Flower City Parents Network

www.flowercityparents.org

Volume 30 June 29, 2010

The fate of mayoral control is coming down to the wire. By this time next week, mayoral control in Rochester could be a done deal. Or not. How do you feel about it? Have you made up your mind on whether or not the mayor (any mayor?) should control Rochester’s schools? If you do, have you let your state senator know? At this point, it’s all in the hands of the state Senate. Those public hearings and information forums we were promised – not happening.  If you want your voice to be heard on this issue, you need to contact the Rochester Senate delegation … NOW.

You can find contact information for Rochester’s state senators on the forum at http://flowercityparents.org/forum/index.php?topic=1436.0

Don’t wait!

Remember! We’re on Twitter: @cityparents

From our latest posts:

On school uniforms - pro:

Personally I like the idea of uniforms.  Some students are not encouraged by their parents to dress appropriately.  There seem to be some confusion between “I’m going to school” & “I’m going to the club/beach or any where else but school”.

Many places of employment have uniforms or strict dress codes.  One point of school is to make young people citizens and teach them how to operate in this world.  Individuality is allowed in this world, but we have to all learn that there is a time and a place for everything.

… and con:

Instead of a knee-jerk reaction and a blanket policy, why aren’t those particular students taken aside, and mentored/guided to be the great citizens we know they are to become? It’s sad that they aren’t getting that care from their homes, but to inflict a uniform policy on those who aren’t the problem is too extreme. That’s like jailing everyone in the town because one person committed a crime.  … It is true that some businesses have uniforms or strict dress codes, but as an adult, you have the choice whether or not to work at that establishment, or to support that business with your hard-earned dollars. These are public schools, and as such, our children should not be treated any differently than any other public school child in our county.

On parents wanted for busing committee:

The RCSD Department of Transportation is currently seeking parents to serve on the RCSD  2010-2011 Exception Review Committee.

The  Exception Review Committee makes the final determination regarding exceptions granted to students who would not normally receive transportation. We believe that there are legitimate exceptions, but that they should all be determined fairly, uniformly and in a transparent process. For example, if a parent believed that their child should be granted an exception, that parent would complete a form requesting the exception and possibly make an appointment to speak to the committee. The committee would review the information, make a decision, and forward the decision to Transportation, which would implement the decision and notify parents. The decision of the committee would be final.

On the RCSD parent council:

Parents meeting the membership criteria of the Parent Council By-Laws were invited to continue to serve another year.

•   This past May, principals of schools with ineligible or no representation on the Parent Council, were asked to recommend from their school community one and no more than two parents who demonstrated engagement at the building level (e.g. PTO, PTA, SBPT and school committees, etc) to serve a one school year term on the Parent Council, effective September 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.

•   The Office of Parent Engagement is currently confirming the recommendations and will schedule an orientation for Parent Council members in early August.

If you are interested in serving on the Parent Council and meet the eligibility requirements, I would encourage you to contact your school principal.

On mayoral control:

Even after all this time and discussion, I still am not convinced that this change will positively impact the outcomes.  I do believe that something radical needs to be done.  … While most children/parents will stay for the 13+ years, the Mayor will change, School Board members will change, the Superintendent will change, the school configurations will change, the general philosophy about educating children will change (i.e. same sex class rooms, K-6 or k-8? k-6/7-9/10-12 or k-6/7-12, inclusion or not and on and on…).  The parents and children are always left to pick up the pieces.

As governmental entities (city, county, state and to some extent the federal government) they should (along with community agencies) be focused on things like providing youth with positive outlets outside of school to reduce teen pregnancy (just image the number of kindergartners who will move up as their moms graduate {or not} from high school), reduce gangs, change how DSS subsidizes housing (landlords are driven to have rents too low to cover the cost of maintaining decent housing), change the foster care system, etc.

It is unfortunate the circumstances in which some children are born.  Then  we expect them to come to school, behave and learn.  If a child comes to school as a blank sheet of paper, crumbled by the harsh realities of their existence, no amount of reorganization of the power brokers will smooth the paper out or put enough information on it to catch them up to their peers who don’t show up so disadvantaged.

