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Home My WebLink AboutSPJT Minutes 1996-01-17SRCC (Spec. Jt.) 1-17-96 Page 1 AT EMBASSY SUITES, 101 McINNIS PARKWAY, SAN RAFAEL, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1996, 6:30 PM Special Joint Meeting: San Rafael City Council/ San Rafael Board of Education/ Dixie School District Board of Trustees CITY COUNCIL: DIXIE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS: Albert J. Boro, Mayor Judith Tipple, President Paul M. Cohen, Councilmember Neil Sorensen, Vice President Barbara Heller, Councilmember Charles Solak, Trustee Gary O. Phillips, Councilmember Melanie Limacher, Trustee David J. Zappetini, Councilmember Florence Webb, Trustee Tom Lohwasser, Interim Superintendent Linda Sheppard, Principal, Miller Creek SAN RAFAEL SCHOOL DISTRICT: John King, Vice President Jerry Warren, Deputy Superintendent John Childress, Trustee Tom Solis, Director, Business Services Harry Holland, Trustee Mary Alice Walter, Curriculum & Bruce Raful, Trustee Testing Coordinator Dr. Jeff Blackwell, Superintendent John Donovan, SRFT President Jon Dudkowski, Student Board Member Absent: Kathy Olm, President Guests: Sandy Greenblat, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Chairman Also Present: Suzanne Golt, Acting City Manager Betty Lessley, Executive Assistant SPECIAL JOINT MEETING - File 9-1 x 9-2-1 1. CALL TO ORDER San Rafael Board of Education Trustee John King, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:20 PM. NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA. 2. SCHOOLS QUALITY PROJECT (SQP) -- CHAMBER INVESTING IN EDUCATION: Sandy Greenblat, Chairman of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Schools Quality Project Committee, stated that the SQP made two recommendations to the Board last year; one was in the area of technology, and the other dealt with hiring a person to market San Rafael City Schools. The Chamber will be involved in the implementation of that recommendation and do everything possible to involve the business community with the educational community. 3. BRIDGES PROGRAM (MIDDLE SCHOOLS COLLABORATION): Dr. Jeff Blackwell led the discussion. This program evolved from a discussion that began at the 1991-92 annual meeting. The first class was held in September 1995. Davidson Middle School currently has 10 students enrolled and Miller Creek has three. The program began as part-time classes, but is now full-time. This is a program for 7th and 8th grades. The mission of the program is for students to remain in regular classes and achieve passing grades. Goals are based on building the four conditions of self-esteem: connectives, uniqueness, power, and positive models. 4. EIGHTH GRADE RETENTION DISCUSSION: Dr. Jeff Blackwell led the discussion. • Students under 16 cannot be housed at Madrone; • What setting is best to cope with that child?; • Retention at 8th grade or 9th grade?; • High School is ultimate reward (big deal) - If you can deny access to the High School would that help? If you were not allowed to continue your education on the High School campus, that would be a powerful message. Kids would transition well into the AVID program; • Has anyone tracked kids who did not graduate from DMS (not formally, but District is working on such a data base). SRCC (Spec. Jt.) 1-17-96 Page 1 SRCC (Spec. Jt.) 1-17-96 Page 2 5. SAN RAFAEL/DIXIE/CHAMBER STAFF AWARDS PROGRAM: This is a proposal from the San Rafael Superintendent for a Business -Educator Awards Support program, or programs, with recognition in two categories, a "New Teacher Welcome" luncheon, and an "Excellence in Professional Educational Services." Dr. Blackwell reported that this proposal has been well received by all. 6. TWO-YEAR CALENDAR: Bobby Allen, Deputy Superintendent, led the discussion, noting we have worked on the calendar and met with Dixie School District and the Associations. We always try to coordinate the holidays to coincide with Dixie School District's calendar. We would like to consider, in collaboration with Dixie School District, a two-year calendar. We would like to start school much earlier in the future, maybe around August 15th. Trustee Bruce Raful, San Rafael Board of Education, stated he felt that the days of attendance in a school year will increase in future years. High School staff propose students complete the first semester before winter break, rather than coming back after winter break and taking final exams. Starting earlier also gives the High Schools more flexibility for a graduation date. Other discussion included attending schools by quarters rather than semesters, and a year-round schedule which would include elementary, middle and high schools. The suggestion was to discuss these topics in a sub -committee and solicit community involvement. 