Education Advisory Committee

Approved: 051815 M&C Nagro Gardiner Minutes Education Advisory Committee April 20, 2015 City Hall Attendees Members Present Absent Brian Bertges, Dist 1 ______ __X___ Tricia Homer, Dist 1 __X___ ____ __ Charlene Mahoney, Dist 2 ___ ___ __X___ Cory Sanders, Dist 1 __X___ __ ____ Maia Sheppard, Dist 2 ___ ___ __X___ Melissa Day, Dist 3 __ ____ __X___ Carolyn Bernache, Dist 4 ___ ___ __X___ Doris Ellis, Dist 4 __X___ _ _____ Peggy Wilson, UMD __X___ ______ Also Present: Peggy Higgins, Staff Liaison and Laura Salers, Recording Secretary Call to Order: The meeting began at 7:35 pm, with Cory Sanders presiding. The minutes from March 16, 2015 were reviewed and approved after correcting two typo’s and changing Cory Sanders affiliation to District 1. Revisit the Summer Camp Process Families of the fifty-six students who received camp scholarships have been notified. Due to the electronic registration process, which is now in place for all of the UMD camps, forty-three of the recipients have been successfully registered. The remainder should be registered soon. Several applications were incomplete but they are being finalized this week. Next year, Ms. Higgins will reach out to the committee for assistance with registrations. Ms. Wilson thanked Ms. Higgins and her staff for their efforts during the scholarship registration process. Role of the EAC The committee discussed past programs and if changes needed to be made next year. It was noted that the preschool fair has seen a dramatic decrease in attendance. The committee could continue to get the word out about local preschool opportunities by placing an ad in the Gazette or posting a flier on the web. A preschool fair may not be the best use of time and funds. ` Due to the lack of a quorum, discussion regarding future programs will be tabled until the fall. Review of Purpose of EAC for Presentation to Council at April 28 Meeting After reviewing the resolution, the committee noted that the charge for the committee is comprehensive and ambitious and determined that the items in the resolution remain relevant and needed. The committee’s activities have included providing school grants, organizing a preschool fair, hosting a principal’s reception, providing summer camp scholarships, hosting the UMCP Fulbright scholar’s reception and distributing a homework brochure for parents. The activities of the committee should be evaluated on the merits of how they support the committee’s goals set forth by the charge. It was suggested that an activity for next year might include a children’s summit. Parents would be invited to attend to discuss education issues and aspects of the curriculum. The committee reviewed the council resolution on the purpose and goals of the Education Advisory Committee (EAC) and determined which EAC activities related to the individual goals. A. INFORMING THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY ON EDUCATION ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES. PRE-SCHOOL FAIR; HOMEWORK BROCHURE FOR PARENTS B. IMPROVING THE IMAGE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN COLLEGE PARK. FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS RECEPTION; ANNUALLY REVIEW AND SUBMIT TO COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING FUNDING OF SCHOOL GRANTS; SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE PARK YOUTH TO UMD SUMMER PROGRAMS INCLUDING READING PROGRAM C. PROMOTING PARENTAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AWARDING OF UMD SUMMER SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE PARK YOUTH; HOMEWORK BROCHURE FOR PARENTS D. FACILITATING UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND INVOLVEMENT. UMD SUMMER SCHOLARSHIPS; UMD REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMITTEE E. PROMOTING BUSINEES SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS: COMMITTEE SUGGESTS EXPANDING FROM PROMOTING BUSINESS SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS TO “Building partnerships with other College Park entities such as CITY UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP, LOCAL school PTA’s and Lions Clubs.” Regarding the question “What can the Mayor and Council do to help improve the effectiveness of the Board?” The committee suggests changing Section 2 A: MEET NOT LESS THAN MONTHLY AND REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR OR MORE FREQUENTLY IF REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL to: TO MEET MONTHLY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. This change reflects that the committee does not meet in the summer. Mr. Sanders suggested emailing this question to the absent members of the committee to get their input to formulate an answer. Adjournment Peggy Wilson made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:39 pm. Minutes corrected on 5.19.15 by Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary.