CHPSPO Meeting Notes October 15, 2013

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE

October 14, 2013, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

1. Education Adequacy Study by Deputy Mayor of Education – Jennifer Comey – send questions/comments to jennifer.comey@dc.gov and dme.adequacystudy@dc.gov

• Find presentation and annexes here: http://dc.gov/DC/DME/About+DME/News+Room/Deputy+Mayor+for+Education+Releases+Preliminary+Findings+and+Recommendations+of+the+DC+Education+Adequacy+Study
• Preliminary comments from Cathy Reilly and Matthew Frumin:
  • While there are a number of concerns with the impact of implementing the recommendations of the study, I think the major concern is that the charter schools will see substantially more funding  while DCPS would see more funding, but substantially less than the charters.
  •  A significant point of contention seems to be around the issue of funding M&O costs (estimated at $43.3 million).  Jen said last night that DCPS wouldn’t have to bear these costs, and there was some discussion about more efficient use of DCPS buildings, e.g., co-locating social services agencies, sharing space with charter schools, etc., that would make up some of the $43.3 million.  The bottom line though is that if DCPS does have to bear the M&O costs, the recommendations in the Eduation Adequacy Study would give DCPS an additional $13 million, and the charters would see around a $79 million increase.
• Other background reading:
  • DC Schools Finance Primer by DC Fiscal Policy Institute: http://www.dcfpi.org/district-of-columbia-school-finance-primer
  • Public Education Finance Reform Commission

2. DCPTA – Bryan Banks

• Elections are happening soon. Any PTA member eligible to vote. Two votes per school.

3. Public Oversight Roundtable on School Boundaries and Feeder Patterns

• Friday, Nov 15 @ 9:00 AM. Limited number of testimonies – sign up. http://dccouncil.us/events/education-roundtable-on-school-boundaries-and-feeder-patterns

4. Update on Education Bills before City Council – no update this month, but here’s a bit of background: http://greatergreatereducation.org/post/20359/group-critiques-catania-education-proposals/

5. Report Out/Lessons Learned Walk-to-School Day – George Blackmon

• See photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/chpspo/pool/ and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62085732@N08/sets/72157636366410736/
• Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this happen: http://chpspo.org/2013/09/30/walk-to-school-day-is-wednesday-october-9/
• Walk-to-School Day 2013 Expenses

$350 mini-grant received from Capitol Hill Community Foundation

$120.00     Permit for Lincoln Park

$  34.90     Portable microphone rental from Fragers

$  40.45     Coffee cups and creamer from Safeway

$  83.54     Gogurt and granola bars from Costco

$  71.11     Proposed payment to Vigilante Coffee

$350.00

Donations

200 bags from Georgetown Athletics/MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

50 bags from Councilmember Wells’ office (Harris Teeters bags)

250 water bottles from DC Water

250 apples from Long Meadow Farms

Thousands of fruit ropes from Clif Bars

Walk-to-School Day banners and activity flyers from Clif Bars

Light bike maintenance by The Daily Rider DC

Banner by the Long/Short Walk (via T. Bella Dihn-Zarr)

Next CHPSPO Meeting:  November 19, 2013

Upcoming Events:

October 18      Comments due to Deputy Mayor for Education on Education Adequacy Study

October 26      Tyler Harvest Festival, 11 am – 3 pm – food and games, a costume contest, and other fun activities as we celebrate the harvest of Tyler’s outdoor garden.  Learn about our Outdoor Classroom and how our garden grows!

October 26      Maury Harvest Festival, 10 am – 3 pm – there will be games, a cake walk, a dunk tank and lots of other fun activities

October 26      Brent Fall Festival, 10 am – This annual event unites the Brent community and the neighborhood.  The day is full of fun for families and kids with a moon bounce, face painting, carnival games, live music, and a used book sale.

October 26      Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan Haunted Harvest Festival, 6 – 9 pm – Mad scientist, haunted house, chili cookoff, arts & crafts, face painting and more!

November 15  Public Roundtable on School Boundaries and Feeder Patterns, 9 am