Triangle Neighborhood Association

Monday, December 3, 2007

 

1.             The regular monthly meeting of the Triangle Neighborhood Association was held on December 3, 2007 in the library of Warner Elementary School.  It began a 7:05 PM.   There were 63 persons present.  Four persons joined the meeting in progress.

2.             Howard Sholl, President of the Triangle Neighborhood Association, introduced the members of the TNA Board (Frank McKelvey, Lee McKelvey, Tom Baker, Kathy Flynn, Tim Sharpe, Suzanne Tuthill and Fr. J. Dalton) and the members of the Red Clay School District (Irwin Becnel, Paul Fleming, Gary Linarducci and Martin Wilson).

3.             Howard Sholl raised the issue of leaf collection.

·      The city has collected leaves twice.  Rake your leaves to the curb, so the City trucks can collect them.

·      From the floor, John Rago, Representative of the Mayor’s Office, indicated that bagged leaves will be collected on the normal trash day.

o     The normal trash collectors will call for a truck to come to get the leaves.

o     Composting of leaves will take place at the 12th street site.

o     A special vacuum collection truck will be scheduled for the Triangle Neighborhood.  Rake the leaves into the street.

o     Any problems, call John at 576-2109 or email him at jrago@ci.wilmington.de.us

o     Copies of the leaf pick-up schedule have been made public, and will be sent out through the TNA yahoo email group.

·      Caroling will take place at Rodney Square on Tuesday, starting at 7 PM.

4.             Captain Maggitti, Wilmington Police Force, addressed the group:

·      He was assigned to the 2nd Council District, and his backup has been Lt. Ruth Townsend.

·      He will retire from the Police Force; however, Lt. Townsend will maintain the continuity.  Her phone number is 576-3175.

·      The hope is that a new Captain will be appointed to replace Captain Maggitti.

·      There are six active neighborhood groups in the second Council District; however, TNA is a model for the other neighborhood groups.

·      There have been four thefts reported in the Salesianum parking lot, and in the neighborhood, there has been one burglary.

·      Caution: Do not leave packages on porches.

·      Tom Baker will publish the crime stats in the TNA yahoo group file folder.

·      The attempted abduction of young children continues.  A recent incident took place near P S DuPont School. The suspect is described as a black male about 35 years old with wavy black hair.  His vehicle is a 4 door black car with an “H” on the hood.

·      Keep out of the park after dark.  There is no presence of Park Police after dark, since the Park is closed.

·      iPods are attractive items to be stolen.

5.             Howard Sholl presented a gift to Captain Maggitti as a sign of appreciation of TNA. (The group stood and applauded.)

6.             Howard Sholl announced that the major issue to be discussed was the “Prestige Academy” issue.  He provided a summary of events:

·      Jack Perry, Prestige Academy Director, requested a meeting in August.  Those attending were Norm Griffiths, Howard Sholl, Fr. Dalton, Dr. Andrzejewski, and others.  The possibility of Prestige Academy coming to Warner Elementary School was explored.

·      A committee was formed of TNA members to develop a series of questions.

·      Jack Perry was invited to make a presentation to the regular TNA meeting in October.

·      The committee worked with representatives of Prestige Academy and Red Clay School District officials to obtain clarifications.

·      TNA held a special meeting on October 25 to discuss the possibility of Prestige Academy coming to Warner. As a community we spent time discussing the various issues among association members only. The   representatives of Prestige Academy and Red Clay School District returned to the meeting to address particular points and to make reports.  A vote was taken to the end that TNA did not grant its approval to place Prestige Academy in Warner School.

·      The important issues raise were:

o     Lack of trust – In past dealings with the Red Clay School District, TNA had trouble getting answers to proposed renovations.

o     There was an understanding that a K-8 school for Warner would not be pursued by the School District.

o     TNA, as a group, is reluctant to accept assurances from the School District.

o     The community does not want a middle school at Warner.

o     We are concerned about how the students at Warner will be treated.

o     What will happen to the after school program, Project Hope?

o     Parking and increased traffic are concerns.

o     As part of the discussion, there were assurances given that if the community does not want Prestige Academy, it will not be placed in Warner Elementary School.

7.             Irwin Becnel, Chairman of the Red Clay School District Board, addressed the group.

·      He indicated that although four members of the School District Board are present, they are present as individuals.  In spite of the existence of a quorum of the School District Board, there is no intention for a Board meeting to be constituted.

·      He summarized the recent events relative to Prestige Academy:

o     The Red Clay School District Board voted to grant a charter to Prestige Academy.

o     The intention was to locate Prestige Academy at St. Hedwig School; however, the legislature added language that funding would not be granted if the school were situated outside of the district.

o     The School District has three charter schools currently, and it is looking to establish two additional charter schools.

o     It was acknowledged that there was space at Warner Elementary School, and urged Prestige to talk to the local community.

o     The option to transfer the charter to another school district was considered; however, the state indicated that the charter cannot be transferred.

o     Prestige Academy has made a good faith offer to address the issues raised by the community.

o     Prestige Academy will grow one grade per year.

o     There will be collaboration between the School District and Prestige Academy.

o     It was understood that Dr. Andrzejewski would not bring Prestige Academy to the Board without the approval of the community.

·      Question from the floor:  What will happen on the December 19?  Answer: There will be a School Board meeting.  We will be talking with our lawyers before the meeting.

·      It is our understanding that a School District by law must make available excess space to charter schools.

