SW Common Council Education Committee

At the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

929 S Plymouth Avenue

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Meeting convened at 6:30 pm.

Participants: John Boutet (19^th Ward Resident, SWCC Education Committee Chair, Location19.org manager), Maya Broady (38 year 19^th Ward Resident), Eleanor Coleman (Employment Specialist for OACES, Prosper Rochester, Seedfolk Store, Grandparent, Resident and volunteer in area for 30 years), Jeremy Coleman (19^th Ward Resident), John Curran (Westside Farmers Market, PLEX C.A.M.P.U.S.) Robin Dettman (Education and Business Organization Development Consultant, on Board of Baobab Cultural Center, works w/ JOSANA Safety Net for School 17), Bill Nichthauser (19^th Ward Resident, past School #19 volunteer, currently volunteers at School 22, Oboist), Betsy Romson ( 19^th Ward Resident, Former Teacher), Lori Francis Thomas (Children's Advocate for Education, Education Blogger on Accountability, Following State and Federal Education Policies, Former Teacher)

Phase 2 FMP Update - Tom Richards Meeting – John Boutet

On Thursday 7/31 Betsy Romson and John Boutet met with Tom Richards, Chair, and Thomas M. Renauto, Executive Director, of the Rochester Joint Schools Construction Board. Information we received included:

• Phase two funding legislation has passed but has not been signed into law by the Governor yet. Request for bids can not start before he signs. There is no reason to think it won't be signed soon. Tom's group will sent out the requests for bids.
• It will probably be the end of the first quarter 2015 before the architectural firm is chosen and ready to work with the community.
• Tom Richards expects the Superintendent to start seeking early input this fall for the first group of schools to be worked on in Phase 2. Making sure we are put in that first group chosen by the Superintendent and School Board is the main thing we can do to make sure renovation is completed as soon as possible. More detailed interaction will come when the architectural firm gets started in the spring. That is the point at which Tom Richards group gets involved.
• The renovation planning, design and approval process is normally a one year process from when the architects begin. At best, Tom said maybe it might be 9 months.
• How long the renovation and construction process takes depends on the amount of work required. A year is probably a reasonable minimum from when renovation plans are approved.
• We had asked Tom about the feasibility of growing the school back out starting in fall 2015. Tom thought working around kids in a building would only be possible for some exterior work situations such a renovating a facade if it does not involve impacting interior systems such as ventilation, heating and electrical. For School16 children would have to be out of the building when work starts.

Thomas Renato later sent us the Rochester Joint School Construction Board meeting schedule RJSCB_FY2014-2015_Meeting_Schedule.pdf. Meetings are open to the public.

OACES Review (Office of Adult and Career Education Services ) - Eleanor Coleman

OACES is a division of the Rochester City School District. It is located at 30 Hart Street, Rochester, NY 14605, 585-467-7683. OACES offer a variety of continuing education services for individuals 17 and older, focusing on transition to employment. You can find their website at http://oaces.net/.
Many of the programs provide services to immigrants. OACES ESL Program offers adults with limited English language proficiency a variety of language learning opportunities to improve their skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Their Adult Basic Education program provides group and individualized instruction in math, social studies, science, writing and reading. OACES provides a comprehensive ASE Program that focuses on preparation for the high school equivalency exam.
One of their programs is at School 17 and six other schools and is called Family Literacy. Parents spend time in their child's school helping them with literacy and also attend their own educational classes in their child's school. Parents attend workshops to receive training in a range of topics including health and financial literacy, parenting skills and elementary school communications.
OACES have various labs where they can teach trades. This Career & Technical Education (CTE) program include in-demand careers such as:

Building Maintenance
Carpentry
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Culinary Careers
Customer Service in the 21st Century
Electrical
Metal Trades
Print and Promotions Program 

Many of their teachers came from Edison when that school went down hill.

Eleanor gave an excellent OACES presentation which can be seen in this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/VVNUV_tckWA

Review of Outside Educational Experts Presentation - John Boutet, Lori Thomas

The August 12th the Education Experts' Presentation of Findings regarding RCSD Priority and Focus Schools to the Board of Education's Excellence in Student Achievement Committee was reviewed and discussed. Lori had also been present at that meeting and shared her views. A video of most of the August 12th meeting can be found at: http://youtu.be/hg9BR7OLbVQ and Tim Louis Macaluso's review of the meeting is at: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/many-city-teachers-...

Review of UR/East High meeting – John Boutet

The August 13th Community Forums on the UR/East High School Collaboration was discussed. Things the UR's Joanne Larson had mentioned that were new to me were:

1. They are going to have grades 6 through 12 there.  The building will be divided in to three sections:
   1. Grades 6 through 8 - - {There was a lot of concern from some parents about including grade 6 in the high school.}
   2. Grade 9
   3. Grades 10 through 12
2. All students would be part of a "family of five" that stayed as a unit for all 7 year.  They would meet periodically with one or two staff adults that stay with the family.
3. They will bring back evening school classes.  This would serve students that have gotten too old for fitting in well with the younger students and it would also expose them to the maturing effect of having older adults as their classmates..  The evening school would serve older adults who want to take continuing education classes to get a GED, learn a trade or whatever.  I suggested they contact OACES at 30 Hart Street which offers similar programs.  It might be beneficial for both organization to lean from each-other and complement each-others offerings.

Short Distance Busing Legislation Reminder

People were reminded to connect with the NY State Senate and Assembly to promote short distance busing. As far as we know the Senate bill has not been passed yet and there is currently no comparable bill in the Assembly like S5227B. For this you can contact:

• Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, Roch: 585-467-0410, Albany: 518-455-5373, morellej@assembly.state.ny.us

• Assemblyman David F. Gantt, Roch: 585-454-3670,  Albany: 518-455-5606,  GanttD@assembly.state.ny.us

• Assemblyman Harry B. Bronson, Roch: 585-244-5255, Albany: 518-455-4527, bronsonh@assembly.state.ny.us

To urge passage of S5227B in the Senate contact:

• State Senator Robach, Joseph E., Roch: (585) 225-3650, Albany: (518) 455-2909, robach@nysenate.gov

• State Senator Ranzenhofer, Michael H., Williamsville: (716) 631-8695 / (585) 454-0322, Albany: (518) 455-316,  ranz@senate.state.ny.us

AQE/Metro Justice Education Committee - The review of the the objectives and activities of the Alliance for Quality Education/Metro Justice Education Committee which had been planned for this meeting is rescheduled to the September meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Minutes submitted John Boutet

Past meeting minutes can be found in www.Location19.org in the SW Education Forum located at http://www.location19.org/group/sw-education-forum

Our next meeting will be September 17, 2014 at 6:30pm at the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, 929 South Plymouth. Map: Link