2008-04-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Friday, April 18, 2008 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: School Board/Council Lunch Meeting BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM – April 18, 2008 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Taliaferro. Absent: Mr. Norris. Mr. Jim Henderson, Assistant Superintendent for Administration for Charlottesville Schools, said that a new parent notification system has been implemented, ALERT NOW, that can make 6000 calls in one minute. Mr. Dave Uhlig, Supervisor of Management Information Systems for Charlottesville Schools, gave a demonstration of the ALERT NOW system. Ms. Jessica Kalager, Science Coordinator for Charlottesville Schools, described the Odyssey 2025 Program, a summer professional development and enrichment program being done in conjunction with Albemarle County Schools. She said it provides science thth education for rising 6 and 7 grade students and teachers, incorporating real life based learning. Ms. Rosa Atkins, Superintendent of Charlottesville Schools, said that the public education fund, in cooperation with the JASON project, is providing all funding for the Odyssey 2025 program. Responding to a question from Kathleen Galvin, School Board member, Ms. Kalager said that the content of the Odyssey 2025 Program is aligned with the SOLs. Dr. Brown said he serves as Chairman of the Environmental Sustainability Committee, and they would love to get a student on the Committee. He said the Committee has set ambitious goals for recycling and one way to do that is to involve the schools because students then take that knowledge home. He said the Committee also considers other issues where a student might help engage the student body. Mr. Ned Michie, Chairman of the School Board, said that the School Board discussed the land owned by the City but currently used by the Schools that is needed for the Meadowcreek Parkway. He said the Board was mostly interested in safety issues. He said he thinks the Board will be able to pass a resolution at its next meeting. He said the Board would like to keep the speed at 25 mph at that portion of the road and would like to restrict trucks, which he understands is already included in the City’s letter to VDOT, but the County, where the land is actually located, has not officially restricted trucks. He said practically speaking trucks will be banned in the County portion because they are banned on the City portion. He said most of the concern was with students crossing the road. He said there is also the issue of a replacement field which he understands is likely to be at McIntire Park. Mr. Mike Svetz, Director of Parks and Recreation, said they are in the final stage of the YMCA/McIntire Park update and the scenario now allows for development of one of the rectangular fields in the early stages. He said a public meeting on the Park plan th will be held on May 6 and will be presented to Council at May 19. Mr. Michie said he is encouraged by that. He said he wants to make sure that Charlottesville Schools have priority use after school.