It only gets worse when parents whose children are not so broken don’t want their precious little ones around them too much past 4th grade.  So those children grow up not seeing what is possible in their crumpled state and remain hopeless unless someone steps in their lives and raise them up.  This person can not be a mayor.

Hey, lets do something really radical.  County wide school district.  hmmm…

Plus …  single-sex schools, online bullying, spray park schedule, New York school spending … and much more!

Question of the Week: Have you made up your mind about mayoral control? If not, why not?

Join the conversation, and feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!

From our calendar:

Thursday, July 1

6-7 p.m.

Information Night on New High Schools

World of Inquiry School, 200 University Ave.

Find out more about Vanguard Collegiate H.S., Rochester STEM High School, and Robert Brown H.S. of Construction & Design.  All three schools are still accepting students for their first classes of 9th graders this fall.

Final Thoughts

Earlier this month, I attended the district Title 1 parent conference downtown. There was an inspiring address by the keynote speaker, Harvard education lecturer Karen Mapp, and a number of informative workshops.  But most impressive to me was the turnout – 200 or so parents from around the district, most of whom I did not know, giving up a Saturday in June because of their commitment to improve the lives of our children.

The word “parental involvement” gets thrown around a lot, often in the context of what’s missing from city schools (and too often as a criticism when parents don’t show up at yet another poorly publicized meeting).  I think it would be helpful if all of us made the distinction between the kind of parental support that’s critical to every child’s success — sending our children to school fed, loved and ready to learn — and the kind of involvement/activism — attending meetings, serving on boards, running events — that is great but many people are not able to manage.  At the Title 1 meeting, I saw both, and it was heartening.  I believe if we find ways to harness our energies (and I’m not yet convinced that either the parent council the district keeps trying to create or the multiple councils proposed by the mayor are the way to do it!) we can make a difference. Actually, I think we already do.

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

The Flower City Parents Network

Volume 28 May 17, 2010

http://flowercityparents.org/forum

I try to be a booster for city schools. I think a lot of great things can happen, and are happening, in city schools. But the District doesn’t make it easy to sing its praises!

In the six years since the District’s school choice program was rolled out, it has been plagued by delays in getting placement results out.  In some years, families have waited until August to find out where their children will be attending school. Last year, kindergarten and high school lottery results came out in the end of June (after parents were told they’d know by the end of May.) Many sixth graders did not find out which high school they had gotten into until after school was out for the summer.

Parents have brought this to the District’s attention year after year. In the fall, parents from the Flower City Parents Network met with District officials and were told that the District was committed to releasing placement results by April 30. Based on past experience, we were hesitant. Was that a definite date? Should we publicize it? Yes, the officials said, the date was hard and fast! Even the anticipated openings and closings of high schools wouldn’t delay it.

So here we are — May 17 — and there are no lottery results for kindergarten or high school. (Some high schools that handle their own admissions, such as SOTA and World of Inquiry, have sent out placements.)

Right now the district is saying the end of May. Forgive us if we do not hold our breath.

We understand that there are many significant changes going on in the District that affect schedules and deadlines and the whole placement process. But there are significant changes EVERY YEAR.  Many of them - like the high school closings and openings - can be predicted, even if the specifics are late in coming.  If the District can’t get the results out until June, then don’t tell  parents they’re coming out in April!

The continual missed deadlines destroy any credibility the District has. For many parents of incoming kindergartners, it is their first contact with the District, and it is not a happy one.  The delay makes it that much more likely that those with options such as charter schools or Catholic or other private schools will take the opportunity to leave the District. In many cases, they will never come back. As a parent wrote on the forum, “This is the behavior and attitude that causes those for sale signs to pop up.”

We fight hard to keep families in the District and to let people know there is excellence here to be found. It would be nice if we weren’t fighting the District itself!

What do you think?

Flower City Parents is on Twitter: @cityparents

From our latest posts on the forum:

On kindergarten lottery results:

Anyone heard anything yet?!  I’m assuming no because our youngest in entering kindergarten next year and we haven’t received the official letter yet.  He is guaranteed a spot given sibling preference, neighborhood school etc.  I’m guessing  those that don’t know their child’s placement until the lottery is run are beginning to get impatient.  The deadline for registering was a month ago.

