Education Advisory Committee

Approved: 041717 Minutes - FINAL Education Advisory Committee (EAC) March 20, 2017 City Hall Attendees Members Present Absent David Toledo, 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 __ Kendra Goodson __X __ Christophoros Beck __X __ Denise Mitchell, Dist 4 __X __ Also Present Peggy Higgins, City Liaison Carleveva Thompson, Contract Secretary Call to Order Ms. Bernache called the meeting to order at 7:33pm. Old Business Approval of the February Minutes The committee reviewed the minutes and minor edits were made. Ms. Sanders made a motion to approve the minutes with suggested edits. Second by Ms. Goodson. All members were in favor. The February minutes were approved with edits. Summer School Grants Ms. Higgins stated 57 applications were received and there is enough money in the budget to fund the grants. Out of 57 applicants, 7 were winners that won partial scholarships, 16 applicants are new, 26 applicants applied before, 5 applicants applied late, and 1 applicant is a current 12th grader. The summer reading camp has 25 slots and only 3 students have applied, so there are still 22 reading slots available. The EAC budget total is $17,500 to give for scholarships. There is $5,000 remaining from public school grants, $6,600 for UMD summer scholarships, and $5,900 for additional initiatives. $875 is paid for partial grants and can come out of a different fund. If paying for all scholarships, the total is $15,474, which leaves $2,026 available. 10 kids applied for scholarships over $400 and there is room to increase those scholarships to $500 and still have $1000 remaining. The committee decided on the following items:  Increase the $400 scholarships up to $500.  The 12th grader applicant is allowed to attend this year and the committee will discuss updating the grade criteria for applications next year.  To fill open slots for the summer reading camp, the committee decided to reach out to past applicants and reach out to the reading specialists at both Hollywood and Paint Branch elementary schools. Discuss plans for 2017 College Park Day Ms. Mahoney made contact with the Scholastic representative and shared with the committee two ways to purchase books. Books can be purchased through the website, store.scholastic.com and checks are accepted. To make donations to the school, which will be the percentage of the books purchased, call Scholastic Donation. The store number is 1-800- 770-4662. The Scholastic representative is Mary Kay and her contact number is 410-271-1830. There is $500 available in the budget to use for book purchases. Ms. Bernache and Ms. Sanders will review the website. The following members have volunteered to select books for the listed age groups: Age Group Item/Cap Amount EAC member Pre-K – 2nd grades Books/$125 Ms. Powers 3rd – 5th grades Books/$125 Ms. Sanders 6th – 8th grades Books/$125 Ms. Day 9th – 12th grades Journals/$125 Ms. Bernache College Park Day is scheduled for September 30, 2017. Ms. Higgins suggested that the assigned members complete the Scholastic order form and bring to the April meeting so Ms. Higgins can place the book orders and use the City’s tax exemption for the order. Discuss plans for 2018 scholarships to pay for books for College Park residents attending UMD The committee discussed the charge for the EAC is to conduct activities for grades K-12. Ms. Higgins stated that historically, the committee has focused on grades K-12 for public schools. The committee decided to move this item to the agenda for the April meeting. Update on the Garden Program Ms. Sanders stated that Ms. April Martin from Real School Gardens will attend the EAC April meeting to present the program. There are also upcoming events that Ms. Martin is hosting that EAC members can attend and Ms. Sanders will share the event dates with the committee. The EAC April meeting will be held at City Hall for Ms. Martin’s presentation. The EAC May meeting will be held at Ledo’s. New Business Non-Residents wanting to join EAC Ms. Bernache shared details of two UMD students wanting to join the EAC. One person is a University student that lives in College Park and the other person is a University student that does not live in College Park. Ms. Bernache stated the student that is a resident is welcome to join the committee, but as the committee discussed in the past, non-residents are welcome to attend meetings, but are not able to join if they are not a College Park resident. Adjournment Ms. Bernache adjourned the meeting at 9:00pm.