Saturday, October 11, 2008

A Partnership Thwarted...

Good Saturday Morning to YOU All!

Many thanks to all of you who have offered your support and encouragement for PEP to continue to fight the good fight – and in doing so will bring about the manifestation of all parties “True” intentions!

Part II – A Partnership Thwarted:

The following request was made to secure space for the PEP Board Meetings; the previous transcript was to request space for PEP General Body meetings. I thought it prudent to point out this difference. Let me further warn you that this is a 14 page compilations of exchanges for which the current Blog screen size would be overwhelming to the reader. It will therefore take me approximately 2 weeks of posting to provide you with the full breadth and scope of this entire exchange.

I also want to provide one point of clarification before I begin. The District did provide direction in the end --and as I posted in the transcript -- to secure space at the Washington Community School. The young lady who manages this process provided a clear, concise and direct process by which to follow and her follow-up and follow through were SUPERB!

The following experience that you are about to read – however -- is directly from the pages of Abbott & Costello’s --- Who’s on First…I Don’t Know…

Original Request:
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Sent: 10/6/08 - 12:06 PM

Hi Rose,

Following are dates and times I would like to secure meeting space for the PEP Board Meeting for the 08-09 School year. All meetings will be scheduled from 6PM - 8PM.

11/10: PEP Board
12/15: PEP Board Meeting
2009
1/12/09: PEP Board Meeting
2/9: PEP Board Meeting
3/16: PEP Board Meeting
4/13: PEP Board Meeting
5/4: PEP Board Meeting
6/1& 6/8 or 6/15: PEP Board Meeting

Please advise if the space will be available or provide an alternate location.

I thank you in advance for your attention to this request and a timely reply.
Sincerely,
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From: Davis, Rose [mailto:rdavis@plainfield.k12.nj.us]
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 9:01 AM

Good Morning Mrs. Hernandez,

As per Dr. Bailey, we do not provide space for outside organizations. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Rose Davis
Coordinator of Community Involvement & Support Services


Note: the Exclusionary terms used here specifically identifying PEP once again as an “outside” organization.

From: "Hernandez, Renata [OBIUS]"
To: "Davis, Rose"
CC: "Bailey, Garnell" , , "PEP President" , "Secy-Shonte B. Simmons" <>, "VP-Alicia Jones" <>, "VP-Vicky Hubbard" <>, "(BOE) Agurs Linward Cathcart Jr. (E-mail)" , "(BOE) Bridget Rivers (E-mail)" , "(BOE) Christopher Estevez (E-mail)" , "(BOE) Lisa Logan-Leach (E-mail)" , "(BOE) Martin Cox (E-mail)" , "(BOE) Pat Barksdale" , "(BOE) Vickey Sheppard (E-mail)" , "(BOE) Wilma Campbell (E-mail)"

Date: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 11:45:00 AM


Good Morning:

I would first ask that you please define "outside" organizations and provide your district policy for same.

Respectfully I call your attention to BOE Policy #1330 in support of our application for use.

Further -- I submit the following support documentation which further provides for support of meeting space specific to PIRC facilities.

"Parent Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) can help. With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, more than 80 PIRCs are working to inform and educate parents, family advocates, educators, community organizers, faith-based activists and others committed to educational success for all students, especially low-income, minority, and English language learning students." (PIRC Info Center Website: http://www.pirc-info.net/)

US Legislation regarding funding and purposes of PIRC (Subpart 16):(http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg81.html

US Legislation regarding Parental Involvement (SEC 1118): http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg2.html#sec1118

PEP's identity as a PTO -- from a historical perspective PEP has ALWAYS been and functioned as a PTO, this has not changed. In fact, if the District would review its books it will see that they have always utilized PEP to fulfill Title I funding obligations as well as to comport with various State and Governmental policies under NCLB parental involvement statutes.

The question is what has change with regard to the district's perspective as to what PEP is or is not?

To The Plainfield Board of Education:

I would like to formally request that this matter be taken to the BOE in accordance with Policy# 1312 (5th paragraph) in so much that PEP has sought to have District policies and procedures identified and distributed to the public by which the District would engage organizations such as a PTOs, and more specifically PEP, and furthermore has found unsatisfactory adjustment.

I do hereby make a request on behalf of PEP as their President to have heard before the BOE this complaint of dissatisfaction with regard to parental involvement engagement restrictions levied on the citywide PTO known as PEP that may be in violations in accordance with NCLB legislature, policies and mandates.

Your attention, direction and recommendation for proceeding would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
Renata A. Hernandez, PEP President

P.S.: Please forward to Dr. Gallon as I do not have his email address.

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Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I post the conversations that ensued.
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Enjoy this most Beautiful of Fall Days!

Fondly,
Renata

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