We are hoping to host a “Welcome to School #12″ for all incoming kindergartners and their families before the end of the year.   Without knowing when families will be notified, we’re afraid to get it on the calendar.  If we wait too long we won’t get it on the calendar!  To do a welcome event right it takes some planning.  Staff need to be available. We’re hoping to have transportation attend too.  Then once all of the planning on our end is done, it takes awhile to get mailings out via central office.  That can’t be overlooked.  How many of us have been notified of an event AFTER it has taken place or the day before…..  That would be a horrible way to welcome a new family….

I’m sure the office of student placement is going crazy with all of the secondary changes being rolled out now for next year.  Now that I’ve mentioned secondary, has anyone with kids moving on to 7th grade heard anything?   I heard rumors that those going to SOTA were notified…any others??

Sigh……this is no way to keep the “For Sale” signs away……..

On the May 4 forum with Mayor Duffy:

It started out as frustrating same old same old - grad rate unacceptable blah blah blah, with the added frustration that questions were to be submitted written on cards.  Finally a woman stood up and when  recognized, pushed the question on the format - it was NOT a dialogue as advertised. After applause to that, the Madame Moderator more or less alternated between written and viva voce questions, with great diplomacy.

Near the end of the allotted time, Bishop Tillman, and another gentleman, “The Man in the White Shirt”, had remarks that seemed to…  I  can’t exactly say strike the Mayor, but they coalesced many of the previous remarks:  that the Leaders should sit in the audience and the Parents and Teachers should be up front talking about what they see needs to happen, so that there is input from all on the solutions.   And Duffy seemed surprisingly receptive - I believe he did say ‘wipe the slate clean’, and at least two people videotaped the evening, though I don’t know who they are.

I did leave with the greatest sense so far of a new willingness on the Mayors part to work WITH instead of talk AT,   and to plan NOW, instead of always fobbing us off with ” have to wait and see what the legislation looks like”, and that “wipe the slate clean” — To ME — sounded like he is closer to an attitude of “whatever will incite the needed major change and improvement to the schools and outcomes”  ( those quote marks are meant to show paraphrase of concept, they are NOT a direct quote from Duffy)

On parent training on understanding the budget:

Now that the budget whirlwind is done, I want to share an idea I had during the process.  What if the Office of Parent Engagement held a session(s) for parents to help them read and understand the proposed budget and the impact on their school and how to advocate for change.  Maybe hold it at a school’s computer lab so everyone could be on-line looking at the document.  There could be information about who your board rep is and how to contact them as well as name and contact info for the appropriate “powers that be” that may be able to influence the budget.  Clarify what is a local principal’s choice vs. district choice.  It’s great that the budget is online, but it is certainly a very intimidating document.  The session could be facilitated by both OPE staff and experienced parent advocates sharing what has worked for them.

What do you think?

On the mayoral control legislation from Albany:

My immediate thoughts on the parental-input piece is that it’s still a little weak.

The mayor appoints the main council.  The specifics are lacking when it comes to the question of how accountable this council is when it comes to parental concerns — people can only be dismissed from it “for good cause.”  Would a pattern of not being responsive count as good cause?  Say, responding to specific concerns with form letters?  Ignoring real issues, such as safety concerns or a lack of textbooks, when such issues have been brought to members by the parents?  (Would the meetings be open to parents as current school-board meetings are?  Would they attract the same amount of media and public attention — parents can certainly get the current school board to focus by showing up at school board meetings.  If the new advisory board has powers that are more diluted, would parents who showed up to talk to the board at its meeting just be talking to an empty and uninterested room?)

And, as for the community schools advisory councils, I am sort of unclear as to how much power they would actually have.  If they pan the superintendent, does he or she get fired?  If public hearings about school closings uncover nothing but opposition to those school closings, will the school remain open?  (In which case, one of the main benefits of mayoral control — the ability to close failing schools — will be lost, as I cannot imagine that very many people would ever show up to actually support a proposed school closing; people who are nonplused by a particular school simply opt for sending their kids elsewhere rather than going to meetings and demanding that those schools be closed.  For example, I can’t imagine sending my child to any of the high schools currently located in the Franklin building, but I don’t show up at school board meetings to support their closure.)

