Triangle Neighborhood Association

Monday, October 1, 2007

 

1.                The regular monthly meeting of the Triangle Neighborhood Association was held on October 1, 2007 in the library of Warner Elementary School.  It began a 7:05 PM.   There were 45 persons present.  Five persons joined the meeting in progress.

 

2.                Howard Sholl, President of the Triangle Neighborhood Association, addressed the group:

a.     Welcome to the TNA members and our visitors.

b.     Fr. Dalton has agreed to act as parliamentarians tonight.  All speakers are asked to given their last name and to spell it.

c.     A few brief announcements were made:

·       On Saturday, November 3, there will be a Hazards Waste Pick-up.  A flier containing the details is circulating during tonight’s meeting.

·       Our neighborhood would look nicer if the grass growing in the cracks in the sidewalks was removed.

·       A tree fell in the neighborhood. A car and some garages were damaged. Those of us who own big trees are cautioned to provide the proper care.

·       The TNA Halloween Parade will take place on October 28.  Participants are to meet in the Warner Elementary School parking lot.

·       Request: May we allocate $75 for the Halloween parade? Result: The allocation was approved by a vote of those assembled.

·       Request: The resident of 808 West 23rd Street has requested a zoning variance, according to a notification received from the City.  The individual making the request was not present to make a presentation.  The issue concerns a deck and its overlap into the sidewalk area.  Resolution: Howard will contact the individual to explain the normal procedure of speaking to the neighborhood association.

·       Access Wilmington will be held on Thursday, Oct 18.  The tickets are $25 each.

·       Wilmington City Council will highlight the renovation of the playground at 18th and VanBuren.

·       A Senior “Thank You” will be held by the City on Sunday, November 18.  The tickets are $10.

 

3.                Concetta addressed the group:

a.     A Membership List draft is available

b.     Please pass around the two copies during the meeting.  Check to verify your information.

 

4.                John Rago, the Mayor’s Office representative, addressed the group:

a.     “IN” buttons were distributed.  The marketing slogan is “Wilmington in the middle of it all.”

b.     John’s cell number is 420-7928.

 

5.                Captain Maggitti, City of Wilmington Police, addressed the group:

a.     Alert: A girl was approached in the 300 block of 22nd Street. She was grabbed and pulled toward a car.  The girl was unharmed.

b.     Description: The vehicle is a blue jeep product.  The man was bald and black.

c.     Any information would be appreciated.

 

6.                Jack Perry, Executive of Prestige Academy, addressed the group:

a.     Members of the Prestige Academy Board are present tonight: Don Mell (Chair of Board), Jason Reeves, Rev. Vincent Oliver, Rita Vasta, Rodney Merriweather, Robin Lober, Van Hampton and Nnamdi Chucwuocha.

b.     Two members of City Council are present: Norm Griffith and Bud Freel.

c.     Summary:

·       Last May the concept of the Prestige Academy was presented to TNA.

·       Red Clay School District is moving toward establishing Prestige Academy as a charter school.

·       The start date is fall 2008.

·       There would be one grade per year consisting of 105 boys, until the four grades (5, 6, 7 and 8th) are filled.  

·       Warner Elementary School has been proposed as the site.  The school district is seeking the support of TNA before proceeding.

·       Copies of the charter submitted to Red Clay School District are available for individuals to review at the meeting.

d.     Other sites have been considered, however a clarification of state regulations indicated that a charter school must be placed within the boundaries of the sponsoring school district.  The regulation was clarified after the school’s charter was granted.

e.     Last Wednesday, a committee of TNA voiced concerns.  These concerns were heard and will be addressed.

f.      A short video was shown.

g.     The school will prepare students for college.

h.     Paraphrase: A similar educational program worked for me. I was a kid from the Brooklyn NY projects. Now I have a BA, an MA and I am two years from receiving a doctorate.

i.       In Wilmington, 30% live in poverty.  This statistic translates into poor test scores. Boys are at the very bottom. The rates of graduation are less than stellar, especially in the Black and Latino communities where only 38% graduate from high school.

j.       Prestige Academy will address these problems.

k.     Nativity Prep’s mission is very similar.

l.       The model is built on Best Practices:

·       We provide the right environment with a no excuses approach.  There will be two hours of homework a night.  Their will be expectations for discipline.

·       Two hours of homework every night

m.  We are asking TNA to open your minds and to provide the opportunity.  We believe that Presitge Academy can co-exist with the Warner Elementary School program.  We seek a partnership with the neighborhood.

n.     In response to concerns raised by the TNA committee, we pledge:

·       A member of the school will attend each TNA meeting.  You will see us face to face.

·       Cell phone numbers of administrators will be given to Howard, TNA President.

·       The Charter school concept allows for the pushing of the envelope.  There is less red tape.  Charter schools provide choice.

 

7.                Keehan Harris, a junior from Salesianum, addressed the group to speak of the preparation he is receiving for college.

