CHPSPO Meeting Notes – March 15 2016

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization
Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan, 215 G St., NE

March 15, 2016 – 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 1) Report out on meeting with DME, Marty Welles and Suzanne Wells

  • Issues raised:
    • Funding/support for Ward 6 middle school Eliot-Hine & Jefferson renovations
    • Task Force; grade misalignment
  • DME suggested issues raised should be heard by charter school leaders/board
  • DME will be responsible for drafting Mayor’s capital improvement plan
  • DCPS now in charge of renovations, but DGS in charge for implementation

2) Discussion of school security procedures, Caroline Kopek-Pezzarossi

  • Are schools locked all the time? Including drop off and pick up?
  • Reports from Miner, Maury, Van Ness, Amidon-Bowen, Tyler, CHM@L, SWS, Watkins, Stuart-Hobson, JO Wilson, Eliot-Hine
  • Variances on front doors being open all day vs locked all day vs locked between 9-3 and after 3:30,
  • DCPS Security Tips Hotline here: http://dcps.dc.gov/page/school-safe

3) Bike to School Day, Sandra Moscoso-Mills

  • Wednesday, May 4 @ Lincoln Park
  • Partnership with National Center for Safe Routes to School
  • Connect with DCPS Cornerstone
  • Reach out to DDOT
  • Follow up planning w/ George, Beth, Danica, Suzanne & Sandra

4) Budget Oversight Hearings – Who is testifying on what – Everyone

 

Next CHPSPO Meeting:  April 19, 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cross Sector Collaboration Task Force

March 21, Education Counsel, 101 Constitution Ave. NW, Suite 900), 6 pm 

Council Performance Budget Oversight Hearings Register at http://bit.ly/EdOversight16

Tuesday, April 12:  PCSB and State Board of Education

Wednesday, April 13: DME

Thursday, April 14 (10 a.m. and 5 p.m.): DCPS (public witnesses)

Monday, April 18: OSSE

Ward 6 Budget Town Hall

April 21st, 6:30-8:30PM Ward 6 CM Allen to host budget town hall, DHS H St Service Center (645 H St. NE) http://www.charlesallenward6.com/fy17budget

Eliot-Hine Enrollment Nights

Tuesday, April 5th and Wed, April 13th (overlap with PTO mtng at 6pm), from 4:30pm – 6:30pm – 1830 Constitution Ave NE

School Auctions

March 19, Maury at the Market, Eastern Market North Hall

April 30, Brent’s Taste of the Hill, Capitol Skyline Hotel

Bike to School Day – May 4 at Lincoln Park. Save the date!

Lion King – May 20 – 21 at Stuart Hobson.  Save the date!

 

 

Eliot-Hine hosts Enrollment Nights in April!

Enrollment for the 2016 – 2017 School Year Begins Friday, April 1. Register Early!

Enrollment Nights for Eliot-Hine feeder and current families are:

  • Tuesday, April 5, from 4:30pm – 6:30pm and
  • Wednesday, April 13, from 4:30pm – 6:30pm.

Bring residency verification (gas or electric bill + gov’t photo ID).

Health forms are not required at this time.

enroll.2016

CHPSPO Meets March 15 at CH Montessori@Logan

Dear Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization members,

CHPSPO will meet on Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Capitol Hill Montessori@Logan (215 G St., NE) – IN THE ANNEX BUILIDING (enter via the parking lot on 2nd St. NE).

We will discuss last Friday’s CHPSPO visit with the Deputy Mayor for Education, the upcoming Education Council budget oversight hearings, Bike to School Day, school security procedures, and CHPSPO’s 2016 priorities.

Hope to see you on Tuesday!

Suzanne Wells

031516 CHPSPO Agenda.docx

Dance with the stars! Brent and CHM@L students put on joint dance expo – Friday March 18

Don’t be jealous of their boogie!

Join Brent and Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan modern jazz students for a showcase performance!

When: Friday, March 18, 6-7 PM

Where: Brent Elementary School’s Multi-Purpose Room (301 North Carolina Ave., SE)

What: Performances by students enrolled in Chanel Dance Co after school programs.

*Suggested donation of $5/per family to help the students raise funds for costumes/materials for the big show they are planning (and practicing) for in June.

chanel dance poster

Questions? Contact Chanel Colbert: chaneldanceco@aol.com or @chaneldanceo on Instagram.