·      Question from the floor: What is the efficacy of the school?  Answer: There is one in New York State.  It is all male

·      Question from the floor:  Does he (Mr. Jack Perry) have the credentials to run the school?  Answer: I have no questions about Mr. Perry’s credentials.  If charter schools fail, the students do not stay.  We voted in May to provide a charter.

·      Request from the floor:  Respond to the parking issues.  Comment: Anything we do to raise enrollment will have parking issues.

·      Question:  Why not expand current programs?  No answer.

·      Questions from the floor:  We have a 5 year son. Warner is under academic review.  My child will be 1% of the racial mix of the school.    Warner is different from the community.  Do I “choice” out of here?   For new people coming in, this is a problem.

·      Question from the floor: How would a child from Prestige be handled out of school hours?  Answer from Howard:  Prestige said it would be responsible.

·      Clarification from Howard:   The parking issue received a response, but it was not acceptable.

·      At the time there were 1,200 students here, and many students came from a distance.

·      Comment from the floor:  There cannot be a single gender school according to established law. Answer: At the time the law was written, single gender education did not enter mind of legislature.  There is a legal opinion that single gender education is permissible.

·      Question from the floor: Does the opinion of this neighborhood matter?  Answer:  Your opinion matters. 

·      Question from the floor: If Prestige Academy is not legal, how will the school district use the space?  Answer: I do not know

·      Warner is the product of people’s choices.

·      Comment from the floor: My neighbors are saying Warner has gone downhill.   You are selling us something we do not want.

·      Question from the floor:  Is this the best place for Prestige Academy?  Answer:  Prestige is looking for available space.

·      Comment from the floor: Warner is a failing school.

·      Question from a School Board member:  How many here tonight have kids in Warner?  Observation: Only one hand went up.

·      Comment from the floor:  During past discussions, there were Red Clay administrators present.

·      Clarification from Howard:  Issues were raised, and the answers given were not satisfactory.

·      Comment from the floor:  Dr. Andrzejewski said if the neighbors do not want Prestige Academy here, it will not be here. Answer:  Dr. Andrzejewski is not the Red Clay School Board.

·      Observation: Mr. Paul Fleming, a member of the School Board, started to walk out of the meeting.  He returned to say that the law is the law.  He commented that the meeting’s discussion is going round and round.

·      Clarification from Howard:  There is a difference between Administration and the School Board.

·      Comment from the floor:  The Superintendent put us in a difficult situation.  A promise was made.  We voted a month ago.

·      Does the association speak for the entire neighborhood?  Comment:  The participation in the Triangle Neighborhood Association is considered good for a neighborhood association.

·      Dr. Andrzejewski is very straightforward person.  He did not bring Prestige Academy to the School Board.  I understand that Prestige Academy will make a request of the School Board.  I intend to bring the issue before the School Board, also.

·      Comment from the floor:  Christ the King school is available, but cost of asbestos removable is expensive.

·      Comment from the floor: Jack Perry said that Prestige is looking elsewhere.

8.             Mr. Gary Linarducci, member of the Red Clay School District Board, addressed the group and offered a summary:

·      As a society, we need to address the school drop out rate.

·      Putting Prestige Academy in the school district is a good idea.  At the start of the education process, our kids are two years behind.  We are looking for something different.

·      Warner is only half utilized

·      Dr. Andrzejewski is an honest person with a difficult job, but I am not pleased with your description of his presentation to TNA.

·      You have expressed a concern about Jack Perry’s qualification. We must do Charter school right.

·      Trust is an important issue.

·      Prestige is citing a fact that space is available, and the law dictates offering available space.

·      There is an overriding concern that this school has not done well.  We must make sure program will work.

·      A half full school is a waste of space.

·      Comment from the floor:  Site selection should not be by default.

·      Bare bones approach to funding does not provide the necessary resources; however, extra resources did not produce results in previous years.

·      Comment from the floor:  Red Clay school district has not found ways to improve urban education.  Board must make good decisions.

·      Comment from the floor:  Suburban kids get a lot.

·      Comments from Mr. Becnel: We are running out of money.  We have to manage 29 schools.  We are trying to improve the schools. You will see more cuts.  

·      People are upset with the school district.  Remember in funding, the state pays two parts, and the school district pays one part.  Local distinct funding is capped, so we need go to the voters for a referendum.  Otherwise, we are going to run out of money.

·      There is language in the law: if there is excess capacity, then make space available.

·      Suggestion made by Norm Griffiths: Put off the vote scheduled for the December 19 School Board meeting.

·      Comment from Mr. Becnel: We have to wait for our lawyers to get back to us.

·      Prestige primarily wants to come here, more than Red Clay wants to be here.

·      Comment from the floor:  There is a problem with Warner that is why we have extra space.   We need a concrete plan to improve Warner.

·      Comment from Mr. Becnel: Warner’s curriculum is aligned as required.  Provisions are made for staff development.  We examine the test results.

·      Question from the floor: Why did Red Clay open other schools: North Star and Brandywine Springs?

·      Comment from the floor:  Consider restructuring the feeder pattern.

·      Comment from Mr. Wilson:  I have listened tonight and I have taken in all the information. I will consider seriously what has been said.

9.             Motion from the floor:  Discontinue the conversation for tonight.

·      Comment from Howard:  People have an opportunity to speak tonight.

10.         Howard addressed the group:

·      We express our gratitude to the members of the Red Clay School Board.

11.         Norm Griffiths addressed the group:

·       City Council will honor Captain Maggitti on Thursday, December 6 at 6:30 PM.  All are welcome to attend.

12.         The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.

 

 

Composed by Fr. J. Dalton, December 23, 2007