News From SWW

August 16, 2002: August 15th Meeting Minutes

Date: 15 Aug 2002

To: School Without Walls Community Board Members
From: Dan Drmacich
Re: August 15th Meeting Minutes

Present: Norm Bauer (SUNY at Geneseo), Peter Mitchell (Alumni Parent), Al Smith (Alumni Parent and CSD Teacher), Dennis Francione (Alumni Parent and CSD Principal at Global Media Academy/ Franklin), Laura McCree (Parent and former CSD Principal), Dan Drmacich ( SWW Principal).

Discussion:

1. Board reviewed and accepted the 7/25/02 minutes, submitted by Chairman, Norm Bauer.

2. NYS Legislative Hearings- Dan explained that Rochester's Coalition for Common Sence in Education Organization is planning a major effort to have educators, parents, students, college professors, and community professionals testify at the up-coming NYS Fall Hearings regarding the impact of Regents Exams on Teaching and Learning, sponsored by the NYS Legislature's Joint Education Committee. Apparently the Hearings will take place after Election Day in November.
   
   NYS sites, at this time, appear to be NYC, Albany and Western NY. However there is no garuntee that the Hearings will take place in the Rochester. Efforts are taking place to encourage local folks to write to their local legislators and Ed. Committee Chairs to urge them to hold hearings in Rochester. The Board will be participating by giving individual testimony at the Hearings. Dan said that parents, teachers and students will be organized to do the same. We will also be urging SWW Alumni to participate.
   
   Dan emphasized that this is our major opportunity to influence the legislature to put pressure on the Commissioner and Regents to allow us the freedom we need to provide the community our unique SWW education.

3. Dan reported that he met with the marketing director for WARM and WPXY radio staions in Rochester and discussed the Community Board's idea of advertising the uniqueness of SWW through radio advertisements. They will do a 2-month "radio blitz" on two stations that kids and parents listen to, featuring students and parents talking, extolling the virtues of SWW. The Board is committing $5,000 for this effort.

4. Norm submitted a proposal for the Community Board to take a lead role in creating a NYS-wide, educational organization for innovative, laboratory schools,(those like SWW), who would have a relationship with the SUNY system, thereby creating more recognition,status and credibility for such schools. The SUNY Colleges would hopefully be intersted in using the schools for research and development with their teaching candidates and graduate students. The Board agreed to study the proposal and discuss next meeting. Dan will share the proposal with several SWW type schools in NYS for feedback.

5. Al Smith proposed that local cable do a story on SWW. He will initiate the project through his contacts and Dan.

6. Board also discussed ideas for new members. A letter will be sent to all SWW Alumni via our web-site, and Dan will seek SWW student representation.

7. We agreed to meet again at 4:00 pm, Thursday, Sept. 12th, at SWW. Friends are encouraged to attend as well.

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