Cross Sector Collaboration Task Force Upcoming Focus Group February 23, 2016

Dear CHPSPO Members,
Please forward this information to your school communities.
The Mayor’s Cross Sector Collaboration Task Force had its first meeting this evening.  The Task Force will focus its efforts on identifying key aspects of public education that would benefit from cross-sector efforts between DCPS and public charter schools,
I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in giving input on key coordination issues and how they impact access to quality education to attend the upcoming Focus Group meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd at Eastern High School from 6 to 7:30 pm.  To register for the focus group go to : http://dme.dc.gov/node/1130326.
The Task Force needs your input on issues such as the process for siting, opening and closing schools, how to improve enrollment stability and finding ways to share information and replicate success across sectors.  These focus group sessions are currently the best opportunity for interested parents, teachers and community members to give input on what issues the Task Force should be addressing.
At tonight’s meeting the DME’s office presented data on public education enrollment, achievement levels, attendance across sectors and other data important to understanding current trends in DC’s public education system.  This data will be uploaded to the DME’s website in the next few days. They are supposed to be making both the charts and the raw data available to the public. I encourage you to check it out.  If you have questions about the data contact the DME’s Office at DME@dc.gov.
If you have questions about the Task Force or comments you would like to share, you can contact me at Caryn.ernst@gmail.com.

—
Caryn Ernst

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – February 16, 2016

J.O. Wilson Elementary School

K Street, NE, February 16, 2016, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

 

  1. – DC Alliance of Youth Advocates  #ExpandLearningDC – Joseph Gavrilovich
  • SEE TALKING POINTS http://dcaya.blogspot.com/2016/01/expandlearningdc.html
  • Work w/ 120-130 youth serving nonprofits in the district
  • Collective voice for issues of interest in DC Gov
  • Main issue areas
    • Youth homelessness
    • Workforce development
    • Expanded learning
      • Afterschool and summer learning opportunities
    • Afterschool/aftercare in DC has sustained declining stream of funding
      • Fewer points of access for kids who need it most
      • Requesting $10M in funding for quality expanded learning opportunities;
    • ASK of CHPSPO/community: Testimony on behalf of community based non-profits/service; DC TRUST; Sign letters/ online petitions
    • Discussion:
      • Compatibility w/ extended day is important
        • Asking DCTRUST and DCPS to coordinate on an aftercare vision; DC has some of best programming in the country (ex: America SCORES started w/ DC SCORES); Coordination w/ OSSE on outcomes for afterschool
      • Focus on quality/avoid disparity in quality
      • How will $10M be used?
        • DC TRUST budget (intermediary to fund community based programming)
        • Funding that covers DCPS funding for after school programming; in schools where there are waitlists, reduce waitlists to zero; increase quality of care
        • Recommendation should be in place ahead of when Mayor compiles budget
      • How does AYA ensure quality of programming?
        • A: Comprehensive survey of all member programs
      • How does AYA implement programming?
        • A: Schools/principals make choices; If what is in place works, enable ability to accommodate all families; if what is in place does not work, want to be able to make space for other community-based partners

 

2 – Council Oversight Hearings – Laura Marks

  • SEE hearing list provided by CM Allen’s team, but NOTE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE
  • Oversight wraps up mid-March; March 24 Mayor releases her budget, then budget hearings start
  • Not many public witnesses for OSSE or DCPS
  • Capital budget will be discussed in DME, DCPS and DGS hearings
    • Q: Will budgets reflect last FY budget formula? Will there be an increase in per pupil spending (there was not this year)?
    • Q: Will capital budget plan approved last year continue this year?
  • Qs/As:
    • Moving Eliot-Hine and Jefferson’s renovations up depends on whether there is additional capital budget (330M reduction over five years)
      • School Improvement Team (SIT) needs to be in place before architectural firm can come on board
      • Eliot-Hine kicked off SIT committee application (applications being received from community)
    • Q: Has Mayor felt ‘heat’ about moving the capital funds? When is a good time to reach out? A: Now is time to reach out w/ phone calls, etc.
    • ACTION: Resend letter by Ivan Frishberg asking for phone calls to council/mayor/etc re: Capital Budget
    • Q: What happens at DCPCS Budget Oversight hearings? A: Executive Director, team, etc speak. Not much oversight of the DCPCSB. Focus on operation of the board, as there is not much direct mandate.
    • On Cross-collaboration task force: Initial meeting is Feb 17:
    • ACTION: Not many parents have signed up to testify for upcoming hearings (See planned dates below). To testify for hearings, can submit informal paragraph and it is counted in record. Testimony period is open beyond hearing and is counted in record. To ensure points are heard, best to pull together a panel. NOTE: Dates/times/room numbers change, so double-check.

