This is a work in progress. Notes and videos are being posted as completed to minimize information turnaround time.

SW Common Council Education Committee
Meeting at the Flint Street Community Center
271 Flint Street
Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Meeting convened at 6:35 pm.

Participants and Introductions: John Boutet (19^th Ward Resident, SWCC Education Committee Co-Chair, Location19.org manager), Marian Boutet (19^th Ward Resident, Location19.org admin, background in horticulture), Ethan Borshansky (Own and manage property in PLEX and 19^th Ward), Maya Broady, Larry Burnette (Urban Agriculture, Aquaponics), Brandon Colaprete, Stacie Colaprete (SBANA / Vision Quest / parent of RCSD student), Jeremy Coleman (19^th Ward Resident) , Edward Cramp (6 yr PLEX Resident, U of R Grad., Cyclist), Erin Crowley (Engineer Competing for $215K Howard Buffett food solution prize), John Curran (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), Daniel Esler (Rochester Zen Center, interested in aquaponics), Sean Harrigan (Daughter has started in RCSD), Catherine Kana (Rochester Zen Center, involved in permaculture project, interested in aquaponics and SWAG (SW Agriculture Group)), Bill Nichthauser (19^th Ward Resident, past School #19 volunteer, currently volunteers at School 22, Oboist), Annie Pride (Offer Safe recreation programs to our families in the City of Rochester), Alison Skvarla (Music Teacher, Vision Quest),  Erick Stephens (Parent Engagement Coordinator, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLSA)), Ron Till (Retired RIT Prof, Consults w/ Nazareth School of Education Volunteer at Sch19 and 9, Prosper Rochester)

Planned Agenda:

1. Introductions - All - 15 min
2. Walking School Bus Update - Erick Stephens - 20 min
3. "PLEX C.A.M.P.U.S." Update - John Curran et al. 20 min
4. Discussion - All - 15 min
5. "Closing the Teaching Gap" by D. B. Bartalo - Robin Dettman - 10 min
6. Vision Quest update - Stacie Colaprete - 5 min
7. FREE Update - (Bruce Pollock report) John Boutet - 5 min
8. What is the latest on education from Mayor Warren? - All - 10 min
9. Discussion : Ed. Com. Support letter for Dr. Vargas - All - 10 min
10. Walk in Items

Walking School Bus Update - Erick Stephens

Walking School Bus Update February 26, 2014 Video:  http://youtu.be/MSW3IdNvBBQ

PLEX C.A.M.P.U.S. Update - John Curran / Cellar Hole Aquaponics Discussion - All

I Was very impressed at how these things came together at this meeting:

John Curran reviewed the objectives of the PLEX C.A.M.P.U.S. initiative and the progress it has made in the past month.  That was followed by a discussion of the "cellar hole aquaponics" proposal that John Boutet had sent out the previous week.  Larry Burnette reviewed his work studying how to implement aquaponics to feed a city and thinks the cellar hole use solves a problem for him.  Erin Crowley invited Larry to join her and combine his work into a grant proposal she is writing for a $215K Howard Buffett food solution competition prize.  Ethan Borshansky identified a possible site for a cellar hole aquaponics installation.

PLEX C.A.M.P.U.S. Update - Cellar Hole Aquaponics, 2/26/14 Video:   http://youtu.be/_vt7jsCnico

Robin Dettman reviewed   Donald B. Bartalo's book "Closing the Teaching Gap"

Closing the Teaching Gap - Review February 26, 2014 Video:  http://youtu.be/3IAyO_Rv2g0

Vision Quest update - Stacie Colaprete and Alison Skvarla

Vision Quest Update - 02/26/2014 Video:  http://youtu.be/-j8G92x5FM0

FREE Update - John Boutet  reviewed the volunteer update report Bruce Pollock had sent in: 

Free has added 3 19th Ward schools to the 9 it already supported.  The volunteer recruitment targets for SW schools that are now part of the FREE Coalition:

FREE Update - 2/26/2014 Video:  http://youtu.be/lRbaWmQ5Abg

The last item on the agenda was the discussion of the SWCC Education Committee approving writing a letter of support for Superintendent Bolgan Vargas.  The Education Committee overwhelmingly approved supporting the Superintendent.

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The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Minutes submitted John Boutet