SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2021-04-28 - - Child Safety Zone Map

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, 4/28/21

6-7:30 pm at

The YouTube video of this meeting can be found at: https://youtu.be/m48RtQHQIao

Here are the meeting notes as a .pdf file: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2021-04-28.pdf

Attendance:

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

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

Carla Carey School #19 Teacher, carlaann.carey@rcsdk12.org

Mary Coffey N. Winton Village Co-Chair; Many Neighbors Building Neighborhoods;

Public Safety, marycoffey0@gmail.com

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

Lentory Johnson Light the Way/Legacy Pk Sta, 749-3494, lentoryjohnson89@gmail.com

Avril Little 19thWard Resident/Villa of Hope, 420-8521, avrilglittle@gmail.com

Alexus Lomack Hillside Children’s Center, Student Observer, lomack_alexus@roberts.edu

Josie McClary 19th Ward Delegate/District 19, 764-5661, josiemcclary@hotmail.com

Moniek Silas-Lee School #19 Principal, 328-7454, moniek.silas-lee@rcsdk12.org

Sandra J Simon Mayor’s Office, Director of Special Projects & Education Initiative,
Sandra.Simon@CityofRochester.Gov

Stella Wang UR Teacher/Rotary SW/19th Ward Resident, 355-8568, stella.wang@rochester.edu

Lovely Warren Mayor, City of Rochester, lovely.warren@cityofrochester.gov

Welcome & Introductions

Child Safety Zone Map

John B. received a map from the Mayor Warren showing potential Child Safety Zones that could be useful in determining busing reconfiguration to reimburse local busing (less than 1.5 miles); current maps are based on state guidelines.
Mayor to meet w/ Superintendent to review the Child Safety Zone map and discuss possibilities around using this map to get local school busing throughout the City to supports neighborhood school configurations.
Child Safety Zone determination will not be made based on dangers of crime plagued neighborhoods (expectation is that it is a local responsibility to make those areas safe). Determination of a Child Safety Zone is made on the basis of traffic dangers such as how wide the streets are, how busy and fast the traffic is, how many safety guards are present, etc.
The Mayor has been responsive to requests from this committee and had her staff determine the Child Safety Zone Map based on State regulations.
Other groups working on busing issue: 19th Ward Education Committee and Coalition for Public Education, Citizen Action Alliance for Quality Education
Mayor’s Report: The mayor joined us about half way through the meeting (28:37 in video https://youtu.be/m48RtQHQIao ) and stressed how the equity issue would be used for City students. The Child Safety Zone map was completed by Erik Frisch in Mayor Warren's staff. Our schools should qualify for the same child safe passage made available to suburbs. Should not be the case that children should have to pass over highways to get to schools in the City yet could get door-to-door busing if they live one mile from a suburban school. Will need letters of support and representatives who can provide input to our political representatives. Our students should have access to the same resources as their suburban counterpart. Trying to move ASAP - need to get entire state legislative buy-in (local support is good). Hoping it can take effect in next school year. Mayor approved for John to share map with Stella Wang’s UR class.

Quick review of school reopening - New COVID guidelines

Constantly changing process; latest appears to be that 3 options will be available:
- COVID restrictions lifted - normal in fall, 5 days a week
- COVID restrictions - Mon Tues in person; Wed Asynchronous; or Thu Fri in person
- Remote learning exclusively for first 20 weeks of school (must make this request by May 7)

Political developments and funding breakthroughs

Money coming in from Federal Government and from the State thanks to Assembly/Senate-friendly members; AQE was able to push for the funding that was due since 2008-09; how to use the money efficiently - restaffing?
Substantial amount of money being made available is for learning loss / bring students back up to speed (accelerated learning). Student population is decreasing which will involve school closings, reconfiguration.

Vaccinations

Can walk-in to Dome Arena and Hawkeye Plant on St. Paul without appointment
New study being made available for very young children; info will be made available

Primary elections

Primary is 6/26; several positions that impact education are on the ballot. Mayor up for re-election;
League of Women Voters will hold a debate among those running for office of School Board; we will send out a notice
Coalition for Public Education has been holding interviews with school board candidates

CET meetings

John continues to stay in touch with all SW CET’s schools. Impressive seeing the work being done.

SWCC pushing for revitalization

Still looking for parents/neighborhood representatives to take a leadership role in facilitating the SW Common Council. SWCC works to keep all neighborhood associations in the SW Quadrant working together.

Walk in items

CFC YouthBuild is recruiting for new class to start 5/24; contact for orientation is Reg Walton at 766-7344
School #19 - Community Zumba & Line Dancing Event 5/22; flyer will be sent out soon.
Rise Up Rochester - standing up against the violence; contact is Toni Nelson; Mary Coffey suggested that we join that effort.