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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-2013 Human Rights Commission10—IIOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 50 Years of Advancing Equality 1963-2013 AGENDA CITY OF IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION EMMA HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL January 28, 2013 6:00 P.M. Call Meeting to Order/ Roll Call 2. Proposed Diversity Policy of the Board of Education for the Iowa City Community School District 3. Proposed Revised Justice Center Plan 4. Offsite Students and Academic Achievement Iowa City Community School District 5. Adjourn Time will be allowed for public comment of items on the agenda. The Iowa City Human Rights Commission meetings follow the Iowa City Community School District closings for inclement weather except for early dismissals for heat. Meeting Packet Items: All materials with the exception of the correspondence from Ross Wilburn and the article entitled The New Jim Crow Comes to Iowa City were submitted by staff as information for the meeting being held on Monday, January 28, 2013. Iowa City Community School District Educational Services Center Stephen F. Murley Superintendent of Schools 1725 North Dodge Street • Iowa City, IA 52245• (319) 688-1000 • Fas (319) 688-1009 • awwiowaertyschools org BOARDOFDI RECTORS REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013 — 6:OOPM EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CENTER — ROOM 142A 1725 NORTH DODGE STREET, IOWA CITY. IOWA 52245 AGENDA - REVISED PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed First Amendment to Wireless Services Facilities Lease at City High with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC. I, OPENING A. Welcome, President B. Community Comment II. DISTRICT BUSINESS —CONSENT ITEMS A. Minutes of the December 18 2012 Regular Board Meeting (Enclosure 1) B. Minutes of the December 18 2012 Facilities Committee Meeting (Enclosure 2) C. Student Voluntary Long Term Suspension Agreement (Enclosure 3) D. Contracts and Agreements (Enclosure 4) E. Accounts Payable (Enclosure 5) F. Open Enrollment (Enclosure 6) G. Personnel Action (Enclosure 71 III. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION A. District Safety Committee Report B. Capital Projects Status Report (Enclosure 8) C. Affirmative Action/Eo uity Report IV. BOARD MEETING A. Revenue Purpose Statement Update B. 2rd Reading Diversity Policy (Enclosure 9) C. Committee Reports • Communications Committee • Listening Post • Finance Committee • Governance Committee • Facilities Committee • Legislative Committee the mission of the Iowa ( ily ('unmmnrV SCIn101 District is to ensure all student., will become responsible, independent learners capable of making intoned decisions in a democratic society as well as in the dynamic global community; this is accomplished by challenging each student with a rigorous and creative curriculum taught by a diverse, professional, caring staff and enriched dunugh the resources and the eftbrts ol'families and the entire community. god Reading Diversity pndosure 9 Diversity Policy (LE la) It shall be the policy of the board to provide equitable learning environments for the students attending ICCSD. It is the board's policy that greater diversity and enhanced learning will be the result of establishing the following diversity goals. Definitions - "Minority students": For purposes of this policy, "minority students" is defined to mean that category of students who are receiving free or reduced price lunches offered under the District's nutrition program. "Non -minority students": For purposes of this policy, "non -minority students" is defined to mean that category of students who are not receiving free or reduced price lunches offered under the District's nutrition program. "The District": For purposes of this policy, "the District" shall refer to the Iowa City Community School District. Achieving Diversity Goal (LEVEL 2a) Equal opportunity in school programs shall be provided to all students regardless of socioeconomic status. Factors that aim to increase diversity and reduce socioeconomic isolation will be considered and implemented regarding student assignment and the location of educational programs at various schools within the District. The relevant "minority students" percentage (that is, the socioeconomic indicator of students receiving free and reduced price lunches as compared to all students) will be used to achieve the goals of: • no more than 10 percentage points of difference between the comprehensive high schools (grades 9-12) with the highest and lowest percentages of minority students at such schools in the District; • no more than 15 percentage points of difference between the junior high schools (grades 7-8) with the highest and lowest percentages of minority students at such schools in the District; and • for each elementary school (grades K-6), no more than 15 percentage points above the mean percentage of the district -wide percentage of minority students for all students in grades K-6. Resources (LEVEL 2b) Resources will be allocated as appropriate in order to assure the diversity goals are achieved and to pursue equity throughout the District. Capacity Utilization (LEVEL 2c) Before adding onto current existing secondary facilities or building any new secondary facilities, the existing schools serving the relevant grade levels will need to be fully utilized. The following goals are established: • at least 95% of the capacity of every permanent comprehensive 7-8 school building should be utilized; • at least 95% of the capacity of every permanent comprehensive 9-12 school building should be utilized; • the degrees to which schools' enrollment capacities are utilized shall not be allowed to differ by more than 15 percentage points between the most filled and least filled junior high school; • the degrees to which schools' enrollment capacities are utilized shall not be allowed to differ by more than 10 percentage points between the most filled and least filled high school. To further assure diversity within the District, open intra-district transfer approvals for students seeking to enroll out of their respective neighborhood school and into a different school within the District shall not cause either school's percentage of minority students or percentage of utilization to exceed the limitations set forth above. All other applications will be processed as per current policy. This policy shall not affect open enrollments into or out of the District. Associated Superintendent i imitation Prudent use of programming in existing and new facilities may eliminate the need for non - voluntary movement of students and minimize costs. Incorporating this principle: The superintendent shall not (LEVEL 2a): 1. Fail to develop a plan to achieve and maintain the diversity goals established by the board pursuant to its diversity policy. 