 

  1. Wilson Building Visits on School Modernization Funding –Ivan Frishberg
  • Visit with Deputy Mayor for Education scheduled for February 26 to discuss DCPS capital budget.

 

  1. Operational Budgets – Joe Weedon
  • Schools should get budgets soon
  • Enrollment – Eastern may decline; middle schools continue to drop
  • Budget schedule: http://dcps.dc.gov/page/dcps-budget-planning-fy17
    • Feb 12 initial school budget allocation to be released
    • March 4 – LSATs/principals to work on budget
    • March 7 – principals submit budget to DCPS

 

  1. High School Credits – Joe Weedon
  • BACKGROUND: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is proposing a broad regulation that would allow high school students to test out of any course. A Task Force convened last year by the State Board of Education had recommended that high school students be allowed to test out of only foreign language and math courses.  A petition is circulating that encourages the State Board of Education to reject this proposal.
  • ACTION: Please consider signing this petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/dont-let-tests-be-a-substitute-for-a-strong-education.html).
  • The way new regulations are written by OSSE enable test-based credits for any class.
  • Concerns: it’s unknown what OSSE is intending to do w/ regulation in future; lose the public process for adding other courses like World History to scope of classes for which test-based credit can be awarded.

 

  1. CHPSPO 2016 Priorities Discussion – Everyone
  • Advocacy/relationship building:
    • Focus on advocacy vis a vis Wilson Building visits, testimony.
    • Civic engagement – give parents tools/training to help them learn how to be effective advocates. Planning vis a vis key legislative/decision activities (budget, oversight, etc)
    • Soft touch; Being present when there is not a crisis; there are schools/advocates in Wilson Building every day
      • PTAs split up the year; (Ex: thank you letters to mayor; )
      • 3rd grade cornerstone – re: DC gov. Every 3rd grader should be there
    • Identify similar issues PTAs are dealing with. Find structured ways to discuss issues like budget, staffing?
      • Ex: follow budget cycle; report back after budgets are allocated to identify common issues/themes and plan for next FY
    • Quality of education should not depend on politics/advocacy
    • Focusing the advocacy around tangible issues
      • Don’t forget CHPSPO priorities from previous years. We need to be accountable for what we’ve advocated for in the past, e.g., middle schools
      • Track what we promised to do, and where we fell short
    • Achievement gaps
      • Gap has not narrowed in a decade. What can we learn from other schools, including charter schools, about how to narrow the achievement gap?
    • PTA Support/Strengthening
      • Sharing session w/ PTOs + tools at beginning of year and ongoing support
      • What are the different ways LSAT operates, how in your schools, how can we operate better in ours?
      • How do PTAs encourage greater collaboration w/ teachers?
      • How can schools manage drop/off/ pick up and breakfast?
      • How do schools implement restorative disciplinary practices? (examples: taking recess away?)
      • Computers/tech are outdated; how do we get computers refreshed especially now that testing is computer based?
      • How does PTO encourage parents to get more involved and more socio-economic collaboration
      • Each PTO re-invents the wheel, how can we learn from each other?
      • What is the city-wide education issue that CHPSPO participates in?
      • How is DCPS ensuring quality of before/after programming
      • How do we advocate for retention of staff
    • High Schools
    • How do we ensure safe, high quality high schools
    • School modernization; increase capital dollars
    • Improving food service

 

Next CHPSPO Meeting:  March 15, 2016

 

Upcoming Events

  • February 26 – Meeting w/ Deputy Mayor – TBD
  • February 29 – Mayor’s Budget Engagement Forum @ King Greenleaf Recreation Center

 

