The Education Committee of the SW Common Council

Wednesday, 10/26/22

6-7 pm on Zoom

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

PDF of minutes: SWCC Education Committee Minutes 2022-10-26.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   Rotary SW, CCFCS YouthBuild, 224-5119, eleanor.coleman@gmail.com

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

Cecilia Golden      Education Leader, 680-9317, cgoldenleads@gmail.com

Lentory Johnson   Light the Way/GEM, 749-3494, lentoryjohnson89@gmail.com

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

Victor Saunders     Adv to Mayor on Viol Prev, 428-7406, victor.saunders@cityofrochester.gov

Lieselle Taylor      Director of Community Schools, lieselle.taylor@rcsdk12.org

Welcome & Introductions

Quick update of school news

• Linda Cimusz is back as Interim Chief of Staff at RCSD

• The new Maker's Space classroom at School #16 has a Donors Choose set up for more supplies. https://www.donorschoose.org/project/lets-lego-let-go-and-be-creative/6935349/

• Join School #29 this Friday, 10/28 3:30-5:30 PM for the School 29 Autumnal Gathering. We will celebrate the new Kenwood playspace with fall activities, live music, and light refreshments. https://mailchi.mp/540westmain/join-us-for-an-autumnal-gathering?e=a401a29dba

• Facility Modernization Hearings moving forward.

• Proposed School Closings will be on the Board agenda for approval.

• RCSD is working to put a food pantry in every school (Lieselle Taylor)

• Elections - current local political leadership is in support of our local busing proposal to build and strengthen neighborhoods (½ mile vs 1.5 miles)

Common Ground Health - Healthi Kids

• The 2021-22 Monroe County Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report (prepared by Monroe County Dept of Public Health) is available on line.
  https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/health/health-action/MC%20YRBS%202021-22%20FINAL.pdf

• Read our PlayROCs the RCSD report about the state of active play in Rochester
  https://media.cmsmax.com/9p433trpk8pdaaywwkfzb/cgh-41-cgh-playrocs-...
  Lea nuestro informe PlayROCs el RCSD sobre el estado del juego activo en Rochester https://media.cmsmax.com/ravk3pgz5ktlujs1r08ci/cgh-41-cgh-playrocs-report-r8-spa.pdf

• Rescue Recess! Sign the pledge to support daily, active play in the RCSD. https://www.healthikids.org/our-priorities/the-power-of-play/recess

• Alicia will now be working with School #10 and #19 on increasing physical activity, healthy foods, etc. Ongoing need for getting volunteers to help with “Walking School Buses,” to assist children getting to and from school.

• Promote education around the importance of ensuring that children have physical activity, which supports mental health and academics. Should not have to fight for recess.

• Important to make sure bikes and bike locks are available. Need to rally schools, parents and partners to make this happen. Note: Safety is an issue; We need to teach bike safety and identify safe routes. What about inclement weather?

• Reconnect Rochester offers bike education designed to attract more people in our community to discover the health and financial benefits of using a bike to get around.

We deliver bike education in a wide variety of settings including workplaces, college campuses, health care facilities, public libraries, schools, and community groups. Businesses often present bike education as a “lunch n’ learn” opportunity for their employees, but we’re up for anything! https://www.rcommunitybikes.net/ http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/

• The Walking School Bus: Combining Safety, Fun and the Walk to School
  http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/

Local busing update

• Last month’s minutes has links to the 2 bills put through for half-mile busing. John spoke with Jeremy Cooney who is familiar with Ralph Spezio’s leadership in pushing for local busing and how it helped strengthen attendance and build neighborhood connection among parents and students

• There is a bus driver shortage for even the 1.5 miles; this would have an impact.

• Perception of the quality of the schools is an issue as to whether a parent would want to have their children attend a neighborhood school.

19WCA Strategic Planning

• Hoping to get students from Wilson HS to get involved with 19th Ward planning. Leaders for strategic planning put this on hold as 19th Ward needs to find a new home which is taking priority.

Finger Lakes Soaring Club

• Cy Kastner is a former engineer who earned pilot’s license. Past 20 years has flown gliders in Dansville. Opportunity for 2 HS students to learn to pilot gliders; Get license, See www.FLSC.org or visit Facebook page. Soaring Club has been in Dansville a long time; other pilots engaged in the program. Junior program starts at age 11-18; they are a Charter School, 401 C-3. 35-50 members at a time. Teach students and young people how to fly on Saturdays and Sundays; Juniors highly subsidized by club members. Weekend activity; number of adults with flying experience; 5 instructors.

• Cy met with Victor Saunders; challenge is to find students who can handle the academic side.

• Lieselle will connect Cy with Kelli Briggs, Director of Strategic & Community Partnerships to begin to spread the word. This would also require a commitment from the school the student attends.

Rochester Coalition for Public Education News (Minutes Index)

• Howard Maffucci is inviting you to a scheduled RCPB Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86311589474 Meeting ID: 863 1158 9474

Coalition Agenda

1. Feedback on Board of Regents "Blue Ribbon Committee for Graduation Expectations":

David & Tricia

2. Feedback on Rich Ryan's Chapter on Student Motivation & Follow-up: Dan

3. RASE Feedback from 10/27 Meeting:

4. BoE Candidate Search Meeting concerns: Dan

5. RORE Charter School Proposal Meeting:

6. Proposal for Center for Govt. Research Initiative on "Student Interest in Exploring Racism":

7. Increasing Coalition Diversity Proposals: Dan

8. Alternative to "Anti-Racism PD" language: Dan

9. Feedback on Regents Turner/Norwood Meeting: Ed

10. Supt. Search:

11. Other Business:

12: Next meeting: Friday, Nov. 11th, 4:00 pm?

Addendum: Dan Drmacich will try to have Caterina Leone-Mannino at meeting to explore if Diane Ravitch's blog about TNTP is correct. In it TNTP sounds pretty bad and serves to promote privatization.

Walk in items

• Pathways to Peace has increased staff from 5 to 15 and will be working out of schools. Focus on Social Emotional Skills, Conflict Resolution and Intervention; have noticed that housing is a large need so they are connected with Center for Youth (for young adults) and Housing Opportunities; staff will set up meetings for clients.

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