2. Fail to achieve the diversity goals for grades K-8 by the 2018-2019 school year, and maintain a demonstrable pace toward achieving those goals of at least 20% progress of the diversity plan annually. 3. Fail to achieve the diversity goals for grades 9-12 by the 2015-2016 school year. 4. Create non-contiguous attendance zones populated by either high or low minority students to effectuate the goals of this policy. 5. Fail to work to reduce the number of non-contiguous attendance zones. The superintendent shall not (LEVEL 2b): 1. Fail to develop a plan to assure equitable use of the District's resources in pursuit of diversity within buildings and classrooms. The superintendent shall not (LEVEL 2c): 1. Fail to develop a plan to achieve and maintain capacity utilization of permanent building goals established by the board pursuant to its diversity policy. 2. Fail to achieve capacity utilization goals for grades 7-8 by the 2015-2016 school year. 3. Fail to achieve capacity utilization goals for grades 9-12 by the 2014-2015 school year. 4. Fail to achieve at least one diversity or capacity utilization goal for grades 9-12 by the 2014-2015school year in the special case that differences in both diversity and capacity utilization exceed 10 percentage points between two comprehensive 9-12 schools in the 2012-13 school year. Updated: 15 January 2013 1 9:42 pm in Local News Split Iowa City school board supports diversity policy Policy must go through one more reading before it can be adopted thegazette.com Copyright 2011 SourceMedia Group All rights reserved This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed Buy this photo (from left) Iowa City Community School District Board members Marla Swesey, Sally Hoelscher and Sarah Swisher take notes as members of the public speak about the district's proposed new diversity plan during a "listening post" held at the Educational Services Center in Iowa City on Saturday, January 12, 2013. Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9) IOWA CITY — A proposed diversity policy that has widened already significant divisions in the Iowa City school district is a step closer to becoming a reality. The school board reflected that split Tuesday night, voting 4-3 in favor the policy. It was the second of three readings needed to adopt the proposal, but it was the first time the board voted. The diversity policy would require schools to be within a certain range of each other in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced -price lunch, a measure of poverty. It also sets capacity requirements on high schools and junior high schools before more secondary schools can be built. The policy has been the subject of intense debate since it was unveiled one month ago. At Tuesday night's meeting, the crowd at times was rowdy, and board members took a few shots at each other. Of the more than 30 people who spoke at the meeting — out of a couple of hundred in the standing -room only crowd — most of the people who backed the policy lived in Iowa City, while those opposed were primarily from North Liberty and Coralville. Proponents said the policy would address the big disparity in free -reduced lunch rates at schools, which range from less than 6 percent to nearly 79 percent this school year. Several of the highest rates are in eastern Iowa City schools. City High teacher Robin Fields called that a "catastrophic disparity." "Let's allow as many teachers as possible, and as many buildings as possible, to make a difference for all students," she said. Opponents, meanwhile, said they support a diversity policy, but not this one. They object to the inclusion of the capacity language, which they see as an attempt to block the opening of a new comprehensive high school. They also believe some of their children would be sent to east -side schools to balance poverty and capacity rates. And they spoke against the way in which the policy was created and brought to a vote. "This process appears to have been rushed to adhere to the agenda of a narrow swath of the community," said Bob Gillispie of Coralville. To that end, school board member Jeff McGinness introduced a motion to table the vote until later this month, saying the policy was created primarily by board member Sarah Swisher and one parent in a non -transparent manner. The motion was defeated 4-3, with Tuyet Dorau and Patti Fields voting with McGinness. The vote on the diversity policy fell on the same lines, with Swisher, Karla Cook, Sally Hoelscher and Marla Swesey voting for it. Swisher reminded people that the district discussed balancing poverty rates during the redistricting debate three years ago, but nothing was done about it. "I think it's time to have a sense of urgency," she said. Iowa City's policy would be broader than the ones that exist in the five school districts in Iowa currently with diversity plans. Each of those applies only to open enrollment or transfer students, and none has building capacity language. Diversity policy clears 2nd vote I Iowa City Press Citizen I press-citizen.com Page 1 of 5 JOBS CARS HOMES APARTMENTS CLASSIFIEDS/PLACEANAD DEALS News I Hawk Central I Prep FEATURED: Local TV Times Mug shots Group photos Coupon Mania DealChicken ADVI Diversity policy clears 2nd vote 3 board members suggest starting process over 10:46 PM, Jan 15, 2013 1 Comments Written by Adam B Sullivan Iowa City Press -Citizen IOWA CITY CONIMUNITY SCIR)OL DIFFR1C'1 AA Iowa City school leaders' controversial diversity policy is on its way to final passage. The Iowa City Community School Board ZOOM voted by a 4-3 margin Tuesday night to pass the proposal's second reading. The policy likely will see a final vote at the next regularly scheduled meeting Feb. 5. FILED UNDER Poverty rates in district schools, measured by the portion of students receiving federal meal assistance, range from 6 percent in News percent in another. The diversity Local News one school to 79 p y policy would aim to curb that disparity by imposing ranges between which schools' poverty rates would have to fall. Some research suggests students perform better in socioeconomically diverse classrooms. School Board members Jeff McGinness, Patti Fields and Tuyet Dorau wanted to table the diversity policy vote and consider starting the process over. McGinness, who made the motion to table the http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20130116/NEWSOI/301160034/ 1 /16/2013 Diversity policy clears 2nd vote I Iowa City Press Citizen I press-citizen.com Page 2 of 5 policy, said there is too much uncertainty Inside about how the goals in the policy would be • Iksjdlfj sldj flksjd Ifk slkdf jlks djflj slkdj flksj dlkfj met. sdlkj flskdj flkj sdlkfjlskdjf I, 3A. "I think we