Board Meeting Dates

Additional Details

District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

AGENDA

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

5:00 PM

DeLayo-Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd.NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Minutes of the District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

Board of Education

Albuquerque Public Schools

A District and Community Relations Committee meeting of the Board of Education (BOE) of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) was held Wednesday, January 22, 2014, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE.

I.         Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.

1. A. Roll Call

Present:  Steven Michael Quezada, Dr. Analee Maestas, Lorenzo Garcia, and Dr. David Peercy; Dr. Don Duran participated by phone.

Absent:  Martin Esquivel and Kathy Korte

1. B. Adoption of the January 22, 2014, District and Community Relations Agenda and the Approval of the October 23, 2013, and January 7, 2014, District and Community Relations Minutes (Discussion/Action)

Chairperson Analee Maestas asked for a motion to adopt the agenda and the October 23, 2013 minutes.  Lorenzo Garcia moved for approval; Steven Michael Quezada seconded the motion; motion carried.  Approval of January 7, 2014 minutes was post-poned until a later meeting.

II.       Public Forum

There were no participants for public forum.

III.      Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SuperSAC) Report

(Discussion)

Chief of Staff Joseph Escobedo introduced SuperSAC students Peter King from Del Norte High School and Kathryn Cook from Highland High School.

Topics discussed at the latest SuperSAC meeting included counseling at the high school level, the APS budget, and ideas for the Office of Innovation.

The following suggestions were made in regards to counselors:

• Hire more counselors at the high school level
• Have counselors be assigned to one task, either scheduling or counseling
• Have career counselors trained to assist with applying to out-of-state schools and applying for scholarships.

The following suggestions were made around the APS budget:

• Train SuperSAC on the budget presentation so they can share it with students, parents, and parent associations
• Have student advocates go to Santa Fe during legislative sessions or to write letters.

At the last SuperSAC meeting, Katarina Sandoval, executive director of The Office of Innovation, encouraged the council to bring ideas for improving the school system and helping students to do better academically.  Discussion clarified that there are two SuperSAC representatives at every high school, but not all are able to come.

Dr. Kristine Meurer, executive director of Student, Family, and Community Supports, shared that the department is piloting a NAVIANCE program for students and parents to help with career counseling, scholarship application, test preparation, and looking for ways to free up some of the counselor’s time for other kinds of counseling.

Discussion clarified the need to have more funding available at the discretion of APS administration in order for more counselors to be hired.

The students expressed appreciation for past support and requested financial help for the “We the People” high school club to be able to go to Washington, D.C. to compete nationally.  Clubs like this and speech and debate programs help students to care about government and the importance of being a citizen, and provide a positive, educational activity for students. Such clubs no longer receive federal funding.

Board members were very supportive of the students and their input and encouraged them to:

• Continue to communicate with students at the schools
• Help educate the community about the education budget
• Ensure their voices are heard by legislature.

Superintendent Brooks shared that the APS administration is planning to go to Santa Fe on February 5, if anyone wishes to join them.  APS administration, board members, and the APS Education Foundation encouraged the students to continue in their fundraising efforts.

IV.      Community Schools Presentation from Current Sites (Discussion)

Chairperson Analee Maestas introduced Jose Munoz, executive director, ABC Community School Partnership (ABC), and principals Paul Roney, Grant Middle School, and Denise Brigman, Emerson Elementary School, who presented an overview on community schools activity from the different school sites.  Discussion points included:

• ABC Community School partnership past to present – Mr. Munoz emphasized that ABC is a strategy for organizing the resources of the school and community around student success that began in 2007.  A “community school” is comprised of a community, family, and students with a core instructional program, extended learning opportunities, and comprehensive support services that include family and community engagement, early childhood development, school-based or school-linked health services, and community and economic development.  There are currently in 10 school sites that are the more at-risk groups.
• Perception is reality – Mr. Roney shared the importance of the core components at Grant Middle School for families and teachers; the impact of a coordinator leading the alignment and integration of supports and instruction; and qualitative success stories.  Mr. Roney mentioned that the need for more counselors might be met through counselors they have.  The daily support and resources available to students and families have helped student achievement.  Having a site coordinator is a key component.  The partnerships have been phenomenal.  Families are engaging in their student’s learning.   The stages of development are exploring, emerging, maturing, and excelling; sometimes it is necessary to repeat a stage.
• Targeted action – Ms. Brigman described how the community school strategy helps meet district goals.  It involves a great deal of careful planning and strategy.  Students are excited and engaged.  Identifying a passionate coordinator to pull things together after school is a key piece; a person who will identify the assets of the community and find key players.  Consideration is given to how to bring common core into the after-school program and what can be done on the health side.  Professional development is provided.  Surveys are done and meetings are scheduled to identify needs and connect with families with resources.
• Moving forward – Mr. Munoz discussed scaling-up community schools for more rigorous results; school site and system infrastructure for sustainability; and making an impact.  There is a national conference in April that will focus on how to impact the different sites, provide certified training for coordinators, and how to develop an army of folks at each site.

Discussion clarified that funding presently is coming from the City of Albuquerque, grants, and Boys and Girls Clubs.  APS has several departments that have strengthened this effort.  The Office of Innovation may be able to play a role; perhaps mill levy funding can cover the cost of coordinators.  Board members are supportive of programs that provide options and pathways to help all students succeed.  Students who are not at risk also would benefit from a program like this.  Publicity would help in this endeavor.  Board members suggested that APS administration look at ways to help fund this effort.

V.        APS Board of Education Discussion on APS Community Clothing Bank (Discussion)

Dr. Kristine Meurer, executive director, Student, Family, and Community Supports, led a discussion on the APS Community Clothing Bank.  The APS Community Clothing Bank is working to assist nearly 5,000 students.  A new distribution format and a partnership with Goodwill Industries of New Mexico will mean better selection and greater success for students.

Dr. Meurer introduced the new coordinator, Kathleen McEuen, who oversees the process to ensure equity, that needs are being met, and the students have a nice experience and are able to pick out their own clothing.  The clothing primarily is distributed through counselors and nurses, but it also can be done through community liaisons and teachers.  A form is completed for new socks, underwear, and shoes.  Through a partnership with Goodwill, students can pick out three outfits, three times a year with a gift card.  They have set up special sections in all the stores for students.  Donation bins have been placed around the city to help meet the need, which Goodwill sorts through.  The gift cards only can be used for clothing for students and are tracked to ensure they are being utilized so additional help can be provided if needed.  Other community partners help with needs that are not met through Goodwill.  Shoes on a Shoestring provides new shoes at cost.  Schools can also have their own little clothing bank.  Drives for coats and new socks and underwear were held and clothing distributed prior to Winter Break.  Discussion clarified that APS charter schools also are included in distribution.

VII.     Next District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

Chairperson Maestas announced that the next District and Community Relations Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2013, at 5:00 p.m., at the Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

VIII.   Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:37 p.m.