The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

6-7:10 pm

A PDF of this meeting can be found here: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2021-08-25.pdf

Video of this meeting is at: https://youtu.be/J26JKQP-_JU

Attendance:

Lila Alshehri            Nazareth college, lalsheh0@mail.naz.edu

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

Joe Fargnoli             Youth Leadership, 298-8582, jdfargnoli@gmail.com

Lentory Johnson      Light the Way/Legacy Pk Sta, 749-3494, lentoryjohnson89@gmail.com

Lee Loomis              School #10 Tutoring Team Volunteer, leeloomis46@gmail.com

Phyllis Moss            Parent & 19th Ward Ed Chair, drphyllismoss@icloud.com

Moniek Silas-Lee     School #19 Principal, 328-7454, moniek.silas-lee@rcsdk12.org

Welcome & Introductions

School Reopening Update

• In-person, mask required, social distancing, cohorts will eat lunch together (only time masks won’t be required).

Local Busing

• Child Safety Zones might indicate where streets are not safe and might be a way to establish equity among students who want to attend their local schools but are concerned about safety. Mayor and her team produced a map showing the areas that fell into a Child Safety Zone category (not enough crosswalks, traffic issues, etc.). Shootings are not considered a reason for ensuring safe passage to school; it is considered a policing issue. Mayor met with Superintendent but we don’t have an update on that meeting.

• John shared “Potential Child Safety Zones” map.

• Have not yet broached new leadership with this concept.

Rochester Coalition for Public Education (RCPE)

• John has posted meeting notes for Coalition; last ones posted 7/23. Location SW has a SW Education Forum that includes a minutes index for SW Education Committee, 19th Ward Committee, and RCPE.

• Citizen Action group does a lot of lobbying and raises awareness on education issues. In general, it has been difficult to get people out to meetings.

• Phyllis noted that she met with one of the principals; we need to mobilize volunteers who can help in the school. How can we help promote that concept?

• Lentory hears this suggestion alot but there is also a need to take into consideration the pressures on parents and families; poor functioning of the school board; need to find ways to bring help to the traditional model. Need to connect children to what is important to them in their communities.

• Talk before there is an issue that causes conflict; sometimes parents are only seen when a negative incident has occured. Teachers also seem to have a fear of the city; don’t have a connection to inner city.

• Children shouldn’t have to adjust to adults who don’t understand the complexities of children who live in the city.

• Even in private schools, parents of color can be treated with indifference.

• Have observed that a lack of understanding and political views have an impact on how students are treated. Over 90% of children are of color, over 90% of teachers are white; therefore, cultural education should be a given.

• Parents can “feel” the judgment.

• PTO/PTA’s tend to have less teacher presence. School #19 has established a PTSA; have had one meeting - good participation from both staff and families.

Walk-In

• Difficult to understand how all the education committees either in the SouthWest or impacting the SouthWest fit and work together.

• Who are our parents (how many teenage mothers, how many single parents raising their children, how many grandparents are raising their children, etc.)?

  • Location SW notes that 65% of 19th Ward parents send children to private school; not sure what is considered a “private school” - homeschool, private, charter? Alarming statistic. (Need to check where in Location19.org that 65% was found.)

• Joe Fargnoli offered to help John with revitalizing SWCC.

  • John explained breakdown of the various neighborhood organizations that have historically been part of SWCC

  • 19th Ward Community Association well established and well organized. Respected by the City, which is helpful. NSC’s new Director, John McMahon, has also been very supportive in the past and we anticipate he will continue to support us.

Scribe Services: Eleanor Coleman, CFC YouthBuild & Rotary, 224 -5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com . This month the notes were transcribed from the video.

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