PEN Members Invited to a Special DPAC Meeting

Community members' role in developing the CSO transition plan and supporting its implementation is critical and we need your input at a special DPAC meeting Monday, September 28, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room at 807 NE Broadway.

We will focus our discussion on two main areas:

• Tool Box- What kind of services/resources do schools need to successfully make their transitions (e.g. marketing tools, translation services, traveling placement center)?

• Hot Spots- What are families most concerned about in making the transition (e.g. availability of public transportation, Spanish only PA announcements in dual immersion program)

If you are unable to attend the September 28th meeting please e-mail your input to Courtney, at courtneyck@comcast.net .

As Edison completes the accreditation to offer IB, the international team visiting Edison would like to get parent and community input/support about and for IB at Edison.

Bill D'Amour, who is the lead staff in finalizing this credentialling for Edison, says that there are 2 ways of getting word to the team: Show up for a meeting at the high school tomorrow morning (9/22) between 7:30-8:00 AM to tell them in person (and get a continental breakfast), or to send letters/emails to Mr. D'Amour: William Damour

Agenda: September 21, 2009 Meeting

Welcome/Introductions: 5 minutes (All)

Changing School Options (CSO): Impacts/considerations for NE—Open Discussion (30-40 minutes)

NE School Showcase: Planning Ideas—Bridget/Others (20 mns.)

Edison Art Proposal: Follow-up from August—Dean/Jenny/Others (20 mns)

PEN Initiatives for 2009-2010: --Dean/Jenny/Penny (10 mns)

Announcements: (5 mn)

• Area A Meetings
• Other

Next meeting: October 19, 2009 @ Edison High School: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Come volunteer to make Northeast Middle School a more beautiful place for students, teachers, and community! If you are artistic, handy, have a green thumb or simple care about your community come make a difference on Saturday, September 19, 9am- 12pm at Northeast Middle School (2955 Hayes St NE).

Volunteer projects will include:

• Painting murals
• Building outdoor benches
• Cleaning and landscaping school grounds

If you are interested, sign-up at www.handsontwincities.org. Go to Volunteer Opportunities and find the School Beautification Project on the Project Calendar. Questions? Call Tyler at HandsOn Twin Cities - (612) 379.4900 Ext. 23

Sponsored by NE Middle School, HandsOn Twin Cities, and American Express.

Changing School Options Town Hall Meetings Scheduled

Learn more about all school changes recommended for the 2010-2011 school year.

• Ask questions. District leaders will be available to answer questions and address concerns. Hmong, Spanish and Somali interpretive services will be available at all meetings.
• Share your comments with School Board members. Board members want to hear what you think before they vote on September 22.

Meetings are 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and are co-hosted by Area Parent Advisory Councils. All meetings include a brief presentation followed by a question and answer session. All are welcome.

September 9
Sheridan Global Arts & Communications School
1201 University Ave NE | Co-hosted by Area A
Information about schools in N/NE Minneapolis (N of 394/Cedar Lake/Downtown/U of M)

Letter-Writing Time!

As the debate continues over the details of the Changing School Options (CSO) restructuring plans, PEN members have been watching carefully and suggest that this is a time for ACTION. We encourage everyone to contact their board members now regarding high school changes.

Main points:

• Northeast watns curricular equity among all Minneapolis high schools
• Northeast wants to see strong, rigorous academic programming at Edison
• Northeast wants educational pathways to Edison from more primary schools.

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You may remember an earlier call to action with similar content, but we believe it is important to remind the board of our commitment to education equity in Northeast at this time. The board will be meeting at the end of the month to re-evaluate their high school plan for the city, and they need to know that Northeast cares about their public high school before that meeting.

Board members can be reached via email at the following addresses:

Carla Bates - carla.bates@mpls.k12.mn.us
Pam Costain - pam.costain@mpls.k12.mn.us
Jill Davis - jill.davis@mpls.k12.mn.us
Lydia Lee - lee@mpls.k12.mn.us
Tom Madden - tmadden1@comcast.net
Chris Stewart - chris.stewart@mpls.k12.mn.us
T. Williams - twill16@comcast.net

August 13 Meeting to Discuss Future Magnet Status of Sheridan Elementary

Please join us on Thursday, August 13, 6:30 - 8:00 pm for a special Area A/PEN meeting. We will meet at Logan Park (location has changed from Sheridan to Logan Park). Sheridan is currently listed as a "TBD" magnet school, and the district would like the community to decide what sort of a magnet school it will become. This meeting will bring together the main stakeholders in this discussion: Current Sheridan families; Northeast & North community members; Sheridan teachers; District personnel; NE principals; and we hope at least one MPS board member.

Some of the ideas that have been proposed include relocating the Spanish dual immersion program at Sheridan, creating a Montessori program for the displaced families from Parkview Montessori (scheduled to close in 2010), and making Sheridan a Pre-K - 5 school, rather than a K - 8. Sheridan's future will impact the future of all of the schools in our community. This is an opportunity for the concerned citizens from both Northeast and North Minneapolis to work together for the good of our children. Come learn and share your ideas. Be a part of big changes to our public education landscape.