Meeting Minutes: Parent Council Meeting Feb 9, 2023

Meeting called to order at 9:36 am

Parent Council Board Members present:

Antoinette Jackson, President

Anne-Marie Garrity, Corresponding Secretary
Pam Cornell-Allen, Membership Coordinator

Schools with representatives present:

Allen Early Learning Academy

Dodson Elementary School
Field Elementary School
Gallimore Elementary School
Hoben Elementary School
Hulsing Elementary School
Tonda Elementary School
Workman Elementary School
Discovery Middle School
East Middle School
Liberty Middle School
Pioneer Middle School
Canton High School
Plymouth High School
Salem High School
Virtual Academy K-8

Old meeting minutes were approved.

District Updates:

❖ Dr. Monica Merritt - P-CCS Superintendent of Schools

The superintendent thanked the team for their work amidst the challenges they faced and
highlighted their achievements, which included student growth in English Language Arts and
Mathematics, outperforming state and national averages. She had discussed the district's dynamic
plan, a five-year roadmap, which had focused on equity, community engagement, and student
wellness. Despite the challenges they faced, such as transportation and staffing shortages, and
increasing mental health concerns among students due to the pandemic, the district had
implemented various support mechanisms. They used state and federal funding to bolster mental
health services and increase the number of staff.

❖ Nick Brandon - Executive Director of Communications & Marketing

In conclusion to the council meeting, Nick lauded the council's ability to take action, citing an
instance where feedback from a parent, Shay Bailey, led to direct change. Bailey had brought up the
idea of fostering more school spirit at P-CCS, a challenging task due to intra-school rivalries among
the three high schools. The council swiftly formed a committee dedicated to this endeavor, labeled

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 the P-CCS Spirit Team. Nick expressed excitement over the progress made in the committee's first
meeting, seeing this as a means to further connect the school district with the broader community.
He encouraged Bailey to share any additional thoughts, reinforcing the importance of the parent
council's feedback.

District Presenters:

❖ James Hunter - Principal of Liberty Middle School

James expressed gratitude to the council board and shared about his journey and that of the school.
Before becoming the principal of Liberty Middle School, he had served as the interim principal at
Central Middle School and had been a devoted teacher in various locations. Liberty Middle School,
which launched in the 2015-16 school year, is the largest middle school in the district with 850
students and is known for its diversity. He highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between
school and home and mentioned the intentional formation of parent networks. He noticed that
African American students often appeared in academic and behavioral data, but not in a positive
way. To address this issue, he initiated an African American parent network to start conversations
about these disparities. He expressed pride in the progress made at Liberty Middle School, both
physically and metaphorically.

❖ Furqan Khaldun, Kiaira Barker & Antoinette Jackson - Liberty African American Parent Network
(L.A.A.P.N.) Board Members

Kiaira Barker, introduced the network and shared its mission and vision. The L.A.A.P.N. is a parent-led
network committed to fostering parent engagement, navigating the educational system, providing
enrichment opportunities, and creating a community of high-achieving, culturally aware students
who are college and career-ready.

Furqan Khaldun, another parent, and member of the L.A.A.P.N., shared the events and activities the
group has hosted and is planning. These included a back-to-school bash, parent workshops, a
community movie event, a parent meet, a pep rally, the Black History Mobile Museum event, and an
upcoming basketball game. He mentioned an ongoing initiative called Super Saturdays, which
involves test prep sessions for students to improve academic performance, particularly for M-Step
and PSAT exams.

Khaldun also recognized Principal Hunter's role in establishing the Liberty Middle School community
and initiating the L.A.A.P.N. to support African American students at the school.

❖ Frank Ruggirello - Director of Partnerships & External Affairs

Frank discussed his work in PR, marketing, and establishing educational partnerships. His recent
projects include adding academies and a new liberal college program in collaboration with
Schoolcraft College and Washtenaw Community College to provide more choices to students and
save families money on college education.

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❖ Amanda Pelukas - Virtual Academy & Early Middle College Coordinator

The Early Middle College program allows high school students to simultaneously pursue a high
school diploma while obtaining a certificate, Associate degree, or 60 transferable credit hours. The
key benefit is that the program incurs no cost to families, saving them approximately $17,000. This
program differs from dual enrollment and advanced placement courses due to its structured path of
study and guaranteed college credits.

The program requires students to be self-motivated and possess essential skills like good attendance,
adequate preparation, communication, and resilience. Partnering with Schoolcraft College and
Washtenaw Community College, the program offers certificate programs and Associate degree
programs in various disciplines.

Certificate students complete their high school diploma and certificate simultaneously, while those
pursuing an Associate degree require an additional year commitment. Credits from this program are
transferable to other universities or colleges that are part of the Michigan transfer agreement. The
program is still in its initial phase, starting with eighth-grade students, and efforts are underway to
get the program fully operational.

❖ Kimberly May - Director of State & Federal Programs and School Improvements + (NAFEPA) State
Leadership Award winner

Kimberly focused on maximizing grant usage for student support and managing a diverse English
learner program. She also oversaw the McKinney Vento program supporting homeless students and
families, all aimed at addressing social, emotional, and academic needs of all students. She
expressed gratitude for the award.

❖ Tim Gruszczynski - Director of Facilities & Capital Projects

Tim discussed various school district projects funded by a past bond issue, all guided by the district's
dynamic plan. This included feedback-based renovations and additions to several schools and the
creation of a new natatorium and multipurpose room at Plymouth High School. Some projects were
still in the bidding or design phase. Emphasizing inclusivity, the speaker highlighted the significant
involvement of students and staff in the decision-making process. The aim was to improve facilities
across the district, making them more user-friendly and secure.