need to take a step back and really craft a policy that addresses what we need it to address and answer some of the questions that are still unanswered about this," McGinness said. "I've tried to answer many emails, but I don't know the answer to 99.9 percent of it." McGinness also pointed out officials won't begin detailed work on implementing the policy until this spring when consultants return reports on building capacity and enrollment projections. However, supporters of the policy said the issue is urgent. "I don't think we're giving our kids with the greatest socioeconomic needs the best we have to offer, and I don't know how much time we have to wait before we do that," said Sarah Swisher, the board's leading proponent of the policy. Swisher, along with board members Karla Cook, Marla Swesey and Sally Hoelscher, voted to advance the policy, clearing the way for final approval early next month. "I'd love to see this be a 7-0 vote, but even if it's not and it passes by 4-3, that's still the way our system is set up to work," Hoelscher said. "No matter what a vote passes by once it passes, as a board we need to get behind it and make it work." For almost two hours before the vote, almost 50 community members weighed in on the policy. That was in addition to more than 30 who spoke about the topic at a listening post this past weekend. Amy Nielsen, who opposes the policy, said the district should focus on supporting schools with high poverty rates rather than making district -wide changes. http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20130116/NEWSOI/301160034/ 1/16/2013 Diversity policy clears 2nd vote I Iowa City Press Citizen I press-citizen.com Page 3 of 5 "Let's work on fixing those schools. I don't want those kids to have a lesser academic experience than other kids, but why do we have to involve everybody in fixing their schools?" Nielsen said. Opponents also took issue with the process for drafting the diversity policy. Emails between a board member and local parent Ed Stone showed Stone privately played a major part in writing the policy for months. Some community members have said it's unfair that one parent played such an influential role in crafting a document that only gained public attention a month ago. District parent Chris Lynch said the board should slow down and make the process more open. "I don't see the harm in spending two or three more months on it.... I'd like to see the objective clearer," Lynch said. Stone defended himself, saying other parents have opted not to be involved until lately. "in many of the meetings that I attended, there were four or five people," Stone said. "I've read hundreds and hundreds of pages of documents, I've sought out info about tax rates, I've counted things, I've made mathematical models." Jason Lewis, another supporter of the policy, said opponents are being stubborn. "It seems like what I'm hearing is, 'I want what's best for the kids as long as I can still have it the same as it is right now,"' Lewis said. Reach Adam B Sullivan at asullivan@press-citizen.com or 887- 5412. 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All rights reserved. Users of this site agree to the Terms of Service, Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights, and Ad Choices http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20130116/NEWS01/301160034/ 1 /16/2013 .��r=. CITY OF IOWA CITY 1P2 ..;.'� MEMORANDUM Date: January 10, 2013 To: City Council From: Matt Hayek, Mayor Re: Endorsement of Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) Revenue Purpose Statement and Policy Regarding Socioeconomic Balance At our December 18, 2012, meeting, the council unanimously adopted resolution no. 12-534, entitled "Resolution Recommending a Shared Vision for the Future Planning and Development of the Iowa City Community School District and the City of Iowa City." A copy of that resolution is included with this memo. The resolution articulates a shared vision between Iowa City and ICCSD and links the district's Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) to the city's Strategic Plan and ongoing efforts to promote income -diversified neighborhoods throughout the community. The resolution directed the mayor and city manager to meet with district officials in advance of the RPS vote to discuss the shared objectives of the city and the district. Tom Markus and I met with district officials and the discussion was positive. The ICCSD board of directors has submitted the RPS to the voters for a February 5, 2013, referendum. In addition, the board is presently considering a policy to maintain socioeconomic and enrollment balance between schools. Both of these items are critically important to our community's future. Staff will draft a resolution for consideration at our January 22, 2013, meeting that will express the council's endorsement of the RPS along with a policy to maintain socioeconomic and enrollment balance between schools. This is an important message to send to our citizens in advance of the February 5 vote and is consistent with our adopted Strategic Plan and the specific priority of Neighborhood Stabilization. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this. a Prepared by: Tom Markus, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5010 12 RESOLUTION NO. 12-534 RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF IOWA CITY WHEREAS, the Iowa City Community School District Board of Education (ICCSD) has voted to submit a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) to the voters on February 5, 2013, to authorize the ICCSD to spend sales tax monies for any of the purposes set forth in the RPS; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the RPS including its stated expenditure purpose: "To provide funds to build and furnish a new school building or buildings; to build and furnish addition(s) to school buildings in the District; to remodel, repair, expand, and improve the school buildings in the District; to purchase and improve grounds; to furnish and equip district facilities;" and WHEREAS, in January 2012 the City Council adopted Resolution No 12-02, which establishes neighborhood stabilization as one of Iowa City's Strategic Plan priorities; and WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan states that the City "aims to invest in and deliver core services to neighborhoods in a manner that enhances overall stability and maintains the intended character while facilitating new opportunities to improve the quality of life;" and WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan states that the City's neighborhood stabilization initiatives "should incorporate collaborative efforts with the ICCSD to maintain and build upon the success of schools in established neighborhoods while ensuring new elementary schools are planned as