Minutes of the June 2^nd, 2020 meeting of

The 19^th Ward Community Association Schools Committee

Attendees: Joe Baldino, John Boutet, Charlotte and Douglas Giebel, John Laing, Dan and Jay Ross, and Sarah Yaworski

Spelling Bee Status (Douglas and Charlotte)

The recognition packages for the spelling bee participants have been delivered to the students at 10,16 and 44. Those for 29 will be picked up this week. We are holding out hope that there may be an opportunity for a spelling bee event in the fall and contacted the fraternity to explore the possibility of an on-line spelling Bee (similar to the national spelling bee).

John L proposed that we make up our own spelling lists for next year using words that the students can relate to and could fit into their vocabulary. For example the fourth graders have science in their curriculum and have exposure to the Xerox Science Consultants for hands-on experiments combined with a review of vocabulary. I offered to make up a list of words for that grade level. We could make up the 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th grade lists to reinforce civics lessons, geography, health etc. We could select from previous word lists, but they will all be needed by November.

Rochester Coalition for Public Education

This group lobbied the state to add a monitor for RCSD and is setting up meetings with the superintendent and the monitor to make recommendations. John B will provide the link to a presentation by Dan Drmacich (former principal of School without Walls). There will be a Zoom presentation on the impacts of poverty by John Strazzabosco based on his book “90 Feet Under”.

MOU Status (Sara)

Sara reported that the MOU is in the hands of the RCSD legal department.

School reports

Chrome books are being distributed to 4^th and 5^th graders. RCSD is looking for ways to provide wifi for all students. A team is being assembled to figure out how to reopen.

The next committee meeting will be Tuesday July 7th at 7 pm on Zoom.

Submitted by John Laing