Hi All,

As a follow up to last week’s Town Hall Meeting on the move to the former Jefferson site on Edgerton, I am responding to some of the issues raised at that meeting:

  1. We have made arrangements for parents to visit the school at a variety of times. Mrs. Allen is sending out the dates and times for these meetings as I write this communication. Dates and times are also clearly posted on the website on the opening page and on the school calendar.
  2. The scope of the project is indeed more than can be completed in the one year; in order to allow time to complete the project and close out any open and incomplete tasks, we will indeed be out of the South Ave. location for the two year timeframe. Summer school is not the reason for the delayed start time. A letter is coming to parents from the project managers on this shortly. This delayed start is not the decision of the RCSD.
  3. I have already started working to arrange library support at the school, at other libraries, and bussing back to South Ave. Library (until it closes). I welcome any parents that would work to help make this happen.
  4. Placement at School 12- One parent stated that they had been told by placement that if they chose to withdraw their child from the school during the move to the Former Jefferson site they would not be allowed to return to the building upon return to the South Ave. location. I spoke to Dr. Vicma Ramos, Director of Placement and was told the following:
  5. If parents choose to take their child out of the school a seat would not be reserved for their return. It would be filled by another family that wanted their child at School 12 (regardless of the location).
  6. A family that left would not be “blocked” from returning but their return would be based upon seat availability at the time of return to the South Ave. location. This seat availability could not be guaranteed and the normal transfer process would be in effect.
  7. In terms of transportation. I am enclosing the responses from Maria Mello-Dupre, Director of Transportation. Her responses are in blue:

From: Liguori-Alampi, Michele
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2014 11:33 AM
To: Mello-Dupre, Maria
Subject:Transportatsion Meeting

Hi Maria,

We held our FMP meeting last night and there weresome concerns about transportation. So, here they are:

I want to also confirm out 7:35 start time and 2:10 dismissal times! Times will remain the same.

  1. What is the max time for each child to be on a bus? This is especially trying for our walkers that are used to a 5 minute walk to the building. Every effort is made to limit routes to 1 hour. Unfortunately someone has to be at the beginning of each of those runs.
  2. Will ALL children (regardless of their current address) be bused to Jefferson? All students will get a bus while at Jefferson.
  3. Parent want to know if there is a way to get the notification of their bus route and times earlier in August to reduce their anxiety. If you could route our school first and get this out that would be great. All letters go out at the same time. We aim to have letters ready to mail by the third week of August. There is a lot going on at this time – a lot of changes. We wait to get routes as accurate as possible.
  4. Is there a way we could provide transportation for the kids to go and visit Jefferson during the school day? Perhaps right away in the AM before they start of in the middle of the day when the buses are free? Over two days- primary and intermediate? Parents expressed some concerns coming from their kids. If you are asking for a trip to Jefferson prior to the end of the school year, we can arrange that. I suggest coordinating with Mary at Jefferson.
  5. We also wanted to know how we could get a late bus/es for after school programs. I think one- two would do. Is this possible?Schools must pay for After school buses and because you are an early school, buses at 4:00 p.m. are extremely limited and provided on first come first served basis.
  6. We are also having some evening events and if we could get the talking bus here to let the kids experience it who do not regularly ride. Just tell me when you need it.
  7. Is there a time- after we have these answers, that you would hold a meeting with my community at School 12 in the evening? Please let me know.

Thanks

Michele Liguori-Alampi

School 12 Principal

As always, we will:

  1. Work to ensure the safety of our school community in our new location. Security has been assigned and supported by Lori Baldwin and the Safety and Security Department.
  2. Continue to work to provide the best educational program and positive school climate in the new site. We actually have more room to complete the goals with the Greater Rochester Health Foundation Grants for fitness and nutrition.

Please feel free to send in any questions or concerns you have. We will continue to keep you informed of any updated information. I want to personally thank you for your continued commitment to School 12. We could not do the work we do without the strong parental involvement we have within this community.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Alampi

School 12 Principal

THIS MEMO WILL ALSO BE POSTED ON THE WEB SITE AND SENT OUT THROUGH THE PTA COMMUNICATION STREAMS