SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2019-04-24

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

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 2019-04-24.pdf

Attendance:

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

Eleanor Coleman CFC YouthBuild, & SouthWest224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

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

Avril Little 19^th Ward Resident & YMCA, 420-8521, avrilglittle@gmail.com

Theresa Lippa UR Americorps Vista w/ Cornell Co-op 4-H, 753-2568, tel149@cornell.edu

Latest developments on the budget. Check out: Community schools, RCSD budget 2019, RCSD Budget 2019 CA, what's left out? (CA=Children’s Agenda)

We have a shortfall; superintendent trying to allocate monies the most productive way possible; have pretty much used up the “rainy day” funds. Mayor annoyed that community schools aren’t being more aggressively pursued.
Q. What’s criteria makes a community school? A: Support and wrap-around services are located within the school. A community school might not be a “neighborhood” school. The opposite is also true.

Community Schools: Local Busing Initiative , Wade Norwood, Meeting with RCSD Superintendent Dan Lowengard and Administrative Assistant Linda Cimusz.

Dan Lowengard and Linda Cimusz were supportive but asked that John B & John L put together a plan (which neighborhoods/schools, bus routes, etc.). Were impressed with the map of the 19^th Ward that shows the 1.5 mile radius for 19^th Ward schools – distance is too far for very young children. Agreed we should approach Mayor Warren with the local busing need.
School #17 principal can document that they have short-distance busing.
John B. encouraged folks to take the busing survey if they have not.
Difficult to set up “Walking School Buses” when there are so few children from the neighborhood attending the school.
John L. and his wife had an opportunity to speak with Michael Killian (D&C) and used this time to raise awareness around busing.

Building City/neighborhood/agency connections with our schools - results of meeting with Daisy Rivera Algarin, City of Rochester NSC Director

John B, as co-chair of the SWCC, has been attending the Presidents Meetings which is a group of all the neighborhood associations in the City. Has been advocating for neighborhood schools; sent a letter to the attendees and got strong positive responses from a passionate parent and from Mitch Gruber. Get more parents enrolled in neighborhood associations; need the younger participants.
John B met with Daisy (oversees the NSC’s) and John McMahon (Genesee NSC) to advocate for neighborhood schools. Thinking that maybe an “uplift” in school communities would encourage teachers to come out. Police and service providers go door-to-door to make neighbors aware of police services and other resources. Perhaps teachers could also go out with officers. School #17 successfully canvassed the neighborhood to recruit families for the school. Daisy supportive of using NSC resources to promote neighborhood schools when feasible.
John L recommended having an event for principals at which neighborhood associations could share information.

CET meeting update - School 10, 16, 19, Joseph C. Wilson Foundation Academy

CET process a lot of work if you do it correctly; State didn’t really give enough time to roll out a workable plan, especially as State established their own priorities vs allowing schools to address the priorities of those who provided input at the CET meetings.

School 29, 44, and Wilson Commencement – Update

No updates.

OACES, CFC YouthBuild – Update

YouthBuild recruiting for next cohort which starts the end of June. Contact is Reg Walton (585) 766-7344.
YB students attended a Job Fair at East High School and were able to speak one-on-one with Cheryl Dinolfo, County Executive.
YB approached by RCSD for serving 16 yr olds who were referred with “drop letters.” Turns out that Board mandates that no 16 yr old can attend any program except RCSD, even if they aren’t showing up there. Avril recommended speaking with Chuck Allan (Mo Co Educational Liaison with the FACT Team who works with truants and has a good relationship with RCSD; 753-2664 callan@monroecounty.gov).

Walk-in Items

Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H (Theresa Lippa, 753-2568, tel49@cornell.edu)

Trying to expand into the inner city. Four pillars: Agriculture & Sustainable Food, STEAM, Civic Engagement and Healthy Living; serve ages 5-18.
School-based clubs, afternoon activities, overnight activities.
Currently in School #29; active class uses the 4-H Pledge making note of impacting Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Goal is to be able to have teachers take over the curriculum.
All learning is hands-on; projects teach teambuilding.
FREE – just need to complete paperwork.

Suggestions:

Get principals to commit their schools to attending the Westside Farmers Market.
Theresa Lippa mentioned School 17 is distributing information door-to-door in the JOSANA area. Suggestion made to send her anything that would be appropriated to distribute with their information.
The May 19WCA Schools Committee is May 8^th at 7:00pm at the Association Office, 216 Thurston Road.