Minutes of the February 12^th meeting of

The 19^th Ward Community Association Schools Committee

Attendees: John Boutet, John Laing, Jay Ross, Sarah Yowarski

Guests: Ethan Davis (Sigma Phi Epsilon), Bruce Pollock (FREE)

Status of Spelling Bee

Ethan Davis is the fraternity brother organizing the spelling bee. It will be held Saturday, March 29. The students will assemble at the field house at 11 am, then be taken to lunch and finally the spelling bee itself at 1 in the Hubbell Auditorium in Hutchison Hall. This is convenient to the 19^th ward as it is the largest building you can see from the Elmwood Ave bridge. The fraternity is getting trophies and t-shirts for the competitors. Dana Miller will attend to present the vouchers for scholarships for the winners, Vice President, Senior Advisor to the President, and University Dean 
Paul J. Burgett will address the students, and so far Bolgen Vargas and Van White have confirmed their attendance. Invitations will be sent to other board members and the principals of the schools. A bus provided by RCSD can carry only the students and if there are any volunteers who could drive parents it would be appreciated.

Volunteer Process Update

Bruce Pollock from FREE attended and discussed the philosophy of volunteering at the schools. First, the volunteers are there to support the teacher and the teacher’s objectives. Secondly, where it is a match to the teacher’s objectives, the hope is to raise level 3 students to level 2 in the standardized tests and improve the rating of the schools. The most effective way to accomplish this is through 1:1 tutoring, which requires a significant number of volunteers (see the January minutes). To cover all the level 3 students in the three schools (16,29,44) would require over 70 volunteers. The next opportunity to recruit volunteers will be the school 16 project fair on March 20, from 6 to 7:30. Let me know if you can participate and talk to parents about volunteering.

There are 6 Brockport students in schools 16, 29 and 44 for the next semester, placed by FREE. The FREE annual meeting will be held April 23 at SOTA from 4-5:30. Bolgen Vargas will be the keynote speaker and Lovely Warren is the special honoree.

New Business

John Boutet had attended the RCSD budget meeting and he recommended that we look up the information which is available on line.

Minutes submitted by John Laing

Next Meeting Wednesday, March 12^th at 7 pm in the 19^th ward association office.