From: Dan Drmacich <dandrmacich123@gmail.com>

Sent: Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11:06 AM

To: David Long, Sean Smith, Dave Atias, and 79 more

Cc: Adrian Hale <Regent.Hale@nysed.gov>

Subject: 3/31 Rochester Coalition for Public Education Meeting Minutes

Attendance: Howie Maffucci, Don Bartalo, Chojy Schroeder, Lee Loomis, John Boutet, Cindy Butterworth, Don Pryor, Caterina Leone-Mannino, David Hursh, Jessica Ritchlin, Joe Simpson, Adrian Hale, Dan Drmacich

Discussion & Decisions:

1. We welcomed our special guest, newly appointed Regent Adrian Hale.

2. We congratulated Coalition member, David Hursh, for receiving a national award for his work in public education for achieving social justice. David has been a leader of our Coalition work since its inception in the year 2000, and as well as at the U of R since the early 1970s!

3. Regent Hale described his background as a K-12 student at various RCSD schools, including a graduate of Marshall High School and one who grew-up around poverty and trauma, and then enlisted in the U.S. Marines, served 2 tours in Afghanistan and returned to Rochester, dealt with PTSD, and was accepted & graduated from Yale University, with a degree in political science. He returned to Rochester, and with the support of former Mayor, Bob Duffy, implemented initiatives for individuals & organizations achieving economic growth & success through Rochester City Govt., the Chamber of Commerce and the RCSD. He stressed his strong commitment for improving the lives of all NYS children through education, and especially for socially-economically marginalized students of color.

4. Regent Hale stressed that public education change cannot be achieved if clear goals & objectives are not established and the necessary resources to support the achievement of those objectives are not applied.

5. He also expressed strong support for the work of the NYSED & Regents Blue Ribbon Commission (which includes Coalition members David Hursh & Tricia Gonzalez) for developing recommendations to the Regents for student graduation and assessment, and made plans to meet with David & Tricia. He indicated his strong support for making the Commission's recommendations a reality.

6. We shared our Coalition's supportive work with the Rochester International Academy to seek fairer, less discriminatory & more meaningful assessments to assist ELL students growth & development; particularly bu having it become a member of the NYS Performance Standards Consortium, of which the School Without Walls is a member. Regent Hale expressed strong support for this work & will arrange a visit to the RIA through Coalition member Chojy, and a discussion with its leadership.

7. We discussed the development & success of East High, under the leadership of the U of R, and what implications it has for RCSD organization development, particularly with possible increased funding for more staffing, PD and curriculum & assessment development. Adrian is conducting an in-depth analysis of East High results & research, before making any recommendations.

8. John Boutet shared his work for supporting free city-wide bussing for all RCSD students and community schools, which Adrian also supports and will assist John & his committee's efforts.

9. Adrian also agreed to meet with Don Bartalo's Rochester Education Leaders Committee.

10. Regent Hale agreed to meet with our Coalition again, based upon mutual need and availability.

**** I'm sure that I missed some other important points that Regent Hale and/or our Coalition members may have made. Please feel free to add them and send to all on this list by sending them to "Reply All" or to me.

11. We agreed to meet again, next Friday, April 7th, 4:00 pm, by Zoom.