The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

6:30 to 8:00 pm at

Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Boulevard

Here are the meeting notes as a .pdf file: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2018-10-24.pdf

Attendance:

Joe Baldino              School #29 Principal, 490-2245, joseph.baldino@rcsdk12.org

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

Eleanor Coleman    YouthBuild, OACES & ProsperRochester, 224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

John Laing                19WCA Schools Comm & Sch #16 Vol, 235-5236, jlaing1@rochester.rr.com

Local Busing Initiative – History & Lobbying Plans; check where we were in March 2016 with Superintendent Linda Cimusz. What has happened since?

• Jerome Underwood put together talking points on transportation costs assuming neighborhood schooling comparing ¾ mi. and ½ mi. Those notes were distributed. It was noted that, when you reduce the miles/distance from school for pick-up, you fill up the buses quicker.

• C. Golden looking into another study that was started in the past but not finished. Currently looking at how to get savings while maintaining the same number of buses. The students who live 1.5 miles or more from school are scheduled first determining number of buses. All others (starting with youngest first) are accommodated, if there is room on the bus.

• Dave Gantt has not shown support for short-distance busing.

Progress on Implementing Actions Items from July 25^th

• Community tours of School #16 happened 9/15; community impressed.

• After school social with teachers and neighbors at Dawn’s house; would like to see more people from the community. Mary Adams and Veatriz LeBron attended. Teachers felt welcomed. Had a robust discussion about the “Distinguished Educator.”

• Confirmed with RCSD we can use School #16 for the 19WCA Convention in November.

• Still need to make arrangements with Carla Roberts (School #16 principal) to contact teachers in regards to encouraging them to become members of the 19WCA.

• The 10/5 Superintendent’s Day was not an option for community representatives to speak to teachers at School #16.

Need:

• Recruit younger education advocates to get involved and/or join the Education Committees.

• Need to connect with Carla regarding teacher and parent participation at Annual Convention to be held at their school and Candlelight dinners to be held in February.

• Work with Ernestine to involve the community in school plays and volunteering as tutors.

• Providing teachers and parents information regarding institutionalized racism and white privilege in a way that isn’t confrontational but gets them to understand the impact today’s society has on African Americans.

• Making sure children are educated around voting and the importance of participating in government; this does happen at the senior level; it should happen earlier.

SW Libraries

For detailed information go to www.Roccitylibrary.org.

School #3 – Update

• No Report

School #10 – Update

• Lee Loomis reported by email that tutors have started work at the Marchall campus where School 10 is in swing space.
  

School #16 – Update

• John L. brought up a concern about not having noticed some of the details in the architectural plans; bathrooms in Pre-K and Kindergarten don’t have paper towel dispensers; tables, not desks – no place to put your own things; room on Post are smaller than Scio; except for the high hallway, most of the hallways are confining; doors at both ends of a hall were locked (safety issue); west facing windows over stage in gym have no blinds, can't control lighting in the gym. Important to document these things so that they are avoided/addressed in subsequent construction.

• 4th grade has 22 students in each class.

• Convention flier were sent out to Ernestine Brown with request she send invitations to parents and teachers.

School #19 –Update

• No report

School #29 Update – Joe Baldino, Principal  -  Update Video:  https://youtu.be/mzykT5Lfwew

• Capital Improvement project coming near the end; garden is in; need a basketball hoop for new court; 2 new handicapped spots (now have 4)

• Hallway of famous Americans; paintings around the school are culturally representative of the school’s population (6 African American, 1 white, 1 Native American (gender and racially balanced). Teachable moments, Written work.

• Ballards have been painted yellow and blue (school colors)

• New sign on front of building and bushes are gone.

• Memory Garden in front with plaque for woman across the street who lost her son.

• Joe was sent Convention flier and will send parents and teachers invitations to the 19WCA convention.

School #41 Update

• No Report

School #44 Update

• Talked to Ilka Fernandez, Parent Contact at School 44. They had 100 parents at the Open House this fall. Unfortunately no parents showed up for first PTO. Ilka will send out invitations for the 19WCA convention to parents and teachers.

CFC YouthBuild

• The YouthBuild classroom has moved to a new location which is now in the SW Quadrant: 121 Lincoln Ave between Chili and West Aves. Large warehouse will offer space to build inside year-round. Administrative offices are located at 87 No. Clnton.

• Have been working with REACH to be involved in the concept Tiny Homes for the homeless. Hoping students will be able to be involved throughout the process.

• Third cohort scheduled to start 11/5.

Walk-in Items

• Suggestion was made to library rep (Joan Lee) at the last SWCC meeting to consider offering workshops on institutional racism, white privilege, etc.

Scribe Services: Eleanor Coleman, ProsperRochester Inc., 224 -5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

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

19thWCA Schools Committee Chair: John Laing, 235-5236, jlang1@rochester.rr.com

Addendum:

1. On 10/26/2018 Mary Adams was able to get a report from the District that shows quite clearly that short distance busing saves money:  School Bus Cost Impact Study FIN.pdf
2. Also check out this map to see what 1.5 miles look like around School 16.