My immediate hunch is that there are too many councils — that disseminating duties and responsibilities across four types of councils instead of concentrating them in one just creates further fragmentation and a lack of public focus.  But I will certainly be interested in seeing the details and hearing more about how all this will work.  My immediate hunch could certainly be wrong.

Plus …  Benches on Parade by city students, national recognition for Wilson Foundation, teacher evaluations, lead testing for pre-schoolers … and much more!

Question/Poll of the Week: How do YOU use the FCPN forum?

In our first year of existence, Flower City Parents Network has attracted lots of readers.  We sometimes struggle, though, to keep the forum from becoming a one-way posting board.  We’d love your thoughts on what keeps you from posting, or - if you do post - what might encourage you to post more.  If it’s just the time pressures of life, we certainly understand that! But if there’s something else that’s keeping you from joining the discussion — technical problems or anything else — please help us out by letting us know.

Come answer our poll! (You do have to be logged on to answer.) If you REALLY don’t want to post, or even answer the poll, we’d love it if you’d shoot us an email — info@flowercityparents.org — or private message to let us know your thoughts.

Feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!

From our calendar:

Tuesday, May 25

School Board Meeting

6 p.m.

3rd floor conference room, Central Office, 131 W. Broad St.

Parent’s & Student’s Perspective on Mayoral Control

4:30-7:30 p.m.

Wilson Foundation Academy, 200 Genesee Street

Hosted by the Student Government Association of Wilson Foundation Academy

Saturday, June 5

Annual Title I Parent Conference - Create A Masterpiece: From Cradle to College

9:30am – 3:00pm (Sign-in & Continental Breakfast at 8:30)

Radisson Hotel Riverside, 120 East Main Street

Final Thoughts

In case anyone is wondering what happened with our questions for Mayor Duffy …

We sent a list of questions to the mayor on March 9, following up with a series of emails and phone calls to his aides and secretary, which — an entire month later — resulted in our first response: apologetic phone calls from one of the mayor’s aides and then the mayor himself.  In that phone call, Mayor Duffy suggested meeting with Flower City Parents in person to hear our thoughts and answer questions.

We agreed and, as requested, followed up with potential dates and a meeting location.  And then … nothing.  Once again we made half a dozen phone calls and emails to the mayor and his secretary, with No. Response. Whatsoever. Not even a “We’re sorry, the mayor doesn’t have time right now.” Nothing.

Since we first contacted Mayor Duffy, there have finally been some public forums with the mayor participating. And we certainly understand that the mayor is extremely busy.  Still, with responsiveness to parents being a key issue in cities with mayoral control, it is disappointing.  In our experience, the response to calling the city’s 311 help line with problems like “There’s a hole in my garbage can” is excellent.  We can only hope that if the mayor takes over the schools, those are the people put in charge of responding to parents.

(What  do YOU think?)

Thanks - as always - for your support.

Sincerely,

The Flower City Parents Network

Flower City Parents Network News

www.flowercityparents.org

Volume 26 April 12, 2010

Do you know how cuts in next year’s budget will affect your school? The budget is scheduled to be voted on by the school board on April 29, so there’s still time to find out what’s on the chopping block. Ask your principal, ask members of your School Based Planning Team, ask your PTA. And make sure you let the board know what’s important to you! You can speak at tonight’s Public Hearing if you sign up by noon today (see below), or you can write board members individually. If you’re really energetic, write your state legislators too, since everything depends on how much funding the District gets from Albany.

Check out our new “Ask Parent Services” feature, where you can post questions for Dorothy Evans-Flaherty, the District’s new coordinator of the Office of Parent Engagement. Dorothy’s most recent post summarized the school changes in the works for the District, including new high schools phasing in and old high schools phasing out and the reconfiguration of grade levels at other schools. She also let us know that school is starting before Labor Day again next year - September 2.