 

8.                A series of questions from the floor were presented to Jack Perry:

a.     Question:  What is the correlation between that model seen in the video and what you will adapt?  Answer: Two common characteristics are: the 8 AM to 5 PM school day, and parental involvement.  (Copies of the video are available.)

b.     Question: May TNA members go to similar schools nearby?   Answer:  Yes.

c.     Question: How would two different cultures in one school building work?  Answer:  Prestige Academy will build its cultural expectations from the first day.

d.     Question: May students come from anywhere?  Answer: Yes, Prestige Academy will be open to all students in the state.

e.     Suggestion: Take Prestige Academy to Governor Printz Blvd.  The school would not be a burden on an area which is saturated.

f.      Observation:  Two sides of the Warner building have been expanded, and an AC plant has been added.

g.     Observation: Fifth grade is wonderful time, but the students will eventually experience teenage problems.

h.     Question: How will the kids get here?  Answer: Presitge Academy will take parking issues seriously.

i.       Suggestion: Consider satellite parking.

j.       Observation from the floor: The students will grow into the Prestige way

k.     Question:  How many persons would be involved with the school? Answer: 11 staff and 100 kids

l.       Question:  Who is the top administrator? Answer: Jack Perry responded that he was the top executive.  He has been a school administrator for two years in Bridgeport Connecticut in a special education school for boys.  He has training in building excellent schools through a year long program in finance, teaching and the do’s and don’t of running a charter school.

m.  Comment: There is distress over segregation of our schools. Answer: Students of all races can be admitted.

n.     Question:  How many students are in Warner now?  Answer: 640 students are enrolled now.  The school building can hold 1,200 students.

o.    Question:  How are children accepted?  Answer:  There is a first come first served approach. If too many students are eligible, then a lottery will determine placement.  One of the basic criteria is that the parents have to accept the program.

p.     Question: What kind of teachers has been hired?    Answer:  No contracts for faculty have been signed.

q.     Jack Perry offered that two copies of the application are available for review.

r.      Jack Perry offered that the Prestige Academy Board consists of a wide variety of individuals: teachers, a real estate agent, two individuals with an MBA degree and a clergyman.

s.      Comment: Litter may increase. Answer: Administrators will be available to answer complains.   

t.       Question: Where else are you exploring?  Answer: There is urgency involved. We are looking at other locations in the city and outside the city.

u.    Question: Is there a review process?  Answer: A review process can be established.

v.     Question: What do you like about Warner?   Answer: It is a school now, so it is the most cost efficient space. There is a gym, a cafeteria and a great community.

w.   Comment: The Red Clay School District administration is present tonight to listen to the issues.  This is the first step to finding solutions.

 

9.                Dr. Robert Andrzejewski, Superintendent of the Red Clay School District, addressed the group:

a.     I do not want to be repetitive.  We can look at the details.

b.     Receptivity of TNA would lead to approval.  This marks a different approach.   We want to look at the impact on the community.

c.     Provide us a chance to work out the details.

d.     Question:  How much time do you need? Answer: We would like a direction within two weeks.

a.     Red Clay would not displace anything.  We are running a big building which is only half full, now.

b.     Comment: There is a financial strain in Red Clay School District now.  The current Principal is dong a good job. I have had a child in both Warner and Highlands.

c.     Question: Where is the shared space? Answer:  The space allocation has not been settled.

d.     Question:  Have you considered taking a floor or an end of the building? Answer: Look at Wilmington Charter’s success with the housing of two schools.

e.     Question: Has the Red Clay School Board been involved?  Answer:  Not yet.

f.      Comment from the floor:  I am impressed by the model. There are two levels of faith.  First, there is faith in the model. Second, there is faith in Red Clay.

g.     Question:  Do you have a plan?  Answer: First, we seek awareness of the issues, then these will be addressed.

 

10.           Don Mell, Chairman of the Prestige Academy Board, addressed the group:

a.     Transportation can be handled.  We can select two or three from TNA, Prestige Academy and the City to form a committee to address transportation.

b.     School busing can be contracted outside of the Red Clay School District.

c.     Two Prestige Academy Board positions can be allocated to TNA.

d.     A review after two years is reasonable.

e.     Comment from the floor: As a father of six and the head of a charter school, I can say that Jack Perry can lead the school.

f.      Prestige Academy will obtain 501 c 3 not for profit status. 

g.     Question from Senator Harris McDowell: Is there a plan B? Answer: A secondary plan is not necessarily a community concern.

 

11.           Howard Sholl offered a summary of the Prestige Academy discussion:

a.     TNA needs more information.

b.     To move forward:

·       Additional information will be provided by the appropriate parties.

·       On October 25, the TNA will have an additional meeting to discuss the issues.

·       Mark Stanton and Chris will work with Don Mell on the transportation issue.

·       How can both schools exist at Warner? Dr. Andrzejewski will need to provide possibilities.

·       We are supportive of Public Education.

c.     Comment from the floor:  Red Clay students should come first.

d.     Response from Jack Perry: If there is a problem student, he is subject to our code of conduct. The student is entitled to counseling. Gross behavior would result in dismissal.  Prestige Academy is not stuck with students, but we will work to correct behavior problems.

 

12.           Frank Joyce addressed the group on the phone tree, which has been implemented. Backups for the block captains are needed.

 

13.           Norm Griffith, Councilman of the Second District, distributed a one page handout on city income tax responsibilities.

 

14.           Pat Joyce addressed the group: The hill near the TNA garden has been cleared b the City.  We need to provide direction for the garden.

 

15.           The meeting ended at 9 PM.

 

     Compiled by

     Fr. J. Dalton

     October 14, 2007