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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Community Partnerships November 5, 2007 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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Community Partnerships Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Maya Cole at 6:04 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Board Members: Maya Cole, Lucy Mathiak
Citizen Members: Amy Hilgendorf, Carl Silverman
MEMBERS ABSENT: Board Member Johnny Winston, Jr.
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Arlene Silveira
STUDENT LIAISON PRESENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Lisa Black, Steve Hartley, Pam Nash, Joe Quick, Art Rainwater, Marcia Standiford, Ken Syke, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Lucy Mathiak and seconded by Carl Silverman to approve the minutes of the Community Partnerships Committee meeting dated October 1, 2007 as distributed. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
2. Public Appearances
There were no public appearances.
3. Announcements
There were no announcements
4. Defining Partnerships
(Materials provided in advance of the meeting: Notes from Maya Cole - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Maya Cole read her suggested definition of partnership:
Partnership is an institutional arrangement that shades into a philosophy. It is a way of enhancing performance in the delivery of a common goal, by the taking of joint responsibility and the pooling of resources by different agents, whether these are public or private, collective or individual. The added value from such a collaborative approach usually stems from an enhanced ability to tackle problems whose solutions span the division of labour, and/or centre on a particular locality. The agents in partnership may bring with them conflicting or competing interests, and different perspectives, ideologies and cultures - so they seek to act together without loss of their separate professional identities, without unacceptable or illegal blurring of powers and interests, and without loss of accountability. (from A Partnership Approach to Crime Prevention, P. Ekblom and A. Wyvekens, 2004.)
Ms. Cole suggested that, at the next meeting, Kathy Price and Lisa Black talk about current partnerships and also provide an historical perspective. Ms. Price could share her work with tracking partnerships. The committee could develop a document that defines and explains how to track partnerships. She directed attention to Task 2 (in written materials), which is to begin preliminary planning for strengthening existing partnerships and fostering new partnerships - by district, department, schools, and administrators. A future question will be who is responsible for cultivating partnerships.
Lucy Mathiak asked for clarification of the first line of the definition. She suggested the introductory statement be placed in a more district-related context. Ms. Cole agreed, noting she wanted to have a broad enough statement that would cover partnerships as they grow and change. She asked the administration to come back with a recommended revision that includes the three components of the Educational Framework in the first sentence. The committee will also look at a broad overview of partnerships in the district at the next meeting, and get the community up-to-date about the discussions Ms. Cole and Ms. Black have had.
FOLLOW-UP:
· Next meeting: Kathy Price and Lisa Black re: current partnerships, historical perspective, tracking partnerships. Broad overview to update the community.
· Administration will provide a recommended revision to the definition.
5. Board Policy 4500 - Parent Involvement
(Materials provided in advance of the meeting: Notes from Maya Cole, Board Policy 4500 Parental Involvement, MMSD Title I Family/School Agreement (Compact), MMSD A Family & Community Involvement Plan For Your Building, Home & School Connection dated 3/2007, excerpt from Monitoring of ESEA Consolidated Programs, pages 8, 9, 23, 24 (DPI) - attached to the original of these minutes.)
Maya Cole noted the copy of Board Policy provided in the written materials. She stated it is good practice to review policies and noted the wording of the current policy refers to parents/guardians. The goal is to be families/community oriented, so she would recommend changing the policy wording. Her purpose is to ensure that the policy is being implemented in a way that is comfortable to the Board. Some districts have family/school compacts for all families. MMSD has these for only Title I families. As demographics change, that needs to be reviewed. There are good pieces of work, like the Home & School Connection. Should these be replicated in other schools? Should the committee review that question? Are the goals meeting the Framework? Do principals assure that best practices are being followed?
DISCUSSION:
· Current policy seems to refer to families.
· Could change references from parent/guardians to families, but the policy is intended for caregivers. Other policies (Community Relations section) are directed to family/community relationships.
· The Family & Community Involvement Plans are much broader than policy; could be incorporated.
· Different relationship between the school/child/caregiver and school/community. May be positive to keep family separate from community so that questions can be asked that are appropriate to each.
· Gray area - some family members may be left out of partnerships. (Schools are happy to engage with everyone who cares about children.)
Maya Cole summarized that it appears the committee is happy with the current Parent Involvement policy and would be comfortable with replacing parent/guardian references to family, or articulating that "family" is not restricted to the biological parent.
Ms. Cole asked questions about the Family & Community Involvement Plan For Your Building: how effective is it? when does the Board receive copies of it? how is it used? do parents know about it? how long has it been in place? She also asked, how can we articulate in policy that parents and educators are true partners? Sue Abplanalp responded that it is used in all schools. It was originally developed as part of No Child Left Behind for Title I schools. Its use has been increased to cover the total district; it was upgraded to be totally inclusive and has become a part of the School Improvement Planning process. Last year was the first year it was K-12, and the Board sees it twice a year. Parents are represented on some of the teams, but the document "comes to life" during the SIP process, which includes parent involvement. Lucy Mathiak thought it would be interesting to go over the checklists with parents as part of the planning process. Sometimes there is a gap between what is working and what is perceived as working successfully, and sometimes there is value to asking. Art Rainwater noted the purpose of the checklists is to provide a series of strategies that schools can employ. The Climate Survey would provide information about whether parents feel they are connected with school. Maya Cole asked the administration to provide examples of how the checklist could be reviewed annually. She noted she will also provide committee members with examples of other parent involvement policies.
There was also discussion about the Title I Family/School Agreement (Compact). Sue Abplanalp stated this grew out of a No Child Left Behind requirement and was revised four years ago by Title I staff with parent involvement.
The Home & School Connection is generated by the Title I office. Schools sign up to receive it and it is included with the school newsletters at Title I (elementary) schools.
FOLLOWUP:
· Administration provide examples/plan for review of the Family & Community Involvement Plan checklist.
6. Other Business
Alternative Streams of Revenue for Athletic Funding Inquiry in the Community
(Written materials provided at the meeting: e-mail from John Olson listing potential contacts re: funding for athletics - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Carl Silverman stated he learned from the minutes of a Board Workshop listing the activities that committees might focus on that one idea for the Partnerships Committee was to pursue approaching the business and philanthropic communities about obtaining private funding for school athletics. Athletics is uniquely vulnerable to budget cuts and, based on an earlier presentation to the Partnerships Committee about philanthropical giving, fits the criteria for a program that could be funded externally. He outlined the steps he took to locate and meet potential donors that ended with a meeting with John Olson. He felt it would be helpful if Mr. Olson made a presentation to the committee about his work to secure athletic program funding. Superintendent Rainwater indicated he would invite Mr. Olson at an appropriate time.
Maya Cole stated it is empowering to see this process unfold and an invaluable service when committee members do this work. It will be helpful to know if there is community support for finding external funding for athletics.
7. Adjournment
It was moved by Lucy Mathiak and seconded by Carl Silverman to adjourn the meeting at 7 p.m. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
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