Flower City Parents is on Twitter: @cityparents

From our latest posts:

On Wilson Foundation’s reconfiguration (6th grade starts next year):

Q: Will the IB Program be up and running for 6th graders in September 2010?

A: Teachers will be trained over the summer; we will not have “full authorization” from IB — it takes a few years. However, once you apply (application already submitted), IB curriculum is expected to be taught and teachers trained. Our 6th grade will eventually be a part of the Primary years Program (K-6), but the 6th graders will receive the IB curriculum.

Q:  If a student decides not to start out in the 6th grade program in September 2010, will there still be spots for students interested in going there as incoming 7th graders in September 2011?

A: No; (Wilson) will no longer be a part of the 6-go-7 School of Choice process.

On the importance of arts and music in the curriculum:

As a child I did not play an instrument, and music class had minimal impact on me. Art class was very enjoyable, but not a subject I would necessarily leave in the curriculum if something had to go.

But seeing how art is woven into the schools my children now attend has opened my eyes to its potential. It’s used more as a vehicle, particularly at my kid’s elementary program. Art and music are a part of the school culture, the glue that holds the student body, staff and parents together. Art is used to introduce concepts, build on and solidify learning and often as a means to express the culmination of a body of knowledge.

In this sense art brings the learning to life at the elementary level.

At the secondary level, it seems more specialized and appears to be the “raison d’etre” for some students to continue their education, or at least continues to be a vehicle for delving into the core subjects.

And come to think of it, at the preschool level, art is the primary subject, period. Why it becomes dispensable after that is puzzling.

On Rochester Education Award nominations:

Do you know an amazing City School District educator, volunteer, business partner or mentor? Rochester Education Foundation, a non-partisan, charitable organization, is seeking nominations from the Rochester community for its 2010 award winners to be recognized at its Fifth Annual Partnership Awards Dinner, October 20, 2010, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Nominations are being accepted for educators (teachers, administrators and others working in city schools), volunteers, businesses and individuals until May 1, 2010. To submit a nomination, please write a one-to two-page letter explaining what, specifically, the nominee does to support city students and how long they have been offering this support. Send it to: info@rochestereducation.org or REF Awards 2010, 250 Mill Street, Rochester, NY  14614.

On the new Arts & Technology High School:

My husband attended the integrated arts & technology open house over the weekend with my daughter and was impressed enough to call me at work to tell me about it.

The new principal Kevin Klein spoke along with 2 national expeditionary learning staff. A former GCCS 6th grade class presentation (the kids are now 10th graders) of rewatering the canals http://www.elschools.org/video.html was presented as an example of what this new school will strive for. A 7-12 school that wants kids to be the work not just do the work has me so excited as i have witnessed what it can do at the elementary level.

This school will also partner with RIT, including overnight campus visits in the summer. It will employ extensive use of technology - tests will be taken on itouch’s, tracing student progress will be computerized and accessible on a daily basis. state of the art apple equipment for all students etc…

Outward Bound team building activities, two major expeditionary projects a year and partnerships with local arts organizations.

The lottery will be drawn early next month, I guess, from the pool of applicants who filled out the 2-page application and attended one of the sessions.

I got a little teary-eyed when my husband was describing the community partnerships, the resources, the thought that has gone into making an opportunity of excellence for 75 fortunate 7th grade city students next year. I love the city…

Plus …  high school signups still going on, the mayoral control forum, superintendent/teacher relations, Wegmans v. Tops … and much more!

Question of the Week: How do you feel about report cards?

Too much information? Not enough?  What kind of comments do your teachers write?

Join the conversation  – and feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!

From our calendar:

Monday, April 12 6:30 p.m.

Public Hearing on RCSD Budget

To speak, call 262-8525 by noon

Thursday, April 15, 5:30-7 p.m.

Wilson Foundation Open House for 5th grade students and parents

200 Genesee St.

Saturday, April 17, 10a.m.-12 p.m.

Office of Parent Engagement Open House

690 St. Paul St.

Thursday, April 29, 6:30 p.m.

