The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, 2/23/23

6-7:30 pm

For Zoom Link, Contact John Boutet @ jboutet@frontiernet.net

A PDF of the minutes are here: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2023-02-22.pdf

Attendance:

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

Eleanor Coleman    Rotary SW, CCFCS YouthBuild, 224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

John Curran           REACH, St. Monica’s, WFM, H-271-1053 jecurran@rochester.rr.com

Alicia Evans           Common Ground Health, 210-2425, Alicia.evans@commongroundhealth.org

Lee Loomis            School #10 Volunteer Tutor recruiter, C-738-3079 leeloomis46@gmail.com

Colleen McCarthy   EPUC, MNBN, 775-8310, lock66neighborhood@outlook.com

Phyllis Moss          19th Ward Ed Chair, C-451-1686 drphyllismoss@icloud.com

Rhonda Neal          WFA Principal, rhonda.neal@rcsdk12.org

Isaiah Santiago       School Board Candidate, 498-5594 isaiah4rcsd@gmail.com

Reyita Perez           WFA Community School Coordinator, reyita.perez@rcsdkas.org

Charles Reaves       NSC Administrator, 428-7630, charles.reaves@cityofrochester.gov

Shaniqua Smith       SouthWest NSC, 428-7630, Shaniqua.Smith@cityofrochester.gov

Carmen Torres       The Children’s Agenda, Parent Advocacy Mgr, 256-2620 x2613, 
                                     carmen@thechildrensagenda.org 

Welcome & Introductions

Quick update of school news

• Increased violence occurring; no updates yet.

Local busing update

• It would be helpful if we continue to make sure our superintendent, School Board, and local State legislators are aware of the need for short-distance busing as a means to more local enrollment in our schools.

Isaiah Santiago, School Board Candidate Attended our meeting

• Currently 18 years old. At 16 years old, he started “We Got This” - to address gun violence with success; City’s Department of Recreation has adopted the program.

• Spent 11th and 12th grade attending School Board meetings.

• He is on the Board of Directors of several organizations.

• Advocates for better mental health services in a variety of capacities.

• Currently a student at St. John Fisher - recently graduated from RCSD.

• Need new ideas for new issues that need new solutions.

The In-school Homeless Shelter: Original concept In-school Homeless Shelter , Concept adapted for Rochester, V2. Review our progress since Last Month's Meeting

• Who have we talked with?

  • John Boutet spoke with Dan Bosio, realtor with CALIBER COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE Reguarding 911 Brooks. He can be reached at 1-248-8724654, Dan@caliberbrokerage.com.

    • He said 911 Brooks is a mess. We would have to rebuild most of the inside.

    • A lot of copper has been ripped out. Roof leaks a lot.

    • Doors have been hacked in.

    • Owner wants $5,000,000 for it and turned down $4,000,000 a few years ago.

    • There is talk of possibly tearing it down, and building a smaller motel, a Restaurant and maybe a gas station.

    • Asked if he knew anything about the kitchen. He did not.

    • Dan Bosio will look for other possible properties.

  • John Curran has spoken with key players in Gates about 911 Brooks. They confirm it is in terrible shape. John C. is trying to connect with James VanBrederode. Could we use the building as a framework for a Gates homless shelter aswell as for schools? It is an open conversation at this point.

  • Eleanor C. and John B. connected with Kate Munsinger, Director of Development at Open Door Mission. Center on Coldwater Road is dedicated to homeless mothers and children; they provide a lot of the support services in which we are interested. Might be a good idea to interview those parents. Families are homeless for about 3 months and then leave that location. Website says they have room for 8-11 families; Kate said they have room for 24 peopleKate was going to try putting us in contact with Coldwater center.

  • Waiting for word back from Mike Schmidt who offered to provided data on homelessness.

  • The Rochester NW Rotary Club is building Tiny Shelters for Peace Village and people are invited to work on them February 18^th & 19^th at 9 AM at the House of Mercy Warehouse (10 Woodward Street, off of North St). John C. Pointed that those are Micro Homes not Tiny Homes. Tiny Homes being built by REACH are planned for Edgerton Meadows (near Fulton and Phelps). Sanctuary Village micro homes will be simpler.

• Carmen Torres has some experience building homes and would like to be involved in construction of homes.

• John C. has worked with Project Haven which has home-sized structures for folks with varying needs (LGBTQ, trafficked, etc.) and the contact is Pamela Smith.

Rochester Coalition for Public Education News (Minutes Index)

• RCPE takes a wider view of all the broken pieces of the school (e.g., high stakes testing) and, with the help of retired principals and other education specialists, etc. are working on identifying issues and working on solutions. Their next meeting is friday the 24^th at 4:00pm.

Walk in items

• Many students in schools are not receiving mandatory physical education (recess) Common Ground Health has formed Rescue Recess - taking signatures via website - www.healthikids.org/our-priorities/the-power-of-play/recess

• SWCC will be meeting quarterly going forward - March, June, September and November; still meeting at 6pm on Zoom.