integral and sustainable components of neighborhoods;" and WHEREAS, in February 2011 the City Council adopted Resolution 11-51, establishing an affordable housing location model to balance the distribution of federal and other housing funds and encourage income -diversified neighborhoods throughout the community; and WHEREAS, the ICCSD Superintendent has expressed that low income students, and in fact all students, do better when there is a mix of income levels within each school; and WHEREAS, the decisions of the ICCSD Board of Education have a significant impact on the neighborhoods of Iowa City and the other communities in the district; and WHEREAS, equitably distributing facilities, programs, and educational opportunities among our schools promotes stable, income -diverse neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, reinvesting in existing schools helps stabilize neighborhoods by attracting individuals and families who desire proximity to employment centers, commercial services and cultural activities, reduces transportation costs for families and the school district, and is a cost-effective way to accommodate population growth, including ICCSD enrollment growth; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA THAT: The ICCSD should prioritize capital spending to bring all existing facilities to the standards of recently -constructed facilities. Resolution No. 12-534 Page 2 2. The ICCSD should pursue construction of two new elementary schools within the corporate limits of Iowa City and, through partnerships between the City and ICCSD similar to the Grant Wood gymnasium, the use of these facilities should incorporate community uses in addition to educational purposes. 3. In the event it determines the necessity of a third high school, the ICCSD's priority should be to do no harm to the existing high schools and ensure balance and equity with respect to facilities, offerings and enrollment practices so that all high school students in the district receive the same quality education. 4. The city manager and mayor are directed to meet with appropriate ICCSD officials in advance of the RPS vote to discuss the shared objectives of the City and the ICCSD. Passed and approved this 18th day of December , 20_12__. �" Approve ATTEST: /1/Au J /�. t a'13' la CITY'CLERK City Attorney's Office It was moved by Payne and seconded by Dickens the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: %4 NAYS: ABSENT: Champion Dickens Dobyns Hayek Mims Payne Throgmorton Diversity policy is an essential complement to RPS 1:09 PK Jan 14, 2013 Comments Written by Rick Dobyns and Matt Hayek Guest Opinion We write as members of our community, not on behalf of the Iowa City Council, regarding the school district's revenue purpose statement (RPS) and diversity policy. One of us lives on the west side of Iowa City and the other lives on the east side. We can probably all agree that schools are the cornerstones of our neighborhoods. Good schools attract families that promote stability and create a social fabric that no government investment can match. Our schools are at a defining moment. The district is growing and changing. This creates a responsibility to develop plans to ensure continued success and, importantly, to do so in balanced fashion. For years we as a community have failed to meet this responsibility. Many aspects of the district are unbalanced: the maintenance of aging schools, the placement of new schools, the difference in enrollment between our comprehensive high schools and the highly -divergent socioeconomic levels across the entire system. In our opinion, this fuels much of the harsh rhetoric and intense feelings about the issues at hand. Absent action, the disparities will worsen. We cannot afford to delay. The school board should be commended for pursuing both the financial resources (the RPS) and a set of guidelines (the diversity policy) necessary to correct the imbalance and promote equity throughout the district. If the public approves the RPS on Feb. 5, the district will have early access to funds necessary to bring aging facilities up to current standards and construct new schools. The RPS empowers the district to use future dollars now to address these needs. The district's one -page facilities outline, though a work in progress, is a crucial step toward improving the balance and quality of school buildings throughout the district — east and west. For example, in the first several years it references additions to Penn and North Central, new elementary schools in Iowa City and North Liberty and the renovation of older schools throughout the district. The diversity policy is an essential complement to the funding because it facilitates socioeconomic balance. Plenty of hard work awaits the board and staff to reach its targets. But we admire the policy because it creates something past boards have failed to achieve: objective metrics and a clear framework to ensure that resources and learning opportunities are distributed equitably. Its passage would address the imbalance that plagues our district. And we think this could help to calm the harmful discord now in the public dialogue. These are difficult decisions for anyone who volunteers for local government. The board is leading the community by restoring equity as a guiding value. A public school district should give all students an equal opportunity to succeed. On Jan. 22, the Iowa City Council will consider a resolution to endorse the revenue purpose statement and encourage the school board to adopt a policy on socioeconomic balance. Passage of both will equip the district with the resources and the guidelines necessary to deliver equitable educational opportunities for all our students. Strong schools make for strong neighborhoods and a more balanced approach will benefit the entire district in the years to come. Rick Dobyns and Matt Hayek are members of the Iowa City City Council. Prepared by: City Managers Otrioe 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5010 2 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT AND SUPPORTING A POLICY TO ADDRESS SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENROLLMENT IMBALANCE IN THE DISTRICT WHEREAS, the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) Board of Education has voted to submit a Revenue Purpose Statement to the voters on February 5, 2013; and WHEREAS, the Revenue Purpose Statement stated expenditure purpose is: To provide funds to build and furnish a new school building or buildings; to build and furnish addition(s) to school buildings in the District; to remodel, repair, expand, and improve the school buildings in the District; to purchase and improve grounds; to furnish and equip district facilities; and WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 12-534 passed on December 18, 2012, the