Minutes of the August 6^th, 2019 meeting of

The 19^th Ward Community Association Schools Committee

Attendees: John Laing, John Boutet, Dan Ross, Jay Ross, and Sara Yaworski

July minutes

Approved

Spelling Bee wrap-up

No additional information.

Busing Status

• We raised the concern that a focus on neighborhood schools could have an unintentional result of segregation. Given the overall demographics of RCSD we didn’t feel that neighborhood schools would have an impact but we should keep an eye on the demographics year over year.

• We need to maintain urgency for some action on the localized busing front or we will lose another year. Since this is a state budget issue we need to maintain contact with Mike Schmidt.

Welcoming letter

• Jay led us through a revision to the welcoming letter. We decided to focus on school 16 this year, and based on the feedback decide what to do in 2020-21 (more schools, etc). The final version is attached. John L was to contact Lisa Garrow about the logistics of distribution to teachers and staff. Last year the information on the website was incomplete at best. Is there somehow we can help to update the information?

Volunteer process

• We have been poor at providing volunteers for the schools, despite an MCO from the district, which provides us a process. John L had been contacted by Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez and he will follow up with her.

The next committee meeting will be Tuesday September 10^th at 7 pm in the 19^th Ward Community Association office.

Submitted by John Laing