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10 <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton, a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, explained <br />that Leigh Middleditch has convened a committee to talk about how we can fund road <br />plans. She said that Butch Davies, a member of the Commonwealth Transportation <br />Board, has said that we need to rally together as a community in support of road plans. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he is interested in knowing who is on the working group <br />convened by Mr. Middleditch. Mr. Schilling said he thinks Council reports should be put <br />on the agenda in advance so people know about them. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he will have a legislative report at every meeting until the end <br />of the General Assembly session. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said that one issue being considered by theSstate is in regard to <br />policies adopted during the drought. Dr. Brown said he suggested that the City initiate a <br />committee to look at drought management policies and Delegate Mitchell Van Yahres <br />has agreed to amend his legislation in light of this suggestion. <br /> <br />OTHER BUSINESS <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that the number of students in the School's English as a Second <br />Language (ESL) program increased from 180 last year to 240 this year with the same <br />number of teachers. He said he has met with the School Superintendent and proposed <br />that resources of Council, the School Board, and hopefully the state be pooled to fund a <br />position for this spring. He said federal and state funding will kick in for the fall of 2005. <br />He said these refugee students need to be assimilated into society. He also noted that <br />there is only one year of exemption from No Child Left Behind for these students. He <br />proposed allotting $15,000 from Council reserve to match School funds for one <br />additional teacher and an aide. He said we need to move on this quickly. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked whether Council would like to deal with this issue tonight or <br />schedule it on the next agenda. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said she is comfortable moving on this tonight as it has been <br />discussed previously by Council. She thanked Mr. Lynch for bringing forward the <br />proposal. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he appreciates Mr. Lynch bringing this forward, but would <br />prefer to wait. He said we need to get at the root of the problem and said there is no <br />excuse for the schools not having known about the influx of refugees. He said he has <br />some legal questions concerning civil rights laws. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he shares Mr. Caravati's concerns. He said he had heard <br />rumblings about the refugee students coming and does not understand why the schools <br />did not know. He expressed concern that the schools cannot find the $15,000 in their <br />own budget. He said there may be other needs in the school system or other competing <br />needs for these funds. He supported deferring the matter to the next meeting. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati about civil rights laws, Mr. Brown <br />said that there is a requirement with federal funds that there be equal opportunity to take <br />advantage of educational services, but he said he will provide further information. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said the total cost for a full time teacher and aide for the spring <br />semester is $37,000 and the schools will put up $22,000. Regarding why the schools did <br />not know the students were coming, he said he understands that the International Rescue <br />Committee was not completely informed when the most recent refugees were coming and <br />they were expected over a two year period, but arrived all at once. He said when we talk <br />about the issue of poverty, refugees are a part of that. <br /> <br />It was agreed that the proposal would be placed on the February 7th agenda. <br /> <br />APPOINTMENTS: BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS <br /> <br /> <br />