[Notes] From The CEAG Meeting 2/20/2018
The Collingswood Educational Advocacy Group met at Collingswood Library on 2/20/2018. Topics of discussion included the election information campaign, future events hosted by CEAG, Sustainable Jersey for Schools, equity across our schools, and petitions.
1. Election/Vote No Campaign
A.. Promotion Efforts
New flyer design was presented
Everyone to talk to neighbors about adding signs
Mailing: getting help on cost
2. March 13th support
Transportation: Need people to offer to drive others to polling places
3. Future Events
A. CPR Training
Need minimum of 10 people
Need space
Cost is $50 per
Looking at May to schedule
B.. Pop Up Library
- Kate knows someone who does this
- Need to go to people where they are
- Considering Heights as pilot run
- Want to have it benefit Collingswood community
- Need for age-appropriate books to be made available
C. Gender 101 Workshop
- Donna spearheading
- Support of CHOP staff
- Discuss gender identity to help parents and community
4. Just Kids Petition
A. Program does not want to do any training to support children with different gender identities or expression
- Local programs are not mandated to do training
- Need to petition them to ask that they do
- Need to request that USDA updates their nondiscrimination statement to include protection for people regardless of gender identity or expression
- Will post links to petitions for local and national program on website
5. Responses to Florida Shooting
A. Need more information on how our district is managing it
- National walk-out is planned on March 14th (need to confirm) and April 20th
- Will district not penalize kids who walk out?
- Will district be using it as a teaching moment about civic responsibility and need of protest to change laws (see Civil Rights movement)?
- How can parents support students?
- Does district have active shooter drill or is it lockdown drills?(there is a difference)
- Need to prepare all our questions this week to submit to superintendent and BOE before the next BOE Meeting
6. Sustainable New Jersey for Schools
- How do we keep parents involved?
- PTA’s need to take reigns of this program?
- Grant money for schools is available
- Would be good to organize a central group of parent volunteers for all schools and help guide schools to success
- Need involvement by school administrators and school staff to help make it work and have staying power
7. Equity
- How do we create greater equity of students at local elementary schools?
- The main blocker has been parents who want neighborhood schools
- Option to have schools be grade specific, i.e., Sharp has 1st and 2nd grade, Newbie 3rd, etc.
- Lack of equity is hurting housing values for residents who live in lower ranked elementary schools
- Data is just now being tracked for performance of students who move to CMS and CHS from lower ranked schools
- BOE has book called Equity that superintendent asked them to read
- It seems it is a hot-button issue since if you say anything about lower ranked schools, then it is seen as a personal attack on administrators and teachers.
- A real resolution needs to be sought and require focus on this issue
- The Board of Education members are reading and discussing Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners
By Dominique Smith, Nancy Frey, Ian Pumpian, Douglas Fisher
A Preview can be seen here: https://books.google.com/books/about/Building_Equity.html?id=fbwtDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button#v=onepage&q&f=false
The next Board of Education Meeting will be a Special Meeting on 2/21/2018
The next regular meeting will be on 2/26/2018 at 6:30 at the Zane North All Purpose Room.