City Council recommended a shared vision for the City and the ICCSD premised on the City's Strategic Plan that places a high priority on neighborhood stabilization and encourages income diversified neighborhoods throughout the community; and WHEREAS, approval of the Revenue Purpose Statement will aid the City and the ICCSD in achieving a shared vision; and WHEREAS, the ICCSD Board is considering a policy to address socioeconomic and enrollment imbalances that exist throughout the district; and WHEREAS, such a policy would complement the Revenue Purpose Statement by guiding capital resources in a manner that will ensure targets are met and equitable learning environments and educational opportunities for all students in the ICCSD are achieved; and WHEREAS, the City of Iowa City is committed to ongoing efforts to strengthen neighborhoods through strategic infrastructure investments, reinvestment in neighborhood parks, innovative programs that invest in the community's housing stock, sound urban planning and transportation policies, and continued usage of the affordable housing location model that ensures new subsidized rental housing is not located in areas with existing concentrations of such uses; and WHEREAS, approval of the Revenue Purpose Statement and a complementary policy that targets greater socioeconomic and enrollment balance will dovetail with these City efforts to strengthen neighborhoods and assist in achieving the shared objectives with the ICCSD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA THAT: The City Council endorses the ICCSD Revenue Purpose Statement and encourages the ICCSD Board to pursue and adopt a policy that aims to achieve equitable learning environments and opportunities through improved socioeconomic and enrollment balances throughout the district. The City Council pledges to continue efforts to strengthen and balance neighborhoods through infrastructure and parkland investments, reinvestment strategies that preserve and improve our aging housing stock, implementation of sound urban planning and transportation policies, and continued usage of the affordable housing location model. Resolution No. Page 2 Passed and approved this day of MAYOR 2013. 5oved by ATTEST: 1 1-11, 13 CITY CLERK City Attorney's Office Marian Karr From: John Fingert <johnfingert@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 12:53 PM To: Board; Council Subject: Re: Equity Editorial Dear School Board, I am an Iowa City resident and supporting our schools is a top priority to me. I strongly support efforts to enhance our education system and to provide equal resources to the students and schools in our city. In particular I would urge the board to take steps to reduce current disparities between our schools. We desperately need to improve the physical plants and resources in several existing Eastside Iowa City schools. I favor directing our finances towards improving these existing schools over building new schools in the suburbs so that all children in Iowa City may have the same great educational opportunities. Thank you for your service, John Fingert 415 Brown Street Marian Karr From: MurphyGeerdes <mg9425@mchsi.com> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 10:34 PM To: Council Cc: 'Board' Subject: ICCSD Diversity Policy Dear Council Members: I am glad that you will be discussing the Iowa City School Board's proposed Diversity Policy. encourage you to endorse the same. Although it is not perfect, I think that it is a step towards addressing areal problem of economic disparity in this community, At the same time, I believe that you have an obligation to the community and the school board to review and correct the City of Iowa City's housing polity, as so much of the problem which the school district is trying to fix has directly been caused by the city. The city needs to very promptly reduce the amount and concentration of low income housing which its policies has caused. It's not fair to the school board to have to solely deal with the effects of the city's policy failures -it is also your responsibility to correct what you created. I am sending a copy of this email to the ICCSD Board so that a discussion of what the city can do hopefully occurs when you have further communication with the board. I think that the Revenue Purpose Statement is a related but distinct issue. Quite frankly, myself and many others are undecided on this issue. The manner in which council addresses the housing issue will be a factor in how many vote on the Revenue Purpose Statement. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Gregg Geerdes 890 Park Place Iowa City, Iowa 52246 3191341-3304 ma94250mchsi.com Marian Karr From: Jim Barker <BarkerJim@mchsi.com> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 3:52 PM To: Council Subject: Diversity Policy Council Members, Before you vote to endorse the current version of the diversity policy that is being considered by the school board, please ask the board to provide at least one scenario where the senior high requirements can be met that is consistent with the promises they have made (not moving current senior high students and not redistricting students out of City High). It does not seem possible to accomplish this and, if it is not possible, the policy should not be passed until this is explained to the public. For example, if the only way to meet the requirements is to swap Wickham for Twain, this should be made clear. This was very unpopular at both schools during the redistricting controversy two years ago. Thank you and feel free to email me with questions or comments. Jim Barker This correspondence will become a public record. Council endorses district's revenue purpose statement I Iowa City Press Citizen I press-citi... Page 1 of 1 Council endorses district's revenue purpose statement Written by Mitchell Schmidt Iowa City Press -Citizen Jan. 22 press-citizen.com The Iowa City Council is supporting the Iowa City Community School District's special ballot item next month. The council voted unanimously during Tuesday's council meeting to endorse the district's revenue purpose statement — slated for public vote Feb. 5. Councilor Susan Mims said she was supporting the proposed revenue statement for a few reasons, one of which being that not approving the item might lead to the state stepping in sometime in the future. "I think one of the things that people don't understand is that one, this is not a new tax; and two, if it's not supported we in fact lose local control about how this money is spent, it would be dictated by state regulation, and if we're going to be paying the tax anyways I would certainly much rather we have that local control as to prioritize how that money gets spent in our district rather than using some set state mandate that may not fit what the needs are in our