Education Advisory Committee

Approved M&C Somers Gardiner Minutes - APPROVED Education Advisory Committee August 17, 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; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary Call to Order The meeting began at 7:35 pm. The minutes from May 18, 2015 meeting were reviewed. A few changes were made to the minutes. Ms. Homer made a motion to accept the minutes with changes. Ms. Wilson seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. Meeting Dates The list of meeting dates for 2015-2016 were reviewed and are listed below. No changes will be made to the meeting dates: September 21 October 19 November 16 January 11 (changed due to MLK holiday) February 8 (changed due to President’s Day holiday) March 21 April 18 May 16 UMD Summer Camp Update Ms. Higgins reported that evening staff are calling each family to obtain their feedback on the summer camp program. The overall consensus is the children had a great time. Some negative feedback: a. everything is via email and online. Many families do not have access to a computer and the staff had to assist in registration; b. Health documentation has to be received and sent online; c. The third party plan through the Partnership Office was not an easy process; d. Many Hispanic families and there needs to be additional Spanish-speaking help for the registration process; Ms. Higgins will have the comments typed, ask her assistant Pat to come and share at the September committee meeting. School Grants Grant recommendations will be presented at the November 3 City Council work session so they can be adopted at the November 10 City Council meeting. In order to meet this deadline, the following time table will be adopted:  Ms. Higgins will send out “heads up” notice that Grant applications will be forthcoming.  The grant applications will be sent out on September 2.  Grant applications will be due to Ms. Higgins by October 6.  Copies of the grant applications will be emailed to the Committee members by October 13.  Grant applications will be reviewed at the October 19 committee meeting. The committee is missing a grant report from Parkdale High School which was due June 30. Ms. Higgins stated that she would call the Parkdale administrative assistant and ask her for the report. National Education Week National Education Week is in November. Many suggestions were made on how to acknowledge this week. The final decision was made to table the discussion until the September meeting. Fulbright Scholars There has not been any activity regarding the Fulbright scholarship program. Essay Contest The committee is interested in sponsoring an essay contest for the students that are College Park residents. Some of the items that should be mentioned in the essay are the reputation of College Park schools and how to help improve the schools academically. Ms. Higgins stated that her office could be the collection point for the essays. A video of the students reading their essays could be taken and shown at College Park Day. The final decision on how to handle the essay contest is being tabled until the September meeting. Adjournment Ms.Homer made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Wilson seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 9:03pm. Minutes submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary. Submitted with corrections by Laura Salers, Contract Secretary