Monthly RCSD Board Meeting

Call 262-8525 by noon to speak.

September 2

School starts!

Final Thoughts

In response to our questions, Mayor Duffy has offered to meet with Flower City Parents.  We’re trying to work out a time for a meeting — probably an evening in the last week of April or first week of May.  We’ll let you know as soon as there’s a date to save. In addition to answering questions, the mayor says he would like to hear from parents what we would like to see change in the district, should the change in governance happen. In his words, “It would be a great chance for me to listen and then follow through.”

We’ll keep you posted!

Thanks - as always - for your support.

Sincerely,

The Flower City Parents Network

Volume 24 Feb. 23, 2010

The kids are back in school - woo hoo!! Hope everyone had a good February break, and that you’re as happy as I am that school has started again.

It’s been two months now since Mayor Duffy told Superintendent Brizard and the School Board that he wanted to take control of the city schools.  Parents and the rest of the city are still waiting for any details about his plan. Public forums have been cancelled, and the mayor’s few appearances in public on the subject have essentially been secret. Will we get a chance to hear the plan and have input before it goes to a vote in Albany? Is this a taste of how the district would be run under mayoral control?! I hope not!

Since the mayor is not talking - Flower City Parents would like to put together a list of your comments and questions to send to him.  Please come add your thoughts.

Flower City Parents is on Twitter: @cityparents

From our latest posts at http://flowercityparents.org/forum:

On Wilson Foundation (from Supt. Brizard):

“In March, the district will present to the Board of Education a plan that will offer students more, high-quality school options.

As part of the plan, a resolution will be presented to the Board that would change the configuration of Wilson Foundation and Commencement Academies.

Wilson Foundation would become a K through 8 school, and Wilson Commencement would become a 9-12 school. If approved by the Board, this change would take place gradually over the next few years.”

On schools applying for autonomy (from the D&C):

A handful of schools have asked the Rochester School District for more control over their spending, their schedules and their teaching staffs through a program set to begin next school year.

The plan to give schools more freedom resembles similar ideas already in place around the country. But it is new to Rochester, and administrators and union officials say the lessons learned at the so-called Autonomous Contract Schools could guide how the district is run for years to come.

“These schools will be models for other schools,” said Mary Doyle, the district’s senior director of school innovation.

Seven schools applied, though only five appear to be eligible.

Schools had to win 80 percent support in a vote of the building’s teaching staff.

The five applicants that met that criterion are School 15, School 19, School 58, the School of Applied Technology at Edison and Dr. Freddie Thomas High School.

On MAP:

Apparently, at a recent district wide meeting re: the MAP program, the consensus by RCSD was that the program has been languishing over the last decade. There was no talk of additional funds, no talk of concrete plans, criteria for admittance, effect of neighborhood schools,etc. The RCSD rep was asking parents and other assorted attendees of the meeting if ‘they had any ideas.?’ Who has insight into the future of the MAP program in RCSD?

On mayoral control:

I think that the immediate stakeholders (both parents and teachers) have an obligation to be specific and constructive.

We all tend to point to problems, but not tangible measures that we would accept as solutions.

When we say we want more communication from the teachers and the schools, what do we mean?  (This is hypothetical — my daughter’s teacher does a wonderful job of communicating with parents.)

Do we mean we want a school newsletter?  E-mail blasts from the principal?  SBPT minutes sent out regularly?  Do we mean we want a note from the teacher every month?  It doesn’t do any good to say we aren’t getting enough if we don’t know what “enough” would look like.

I think the same principle holds true when it comes to cultural awareness.  …  What would cultural awareness be, in concrete terms?  If teachers were doing x in the classroom or when they interacted with parents, we would say we had succeeded in producing cultural awareness — but what is x?

On whether it matters what parents think about mayoral control:

Yes, of course it matters. What should that parent input look like? Well, it should come from a variety of sources — the information sessions that the Mayor is planning on rescheduling (as long as there is time for good feedback from parents), as I believe the School Board does, the Mayor should allow RCSD parents to speak first at these forums, then staff, then other interested parties. Also, a way to solicit parent input for those who do not attend the sessions, maybe a survey. I would like the Mayor to demonstrate that he took parental input into account when he develops his plan. And then have time for parents to respond to the draft plan. I would also like to see a objective (if there can be) summary of the pluses and minuses of mayoral control as experienced in other cities–and then have the Mayor use this to inform his plan.

