CHPSPO Meeting Notes – October 20, 2015

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

October 20, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

1. PARCC test results and Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force (Claudia Lujan)

• PARCC Results
  • Timing:
    • District-wide @ school level for high schools out next week
    • District-wide @ school level for grades 3-8 out end of November
    • Student –level data out in December
  • This is a BASELINE Year.
  • We will not be able to compare PARCC with past (DC CAS) data.
  • OSSE will pause on accountability for one year; schools will not be able to move from rising to reward, etc.
  • OSSE report to go out to parents in December, to enable parents to understand where students lie on new scale and the 5 performance levels (but not comparable to past). See how to read the PARCC here.
  • Q/A:
    • At district level, we will compare how we are faring w other districts; school level comparisons will be available; Peer group = other states that are using PARCC
    • Is OSSE sticking w/ the cutoffs of proficiency on the PARCC scale? A: Yes, DCBOE voted to keep to PARCC scale, rather than own scale.
    • How were technical glitches been addressed? These would have impacted scores.
      • A: In rollout, from tech perspective and questions, a lot was done to gauge
      • A: Report around glitches will be developed, but not sure about timing
    • Concerning that scores are being shared publicly when tech issues are known; A: this should be considered as input to FAQs that will be released w/ scores
    • From an administration perspective, changes this year:
      • Only 1 testing window as compared to last year’s 2 testing window
      • OCTO supported the hardware in the past, but hoping this year, if OCTO could set up the computers so they are ready w/out pop up windows/hiccoughs, would be really helpful.
    • Professional development (PD) for common core? How is it being addressed? A: PD is addressed at LEA/school level, not district-wide. Teachers participated in developing questions that were included in localized PARCC DC test

2. Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force Update (http://dme.dc.gov/node/1106612):

• Received many nominations (90ish) for parent/community members, were overwhelmed, now sifting through; Separate nomination process for LEAs
• Announced in a couple of weeks; will kick off in January 2016
• TF will meet monthly; 1 year commitment of the 2 year process
• Initial target 23-25 members in task force, but not over 30
• Q&A:
  • FAQs said meetings would be private – open meetings act requires government committee meetings to be open to public – A: Closed meetings reasoning: difficult conversation. Important to have honest conversations; would open meetings compromise this? Risk of media/social media taking statements out of context
• What is actionable? Mayor has no authority over PCSB. A: While PCSB is authorizer, charter leaders will be engaged and they understand that lack of coordination cannot continue. Many charter leaders have expressed willingness to coordinate.

3. DCPS-led discussion about the upcoming food services contract (Shanita Burney)

• Liz Leach (DCPS OFNS) – history of food services contracts; $19M going back to DCPS from settlement; RFP will go out in December; We cook in every single kitchen in DCPS except Rev Foods schools
• Feedback from parents in the room:
  • Ben Feldman (Brent ES)– addressed history of Chartwells contract, issues with outsourcing; noted Chancellor did not join whistleblower suit
  • Heather Schoell (Eliot-Hine MS)– can we use settlement money for library books?
  • Q from JO parent about food waste
  • Miner parent (w/interpreter) — Do not like Prepackaged, processed, high sugar items
  • Concern about being cut out of “boutique” groupings of schools
  • Ward 1 parent(?) — Concern about survey; Half of the survey being about student preference
  • Standards fall during summer meals program
  • Unhealthy choices at school make it hard to hold the line at home
  • Group meals at Title I schools end up reinforcing high-sugar food preferences
  • Let’s have oatmeal, low sugar yogurt;
  • Caryn Ernst (Capitol Hill Cluster Schools) – how to make menus more accommodating for gluten-free students (same for allergies, lactose-intolerant)
  • Salad Bars — more days, more options – kids eat plenty of vegetables that way
  • Gwenn (sp?) — Bbq chicken, blackened tilapia, etc — are those items too spicy, seasoned?
  • Heather – vendors off menu is real problem for kids with dietary issues, allergies
  • Make sure all the equipment is working — foods too cold, not high quality
  • Lisa Miller – kids subbing milk for juice
  • Developmentally appropriate portions, menus — PK3 – 4 / K – 5 different choices by age
  • Ben Feldman — We are an 80% FARM district. We have to do food as a core mission. Focus on scratch-made food, locally sourced meals. Focus on vendors who ensure staff have strong culinary skills, care about presentation, good food smells.  Food experience that shows we’re investing in children. RFP needs to be tilted in a way that knife skills, culinary experience, cultivates palates, scratch-made, on site, appealing food
  • W1 parent (?) — More technical concerns. DCPS meal costs are among the highest in the country but we’re not seeing the return on investment. Advantage of privatization should be higher quality, lower costs. We’re not seeing that. What is DCPS going to do to drive up the quality of the food? In-house food service in other districts returns a profit.
  • We’re paying the money but we’re not getting results.
  • Are you breaking down the schools into pods for bidding? A: Liz Leach — Bidding on single schools isn’t efficient for vendors.
  • Payne ES Parent – other countries serve soups; A: LL: Great idea. We don’t have the equipment right now.
  • Parent (Gail) – single vendor? A: LL – TBD
  • Always milk? A: LL – Well, we could sell water. Laura Marks/: No! (we have DC Water!!)
  • Sandra (Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan): What about disconnect between school and vendor? What is the DCPS oversight over vendor? A: LL: There is oversight and management Cafeteria Lead who is site manager, manager over that with 10 schools, 3 managers over that, DCPS personnel over that.
  • Give feedback/ideas here! http://www.engagedcps.org/posts/5847/parent-feedback-needed-for-the-office-of-food-and-nutrition-services

4. Planning for November discussion about substitute teachers (Moved to next month’s agenda)

Next CHPSPO Meeting:  November 17, 2015

Upcoming Events

October 28 from 7 – 9 pm, SHAPPE/DC Fiscal Policy Institute Forum on DC Public Schools’ Budget Priorities, , Luke Moore Academy, 1001 Monroe St., NE.

November 2, 11 am, JAWB: DC Council Education Committee Hearing On DCPS School Modernizations

November 7, 10 am Educator Town Hall Curbing School to Prison to Pipeline

November 8, 6 – 10 pm, J.O. Wilson will host the 4th annual Taste of H.  Tickets can be purchased at Taste of H.

For additional Education Committee Hearings and Meetings, go to http://www.davidgrosso.org/education-committee/