SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2022-05-25

The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

6-7:00 pm at

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

Video of this meeting is at: https://youtu.be/Ww7X2AJdtbc

Attendance:

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

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

Carmen Jones Community Center Manager for Willie W. Lightfoot & Frederic Douglas Rec Ctrs, 369-3029,
carmen.jones@cityofrochester.gov

Lee Loomis School #10 Volunteer Tutor Team Leader, leeloomis46@gmail.com

Tiffany Owens SWAN @ 10 Cady St, 436-3090, towens@swanonline.org

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

Welcome & Introductions

Repeal the Receivership Law - Legislation (S.9284). Legislation was introduced by James Skoufis (D) 39^th Senate District and co-sponsored by Jabari Brisport, (D, WF) 25^th Senate District, Jeremy A. Cooney (D, WF) 56^th Senate District, Samra G. Brouk (D, WF) 55^th Senate District, James Gaughran, (D) 5^th Senate District

Legislation would eliminate need for school to be in receivership but still allows for making improvements. The Commissioner of Education is granted the power to identify schools for additional support and assistance and establish performance targets for such schools. Such schools still need to form a Community Engagement Team.
Trying to get more information on this proposed bill. Hoping to hear from one of our NYS Senators or Assemblypersons or contacts in central office.

Quick update of school news

School #10 - Lee had an encouraging meeting with Michele White, School #10 Community Site Coordinator; starting to make plans on getting in-person tutors 3rd week in September.
Willie W. Lightfoot Rec Center Carmen Jones is Community Center Manager and works closely with principal and Community Schools Site Coordinator at School #19 ; also getting to know the teachers; also seeing the overlap between the students and young folks who attend the Rec Center
- Saturday afternoon, Basketball Tournament being held; all activities will have a focus on “peace,” making sure to include the actual word in promoting events (and as opposed to anti-violence)
- Active shooter and active killer drills done; encouraged youth to be aware of this at home as well. Work with City Security, school staff, Pathways to Peace, SNUG.
Frederic Douglas Rec Center Carmen Jones is also Community Center Manager at this Rec Center which is attached to School #12 She also works closely with the principal and staff there.

Local busing update - (Please support Assembly Bill 1276 and Senate Bill 4414).

This effort has been in the works for many years, starting with guidance of Ralph Spezio and Caterina Leone Mannino, past principals of School #17 which was able to fill its school with neighborhood students.

RASE Forum - latest

Forum looks at various ways to overcome the institutionalized racism that exists in Rochester’s hierarchy of governments, schools, businesses, etc. Promotes ways to actively address racism in Rochester. We need to make sure schools implement Forum recommendation for education.
Recent Buffalo shooting targeting African-Americans is another example of how things are not getting better.

Rochester Coalition for Public Education News

Pushing for eliminating high stakes testing which limits success based on cultural bias.
Board of Regents is canceling the American History Regents Exam. Decision is based on the high level of stress related to shootings; the literature and terms used in the exam could trigger trauma.

Walk in items

Looking into book written by Justin Murphy of D&C that offers a synopsis of segregation in the Rochester City School System.
Square Fair is June 4th; hoping that there will be a SW Common Council table and a table for the SWCC Education Committee, 19WCA Schools Committee and teachers so we can answer questions the public may have. It would be great if schools could organize tours of our renovated schools.

Scribe Services: Eleanor Coleman, CFC YouthBuild & Rotary, 224 -5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

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

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