www.flowercityparents.org
Volume 27 April 26, 2010
Lots happening in the coming weeks. There are — finally — public forums on mayoral control in which the mayor is taking part on April 28 (Wednesday), April 30 (Friday) and May 4 (next Tuesday.) With the enabling legislation expected any day out of Albany, there should be plenty of discussion of the pros and cons of the proposal – and parents should be a part of that.
Check the board for more details - http://bit.ly/mayoralforums
Also this week, the School Board holds its final budget deliberations tonight at Central Office, and votes Thursday night at its regular board meeting. I believe both meetings will be streamed live at the District web site, a wonderful options for those of us juggling too many balls.
Check the Calendar at the end of this newsletter and on the forum for what else is going on!
High school and kindergarten placement letters were supposed to go out in April but I haven’t heard much yet — have you? The last I heard from the District was that high school letters might not go out until May (or later?) and they were still hoping for kindergarten placement this month. Stay tuned.
Flower City Parents is on Twitter: @cityparents
From our latest posts on the forum:
On board members giving back part of their salaries:
I appreciate the board members willingness to give back a portion of their salary. I think many others should follow suit. It seems very arrogant for someone to say they’re unwilling to consider the idea … sounds like that person may have no concern about their position being put on the chopping block, until it is. Having a job that pays slightly less is better than not having a job at all.
On naming the new high schools:
The District is currently looking at millions in deficit.
So why don’t we take a page out of sports, and SELL the naming rights for the new schools?
On going to school in the Franklin building:
As far as making my daughter feel comfortable at Franklin, I’ve found that taking the, “You’re so lucky to go to an urban school,” line with my daughter has worked fairly well — I provide her with an age-appropriate summary of why anyone in their right mind would rather go to school in Fame rather than Heathers.
My daughter has honestly never had any trouble with the high-school students — there are certainly some unpleasant kids there, but it has been my experience that they are vastly outnumbered by kids who look tough but are actually fairly nice young men and women.
On mayoral control (excerpt from letter by 32 area professors opposing it):
“First and most fundamentally, it will tear away an important layer of democracy. Routine school board meetings provide transparency and opportunities for parents and community members to register their views on important policy decisions. Mayoral control would eliminate a valuable mechanism for citizen participation. We should find ways to make the board more democratic, responsive and accountable. Such reforms might include term limits for school board members, more representation of parents and students on the board, and the creation of a rotating leadership structure. If Duffy is so confident that the residents of Rochester are on board with this proposed change, he should call for an advisory referendum and a legitimate poll involving a representative sample of city residents.
Second, mayoral control has too often served as a prelude to the privatization of public schools through voucher programs, increased proliferation of (for-profit) charter schools (which funnel public funds to the private sector) and the elimination or dilution of collective bargaining agreements, measures which do not necessarily improve classroom instruction and authentic academic growth. In one city after another, whenever mayoral control has been instituted, it has been met with resistance from students, parents and educators for the resulting loss of transparency and fairness and the erosion of basic labor rights of teachers and support staff.
Third, we are not convinced that mayoral control will yield the kind of radical improvements in school performance touted by its advocates. … ”
Plus … Wilson’s new 6th grade, Mayor Duffy on his opponents, $1 Red Wings tickets … and much more!
Question of the Week: Top Reasons to Stay in the City … with school-age children!
We all live here, but why? What are the best reasons to live in the city with school-age children? Let’s come up with our own Top 10 (or more!) list.
Feel free to answer previous questions of the week, too!
From our calendar:
Monday, April 26, 5:30 p.m.
School Board Finance Committee Meeting of the Whole, final budget deliberations.
Central Office, 131 W. Broad St.
Wednesday, April 28 7 p.m.
Forum on mayoral control featuring Mayor Bob Duffy at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. RSVP 697-1942.
Thursday, April 29, 6:30 p.m.
Monthly RCSD Board Meeting (and budget vote), Central Office, 131 W. Broad St.
Call 262-8525 by noon to speak.
Friday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.
Forum on mayoral control with Mayor Duffy, Malik Evans, Sandra Parker, Adam Urbanski and Lovely Warren at the Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Ave.
Saturday, May 1, 10 am - 5 pm
Imagine RIT, Innovation and Creativity Festival. The District is offering free transportation — contact your parent liaison or home school assistant by Wednesday, April 28.
Monday, May 3, 6-8 p.m.
RCSD Open House with information about the Early College H.S., Arts & Technology H.S., Vanguard H.S., the new schools at Edison, 7th grade at School 19 and 6th grade at Wilson.
Central Office, 131 W. Broad St.
Tuesday, May 4, 7 p.m.
Forum on mayoral control featuring Mayor Bob Duffy at the Phyllis Wheatley Library, 33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way. RSVP 428-8212.
Wednesday, May 5, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Informational session on helping parents and schools become more effective partners in the special education process.
St. Anne Church, 1600 Mt. Hope Ave.
To register call NYSDRA at 518-687-2240 x201
Saturday, May 15, 9:30-4
Free workshops, panel discussion and other resources for parents on the “What and Why of Transitioning” to kindergarten, Radisson Hotel Riverside - 120 E. Main Street.
Register by May 12 by calling 325-5116 ext. 3300.
Final Thoughts
It’s that time of year again – flowers and “For Sale” signs are sprouting everywhere. Maybe it’s a peculiarity of my neighborhood, or maybe it’s the housing tax credit, but suddenly it seems like people are leaving the city in droves. They’re going for many reasons – some related to schools, some not – and I would never argue with anyone doing what they believe is best for their family. But it does make me sad when I hear (and I do fairly often) “My child is doing GREAT at city school X, but we’re worried about (the upper grades/middle school/high school.)” I wish that – before anyone takes action based on our assumptions and (possibly superficial) impressions, we could take the time to really SEE what we’re talking about. Sit in on a 4th or 5th grade class. Visit a high school. Talk to parents whose children are in those grades. (And if any school gives you a hard time about visiting, let us know!) I know that all takes time, and I know that’s one thing we’re all short on. But moving takes time too. :) And I do honestly think that if we can make city schools work for our children, we have a chance to be part of the solution.
Thanks - as always - for your support.
Sincerely,
The Flower City Parents Network