Plus … the poll of Rochester parents, the Family-School Partnership, math workshops for teachers, … and much more!

Question of the Week: What would you like to ask Mayor Duffy?

Since Mayor Duffy isn’t holding public forums yet on his proposal to take over the city schools, let’s gather a list of questions to send him. What would you like to ask — or tell — the mayor?

(Next week: What would you like to ask or tell Adam Urbanski?)

Feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!

From our calendar:

Tuesday, February 23 (tonight)

Presentation on Superintendent’s Strategic Plan

5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9

Thursday, Feb. 25

Board of Education Meeting

follows 5 p.m. observance of Black History Month

“Making College A Reality” Workshop

Help finding and applying for financial aid for parents of high school juniors.

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m.

690 St. Paul St.

Friday, February 26

Presentation on Superintendent’s Strategic Plan

9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Monroe Community Hospital, Auditorium C

Saturday, February 27th

“Making College A Reality” Workshop

Help finding and applying for financial aid for parents of high school juniors.

12 to 2 p.m.

690 St. Paul St.

Monday, March 1

Presentation on Superintendent’s Strategic Plan

6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

School of the Arts, Ensemble Theatre

Saturday, March 6

Eastman Pathways Open House

1-3:30 p.m.

Eastman School of Music

Final Thoughts

It was wonderful to see those of you who came out to our first Flower City Parents Night Out earlier this month.  I’m ready for the next one! (As yet unscheduled.)  One of the unexpected pleasures of having children in city schools has been the community of parents that comes along with it. We’re looking forward to meeting many more of you.

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

The Flower City Parents Network

Volume 22 Jan. 19, 2010

Flower City Parents Network was in the news last week — with guest appearances by four parents on WXXI’s 1370 Connection and a mention in Denise-Marie Santiago’s column in the Democrat & Chronicle. Mayoral control of the schools is the hot topic, and one of the big questions is how that change might affect parents. If you have thoughts on the subject, make sure you weigh in to your legislators – and please come share your thoughts on the forum, where you can read thought-provoking comments by others as well.

Remember - Flower City Parents is on Twitter: @cityparents

From our latest posts at http://flowercityparents.org/forum:

On generalizations about children and parents:

First of all, I completely agree with the points about the negative stereotypes that teachers/administrators put out there about… I call them the “these families” or “these kids” statements!  Like your kindergarten teacher at Montessori, I have no tolerance for comments like “what do you expect” or “of course she’s low” or “how could he make, look at….”  Sure “studies show” and “reports indicate”… however, I do believe it is our duty to MAKE THAT CHANGE… where to start?  with attitude and belief.  I have worked with some of the most incredible and loving and dedicated families in the 11 years I’ve been in the city.  You want to see work ethic?  Check out the single mom going to college, working as a nurse, with a high schooler, middle schooler, and kindergartner, all of whom keep up with their homework, return reading logs, and attend school events… and that’s just the beginning!  Some of my “neediest” families, don’t even recognize their “need”… they have faith, love, and each other.  Sure, there are families that need extra guidance in navigating the system, and understanding how the school system works, and what their role is in the whole thing, but again, it our job and duty to EDUCATE!  Not only the child, but the family, and THEN, the “research and statics” might start to change!  I wouldn’t want my children going to school where they were immediately grouped into a preconceived stereotype.  Where people talk about my child as if they are going to do their best to help but….  No thanks.

On autonomous schools:

Any schools considering applying to be one of the 5 pilot autonomous schools next year?  I went to the meeting this evening.  The application requires 80% buy in by the teachers and agreement of the SBPT.  Within some constraints schools could have autonomy over the school schedule, teaching and learning, budget, and staffing.  Details of the agreement with RTA should be out on Tuesday.  The key thing they seems to be asking for is what would you do with that autonomy.  What would removing those barriers enable?

