parent input: Needs to be an understanding of the subject not just re-testing. Students should be excited by learning. Teachers must be excited first and it trickles down.

Facilities Evaluation - Mary has proposed a Resolution requiring what should be a continual and operational duty to assess enrollment data, projection data, etc. and changing programs based on data. Need to provide continual assessment and recommendations. There needs to be an official process for assessing facilities.

Busing update - what is the barrier to reducing the 1.5 mile busing limit. Legislation has been introduced busing kids less than 1.5 based on the grounds of safety hazards. 4-5 years passed the assembly, list the senate one vote; couple of years later passed in the Senate, not assembly; recently, not approved by either. Reduced to a pilot program for perhaps School 17; failed. Precident setting may be part of the resistance. We have the studies that positively justify the reduction in the 1.5 limit. Should we be asking the mayor for support; strengthening neighborhood schools strengthens neighborhoods. City/School connections needs to be strengthened.

Low parent turnout at School 44 parent meeting. Flyers were distributed but suspecting they are not received by parents. Robocalls suggested.

John has been providing maps with school feeder patterns that highlight where students are coming from. Helpful to have that visual picture; District not able to provide this in visual format at this time.

Secondary schools are beginning to focus on building relationships. Establishing a safe environment outside of the class to deal with issues that are disrupting the classroom instruction.

BAC Meeting Updates - more money to School #16 for technology. This requires new plans and having them approved by the School Board, which will take time.

Communication - There is a disconnection between decisions to close schools and parents actually being aware of that impact on their families.

Library news

Arnett

Free this week while school is out - Kid Fit Class, Fri- cooking class 7-12 yr olds
Jan. - MLK Sat 1/14 at noon, sat 1/28 Chello duet, 1/17 4 pm July 64 screening

Wheatley