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<br />NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE <br />HELD ON Friday, October 16, 2009 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference <br />Room. <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br /> Luncheon meeting with School Board <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox <br /> <br />BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM – October 16, 2009 <br /> <br /> Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: <br />Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris. Absent: Dr. Brown and Mr. Taliaferro. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Napziger and Ms. Miriam Rushfin discussed early childhood education <br />and the Smart Beginnings program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Napziger said Smart Beginnings began two years ago with a grant. He said <br />the focus is on school readiness and improving day care. He said the program also <br />involves a pre-school social worker at Johnson Elementary School. <br /> <br /> Ms. Rushfin reviewed the report “The State of Local School Readiness in <br />Charlottesville and Albemarle.” She said there needs to be a community wide approach, <br />there is a focus on economically challenged children, there is local evidence of how <br />important it is to start early, we need to look at increasing the community’s commitment, <br />and early childhood education has a dramatic impact on the achievement gap. <br /> <br /> Mr. Ned Michie, School Board Chair, asked if any thought has been given to <br />creating a space in public housing, and Mr. Norris said yes, but the discussions are early <br />in the process. <br /> <br /> Ms. Rushfin said the rate of pre-school enrollment is much higher in <br />neighborhoods where there is a center or child care worker. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said there is a perception that there is a shortage of day care, especially <br />non-traditional (i.e. nights and infant care). He asked why the market has not stepped up <br />given the demand. <br /> <br /> Mr. Napzinger said it is primarily an issue of cost and affordability. <br /> <br /> Dr. Rosa Atkins, Superintendent of City Schools, said there is a lack of diversity <br />in child care centers, with the higher quality centers having fewer African American <br />children. <br /> <br /> Mr. Michie asked about the next steps, and Ms. Rushfin said there are multiple <br />levels. She suggested having a follow up meeting with the School Board and Council to <br />focus on that issue. She said they need to know if early childhood education is a priority <br />for the City and County governments and School Boards. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris asked how success is being measured at Smart Beginnings, and Ms. <br />Rushfin said there are indicators to show school readiness. She said one measure is <br />getting 85-100% of low income children in a quality pre-school. <br /> <br /> The meeting was adjourned. <br /> <br />______________________________ _____________________________ <br />President Clerk <br />