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= = SRC Community Group Chairperson, Arenda Bethel Position Paper - __Complete information in SRC document__ - DRAFT - [|SRC Community Group 3.doc] __ Latest Minutes __ 03/10/08 Cecelia Thompson, Anna Figueroa, Michelle Rowe, Vernard Johnson, Jay Cohen, Robert Kirby, Mr. El, Gail Clouden Future meetings are in the press room at 440. Office space has been made available in cubicle next door. Primary mission is to write up recommendations by end of the month, Safety and Climate, EMO, Charter, Specialized Services and Facilities. For now gathering everyone's thoughts so we can give to Joe in a timely manner.

Thoughts… __ EMO __ Notes 
 * Blank Slate
 *    2 year contracts
 *    Transition back to traditional schools if contract is revoked
 *    opportunity to switch management with non emo school

Interpretation/Proposal - Failing Schools should be offered the following options in the following order… 
 * 1)     Offer the school to the community as a Charter School.
 * 2) Offer the school back to the EMO as part of a two-year contract. During this time, the EMO will be given complete control over all aspects of the educational process (not just curriculum) but will be required to meet specific benchmarks. If the Benchmarks are not met, the community will again be offered the opportunity of creating a charter School
 * 3) Offer the school back to the District with the requirement of meeting the same standards mentioned in #2 for the EMOs

Budget 
 * School Budget meetings must be publicized through the Home and School, flyers sent home with the kids, and phone calls at least two weeks in advance of a meeting
 * Parent signatures must not come from any employee of the school district

__ Climate and Safety and Health __ – Problems: Lack of C-SAP compliance, Not enough NTAs/Aides, Back tracking on pink slips to create level 1, 2and 3 offenses. Executive Summary (Jay’s interpretation of the discussion) 
 *    The staff and administration of the School District of Philadelphia must acknowledge their responsibility to keep our children both mentally and physically safe while in their schools
 *    Resources and Staff must be available to immediately remove disruptive students from the classroom and immediately place them in a supportive environment where they can receive both behavioral and academic instruction
 *    Nurses (or qualified trained staff) must be available to the students during the entire time they are in school
 *    All students (including early childhood) must receive instruction only from qualified teachers (not counselors and other unqualified “prep” teachers) and staff who conduct themselves in a professional manner and treat the children with respect at all times.
 *    All students are entitled to quality food
 *    The SRC must create a policy the addresses the above along with specific remedies if these policies are not met

Recommendations 
 *    Counselors responsibilities should no longer include instruction without a qualified professional teacher in the room
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Full time nurses or qualified trained personnel during all school hourse
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Review of child’s heath status.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Schools and Staff must be held personally accountable for job performance and the safety of our children.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Resources and staff must exist in the schools that allow disruptive students to be immediately removed from class and receive immediate behavioral and academic supports such as C-SAP.- We believe that by undertaking the short-term cost of NTAs and teaching assistants we will cut behavioral and academic problems and thus save money in the long-run!
 * Gymnastic and Physical programs must be available with a minimum number of classes per week (3?).
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Must pass basic phys-ed minimum requirements.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Must have a workable gym.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Embark on a study of health school by school.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Viable Health classes
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Lunch must meet minimum standards
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Urination and Defecation inside schools must be addresses with a clear policy
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Institute a study to show how incidents rose when we cut NTAs.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   The District must address the issue that some principals discontinue serious incidents when they begin to jeopardize the schools AYP
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Serious incidents must be made public for every school for every month
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   The District should develop a policy on cell phones and stick to it. It should also address staff use of cell phones.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">   Search and Seizure Policy

__ Teacher & Staff Behavior __ __Contracts__ __K-8__
 * There must be a way of reporting and correcting inappropriate behavior of teachers and staff. This includes the use of cell phones, dress, language, and tone when addressing students and other staff members.
 * All real estate deals must be approved by representatives of parent organizations who are not paid or receive funding from the District
 * The SRC must address the issue of early childhood qualifications
 * The SRC must address the issue of children not washing their hands before meals

__Community__
 * Define community partner as an organization within a school’s catchment area with employees and ownership who reside within the local community.

__Funding__
 * Universities and Hospitals in the City of Philadelphia should be required to provide free tuition to any resident of the city who agrees to work in our schools. In addition, the Universities and hospitals in the City of Philadelphia should be required to pay any individual who is willing to work as a teaching assistant, NTA, or noontime aid in our schools.