COMMUNITY  FORUM

JAMES FORD RHODES

MAY  21, 2008

Focused Discussion  Area

Responses/Comments

 

Annual Budget

 

 

Projected cost, will it be greater?  $38-39 million it will be comparable.
Property tax rollback, what is it?
Do you get anything on the tax abatement?  How much is it?
Development in the Flats-50% on improvements would go to the district. It depends on the scope of the project.
PBA is the one that has more restrictions in spending.
Catastrophe is mainly special students – PBA is for all students
What happens with the teachers’ contract increase? This year is given the following year it is a contingency.
Your budget has a big reduction from $79 to $29 million. We are watching it and developing a plan.
Do you have a contract for a fix price on utilities?  The district is working on it. It is the facilities department issue.
Why did the Medicaid reimbursement stop? It depends on the type of aid. 63 millions were cut by the state. Save money with MRDD.
How do you compensate for that? The district compensates for it because the services need to be provided as for the IEP.
Overlap in health services? No, it is different. We collected the data for past year and we might get some reimbursement from the federal government.
How do you calculate Title I or Medicaid? They are different programs.
How do you determine the poverty rate? It was done with free and reduced lunch at 100%. The waiver was ended actually at 80%.
What grades are going to charter schools? K – 8.
Do you track them? Yes, by EMIS.

Are they drop outs? What percentage?  

 

 

Facilities Master Plan

What information is used to obtain “Projected numbers”/enrollment?
What about transition – where are the 9th graders going to be – main campus or Harper?
Will most incoming freshmen start at the Harper campus?
Is CMSD going to make any needed renovations – i.e., technology, lighting, leaking roof at the Harper campus?
Is Rhodes going to be completed (renovations) by next school year?
Will there be a flagpole out front?
What happened to proposal to demolish Harper – and build Mooney on that site?
Why can’t all Rhodes students be on one site?
Why can’t Mooney be built on other property? (unknown) – (old Memphis Site)
Bryant K-8 → timeline pushed back again – why when we have overcrowding?

What about students displaced – too many transitions and not enough room at Harper. Special needs children usually receive the most impact?

Will Marshall be destroyed or renovated?

Marshall indoor track and pool – what will happen to them?
If student are going to Harper, why does it have to be rebuilt?
What is the plan for Max Hayes?

What is West-Side relief package?

Will student Sp. Ed. assignments be out in June?
What will happen to B. Franklin K-8 garden?
Denison – What are swing sites? Can old school be used as a swing site?
Ben Franklin – Community garden has unique history & maintenance issues that need to be addressed prior to 2012 – 2015 can that happen?
Bryant – (landmark site) what can be funded (maintained) prior to segment date?
Westside relief HS (Seg) may not immediately address HS overcrowding.
Max Hayes – include former graduates opportunity to be part of rebuilding?
Greenway – can something go into the design?
Are there any other sites available for the new Max Hayes?  Joint school & Rec Center
Will students who do not actually live in the Rhodes (zone) not be permitted to attend Rhodes? (Sibling Policy)
Memphis & 40th? 42 former school site/potential site for Mooney – (old Memphis School site)

 

 

K-8/Middle School Structures

There is no time for bonding during homeroom time now. How do you develop this time?
Transition from 8-9th grade is not smooth. How do we or what can we do to make this transition a smooth one?
Younger students transitioning in the halls with older students.
Teachers’ response to students (hollering, screaming at students).
Concerned that K-5 students are lost in the middle school structure (K-8).

 

 

Safety and Security

Are you using metal detectors for adults?
How do you x-ray belt knives?
Is the training open to volunteers in the community?
What happened to our buses? Why are students on RTA? What discipline is there on RTA buses?
How closely does CMSD overlap with CPD?
What means do you take to educate staff? (teachers, lunch aides)
Are there any undercover officers?
Will there be a full time security office in every school?
Will metal detectors be at one entrance?
What about windows?
Are cameras in every hall & classrooms?
How do you help parents know what to look for as possible gang involvement?
Can gang activity or questions about gang behavior go on web?
Question raised about wand/detector for cargo pockets
How do we handle children with medical conditions as they go through metal detectors?
When does Bryant get the detector & officer?
What about electrical power for detectors?

Why do kids wear belts if weapons can be enclosed in the belt?