particular district," Mims said. If district voters approve the document, the district extends its control over sales tax revenue and officials plan to borrow up to $100 million for facilities projects. School leaders have released a spreadsheet of projects they'll pursue if the ballot item passes, including three new elementary schools in the next few years as well as a new high school in North Liberty a few years after that. The plan also includes spending about $30 million on maintenance and upgrades to existing schools, but district leaders haven't said what those projects will be. Administrators say that depends on the results of a consultants' report about facilities shortfalls that will be done this spring. Councilor Connie Champion said she was a little concerned the school district hasn't clearly identified exactly how all the money from the revenue purpose statement would be spent but added that she is placing her trust in the district's board. "I'd like to see it much more clearly spelled out before the election, but that's not going to happen. But I'm going to support it anyway, and I'm going to have to trust that they're going to be fair with this money," Champion said. Reach Mitchell Schmidt at maschmidt@press-citizen.com or at 887-5402. http://www.press-citizen.corn/articlel2o l3Ol23INEWS011301230032/Council-endorses-dis... 1/23/2013 Submitted to Commission by Jeff Cox on August 23, 2012, Progressive, it is an article he authored in The Prairie The New Jim Crow Comes to Iowa City WenMichelle Alexander's heNew Jim Crow; Mass ncarceration in the Age of Colorblindness was published last year, it was discussed widely in Iowa City. Alexander's title pretty much says it all, The Land of the Free is now the world's largest prison, with an incarceration rate that exceeds the most repressive regimes in the world, including China and Russia. The increase in incarceration is driven largely by our out of control war on drugs, and the victims are overwhelm- ingly black. With 12%of the U.S. population, African Americans constitute 45%ofAmericanprisoners. Perhaps worst of all are the long term effects of the New Jim Crow: one in three adult U.S. black males carves the life-long stigma of a felony conviction. For the last several months Johnson County has been carrying on its own dis- cussion about incarceration. Community leaders of all stripes have united behind a proposal to build a new "justice center" which includes, among other things, a new jail. Readers of the Iowa City Press Citizen and The Gazette are bombarded almost weekly with new articles, based on press releases from the county super- visors or the sheriff, promoting the new jail as simple common sense. Our colorblind community leaders, and the journalists who cover them, have conducted this conversation without men- tioning race. On his private blog, County Supervisor Rod Sullivan has raised the is- sue of racial disparities in both detention and arrests ofjuveniles, but has carefully segregated those statistics from any dis- cussion of the new jail, which he strongly supports —a classic example of cognitive dissonance among liberals. The new justice center is a plan to jail more people. That is what the New Jim Crow is all about --the growth of incarceration. Perhaps before jumping headlong into a large expansion of jail capacity in Johnson County, Iowa City liberals should consider some facts that have been conveniently omitted or down- played in public discussion of the jail. The current Johnson County jail has as capacity of 96. The average number of people in custody on any given night is roughly 160, requiring the Sheriff to send prisoners to neighboring counties with excess capacity. The new "justice center" will have a capacity of 243, i.e. a 50%growth in the number of people incarcerated. "They should plan to incarcerate fewer people, not more" Although Johnson County is roughly 5%African-American, in 2011 of the 160 incarcerated on an average night, roughly 60 were African Amen - can. Over the last several years the percentage of African -Americans has consistently hovered around 400/.. With a 50%growth in incarceration (160 to 243), the number of African -Americans in custody will soar from 60 a night to 90. Welcome to apartheid, Johnson County style. Defenders of jail expan- sion say that we must "plan for growth," but the growth that they are planning is what drives the most harmful form of racism in America. Arrest rates and incarceration rates are falling in many Iowa counties. Polk County actually has room to house 400 additional prisoners in its jail. In Johnson County, though, arrest rates have grown as the African -American community has grown. In Linn County (Cedar Rapids), the juvenile arrest rate fell last year, while in Johnson County it grew from 467 to 533, an increase of over 140/9. In 2010, black youth made up 38.3% of the juvenile arrests in Johnson County, and blacks accounted for 40.6% ofjuveniles placed in "secure detention." Alexander documented the primary cause of the increasing arrest rates: the war on drugs. In Iowa City, where marijuana is the overwhelming drug of choice, drug arrests by the Iowa City Po- lice Department have soared from 332 in 2007 to 626 in 2011. Defenders of Iowa City's arrest -happy police department often claim that the high arrest rate is the result of unusually high levels of crimi- nal behavior in Iowa City compared to comparable communities. Anyone who knows anything about policing knows that arrest rates are as much a result of policing policy as the level of criminal behavior. Iowa City Police Lt, Doug Hart admitted as much in explaining the soaring drug arrest levels: "It could be increased drug problems, or it could be as simple as the fact that we have more officers working in the street." In their high arrest policy the Iowa City Police Department has been joined by the University of Iowa Police. Now fully armed with tasers and guns, their budget has doubled over the last ten years, paid for by student tuition and state taxes. The University police now trawl the downtown bars along with the Iowa City police in order to arrest students. The last time anyone counted, 17%of Ul students had an arrest record when they graduated, one that they will be required to disclose to graduate schools and employers all of their lives. In 2009 the University of Iowa police arrest rates were 13% higher than those at Iowa State, a school with roughly the same number of students. The new' justice center" would improve facilities for lawyers, jailers, judges, and prosecutors. Defenders of the new jail also claim they have the in- terests of prisoners at heart. After all, the additional people we incarcerate through "growth" will have better facilities in a newjail. Thanks! There is every reason to believe that the Iowa City Police