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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Community Partnerships October 9, 2006 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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Community Partnerships Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Lucy Mathiak at 5 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Board Members Lucy Mathiak, Arlene Silveira, Shwaw Vang
Citizen Members Barbara Schrank, Carl Silverman
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen
STUDENT LIAISON PRESENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Lisa Black, Mary Gulbrandsen, Sandy Gunderson, Alan Harris, Deborah Hoffman, Jack Jorgensen, Pam Nash, Joe Quick, Art Rainwater, Karen Seno, Lisa Wachtel, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Arlene Silveira and seconded by Carl Silverman to approve the minutes of the Community Partnerships Committee meeting dated September 11, 2006. Motion unanimously carried.
2. Public Appearances
There were no public appearances.
3. Announcements
There were no announcements.
4. Principal Panel on Best Practices for Parent Participation in MadisonSchools
Principals Deborah Hoffman (Franklin), Sandy Gunderson (Mendota), Alan Harris (East), and Karen Seno (Cherokee) shared their ideas about what could be done by schools to encourage parent participation and their experiences in working with parent communities.
DISCUSSION:
· (Mendota). Made serious effort over a year. Reorganized into grade level cadres (K-1, 2-3, etc.) plus parent representatives and homeroom parents. Took all events and jobs and assigned as smaller tasks. Everybody does a little; nobody does a lot. Has been very effective. Reduced PTO meetings to three large dinner meetings, one at the community center.
· (Cherokee). Traditional PTO setup with officers but work spread out. Latino parents most vigorous; beginning to demand services. African American parents get together more informally. Working to build a formal structure so all groups can work together.
· (East). Trying to create diverse parent group. Trying to develop a clear idea of what parents can do - what we want them to do. Momentum in 2005 with East High United - good participation that has dwindled. Held Latino and African American parent meetings last year. Holding meetings for Vision 2012. Held some community meetings; African American and ELL parents missing. Values and principles are to engage the entire community, hold high expectations, communicate and work on facilities. Most attended events are choir concerts or events where children are participating.
· (Franklin/Randall). Three parent empowerment groups that grew out of Comprehensive Reform Grant. Good way to communicate about academic programming. After grant, parents and teachers have continued for eight years. Discuss a range of topics - depends on group and their agenda. Proud of meetings. Exhausting for staff and budget. Huge range of individual parent involvement. Strategies used with kids are good with parents - remember names and family members make random phone calls.
Arlene Silveira asked about the methods that have been successful for building trust. Responses were home visits, introducing themselves, phone calls by teachers to parents, translating everything, setting the tone that people are welcome, greeting signs, displaying art that reflects the culture of students, special events, dances, potlucks, helping people talk through community problems, willingness to take risks, being a part of the community. When parents do come for meetings, they want to talk about race and racial conflicts.
Barbara Shrank asked whether the same topics come up at other schools? Responses were that East needs to do more work to reach that level of trust. Data shows there would be issues, but a safer environment needs to be established before that will happen. At Franklin, parents do bring issues, many times through the trusted BRS who conveys messages frankly to the principal. Parents have concerns about transitions from school to school and from middle to high school. Participation by parents of kindergarten students and young children is easier than older children. Try to keep them engaged. Sandy Gunderson noted that schools have to earn respect and trust and it takes a number of years to get stability and the feeling that parents are welcome at school. Parents do talk about race and conflicts among children. All parents want the same things for their children; have common ground.
Shwaw Vang asked for comments about scheduling separate meetings for different groups of parents. Deb Hoffman responded that a major problem is translation and the time it takes if there are several languages. It is made clear to parents that students are not in separate classrooms - that those are diverse. Have experienced tensions among groups.
Lucy Mathiak asked how principals reach out to parents who do not participate. Sandy Gunderson responded that the school can become the hub of the neighborhood. Schools need to make sure that key people in the neighborhood are at the table and they can bring others in. Schools need to learn and use the informal communication networks and learn through experience.
Lucy Mathiak asked about meeting in locations other than the school. Deb Hoffman noted it is a good theory but they have problems with meeting in other locations because there is not enough space. Sandy Gunderson responded they hold meetings at community centers and that outreach is a good strategy. Alan Harris indicated meetings at centers have been successful.
Carol Carstensen noted the district staff has been working hard on equity training. Should there be a program for parents dealing with issues of race? Deb Hoffman felt there are still enough issues to be dealt with at the school; that the district is not there yet, except maybe on a large scale. Sandy Gunderson said she felt comfortable talking with parents about race and sharing information about the work the staff is doing. Alan Harris noted staff will continue working on building capacity to talk about issues. Karen Seno believes that parents would welcome some of the same kinds of supports that are provided for students. Many are desperate for outside support. Art Rainwater added that the district has been working on race and equity for six years and continues its commitment to go forward. It is extremely difficult and takes a long time to make changes.
It was moved by Carl Silverman and seconded by Barbara Schrank to take the agenda out of order and reverse the order of the next two agenda items. Motion unanimously carried.
5. Timetable and Plan for Parent Input Sessions on Parent Interactions with MadisonSchools
Arlene Silveira shared her plan to begin setting up sessions to receive parent input beginning in November after the referendum election and continuing into February. The committee would begin to work with community centers to arrange these meetings. Her recommended questions to pose would be: a) what have been your experiences in working with your school; and b) what would you change or what would you like to be different at your school?
Committee members suggested increasing connections with community organizations and reinforcing the practice of some neighborhood centers that requires student participation in academic as well as other activities. Certain groups can be tapped at neighborhood centers; it may be good to meet at schools as well. Questions should be simple and easy to answer.
The suggestion was made to hear from other panels about what they hear from families - from community organizations that work in our schools (e.g., United Way, Urban League, Kajsiab House); from non-school issue oriented groups (e.g., autism, special education). Hearing from these additional panels would be helpful before going out to the community to ask for input. Individual contacts would also be helpful.
6. Follow-Up Plan - Community Service Fund Grants to Community Organizations
The committee has received information about the Fund 80 programs, funding level, timeframe and services provided. They would like to receive yearly progress reports and receive more information about how funding fits into the budget process. Where is there information about projects that have been funded in the past? Art Rainwater responded the district is currently funding roughly one-half million dollars for Fund 80 grants. The only decision that needs to be made as part of the budget process is how much money will be allocated. Another decision would be whether to open the process (Request for Proposals) or continue funding the current ones. Lucy Mathiak indicated the committee would like to have this process clearly described and articulated.
7. Agenda for Next Meeting
The committee will continue to gather input from panels and work on the schedule and questions for community feedback.
8. Other Business
There was no other business.
9. Adjournment
It was moved by Barbara Schrank and seconded by Carl Silverman to adjourn the meeting at 6:08 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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Previous: 2006-09-11 || Community Partnerships || Next: 2006-11-13