Council Performance Oversight Hearings

  • Wednesday, February 17:  OSSE
  • Thursday, February 18: DCPS (public witnesses only)
  • Wednesday, February 24: DCPS (government witnesses only)
  • Thursday, February 25: DGS (including school modernizations)
  • Wednesday, March 2: Deputy Mayor for Education, State Board of Education
  • Thursday, March 3: Public Charter School Board

School Auctions

  • February 27, Tyler’s Alchemy of Great Taste, Eastern Market North Hall
  • March 11, Cluster Rocks, Atlas Theater
  • March 19, Maury at the Market, Eastern Market North Hall
  • April 30, Brent’s Taste of the Hill, Capitol Skyline Hotel

CHPSPO Meeting Notes – January 19, 2016

Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization

January 19, 2016, 6:30-8:00 PM – Tyler Elementary School

 

1- BALLOT INITIATIVE PROPOSAL, Peter MacPherson

Peter MacPherson is concerned that there is not an avenue for community and voter engagement in the educational decision making since Mayoral takeover in 2007. He presented his idea for a ballot initiative that he plans to file that would create an elected school board that would appoint the superintendent, move OSSE oversight under the state board of education, and create an ombudsman for education. The charter school board would be abolished and those duties assigned to the new elected school board (see attached proposal).

The process of getting a new initiative on the ballot includes a review by the Board of Elections, then a hearing, a comment period, and a drive to get enough signatures to be able to put it on the ballot. It could be on the November election ballot if it is filed soon and the process moves forward and enough signatures are collected.

Members in attendance had multiple questions including questions about feasibility; messaging; reaction of the general public, media and charter school advocates; its comprehensive nature vs a first-step smaller measure; and implications of the conversation that comes out of such an effort – will it be a conversation that moves us forward or divides us as a community that cares about education.

There has been an evaluation of mayoral control that can be a helpful resource when considering this proposal.

CHPSPO as an organization did not decide to support or oppose this initiative. Members agreed to continue to consider it.

2 – WILSON BUILDING VISITS – Ivan Frishberg

As a follow up to the December Wilson Building meetings, Ivan Frishberg is working with the Deputy Mayor of Education (DME) on scheduling a meeting for CHPSPO members at her offices. We will also explore an additional meeting with the Chief of Staff for the Mayor after we meet with the DME.

Priority topics of interest for us are school modernization, middle school funding and the cross-sector task force. We need to increase our visibility as advocates and a great time to start is now. We need to encourage the mayor to increase funding for schools and school modernization in her FY17 budget proposal that she is developing now. The Mayor is making decisions now that could lead to funding other capital projects and cutting school modernization budgets.

It’s important that we continue to use our collective voice on issues of concern to all of Ward 6 and the entire city. We are louder if we act with one voice – and for now put aside our individual school issues. If the funding “pie” is bigger, we all benefit. If it’s smaller, we all lose.

Encourage your parent communities to call and email not to cut, but increase, the modernization budgets and school funding overall. Ivan created the attached flyer that members can share with PTA meetings or on listservs.

3 – EMPOWERING MALES HIGH SCHOOL – Dr. Ben Williams

Dr. Williams, new principal of the newly forming “Empowering Males High School,” spoke to the CHPSPO meeting. The school will take applicants through the My School DC lottery system. Any rising 9th grade male in the city can apply to the school through My School DC. The program is a college preparatory school based on Pre Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement (AP). The vision is to target young men and prepare them to be successful men in college, career and life. Teachers and administrators will be trained on cultural relevancy and strategies for maximizing learning in an all-male school. The school will be located at the old Roper School (Old Ron Brown School) in Ward 7. The school will open with the first class of 150 students in August 2016 and will add another class of 150 students each year until there are 600 students in the school. Not all teachers and administrators will be male. Students will be required to be in an afterschool activity – sports or other activity. CHPSPO members had good questions for Dr. Williams including:

What other high schools are in Ward 7 and 8? In Ward 7 there is one other high school and in Ward 8 there are two other high schools – Ballou, Anacostia, and Woodson.

What teacher supports are there? Many of the teachers are young and not from DC. Teachers will get professional development and we will do all we can to prepare them and support them as we open the school.

