News From SWW

June 2, 2002 Community Board Meeting minutes from Thurs. May 30th

Date: Sun, 2 June 2002

To: SWW Community Board Members
From: Dan Drmacich
Re: Meeting minutes from Thurs. May 30th

Present: Norm Bauer (Chair), Ellen Asprooth, Peter Mitchell, Dan Drmacich

Discussion:

1. Dan discussed the current state of affairs with the Regents. He shared the legislation that the CCSE and several other organizations are trying to have introduced to the NYS Legislature. Dan and Bill Cala (Fairport Supt.) will meet with Sen. Randy Kuhl and Assemblyman Steve Sanders ( Joint Ed. Committee Co-Chairs) on Tues. in Albany.

2. Dan also shared the harmful organizational impact the Regents Exam requirements are having on the SWW organization. Plans for next year at this time include reducing the time for "Extended Class" (the 2.5 hour interdisciplinary, thematic class that has been apart of SWW for almost 30 years to 1.5 hours) so that teachers can offer another Regents-oriented class.
   
   This change also reduces staff meeting time on Thursdays from 3 hrs. to 1.5 hours and prevents at least one-half of the school's student population from having a 3 hr. block of time for Community Service on Thurs. mornings. Dan says that some of the NYC schools that are similar to SWW will be keeping their classes and schedules as they are and then using the last month of school time to drill and practice with students in order to prepare for and pass the exams.
   
   The feeling of most SWW teachers is that that would not be enough time to get our students to pass the exams. Further discussion by staff will take place on this issue. PLEASE SEND IDEAS BY E-MAIL, IF YOU HAVE ANY, ON HOW SWW SHOULD DEAL WITH THIS DILEMMA.

3. Norm Bauer recommended that we work to get democratic, non-HSST schools as a plank to the Democratic Party platform. We will need advice on how to make this happen. Dan will consult with Wade Norwood, City Councilman and Aide to David Gantt.

4. We agreed to meet again at a time in late June or early July to be arranged.

5. We need more interested members. Please contact Dan at 546-6732, ext. 1015, if interested.

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