2004-11-30 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Tuesday, November 30, 2004 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Councilors are invited to attend a meeting with representatives from the International Rescue Committee BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - November 30, 2004 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Mr. Lynch. Absent: Ms. Hamilton and Mr. Schilling. Present at the meeting were representatives of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), School staff, and representatives from the Fire, Police, Social Services, and Neighborhood Development Services Departments. Dr. Brown said he wants to make sure that the City is doing a good job of serving its most recent residents, referring to refugees sponsored by the IRC. He said he would also like to talk about demands these new residents place on City and School services, and to discuss ways to help them settle in and become contributing members of our community. Dr. Brown said the major topics he would like to discuss are schools, public safety, and social services. Ms. Susan Donovan, Director of IRC, provided background information on IRC. She said the main issues facing IRC are transportation, housing and education. Schools Dr. Scottie Griffin, Superintendent of Schools, said that Charlottesville Schools currently have 80 refugees, 40 from Somalia. She said the main challenges are the need for interpreters and transportation. She said that a transitional setting is needed for these refugees in order to better serve their needs. Ms. Bev Catlin, Director of English as a Second Language Program, said that these newest student refugees are pre-literate, have no native written language, and have never attended schools, so it is an extremely challenging population for the school system. She said that after a year in the system, most of these students' test scores will be included in Standards of Learning and Adequate Yearly Progress. Mr. Lynch said he thinks we should document the costs of the refugees to the City and Schools so that we can let the State Department know. He said he is willing to see the program succeed, but noted that there is a cost to the community. Dr. Brown suggested that we use less than top notch interpreters in areas where expertise is not needed. Ms. Julie Gronlund, School Board Members, said she feels there are opportunities for collaboration with Albemarle County Schools as they also have refugees. Dr. Griffin said that the School Superintendents in the State are making recommendations to the State legislature and Department of Education about refugee issues. She said that the City Schools need at least one additional English as a Second Language teacher, and need $30,000 which would be matched by funding from the schools.