Monday, April 26, 2010

Zone 1 - Area A Parent Meeting

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN US TO WORK ON 
IMPROVING STUDENT PROGRESS !

April 28, 2010 6-8pm 
Jenny Lind/Olson Lower Campus
5025 Bryant Avenue North

AGENDA 

Introductions – Co-Chair: Celeste Brown, Parent Liaison: Lynne Crockett
Your name, school(s) and what brought you to the meeting tonight.

DISCUSSION TOPICS:
Turnaround Schools process – Steve Dibb, MN Department of Education
 Choices have now been made about what to do to raise achievement in the turnaround schools.    Steve Dibb from the State of Minnesota will explain what led to this process and answer parent questions. A representative from the district will be there to explain how the decisions were reached.

Parent Liaisions - Snapshot of parent involvement opportunities at Area A schools. Come share with us what your school is doing to allow parents to get involved in the school and connect with other parents.

Food and childcare provided.

We're saving a seat for you!
We thank You and our Parent Liaisons for joining us.



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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Audubon Park Spring WingDing this Weekend!

Audubon Neighborhood Association invites you to its annual community festival honoring our urban ecology.  Enjoy food, fun, games, and to meet like-minded folks who cherish the environment we share. The event will be held on Saturday, April 24th, 11am–2pm, at Audubon Park, 29th Ave. and Buchanan St. NE and will offer a variety of activities for both kids and grown-ups. Stop by anytime; the WingDing will be held rain or shine!

Activities will include:
  • Bird tours with Audubon Society experts at 10:00 and 11:15 am
  • Making bird feeders with the 4-H kids and the Eastside Food Co-op
  • Making environmentally-safe household cleaner with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
  • Carnival games and an inflatable castle for kids
  • Fun activities with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
  • Info on making your home more energy efficient
  • A performance by the Northeast Middle School band
  • Pizza from local restaurant Amici

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Bye Bye Birdie at Edison This Weekend!


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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

MPS headquarters vote rescheduled

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneapolis Board of Education’s planned vote on proposals for new administrative headquarters, initially scheduled for today, April 13, has been rescheduled for April 27.

“We thank the community for its patience as we continue educating the public about the three proposals that the board is considering,” said Superintendent Bill Green. “Two additional public informational meetings will be scheduled over the next two weeks for members of the public who were unable to attend earlier meetings.”

Details about informational meeting times, dates and locations will be publicized and posted at www.mpls.k12.mn.us when they are available.

Currently, MPS operates administrative offices in four buildings: 807 NE Broadway, Webster, 1250 W Broadway and the Lehmann Center. The new headquarters proposals right-size the amount of administrative space to the number of employees, reducing administrative office space from 633,000 square feet to 275,000. Consolidating space into one facility will save approximately $10 million over the next three decades and provide administrative staff with an appropriate place to work.

The three proposals to be reviewed at the rescheduled meeting include:

  • 1250 West Broadway: New build-to-suit structure for District Headquarters/Welcome Center. The proposal includes a partial renovation of the former Anishinabe building at 2225 East Lake St. for Welcome Center/Community Ed/Adult Basic Education. (This satellite option could be part of the 807 renovation as well.)
  • 807 NE Broadway (current headquarters): Full renovation of existing district administration building
  • 11th Avenue & 3rd Street South (Valspar Building): Lease of an existing single tenant office building with parking ramp

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Edison "Turnaround" Community Meeting

April 14, 2010 - 7:00 pm

An important conversation about Edison's future.  The MN Dept. of Education identified Edison as "persistently low achieving" based on test results and graduation rates prior to the "fresh start" that went into effect in Fall 2007.  Based on new state and federal requirements, MPS is required to make some structural changes which will be discussed at this meeting.  Please join us, past, present and future Tommies!

AGENDA

1. Introductions and welcome

2. Review of the state’s list of lowest performing schools and why Edison is included

3. Review performance data

4. Review Edison’s reform efforts to date

5. Discuss turnaround model requirements

6. Seek input and feedback from parents—how could we use these resources most successfully at Edison

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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Minutes:March 15, 2010

Attendees: Dean DeGroot (NEMS), Chris Ramadan (Sheridan), Mary Marbaret Bartik (Pillsbury), John Vandermyde (Edison CSF), Marcia Thomas (Pillsbury/NEMS), Pat Teske (MSP), Joanna Cortright (MSP), Jean Neuman (Sheridan), Willie Fort (MSP), Kelley Leaf (SEAC), Sarah Larson (Edison alum), Jenn Bennington (Waite Park), Aloida Zaragoza (UofM Upward Bound), Mike Iacarella (Edison)

