CPLT Meeting Summary

Here is a summary of tonight's Citywide Parent Leadership Team meeting.

The evening began with an appearance by the two candidates for Mayor of New Haven: Toni Harp and Justin Elicker.  Garth Harries introduced them, and announced that four new magnet elementary schools have been approved.  He also announced the completion of a new "School Wellness Manual."

Elicker spoke first.  He praised many of the district's existing plans and policies for school reform.  He endorsed evidence-based policy, early childhood education, and character education, such as conflict management.  He acknowledged the financial straits of the district and implied that teamwork, such as parent-teacher teamwork, could make up for some funding deficits.  He spoke of the need to balance stability and change: he approves of the turn-around school model, and as Mayor, he would vote on the School Board to re-appoint Harries as permanent, long-term superintendent.  When asked how he would address the $3 million deficit in the education budget without cutting educational quality, he replied that we could cut down on the use of outside contractors, dismiss ineffective administrators, and make "tough choices."

Harp spoke next.  She also praised early childhood education and parent involvement.  She said that the purpose of education is to allow people to succeed in the economy.  She said we must stop making excuses for urban education.  She would extend early childhood education to even younger children and offer universal pre-K.  She said that students who fail to get certain enrichment before age 5 almost never catch up.  Harp said students must be able to read by third grade.  She then skipped to adult education, and spoke of the low reading level of many adult students who, in her words, "are never going to be able to compete."  She then addressed the need to reform high school education.  She believes that high schools should offer certificate programs (nurse's aide, e.g.) to students who are not college-bound, while other students should be taking college courses in high school.  She is not sure whether she would vote to allow Garth Harries to continue on as superintendent.  Harp stated that an important part of her education plan is budget transparency in individual schools.  She believes access to the school's budget details would allow parents to better understand the quality of their child's education.  When asked for clarification, she said that she would never trust a principal who couldn't manage a budget, but she didn't really explain how those budget numbers would reveal academic quality.  

The candidates' speeches were followed by a review of the CPLT taskforces and committees formed last month, and a call for volunteers.

Susan Weisselberg gave updates on ongoing topics: implementation of the Recess Policy, Parent University (Nov. 2), and the City Guidance Department's College Prep workshops (mostly on financial aid -- schedule is on this blog; just scroll down).  A workshop on the Title One program (which serves low-income families) will be held Oct. 16 at 6 pm in the East Rock School cafeteria.  A dedication ceremony for the new East Rock school will be held Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2 pm.  Columbus Academy will be holding an all-day event on Saturday for parents and children.  

A presentation on the Common Core Standards followed.  Anyone who is interested in the details should attend the workshop at Parent University.  Specific standards can be viewed at http://www.corestandards.org/Math.  The presentation at CPLT was oriented toward parents of elementary school students, though the representatives offered to return to future meetings to answer more specific questions.