De- partment will fill up every new jail bed, and that 40% of the additional prisoners will be African -American. Any good that comes from a new jail will be more than TXE PRAIRIE PROGRESSIVE • SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 2 Jim Crow, Conmwed on Page 5 CALENDAR Aug.2,1937 FDR signed Marihuana Taxation Act Aug. 9,1932 Farmers went on strike in Iowa Aug.15,1947 Non-violent campaign culminates in independence for India Sept. 15, 1982 USA Today debuts Sept,19,1957 First underground nucleartest conducted in Nevada Sept. 25, 1957 Army troops sent by Eisenhower escorted 9 children to high school in Little Rock, Arkansas Sept. 30,1962 University of Mississippi students rioted over ad mission of James Meredith Jim Crow, Coathwed from Pagt 2 offset by the lifetime harm that will be done to African -Americans by incarcerat- ing many more in an expanded jail. If the jail advocates are serious about improving conditions for current inmates, they should go back to the drawing board and design a justice center with jail for 160 inmates, which is the current demand. We should plan to incarcerate fewer people, not more. By planning for growth, they are planning to expand the New Jim Crow in Johnson County, making a mockery of our commitment to "equal justice under the law." -- Jeff Cox P.S. As I finished writing this column, the news came of the unexpected death of the best Political columnist in America, Alexander Cockburn. His columns in The Nation, and in his Political newsletter Counterpunch, were lifelines of sanity, beautifully written. Cock- burn infuriated many liberals, including me, because of his skepticism about the human contribution to global warming, and his occa- sional bouts of nostalgia for Communism. He was at his very best when skewering the hy- pocrisy of liberal Democrats for their support of the neo-liberal corporatism and dangemus militarism of Presidents Carter, Clinton, and Obama. He will be missed. THE PRAIRIE PROGRESSIVE is Iowa's oldest progressive newsletter. It is funded entirely by subscriptions from our readers. Editor for this issue: Jeff Cox. o $121-year subscription o $_2012 sustaining fund gift o $101-year gift subscription YOW Name Your Address City, Slate Zip Gift Name Gift Address City, State Zip Please return to: The Prairie Progressive. P.O. Box 1945, Iowa City, IA 52244 Lauren Reece Flaum 1960-2012 Prairie Dog's 2012 Honor Rol(, Continued from Page I School District watchers believe that the School Board of the early 2000s was exceptionally effective, productive, and transparent. Much of the credit goes to Lauren Reece Flaum, who served two terms from 1999 to 2005 and as board president from 2001 to 2004. Her leader- ship helped pass a $39 million bond referendum that led to the expansion of classrooms and built a new high school, junior high, and elementary school across the district. The Prairie Progressive will miss Lauren's friendship, her extraordi- nary ability to bring people together, and her clear and thoughtful writing. We offer a brief sample from her ar- ticle Summertime Murmur in the August 2009 PP: "I often wonder what it is that gets hold affair, open-minded people once they join a school board How quickly itsforgotten that the board k jab is to lead the superintendent and not the other way around.! But I do remember that courage is not revered in the climate ofthe board committee; conformity is. The complexities of school finance formulas in conjunc- tion with the steep learning curve of other issues conspire to intimidate rather than embolden. People fall in line. I often did myself. " X THE PRAIRIE PROGRESSIVE 0 SUMMER 2012 • PAGE 5 — Prairie Dog Johnson County Web Site Page Page 1 of 2 Home Iwant To... Departments Agendas and Minutes calendar seamn Revised Justice Center Plan The Board of Supervisors approved placing a bond referendum before the voters in November 2012 which would have authorized the County to bond up to $46.8 million to address space needs of the jail, court services, County Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office. While the measure received support of 55% of those voting, it failed to achieve the required 60% approval required for passage. The Board of Supervisors has now created a revised plan which it is considering placing before the voters in a special election that would be held on May 7, 2013. 10 To view the details of the draft plan, clickr O $ To view information about the original plan as well as needs of the Courthouse and Jail, click re. The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the draft plan on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 7-OO PM in Courtroom 2A of the Johnson County Courthouse, 417 S. Clinton Street in Iowa City. For additional information, contact the Board of Supervisors at 319-356-6000. 4 i I q, fa� http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_blank.aspx?id=12299 1 /22/2013 Johnson County Web Site Page Page 2 of 2 HIPM Pri PrNt . My quaH.A^ Is "aNlnp Nk slle ran M WllR bweewen n>a M . M Wwnb MO Reader h�, frxNom of Inbrma wn Reaug6 If espMence pmMems flndin9 me Inbrmatlon Ya reed, please k[ us know tgrg. http://Www.johnson-county.com/dept_blank.aspx?id=12299 1/22/2013 S m v d r N d F+ n O 3 »' S O p a a ° 3 o c a o D c d O N N ID ^, CL J w d 1'D ry w 3 w ' N C A T ` S a a c 3 d d d c D n N C + w N' 3 C m y F 3 m 'o fl. d 3 O S d y m c ° m � Z � ° 3 � N tD R \ A N Q N n N o y T v 0 a O A O N d G c 0=C c -4 a ° S d SG c O O R O fC O w d F '^ Y n j N n O n O O M N S A n � 3 N N ° N o m 0 0. 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G n m N fSD o� J W m J m m < F m N o C N M e? 1• N p p• m H O Cl Q C •p < '�' '� al o c S m z m v m n ? W n C. v C 0.0 d mJ R< m m J as 0 n n J 13 X S 3 3 M X al O F+ -p m N c3 w o 'o c ID � m n O x• C T O � m O m O v m C °' �• N N y m Q N J J J al Ol p� m J m a n CL w �*: v. < °c CL A O 0. J ° a 3 n< a i N c N J < J 0a W m ao m m 01 m c o �i N O as O ° m N 3 Kom , aJ 1 m O m 2 m E m • m E 3 °- w G.Sr ,•J* O N £• S S C. O - m m m N CL z C I A � m m o. o. .m. w o. 0 pl N m C. m m n n < •y G -y Q. N ao m m m _ n J• G^-1 m m ° 3 m T N Stefanie Bowers From: Ross Wilburn <Wilburn.Ross@iccsd.kl2.ia.us> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 3:31 PM To: Stefanie Bowers Cc: Stephen Murley Subject: RE: Human Rights Commission Meeting Held On 1-15-13 Attachments: ICCSD Response to IC Human Rights Commissioner's questions 1-18-2013.doc Good afternoon Stephanie. Please see the attached response to Commissioner Harper's inquiry. Have a good weekend. Ross Ross Wilburn Director of Equity, Iowa City Community School District 1725 North Dodge Street Iowa City, IA 52245-9589 Phone: (319) 688-1000 Fax: (319) 688-1009 ICCSD Web: htto://www.iowacitvschools.org From: Stefanie Bowers [mailto:Stefanie-Bowers@iowa-city.