Education Advisory Committee

Approved: 041816 M&C Somers Gardiner Minutes Education Advisory Committee March 21, 2016 City Hall Attendees Members Present Absent Tricia Homer, Dist 1 _ X_ Charlene Mahoney, Dist 2 __X___ Dawn Powers, Dist 2 __X__ Melissa Day, Dist 3 __X__ Carolyn Bernache, Dist 4 _X Doris Ellis, Dist 4 __X___ Alethea Ten Eyck-Sanders, Dist 3 __X__ Peggy Wilson, UMD X _ Also Present: Peggy Higgins, Staff Liaison; Laura Salers, Contract Secretary Call to Order Ms. Bernache called the meeting to order at 7:33 pm. Approval of Minutes Copies of the November 16 and February 8 minutes were distributed for review. Ms. Ellis made a motion to approve the November minutes as written. Motion was seconded by Ms. Bernache. Minutes unanimously approved. Ms. Ten Eyck-Sanders made a motion to approve the February minutes with one minor correction. Motion was seconded by Ms. Wilson. Minutes unanimously approved. Old Business Report to the Committee regarding the $80,000 grant money: The City Council reviewed the EAC’s recommendations last week at a work session and it is on the agenda at tomorrow’s City Council meeting. Several members of the EAC will attend the City Council meeting, to provide clarification and additional input regarding the recommendations if needed. Discussion of Essay Contest – The EAC discussed the possibility of asking this year’s camp scholarship recipients to write a summary of their camp experience for a contest to award up to $300 toward their camp fee for next year. New Business Scholarships for UM Summer Camps: The EAC reviewed their Charge and will give priority to academic themed camps. Ms. Higgins reported that there are 92 applicants this year. The breakdown is as follows: 57 first time scholarship applicants, 35 repeat applicants. There was a lengthy discussion to determine the best way to stretch the scholarship dollars. The Committee spent time calculating amounts needed for various award scenarios such as: awarding all applicants with their lowest priced camp, awarding all first time applicants with their first choice or academic camp choice, awarding first time applicants plus their siblings. It was concluded that there clearly was not enough funding this year to award scholarships to all applicants. Ms. Bernache made a motion: The EAC will give priority to first time applicants who selected the Summer Reading Program as first or second choice and funding the summer reading program for each first time applicant, regardless of whether it’s their first choice or second. All other first time applicants, who did not select the Summer Reading Program, will be randomly drawn and awarded with their least expensive camp choice until funds are exhausted. Ms. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion approved. Due to lack of funds, repeat applicants were not able to receive scholarships this year. Due to the popularity and high cost of sports related camps, the EAC may need to consider putting a cap on the scholarships awarded for sports camps next year. Caps proposed would be $350 or $400. This would allow more children to receive scholarships in general. The EAC hopes to revisit the $80,000 funding next year to possibly help expand the summer camp scholarship fund which benefits College Park children directly. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:06 pm