PUBLIC EDUCATION IN NORTHEAST
April 20, 2009
Minutes
Attendees: Dean DeGroot, Kalie French, Carla Steinbach, Debbie Nelson, Kimberlee Adams, Lloyd Winfield, Heidi Miller, Bridget Altmann, Rodney Nelson, Jenny Arneson, Mandy Larson, Macy Ashby, Penny Hinderaker, Kevin Reich, Laura McQuiston, Jill Davis, Jenn Bennington, Mike Iacarella, David Larson
COMMUNITY THEATRE BRAINSTORMING
Dean DeGroot has accumulated several theatre opportunities in the community for children and distributed a NE Community Theatre Information and Ideas handout. He also mentioned the currently existing Morris Park Players at Folwell.
Carla Steinbach, who used to work at Folwell, said that the Morris Park players did active fundraising for the school, as well as provide theatre opportunities.
Jenny Arneson checked with the Community Education staff at Waite Park and said that they should be able to coordinate a theatre program. At Waite Park, there is now summer programming, including some theatre classes through Sports Arts and additional morning classes.
Other existing programs were discussed, including Beacons (at NEMS), Park/Rec. opportunities, and Arts Literacy curriculum at NEMS, Sheridan and Marcy Open. After much discussion, the group came to the conclusion that there were two separate directions that should be pursued:
K-12 theatre programming, providing a pathway from elementary to middle school to Edison around theatre. (Giving kids and families more exposure to our schools)
Community theatre, with the goal of encouraging community involvement with our kids and our schools by using school space & theatre resources, perhaps during the summer, utilizing our arts-rich community. (The only officially designated Arts District in the City is in NE!)
Action Item:
Rodney Nelson volunteered to put together an inventory of current existing arts programming at all NE schools as well as some other city productions. A representative for each school will email a list to him at: lerone01@comcast.net
NE Community Theatre Subcommittee: Laura McQuiston, Macy Ashby, Bridget Altmann
NE PARADE
Jenny Arneson will complete the application ($250). All NE school parade participants are included in this one PEN application. Edison will have a float this year, as will Waite Park. NEMS will take part as well. Jenny asks that all schools let her know exactly what they will be entering in the parade by May 1, Jenny must hear from the school, or they will not be included in the application. She has not heard from Pillsbury, and has only a verbal indication of participation from Sheridan to date.
PR DVD
Bridget is the collector of images for the DVD from each school. She has Edison kids working on it, and they will be visiting each site to gather audio and get a feel for each school. Please send your school's images to Bridget Altmann at: bridget.altmann@mpls.k12.mn.us
CHANGING OPTIONS
We will have fewer magnets in the future, due to issues of equity and transportation costs.
Jill Davis reported from the board that a recommendation is due to them from the District on Tuesday, April 28. The board had a retreat yesterday, and settled on a goal of four types of magnets in the future (Open, IB, Montessori, and language Immersion) Curricular magnets are not the objective in the future. It appears that the board will be implementing a closest-to-home busing option only (K - 12), which will most impact the high schools. There may be some grandfathering. Jill reviewed the four core emphasis at the HS level via the redesign process (college in the schools, career/ tech, AP & IB) which began two years ago. The north half of the city will probably be minimally impacted by the district changes. Marcy Open, however, might be part of Area A, meaning it will be connected to Edison rather than South in the future. There is currently a split among board members about whether the district can/will sustain seven high schools. Jill is pushing for a standardization of language and content among programs at all schools in the district.
Conversations will be encouraged to connect the NE community with Edison. The final decisions of the board will be released during the last week of May. From now throughout May, the NE community needs to band together behind Edison. Jill needs us to email the Board members & District administration about our need for a high school in our community, as well as what we want to see at our high school. There is a perception on the board that there are not enough kids in NE to fill a school, and that the community does not care enough about Edison to send their kids to it.
Action Item: Jenny Arneson will draft something and send it around for distribution to our various connections with the community.
Our natural diversity is an advantage, and something to be highlighted. Also, emphasizing the logical pathways from our community schools, to NEMS to Edison, and our expectation that we will have a community high school at the end of that pathway.
PEN needs your help! A few people are needed to step up and get involved with the planning process and commit to a role of leader. If you are on this e-mail list, you must have a passion for NE schools. Keep our efforts strong and get involved! Contact Dean about your interest: 612-789-9596 or email: deand@visi.com
Announcements:
Jill Davis announced upcoming conversations scheduled to discuss the achievement gap between the community and the MPS District personnel and the Board of Education. Area A discussion will be at Nellie Stone Johnson on April 30, 6:00 - 8:30 pm. These discussions are for everyone. They will be conducted as small group "courageous conversations."
“Fun & Events Calendar”: Each school will provide a listing of musical, sport, theatrical, and other fun events on one master calendar for the community. This listing of activities will now be both emailed on the present email list (over 170 names) as well as on Facebook and our new blog: http://publicedne.blogspot.
Future Considerations/next meeting: Time: May 18, 2009: Edison HS: 6:30 – 8:00 PM.
We will likely be talking about Sports in the NE Schools—How to Bolster team efforts!
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