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 4:22 PM To: Ross Wilburn Subject: Human Rights Commission Meeting Held On 1-15-13 Ross, I received the following request for information from Iowa City Human Rights Commissioner Jessie Harper on January 15, 2013 at an Iowa City Human Rights Commission meeting; 1) Are high school aged students who are placed at offsite facilities or attending Tate High School given access to courses/classes that prepare them to take the ACT or any other standardized college preparatory exam? 2) Are the programs offered to high school aged students at offsite facilities accredited? Is there case management offered to those students as it relates to preparing them to attend a trade school, junior college or college? The Iowa City Human Rights Commission is holding a special meeting on Monday, January 28, 2013 at 6 pm here at City Hall to discuss the above mentioned matters. A written response would be very much appreciated. If you are not the proper contact at the District concerning the request please forward this correspondence to the appropriate representative. Sincerely, Stefanie Bowers Human Rights Coordinator City of Iowa City Subject to the requirements of the Iowa Open Records Act, this message and accompanying documents are covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. Subsection 2510-2515, as amended, and contains information intended for the specified individual(s) only. This information is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, copying, or taking of any action based on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. NOTICE: All email communications to and from the District's email server are archived in accordance with District policy and procedures. This email communication, including attachments, contains information which may be confidential and/or legally privileged, and may otherwise be exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The information is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient or believe you received this communication in error, please reply to the sender indicating that fact and delete the copy you received. In addition, if you are not the intended recipient or believe you received this communication in error, any unauthorized retention, copying, disclosure, distribution, or other use of the information is strictly prohibited. Thank you. Iowa City Community School District Educational Services Center Ross Wilburn Director of Equity 1725 North Dodge Street • Iowa City, IA 52245 • (319) 688-1000 • Fax (319) 688-1009 • www.iowacityschools.org January 18, 2013 Stefanie Bowers Human Rights Coordinator City of Iowa City 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Stefanie, Below are responses to the questions asked by Iowa City Human Rights Commissioner Jessie Harper. As I indicated during my telephone conversation with you, the ICCSD School Board's proposed "Diversity Policy" is posted on the school district's web page in the previous agenda (January 15, 2013). I do not know if there will be amendments to the proposal during the scheduled third and final reading at the February 5, 2013 Board meeting. The School Board has been receiving input from the public, so if the Human Rights Commission or Commissioners wish to provide input to the Board, they can send correspondence to them or come to their next meeting (presuming they will continue to take comments from the floor during the meeting). Responses to proposed questions: 1) Are high school aged students who are placed at offsite facilities or attending Tate High School given access to courses/classes that prepare them to take the ACT or any other standardized college preparatory exam? ICCSD Response: The traditional English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies courses offered at Tate are all the same as the comprehensive high schools and these courses do prepare students for standardized college entrance tests (ACT). Students in offsite programs are taught the District's curriculum as well. Students at Tate do take the ACT and the district receives reports on their results. Regardless of whether the student originated at one of the other high schools, the results are reported to the ICCSD as attending Tate. Historically less than 10 students per year from Tate take the test, so the results are not reported to the public or media, nor are they reported under the other high school's numbers. Children and families have the right to privacy under the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) relative to their academic achievement; we protect the right of privacy by not reporting scores of group size of 10 or less — the concern with such a low number is that others could determine individual student scores. The mission of the Iowa Cit) ( unununit) School District is to ensure all students will becomeresponsible. independent learners capable of' making informed decisions in a democratic sncictc as "el I as in the dyftamic global community: this is accomplished by challenging each student with a rigorous and creative ewriculum taught by a diN e se. professional. caring stall and enriched through the resources and the etrorts ofl'amilies and the entire community. 2) Are the programs offered to high school aged students at offsite facilities accredited? Is there case management offered to those students as it relates to preparing them to attend a trade school, junior college or college? Response: The Iowa City Community School District is an accredited district. Courses on campus and offsite are taught the District's curriculum by certified teachers. All students in offsite programs are earning credit for their classwork (FYI, Tate is not considered an offsite program). All students in the offsite programs have case management to monitor their academic and mental health/behavioral supports (if being provided). For those offsite students interested in college or vocational programs, staff connects them with the programs and supports (such as Voc. Rehab, Futures, Career Connections and Transition Services) that help them prepare for their future. There usually are not a large number of junior or seniors in offsite programs. They are usually back at their home schools full-time by the time they get that age. If older students are in an offsite program, staff usually gets them involved with Career Connections for vocational training post -graduation. As you are aware, if there are specific incidents where a student/parent believe that the above is not occurring, please encourage that parent to contact their building administrator so that they can review the situation. Also, if someone believes that they have been discriminated against they can contact their building administrator and/or my office to discuss the District's grievance procedures. Respectfully, Ross Wilburn Director of Equity