7. CROSSWALK LIGHT AT SAN RAFAEL HIGH SCHOOL: Jerry Warren, Deputy Superintendent, led the discussion. The crosswalk at San Rafael High School creates a very dangerous situation. There are 700 kids trying to cross where there is no light. Three students have been struck in the crosswalk. Some of the hazards of this crosswalk are the distance between the stop light and the Union 76, hedges creating poor visibility, and signs that do not attract the attention of traffic. Acting City Manager Suzanne Golt and Jerry Warren, Deputy Superintendent, San Rafael City Schools, will be meeting to find a solution. 8.INTERNSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Jerry Warren, Deputy Superintendent, led the discussion. This program is in the planning stages, and is being sponsored by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, the San Rafael High School District, and the Marin County Office of Education. Over 30 San Rafael businesses have expressed an interest in having high school "interns." Students may participate in the program in their Junior or Senior year in lieu of electives. This is not a shadowing program, this is a work experience program. This is a component of school to career. Councilmember Zappetini expressed that he would like to participate in the program. Mayor Boro and Ms. Golt both commented that there may very well be appropriate internships in the City, particularly Police occupations. The City would be interested in being included. 9.CONSISTENT ACHIEVER LUNCHEON: Melanie Limacher, Trustee, Dixie School Board, and Tom Lohwasser, Dixie School Board Interim Superintendent, expressed that this has been one of the most fantastic events for kids. The San Rafael Public Education Foundation and Dixie Foundation recently met to discuss the upcoming event. The committee is hoping this can be a city-wide event rather than a school district event. We would like to invite the Mayor to participate in it and invite co-sponsors. The Luncheon will be May 8th, 9th, 22nd, or 23rd. The exact date has not been determined. The City was very receptive to the invitation. 10.ARTICULATION: Dixie School District led the discussion. For eight years the Miller Creek and Davidson Middle schools have belonged to the ten school partnership. Articulation has been very good. We do well with the High Schools also, but because there are two Districts, it is harder. We try to meet with the High School staff every year. We had a meeting scheduled for March 11, but Terra Linda High School cannot make it that day. We plan to schedule another articulation meeting. SRCC (Spec. Jt.) 1-17-96 Page 2 SRCC (Spec. Jt.) 1-17-96 Page 3 ll.GRAFFITI ABATEMENT DISCUSSION: Suzanne Golt, Acting City Manager, led the discussion. At one time San Rafael Police Officer Jeff Franzini had a grant for a graffiti abatement program. That grant has expired. The City would like to create a collaborative effort with the schools and other segments of the community and schedule a brainstorming session to see how we can mitigate the graffiti problem. We have two young people who would like to come to the schools and talk about graffiti. How do we get kids to do productive things on property, and how do we get them to clean it up? The City will coordinate the meeting. 12.CITY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: Suzanne Golt, Acting City Manager, led the discussion. Lynn Emrich has been hired as manager of the Volunteer Program for the City. This program will focus on placing volunteers in City programs. Ms. Emrich will be contacting Superintendents in the near future regarding possible student volunteers. 13.LIAISON COMMITTEE: Consensus of the group was to reactivate the Liaison Committee, which meets about four times a year. Dr. Blackwell will schedule the meetings for this school year. 14.HOST: The City of San Rafael will be the host for the Annual Meeting and the Liaison Committee meetings for the 1996-97 school year. 15.ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM. SUZANNE COLT, Acting City Manager/Deputy City Clerk APPROVED THIS DAY OF , 1995 MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL SRCC (Spec. Jt.) 1-17-96 Page 3