School Site Council Special Meeting

October 16, 2007

A special meeting was convened to discuss the recent board decision to not move the Museum School into the new building. The Children's Museum Board made the decision at their October 3^rd meeting. The school was not apprised of the agenda item and was given no notice that this action was on the table. Further, the Museum School was not informed of this decision until a pre-scheduled meeting between the Museum School Director, Phil Beaumont and the Executive Director of the Children’s Museum, Rachel Teagle on October 11^th. Prior to this, the latest information that we were given was that the school would move in during December, when the building was ready and that we would have two years in the space and to build a new relationship with the Children's Museum.

1. Phil outlined the structural relationship of the Museum School and the Children's Museum
   In 1995 Children's Museum wrote the charter for a school to be housed in the Museum. The school began operation in 1998. The Children's Museum housed the school in the party room at first. The first renewal process occurred in 2000. We are an "arm of the district charter school", which offers protection for both parties. The school is responsible for its own educational program and is also fiscally responsible for the program. The Children's Museum provides a home for the school.
   
   Questions:
   Q-Can the school exist without the Children's Museum?
   A-As an arm of the district we could exist in separation, we would have to explore the financial aspect of the current budget formula which would involve increasing the number of students significantly.
   Q-Was the school a separate entity before the Children's Museum?
   A-The charter was written by the Children's Museum board who wanted to have a school at the museum. The school has always been an "arm of the district charter" as all charter schools were at that time of charter inception since there was no other delineation.
   
   
2. Phil discussed how the integrity of our educational program is still intact. Education of our students is foremost. We need our parents to help with the bulk of this work so that the teachers can continue to concentrate on their classrooms.
   
   
3. Open Comments/Formulate critical questions for Board
   Q-What are the real obstacles that are impeding our move to the school?
   Q-What is an ideal "win-win situation for the Children's Museum and the Museum School?
   Q-Has there been Board discussion as to alternative use of the Charter School space in the Museum?
   Q-How can we best effectively become part of the Board's decision-making process?
   Q-Where do you see the relationship with the Museum School in a year?
   Q- Is the school still part of the Children's Museum's vision & mission?
   Q-Is the school calendar schedule a concern for them?
   
   Point: Delineate the concerns between finance and other concerns.
   Point: Monies that were raised for the Museum have been done so with the understanding that the Children's Museum houses the Museum School.
   
   Critical questions for the committee:
   Where do you see the relationship of the Museum and the Museum School?
   How do you see the school in the Children's Museum's mission?
   What criteria needs to be met for the school to move in?
   
   
4. Form Communication Committee
   a) Means of communication with the Education Committee
   b) Compile Museum School information packet
   c) Public Relations
   
   
5. Form Facilities Committee
   a) MOU for use for the Children's Museum Space
   b) Rental/lease agreement with OHR Shalom
   c) Tenant Improvements
   d) Maintenance
   
   
6. Increased urgency for fundraising
   a) Friends and Family baskets
   b) Other ways to help.
   
   
   

7. At 6:00 the Children's Museum Education committee and Administrative director came to speak to our SSC. Rachel Teagle -Executive Director of Children’s Museum, Andrea Greenberg – Education Committee Member, Lorri Sulpizio -Chair of Education Committee, Laurie Mitchell - President of Board of the Children’s Museum
   
   Rachel spoke first and read a statement to the assembly. Rachel told us that the Children's Museum wants to open the dialogue up to the community. CM is also surveying other schools, other charters, and educators to find out what they would like to see when they come to the Museum.
   
   Rachel reviewed the events of the last few months: At the last board meeting they passed a resolution. It is the preference of board to reach and serve as diverse a community as possible. This required a re-evaluation of the educational resources--ie facilities. The CM board has decided it will not allow the Museum School to move in to the Museum for this school year. At the next board meeting November 16^th, the Board will discuss the housing of the school for 2008-09 school year and beyond. Because the board doesn't want to see the school displaced, they will pay rent at OHR for the remainder of the year. Would like to discuss maintaining an ongoing special relationship. They are now in the process of talking to other schools to see how they can reach the broadest community. The Museum and the school have always been separate institutions. The Museum School is only one of several schools that the Museum could serve. Knowing the school is a successful institution, this decision in no way was a reflection on the school itself.
   There were many persons who spoke at the meeting and the following includes some of the important points made:
   -Most museums and fieldtrips have a short, fleeting interaction with their visitors. The Children's Museum can continue to have those kinds of interactions and also a deeper, long-lasting impact on the children and families in its community when it houses a school.
   -The Museum School was born out of the Children's Museum's vision and mission to have a greater and more meaningful relationship with the greater community, really to make art an integral part of a child's education.
   -Parents and Museum School community have been and continue to be great advocates for the Museum. They have been there through the years and instrumental in lobbying for the building and permits with CCDC. They have supported efforts for fundraising and community awareness.
   -Phil asked specifically if there was a $ figure for the space. Rachel said that absolutely not, this decision was not about money.
   -Rachel and Laurie both said that there was no plan to bring in another school in.
   -The Museum said that they wanted to have more communication and agreed to meet with a group from the school. Lorri Sulpizio expressed that we now have access to the Board.
   -Rachel mentioned that the decision to not house the school was not on the agenda of the recent Board meeting on October 3rd, however the education committee made a report to the board and discussion ensued to take this action.
   - Parents asked if Phil might be included in the Education Committee. They weren't sure, would look into it and could form a supplemental committee.
   -Rachel said that she had been advised by her counsel that the minutes from the Museum Board meetings were confidential, but she would check into it.
   -CM Board meetings are closed, but Phil is invited to present to the board on the 14^th.
   - It was determined that Phil and Lorri would communicate to schedule meetings between the school and the Education Committee.
   
   
8. 7:30pm -Adjourned.