What is the student teacher ratio? We are trying to get support to reduce student to adult ratio. We don’t know what it will be right now. The minimum we would want is 25:1.

What is the process for modernization? The school is kicking off its modernization now and it will be a phased modernization. They will renovate part of the school this summer and then in a few years, they will finish the modernization.

Washington Leadership Academy will open at the same time as your school – a new school approved by the charter board. Have you been coordinating with them? We have not been talking to them.  We support options for students so everyone finds the right school.

We have some concerns about creating new high schools when we have under-enrolled high schools and tight modernization and school funding budgets for current schools. I want this to be an excellent school. I hope by creating an excellent school for DCPS that DCPS will benefit by retaining students.

Who are you targeting? This is a non-criteria school and I would like it to be a very diverse student body. We invite everyone to apply.

What do you envision as your school culture? Professional and businesslike. The students will be in jackets, shirts and ties. I want them to own their education and own their school. The adults in the building will be there supporting them and helping them grow.

4. CHPSPO 2016 PRIORITIES DISCUSSION

Note: We did not have time to get to this part of the agenda given the rich discussion throughout the night. We will have this issue on the February agenda.

CHPSPO Meets February 16 at J.O. Wilson

Dear Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization Members,

CHPSPO will meet on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m. at J.O. Wilson (666 K Street, NE).

We’ll be joined by Laura Marks who will be discussing upcoming education oversight hearings the DC Council will hold and Joseph Gavrilovich from the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates.

We will also discuss CHPSPO’s priorities for 2016. To help us with our priorities discussion, please come prepared to talk about the following:

1. Describe the activities you would like to see CHPSPO involved in during 2016 that would contribute to improving public education for all children attending schools in Ward 6.

2. Describe the city-wide education issues you would like CHPSPO to be involved in during 2016.

3. Are there things CHPSPO can do to help your school’s PTA?

There will be a Cross Sector Collaboration Focus Group meeting on Tuesday, February 23, at Eastern High School at 6 p.m. You must register in advance for the focus group at http://dme.dc.gov/node/1130326.

Finally, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is proposing a broad regulation that would allow high school students to test out of any course.  A Task Force convened last year by the State Board of Education had recommended that high school students be allowed to test out of only foreign language and math courses.  A petition is circulating that encourages the State Board of Education to reject this proposal.  Please consider signing this petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/dont-let-tests-be-a-substitute-for-a-strong-education.html).

Stay warm over the holiday weekend!

Suzanne Wells

021616 CHPSPO Agenda.docx

CHPSPO Meets January 19 at Tyler

Attached is the agenda for the January 19 CHPSPO meeting at Tyler Elementary (1001 G Street, SE) starting at 6:30 pm. We’ll be discussing what CHPSPO’s priorities should be for 2016. Please come prepared to share the things you like best about your school, and the one thing you would change about your school, if you could.

Dr. Ben Williams, the principal of the first all-male high school in DC that is set to open next school year, will join us at our meeting. First-time principal will lead D.C.’s first all-male public high school

Suzanne Wells

image
First-time principal will lead D.C.’s first all-male pub…Principal Ben Williams has overcome hardships, and he wants his students to seem themselves in his successes.
View on www.washingtonpost… Preview by Yahoo

011916 CHPSPO Agenda.docx

Cross-Sector Task Force update and substitute teachers

Dear Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization Members,

I wanted to share some upcoming dates and information with you.

Cross-Sector Task Force will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, January 26, at 6 p.m. at the MLK Library (901 G St., NW). The Task Force will meet monthly on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Caryn Ernst, a Capitol Hill Cluster School parent, and CHPSPO member, was selected to serve on the Task Force.

A Cross-Sector Task Force focus group will be on Tuesday, February 23, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Eastern High School (1700 East Capitol St., NE). You can register for the focus group at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSCTF-focusgroups

CHPSPO will meet on January 19 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Tyler Elementary (1001 G St., SE).

Finally, I wanted to share the attached article about substitutes that was included in this week’s Tyler Elementary school newsletter. CHPSPO discussed how DCPS provides substitutes, and the process to become substitutes at its November 2015 meeting. We committed to sharing information on the process to become a substitute. Please consider running similar articles in your school newsletters.

Thanks.

Suzanne Wells

Substitute article 010416.docx