Here are the meeting notes as a .pdf file: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2017-08-23.pdf

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Boulevard

Attendance:

Pamela Bollar               19th Ward/Aenon, 527-0799, bollarpam@gmail.com

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

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

Shaunta Collier-Santos       RSMP, landnpr@gmail.com, 530-9318

John Curran                   Rapids Cemetery Restoration, 271-1053

Kevin Fitzpatrick            YMCA, COO, Kevin.Fitzpatrick@rochesterymca.org,  263-3931

Liz Hallmark                   RCSD Commissioner, elizabeth.halmark@rcsdk12.org, 414-7285

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

Michael Schmidt            RCSD Chief of Operations, michael.schmidt@rcdk12.org , 262-8275

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

Library news

Good summer for libraries. Summer reading is dying down and libraries are setting up the schedule for the Fall.

Michael Schmidt provided a construction update for Schools #10, #16 & #44:

Video of the presentation can be found on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/ICLpzDGhmSY

School 10 - Update

• School #10 is in the modernization Program Phase 2; will leave to swing space location next summer (July 2018). Building Advisory Committee meetings continue to be held at the school. Currently planning the gut renovation of the building; asbestos abatement; revitalization of the building with new classrooms; taking down all transportables; planning for pre-K within the building; addition to the back of the building will house new gymnasium and cafeteria . This addition as, at School #16, will permit community access, while leaving classroom off limits. The playground will be relocated to that side of the building. Length of project anticipated to be one year. Legislators have been very helpful in ensuring that all the work can be done in one year.

• The design will highlight “Maker Spaces” - dynamic, versatile spaces; variety of resources attached; need places to store materials, power, robotics, etc. Geared around expeditionary learning. Multiple spaces where students can gather for project-based learning. Note: Public Libraries have been oriented to Maker Spaces; libraries in other parts of the country offer tools and devices that help you “make something.” Would like to set the Maker Spaces up to have public access. A Maker Space model will be built on second floor of Central Office for input from public.

School 16 - Update

• Demo work is completed. Transportables are still there but will be taken down soon. Next phase is to get the exterior portion of the building solidified so we can get to the inside of the building for the winter. Team will be working on 2-shifts (are staying in touch with neighbors to advise them of construction activities). Aug 15 deadline. SWBR have personnel on site for all shifts to ensure safety and quality are maintained. Setting up the separate space access; have met with Eric Rose to explore recreation center leadership.

• Smart Bond (financial resources for Pre-K) allocation was necessary to make up the gap. MMCA giving the funds up front ($14.5 million) but that means we can’t do any additional capital work for 10 years so we have to walk away with all the the structural and mechanical pieces in place. Total cost of Phase 2 - 435 million. Have been able to provide 90% of the “asks.” School #16 has become the model for other schools (community access).

• Emergency CIP issues can still be addressed.

• Main part of SMART Bond is to do complete digital overhaul $8.5 million allocated for capital improvements around pre-k education; includes wifi access, camera updates, SMART board tech, and other classroom improvements.

• Flint Street to be closed for a year and could potentially oversee the recreation center at #16. Very small area for administrative staff. Concern about what happens after Flint Street reopens.

• YMCA exploring how to help with recreation needs at #16; sees some possibilities in connection with YMCA on Thurston. May be able to expand community offerings. Big YMCA’s don’t work well in the City (memberships don’t support it).

• It is anticipated that RCSD schools will take advantage of the gym spaces as they do not currently have sufficient space for all their sports teams.

• Important to make spaces easy for transition; moving away from space “ownership.”

• Hoping to make better use of the school pools (perhaps the YMCA could help with this). Adding a pool to Monroe campus.

School #29 Update

• No Report.

School 44 Update - Facilities Capacity & Needs Assessment Impact

• Path Forward - series of ongoing public dialogues that is looking for voices to weigh in on facility initiatives Sept,Oct, Nov.; what Phase 3 and future phases will look like. More of a structural alignment with Master Plan. Focus of Phase 3 - high schools that haven’t been touched; Franklin, Frederick Douglas, large segment of Edison. What’s the longterm vision? Hope is that the discussions will result in 3 options to recommend to the Board.

Wilson Commencement Update - Jean Kozlowski-Willmarth (Speech Therapist @ Wilson Magnet)

• No Report.

Brooks Crossing Interactive Learning Center Proposal - John Curran

Video of the presentation can be found on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/N16dJC2yFDg

John passed out this Proposal for Interactive Instructional & Learning Center v.3.pdf at the meeting.

John Curran has been an active volunteer with the SouthWest since 1982. Brooks Crossing is the 11-story UR leased apartment building, next to StayBridge Suites Hotel. Existing covenant between builder and City demands that a restaurant be provided. Concessions by community included allowing student housing to be built on top of the restaurant; initially approved for a 3-story high-rise; that became a 5-story; ending in 11-story. First floor where restaurant is supposed to go is undeveloped, completely empty. Has been for 3 years. The area was a food dessert in 2000. We currently have 3 restaurants in the Brooks Landing area. Covenant requiring restaurant is now obsolete. John's suggestion is that we use the space to meet a community need. RIT has the model; put SMART school $$ into a central location to create state-of-the-art technology Interactive Learning Center. Distance learning. . Win for the neighborhood because of location. Could offer tele-medicine evaluations; seniors learning how to use smart phone, tablet; ancestry.com. Let the UR college students use the facility 9pm-9am. Schools and community use the space other times along with collaborative student partnerships.

Community decision is needed to change the outdated covenant as well as create a new vision. Sustainability - Cuomo grant sounded like it was a fit but those funds but we need to check if they have been committed. UR does not own these properties; leases them. UR won’t act until community comes together. Neighbors have to agree on releasing owner Ron Christensen from covenant. Will speak with Adam McFadden and Dana Miller. Input requested.

How will Christensen get income if it’s a non-profit use?

Liz Hallmark noted that the Superintendent is getting ready to announce Path Forward - 30,000 voices from the community to provide input. This would be a good time to bring up this idea.

Jon Schull, organizer of a state-of-the-art interactive learning center at RIT and previously active with the SWCC Communication Committee, is helping to provide consult and input for the Brooks Crossing concept. Schull is working with students at Vertus High School where they are using 3-D printers to created printed prosthetics. For more information, go to You Tube: Vertus High School 3-D Printed Prosthetics.

Jen noted that progressive, well-funded libraries across the country are already operating this way. Strongly recommended that libraries be included in the Interactive Instructional & Learning Center concept.

Scribe Services: Eleanor Coleman, ProsperRochester, Inc.

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

19thWCA Schools Committee Chair, John Laing, 235-5236, jlang1@rochester.rr.com