Sheridan Arts Work Group Update

Pat Teske, Joann Cortright, Chris Ramadan and Jean Neumann provided an overview and handout regarding Sheridan’s progress in re-shaping and re-branding the arts magnet program emerging at the school. Pat stated that the effort is in response to the PEN/Area A meeting which took place last summer, where community members and other end users came together around the desire to make Sheridan Arts Magnet into an arts school that makes use of local NE artists, articulates a meaningful curriculum, and has a logical pathway Edison. Sheridan has been working with Ramsey Arts Magnet, located in southwest Minneapolis, to have some similar offerings and organization, allowing students a north and south arts magnet option. Jean is communicating with Carla Steinbach, principal of Edison, so that some kind of linkage can be developed.

Chris discussed the Sheridan framework, an effort to energize staff, students and the community. A matrix was described, involving arts teaching, arts integration, multiple intelligences, collaboration, and community partnerships. He mentioned ways of “going deeper” into the arts. The arts are integrated with all academic subjects and are rooted in curricular standards. Chris also provided a matrix on all of the classes offered at each grade and how many instructional hours per week in each. Possible partnerships with Perpich Center for the Arts were discussed, using artist in residence.

What can PEN do to help: Identify local artists who can become involved with Sheridan. For example, local artists could display their art in the lobby by the auditorium.


Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) Update

Kelly Leaf is a NE parent who is member of SEAC, which meets monthly (usually first Monday), with other parents, Don Allen (Director of Special Education for MPS), Jackie Turner (MPS), and Courtney Cushing-Kiernat (consultant). 17% of MPS kids are in special education, which is a high percentage when compared with other districts. Special education dollars are not taken from regular education funds, which is a common misconception.

How are Changing School Options (CSO) affecting special needs kids? Kelly told of the challenge of having equal services in all parts of the district and not having too much disruption for these kids, who are often very impacted by changes. The effort is to allow kids to go to the same schools as their siblings, whenever possible. Special education kids can go out of their zones, if there is room at those schools, or parents can drive them. A handout of special education offerings in Zone 1 was also provided.

Most special education kids are in level 1 or 2 programs in MPS, so there is a great deal of mainstreaming which occurs. Regarding pathways, transitions are being minimzed at natual breaks (end of 5th grade, 8th grade, etc.). Kelly suggested that parents make use of school counselors and have individual educational plans (IEPs) which discuss transitions and transportation for their children. She is a great believer that parents need to be vocal and fight for the services in their school/zone, so that they aren’t left unserved by the district. For more information about SEAC, see: http://speced.mpls.k12.mn.us/SEAC.html

Friends of NE Youth

Cub Scout Pack 5418 recently formed under this chartering organization. Friends of NE Youth was started to build more activities for kids in NE. Community service is one of the experiences provided, but more activities and partnerships are being pursued. Other campfire organizations may be formed as well (girl scouts, 4-H, etc.)


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MPS to Host Informational Meeting on District Headquarters Proposals

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneapolis Public Schools on April 8 will host an informational meeting to provide community members with the opportunity to learn more about the three proposals for right-sizing district headquarters that were presented to the Board of Education on March 23. At the meeting, representatives from each of the three firms under consideration will detail their proposals and provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions.

Currently, MPS operates administrative offices in four buildings: 807 NE Broadway, Webster, 1250 W Broadway and the Lehmann Center. The new headquarters proposals right-size the amount of administrative space to the number of employees, reducing administrative office space from 633,000 square feet to 275,000. Consolidating space into one facility will save approximately $10 million over the next three decades and provide administrative staff with an appropriate place to work.

The three proposals for review include:

  • 1250 West Broadway: New build-to-suit structure for District Headquarters/Welcome Center. The proposal includes a partial renovation of the former Anishinabe building at 2225 East Lake St. for Welcome Center/Community Ed/Adult Basic Education. (This satellite option could be part of the 807 renovation as well.)
  • 807 NE Broadway (current headquarters): Full renovation of existing district administration building
  • 11th Avenue & 3rd Street South (Valspar Building): Lease of an existing single tenant office building with parking ramp
Childcare and Hmong, Spanish and Somali interpretive services will be available at the meeting. To RSVP for childcare, please call (612) 668-0230.

WHAT: Informational meeting on district headquarters proposals

WHEN: April 8, 2010, from 6:30-8 p.m.

WHERE: St. Maron Catholic Church, Cedars Hall, 602 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN  55413-1937

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