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School
Readiness Council
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here for Minutes from meeting on Nov. 13, 2002
Click here for Minutes from meeting on May 14, 2003 |
Click here for Minutes from meeting on June 11, 2003 |
SEPTEMBER 10, 2003
ATTENDANCE: Betsy Bain, Chair; Gerri Degnan; Pat Balaban; Shari Konn- Andrade, Linda Wilock; Lynn Sadlon Moritz; Victoria Schilling; Kendra Mitchell; Ann Tomlinson; Chris Dudek- Ratushnuk; Elaine Andersen; Beatrice Krawiecki; Dona Ditrio; Mary Peniston; Marilyn Lewis; Elaine Liberto
OTHERS: Mary Windt; Rosemary Scullane
STAFF: Mary Budrawich; Barbara Smart
The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. by the Chairman, Betsy Bain.
The Chair welcomed everyone back and made the introductions.
** Elaine Andersen MOVED TO APPROVE THE
MINUTES. SECONDED BY Lynn Sadlon.
There were no additions or corrections.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Linda Wilock reported that she did not have the final allocation amount yet.
Based on the report there are 246 full-time slots, 20 part-time slots and 78 extended day slots.
Mary Budrawich stated that SRPPES (School Readiness Preschool Program Evaluation System) process has been completed. The programs are now very familiar with this process, since it has been in existence for three years. Copies of the SRPPES Community Report are available for any School Readiness Council member upon request. The State will be monitoring Norwalk’s School Readiness compliance during the week of March 22, 2004.
Elaine Liberto, of the NEON Head Start Program, reported that Ben Franklin School has been accredited. Betsy Bain noted that the YMCA is working toward accreditation.
Linda Wilock reported that we have put in for $63,933, which is the same amount as last year’s allocation, but we have not received a letter of award. She stated that projects will be the same as last year, except that the scholarship money was eliminated because the award was received too late for people to apply. In its place we will fund materials for the kindergarten transition packet.
The Chair stated that notification of award amounts is late every year. We try to make modifications every year to meet changing needs.
Ann Tomlinson noted that the early childhood resource collection in the library is getting good use. Unfortunately, that means that some materials have been lost. She asked that the Council consider a future allocation to replace missing resources in this collection.
Mary Peniston and Betsy Bain updated the Council on the Graustein Discovery Initiative. Norwalk will be eligible to receive a minimum of
$10,000 a year for 4 years and can apply to receive up to an additional
$40,000 a year to support a plan to improve the situation of Norwalk’s young
children. Norwalk’s work has been focused around the four "next steps"
defined in the May 2003 Community Report on Young Children.
The four Task Forces working on those issues are: (1) Community Will
Building – raising awareness about the situation of young children in our
community and the need for support (2) Kindergarten Transition – focusing
on creating a common understanding of expectations of children coming into
kindergarten, (3) Data – this task force has outlined the data that should be
tracked about young children and their families in our community, using the
report as a baseline, (4) Parent Outreach – the group is focusing on getting
back to parents that participated in the original focus groups, helping to
complete the 3rd Family Resource Directory, and working with community
partners (like Stepping Stones Museum) to offer workshops and informational
meetings for families with young children. Members of School Readiness are
welcome to join in any of these efforts. The Steering Committee of
Norwalk’s Graustein Discovery Initiative will keep the School Readiness
Council informed about their work and looks forward to collaborating more
closely with Norwalk’s School Readiness Council.
Besty Bain introduced this discussion by stating that in light of the strategic planning work that the Council has been engaged in over the last year, there is a need to review the current subcommittee structure to make sure that it fits current tasks and priorities. Each subcommittee’s purpose was discussed and decisions were made.
The following subcommittees will continue:
(continue work to expand the inclusion of non-School Readiness providers in
appropriate agendas)
(should connect to Graustein Parent Engagement Task Force with a similar
agenda)
Professional Development)
Policies and Procedures subcommittee will be eliminated. Mary Budrawich will document the procedures that the School Readiness Council uses to approve policies.
Discussion needs to be continued about the Communications Subcommittee and the Transition Subcommittee (also known as the Transition Steering Committee).
The Communications Subcommittee has focused on public relations and advocacy. Participation has been minimal. Given the Graustein "Will Building" Task Force, that has a similar charge, perhaps this work of the Council could be subsumed under that group. If this is the plan, we will need to have more representation from the Council to join this group.
The Transition Subcommittee has focused on practical activities related to improving the transition process, and to include early care and education providers, school readiness providers, as well as teachers and administrators from the BOE.
This group planned the "Building Bridges" professional development activity, worked on the development of the parent’s transition packet given out this summer, and the like. This is a different focus than the Graustein Transition Task Force, which is grappling with the related issues of defining what it means to be "ready for school" and how systems can be modified to support a smoother transition for all students. While there may be some overlap, both groups have a unique perspective.
For now, no change was suggested for the Transition Subcommittee.
A question was raised by Dona Ditrio about needing Norwalk representation at State level groups like the Early Childhood Alliance and CT Voices for Children. Betsy Bain asked for a list of groups to be developed for further discussion.
In order to facilitate better linkages with the Graustein Task Forces, Betsy suggested that the SRC membership email addresses be included on Anita Mackey’s distribution list for minutes of those meetings and meeting dates. Mary Peniston will discuss this with Anita. Barbara Smart can provide that list.
VI. MEETING WRAP UP AND SUMMARY
Sharing of events and happenings in the community.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Linda Wilock, seconded by Shari Konn-Andrade adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m. on a motion.
**Note: Please note that due to the illness of the stenographer, these minutes were created from the memory and contacts of the SRC members.
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