I really like the idea of autonomous schools.  The closer the decision making is to the classroom the better.  I”m not sure if we’ll be able to figure out that vision and get the staff buy-in by the mid February deadline.  It’s a huge undertaking.

I’m curious about the other schools and what others think about autonomous schools.

On mayoral control

1. The mayor is understandably frustrated with the 50% (and apparently falling again) graduation rate, but is fully supportive of the current superintendent. I’m curious how he can be happy with someone under whom graduation rates have not improved substantially? Which suggests:

2. The mayor thinks the problems lie elsewhere (unions? board?) and believes that mayoral control will mean those problems/individuals are lessened? What does he plan to do himself, or how does he intend to give power to Brizard to do what can’t be done now?

3. I do believe the mayor sincerely wants to put the children first . . . . but is equally frustrated that more than 70% of the city’s budget goes straight to a failing district in which he has no control over how the money is spent. The problem, though, is that like the city and the county, the vast majority of the district’s budget is controlled by mandates that leave very little discretionary spending for whoever controls the budget. That’s not going to change if the mayor is in charge, and he seemed unwilling to put any figure on the savings that would result from the absorption of the district into the city.

4. I think his idea of opening up schools in the evenings and during breaks/summers to the community is good, but as has been pointed out, that’s already happening in several schools. It doesn’t need mayoral control to expand that. It needs more staff, and therefore more money!

More on mayoral control (from Bill Cala in City Newspaper):

Mayoral control has been a hands-down failure in this country. The mayor has stated, “Documented improvements… are a proven fact in such cities as New York City, Boston, and Washington, DC.” The only improvements documented are created by the spin machines of each of the mayors of these cities and the others that I have previously mentioned. Parents and citizens in cities controlled by mayors are up in arms because they have lost their voices and lost their schools, and there is no better performance in schools created by mayors as measured by any valid scrutiny …

But much more important than whether or not mayoral control is measured as an academic or financial success is the disenfranchisement of the urban poor. Taking away the right to vote is not an option in a democracy. Taking away the minority voices of the urban poor is an egregious assault on civil rights. The mayor, the governor, and the legislators who are lining up behind this ill-thought-out plan should re-think their positions and seek to tackle the root causes of poor performance in the city. If they expect city kids to graduate, it is imperative that poverty and its trappings are vigorously addressed. Paving the way legislatively for mayoral control of the Rochester City Schools would be one more flagrant act of hubris by the New York State legislature.

There are more viable paths available to achieve better results for urban kids than mayoral control. All take commitment and substantial political will and capital. And yes, they all will bring substantial and necessary “incremental” improvement. Remember that the only truly successful paths to graduation are built in pre-school programs that incrementally build to the pride and joy of graduation. The mayor and the superintendent have stated that we do not have time for incremental improvement. I would argue that we do not have time “not” to improve incrementally. We cannot afford the failed policies that emulate Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC. The public debate of this issue must take place immediately. Before any bill is drafted, all sectors of the public should weigh in.

It is not just our city’s future that is at stake. Democracy is at stake.

Plus …  truancy officers, paying for college, school web sites… and more!

Question of the Week: Name one special thing about your child’s school!

What’s one special thing about your child’s school? Or one thing many people might not know?

Feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!

From our calendar:

Tuesday, Jan. 19

School Board Policy Committee Meeting

6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 21

School Board Finance Committee Meeting

5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 27

Highland Park Neighborhood Association and School #12 PTA co-host a meeting about school choice.

School 12 Cafeteria

6:30 - 9pm

Friday, Jan. 29

Deadline for high school applications for current 6th graders.

Friday, Feb. 12

Flower City Parents Network Night Out! Mark your calendar - and stay tuned for more information!!!

Final Thoughts

Do you have a child in pre-school or day care? With kindergarten registration going on now, can you help us spread the word to other parents who might be considering city schools and want to find out more about them? Please let us know if you can post a flyer or put an item in your school (or community group) newsletter … or if you would be willing to distribute flyers at your preschool or elsewhere.  Our best publicity is your word-of-mouth!

Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

The Flower City Parents Network