School 16 Revitalization To Do List 9/19: 

1.      Join the survey Team: Design, administer, analyze and report a interview style survey to #16 families as well as the 19^thWard community around the school. Contact: John Lightfoot (john.lightfoot.90@facebook.com) or Kathy King (kbking@rochester.rr.com). Survey team will:

o   Contact Wilson Commencement Participation In Government (PIG) class in order for them to participate.

o   Contact 7^th & 8^th Grade teachers at #16 to get there participation.

o   Administer the survey to families at #16 public events.

2.      Contact RCSD Facilities Department 336-4095 and ask them when the work will begin at the 16 school building. The longer the school remains closed with no work happening, the longer students educational program at 16 will be disrupted.

o   Jerome Underwood (Jerome.Underwood@rcsdk12.org) and Thomas Keysa (Thomas.Keysa@rcsdk12.org)

o   Contact Willa Powell, Willa.Powell@rcsdk12.org, 442-8360 and ask for her support in getting the work started at school #16.

3.      Volunteer to serve as an adult presence in the #16 school areas of the Dr Freddie Thomas Learning Center. Open house is 9/27 at 6:30-7:30 at FTLC.

o   Contact Principal Matthew Laniak (matthew.laniak@rcsdk12.org, 235-1272) to set up a time (possible times could be:  9:15 -10:00 Start; 12:12:45 Lunch; 2:15 – 3:00 FTLC Dismissal)  

o   Contact Camilla Mossgraber (camilla.mossgraber@rcsdk12.org ), Parent Liaison in order to set up a volunteer classroom activity.

o   Contact Willie Robinson (willie.robinson@rcsdk12.org) to inspire or participate in large scale Parent Engagement activities.

4.      Join the Fatherhood Initiative. Contact Ricardo Adams (Ricardo_PPU@yahoo.com)

5.      If you have students on both campuses,  #10 & FTLC, contact Principal Matthew Laniak (matthew.laniak@rcsdk12.org, 235-1272)  or Sharlene Banks, Pre school Parent Program (sharbanks1@yahoo.com, 324-2010) , about how you can help the Pre school can maintain a strong relationship with the whole school. #10 school Principal Cameron Clyburn has been quite accommodating to #16 Pre School parents and the have a parent room. In the past shared events were: concerts, fairs, moving up ceremonies, etc. .

Background: During planning for the expansion of School 16 to include Grade 8, the District discovered that the building requires significant improvements immediately. The HVAC system is ineffective, there are plumbing and sewage problems, the paint has peeled from the walls, there is rodent infestation, the cafeteria does not have a functional commercial kitchen, the bathroom facilities do not meet the sanitation needs of young girls approaching menses, it does not meet State requirements for Physical & Health Education, Home & Careers and it has no appropriate Science labs.

What we agree on:

1.       #16 School will remain open after renovations are complete.

2.       All energies need to be focused on helping children reach their full potential; including high academic achievement.

3.       School will have wrap around services such as: Health & Wellness including mental health, housing services, recreation and tutoring services. (Betsy, EJ Watkins)

4.       We (Community) will survey residents about their relationship with school #16 in collaboration with neighborhood students. (Team: John Lightfoot, Mary Adams, Nancy Ares, Kathy King) Sample Question: Why are parents sending/or not sending their children to #16?

5.       Use technology and other means to improve communication between the school, community and parents.

6.       Full service Cafeteria

7.       Coordinated volunteer activities & tutoring services

8.       If the school MUST have 7^th & 9^th graders, transfers into 16 at these grade levels should be limited.

9.       Expand gym and add pool and swim lessons (Is the YMCA interested in supporting this effort?)

10.    Redesign playground and field to clear the field of vision for better supervision of children.(Besty)

11.    Bussing kept to a bare minimum.

12.    The community should have access to the facility during evenings and some weekends without additional cost or major opposition from school staff.

13.    Afterschool recreation activities for pre-teens (recording studio, building things, movie night teen night, musical instrumental performances, drama, chess)

14.    Active parent and school governance boards with community engagement.

15.    Community members attend school events such as open house to encourage membership & community involvement.

16.    Continue to encourage more community members, especially parents to become involved in education in the SW and support their continued involvement.

17.    Reconfigure parking lot to make it more accessible

18.    Parent Liaison with a flexible schedule

19.    Full time librarian (Common Core Utilization)

20.    ELA coaches for grades 1 & 2/ Math Coach

21.    Looping

22.    Languages other than English aka “foreign language”.

The ways that the community can stay involved:

o   join Location19.org SWCC Education and the SW Education FaceBook page

o   tolerate emails about issues in SW schools

o   write letters to school board, City Council, County Leg., the Supt, the D&C; City, & the Minority Reporter

o   read research reports, news, magazine & journal  articles, blogs, opinion, etc.  and share relevant information with neighbors.

o   Attend community meetings& forums & share what you heard.

o   Make phone calls

o   Bring attention to particular school issues by talking about them w/friends, family & neighbors

o   Share you ideas and internet links to relevant information with the group.

o   start & sign online petitions

o   sit at tabled events to share information with the public; put info in your church bulletin

o   hold rallies and marches