Comment

Comment by John Boutet on February 4, 2013 at 1:36am

**  I received a note forwarded to me today from one of our committee members, Chojy Schroeder, about a new video series launch that sounds very interesting:

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Dear Educator,

Jan. 31 IDEA launched *A Year at Mission Hill*, a 10-part video series about a remarkable public school in Boston, and a collective effort to seed a sustained conversation about what great teaching and learning really *looks like* -- and requires.

Every other week until June, a new 5-minute video will be released on many different platforms, including www.ayearatmissionhill.com.

Each video is both a chapter in a larger story about a single school, and a “communications comet” to which we can all attach cool things that get people excited about reinventing American public education.

*That's where you come in.

*In the weeks and months ahead, please watch the series, share it widely, and add your voice to the conversation* -- *on Facebook a href="http://www.facebook.com/ayearatmissionhill" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/ayearatmissionhill>;, Twitter (#Year atMH), and every other way -- virtual or in person -- that makes sense.*

*Let's make 2013 the year we start to elevate a different set of stories about teaching and learning. *

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Comment by John Boutet on February 2, 2013 at 3:42pm

** Just heard from mark Sweetland that there is a very timely Essay in City Newspaper by Ralph Spezio describing "A better model for neighborhood schools".

In the article Ralph describes his "Community Accredited Schools Model" which involves having "A joint body, co-chaired by a community member (tied to the neighborhood association) and the school principal would serve as the governance framework to monitor and sustain this collaboration."

This is the model Ralph described to us at our August 13 meeting and that we will probably be looking at for School 16.

The City Newspaper article can be found at: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/rochester/a-better-model-for-... .

Comment by John Boutet on February 2, 2013 at 3:16pm

**  Be sure to check out today's D&C Guest Essayist article where Dr. Vargas talks about:

"Neighborhood schools. We plan to achieve this district-wide, so that families want to choose their nearby neighborhood school."

"In Albany, I asked for funds to buy more time for Rochester students. We also requested a change in transportation policy that .....  will provide state aid to bus students less than 1.5 miles, making neighborhood schools more convenient."

These are things we have been pushing for and it is great to see the State and the District shifting in the same direction!

Now, if we could just get our neighborhood school back in the neighborhood, we would be all set!

You can read the whole article at:http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20130202/OPINION02/3020...

He also mentions:  "We welcome community input. The first of three public “open houses” on the school budget is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, in the Rochester International Academy on the Jefferson campus on Edgerton Park. Please email ideas or questions to balancedbudget@rcsdk12. org, or call (585) 262-8682."

Unfortunately this first of the three meeting overlaps our February 4th Education Committee meeting but we will try to get a representative there.  The other Budget "open house" meetings will be the Feb. 12th at Central Office at 6:30 pm and then on Feb. 26 at Montessori Academy at Dr. Freddie Thomas School (625 Scio St.) at 6:00 pm.

Comment by John Boutet on February 2, 2013 at 2:40pm

In case you have not seen the Event post the SW Education Committee is meeting Monday Feb. 4 at 6pm at the Arnett Library:  SW Education - Neighborhood School Revitalization - February Update...

Comment by John Boutet on January 5, 2013 at 5:34pm

A good example of neighborhood events that don't happen when kids get bused to schools outside their neighborhoods can be found in the post:  Neighborhood Event with School 29.  Children attending their neighborhood schools is important to building community bonds that help children develop pride in their neighborhood and a love for their local library.

The School 16 location on Post Ave is about the same distance from the Arnett library as is School 29.

Comment by John Boutet on November 29, 2012 at 2:50am

Here is an essay that should be read by all.  It points to why it is so important to insist on small neighborhood schools that are closely linked to the neighborhood and evaluated by involved parents and community members who insist on good education for their children.  You can't leave it to "the system".

Why Johnny Can't Think

The Politics of Bad Schooling

Comment by John Boutet on November 28, 2012 at 9:54pm

Don't overlook the value of joining the group.  I know that you can look at anything on Location19 without signing-up or signing-in and you can look at most group content without joining the group.  On social issues however being visible and counted matters.  Political decisions are made on the basis of how many care and are going to rock our boat.  There are currently  over 500 signed up members on Location19 and there are more who visit the site but have not signed up.   How many of you join the SW Education Group sends a message on how important these issues are to you.  Being counted matters!

Comment by Marian Boutet on November 28, 2012 at 8:55pm

As you may know, the plan for closing the 19h Ward’s elementary schools is justified by the proposed construction of a new large school that will house all of the students who now attend #10, #16, and #44 – roughly 1000 children in grades K-8.  The rationale is purely budgetary. The District claims it is less expensive to pursue this strategy than to renovate the existing schools and maintain a K-6 model

However, recent research reports that small schools - not just small class sizes - enhance the likelihood of student success in all but the most high-achieving student populations.  The more disadvantaged the student population, the more important it becomes to keep the school size modest, especially in grammar school.

Attached SUMMARY.doc is a small sampling of some of the research that has been done on the subject of small vs. large schools.

Comment by John Boutet on September 3, 2012 at 2:08am

If you are interested in seeing how Rochester schools are doing compared to the region, state or country, ACT Rochester has a ton of data that you can access via the following link:

Back to School...ACT Rochester Education Feature

Comment by John Boutet on September 1, 2012 at 2:22pm

Computer Recycling for Education

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