[Notes] From The CEAG Meeting 2/20/2018

February 21, 2018February 21, 2018 CEAG Board CEAG Meeting, Meeting Notes, Public Opinion, Special Needs, Sustainable Jersey

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.