Here are the meeting notes as a .pdf file:  SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2017-12-27.pdf

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Boulevard

Minutes Posted on: http://www.location19.org/group/sw-education-forum

Attendance:

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

Richard Codding       Metro Justice Education Committee, 507-9238, rcodding123@gmail.com

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

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

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

Library News

• Wheatley – December: Kwanzaa, 12/28, 2-5, Kwanzaa. January: Story & Cooking 1/9, 4-6; Zumba 1/22, 5-6

• Arnett – December: Puppet Show, 12/30, 1:30; Adult Craft, 12/28, 4:30 - create New Year toasting glasses. January: Storytime, Sat & Tues, 1-1:30pm; Brazilian Percussion Ensemble (1st of 4 in music series), 1/6, 12-1; E-book & Audiobook Workshop, 1/25, 5:30-6:30.

School #3 – Gail Evans

• No report.

School #10 – Update – Lee Loomis, Volunteer Coordinator

• Lee responded, but nothing new to report.

School #16 - Update

• Kevin Holman, Roxie Sinkler Director dropped off brochures; still would like to see City Rec staff School 16 Rec Center

• September 2018 school opening is still on schedule.

• John Laing reported that the 19th Ward Schools Committee put together a position paper to decide what needs to happen now in order for this to be a community school. John Boutet will send Eleanor the digital copy and pass it on. Dan Ross, author, tied together the issues we’ve been discussing: if you want local kids -change the busing rules; need to have Pre-K settings in the neighborhood to feed 3 year old Pre-K to School 16. Only 4 year old Pre-K has been provided for in renovation design.

• Library’s Master Facility Plan is underway; could the Library be a setting for Pre-K? The planning meetings will be offering community input sessions and Jen suggested we be part of exploring this concept.

School #29 Update - Joe Baldino

• Nothing new to report.

Work w/ AQE/Metro Justice on Behalf of School #41 – Richard Codding

• After two years in internal receivership the state now is requiring the school either go into external receivership, close, or close and reopen as a new school. Frustration expressed at how only one factor of the school – testing – is making the determination of the school’s future. When school first went into receivership it lost 75% of it teachers because of the requirement of extended. The school now has 75% new teachers just out of college and new to the school last year; these teachers have created a very positive working environment with reduced absenteeism and better behavior but this was not given enough weight; teachers and students spoke to advocate for school at last Board meeting and showed strong commitment to school.

• Reopening must show independence from former school; goal is to have a community school, which will require necessary support services which is good. Not good is that principal would have to go and some teachers based on State rules when school is reopened as another school. Current principal is new from 2 years ago and has great working relationship with teachers, staff and students. Educational leader is critical for the challenges they face.

• Request – write letters of support for the school to Board members, Superintendent and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia.

• John B. noted that the District had a meeting at 41 last week to review the School Receivership problems and the likelihood that the school will be closing and reopening as a different school under new management. All sorts of info had gone out in invitations through mail, students, robo-calls, etc., yet there were only around 15 parents there which about matched the total number of school and central office staff present. There should have been so many more. This problem is killing us in our schools; we need to find a solution. How do we improve reaching out to parents? Another issue regarding parent attendance is the fact that parents are located all over the city and not in the school neighborhood.

• Should we be encouraging churches to encourage parents to attend school meetings? Problem with many churches: a lot of parishioners coming from suburbs.

• Could Kodak Theater be a school setting encouraging a performing arts focus?

School #44 Update

Note: School got of off Receivership list and this year has been taken of the list of schools to close.

Wilson Commencement Update

• No report.

OACES

• YouthBuild to start up in March; will teach 18-24 year-olds construction skills.

• NEDP (National External Diploma Program) ready to take participants. Earn HS equivalency using life experience-based curriculum.

• Open House will be held January 18 at which students will be ambassadors for public interested in knowing more about OACES programming.

• MAC (Making A Connection) – highlighted in local news recently for acquainting refugees ages 17-21 to community resources; program requires students do 50 hours of community service.

• Importance of Adult Education and its impact on increasing educational success of students in the home. This is an effective way to bridge parent connections in a positive way.

• Environmental Sciences – learn a skill while improving the community. Might this be something we can offer.

• How do we make mutually-beneficial connections among service providers that lead to collaborative funding? Jen noted that the City has 10 public branches throughout the city – all of these locations are focused on education and information; people dedicated to education are already on the job. Progressive library systems around the country have made this connection already (providing adult education, Pre-K, etc.).

Walk-in Items

• Disappointed that, although the recent scientific tests of the Martin/St. Paul St. school facility show safe toxin levels, students were able to fight to leave the setting. Shouldn’t we be listening to the scientific data? Good time to educate students (and adults) about brownfields.

Scribe Services: Eleanor Coleman, ProsperRochester Inc., 224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

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

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

Addendum from Gail Evens on School 3 -  12/30/2017

Please share this update:

I have met with the principal, Rodney Moore and the Community Engagement Committee. Good news to share from School #3.
They are on track for meeting their progress goals for math and ELA. A visit from the Assistant Commissioner of Education was encouraging. The school is expecting NOT to go into receivership!

[Nathaniel Rochester Community School No.3] has just been named a Community School and will be looking to hire a Coordinator after the new year.