Date:  

September 25, 2008

Facilitator:  Robin Ambrosino

Location:

3 Blue Streak Blvd., 2^nd floor, School District Administrative Offices

Recorder: Becky De Witt

Attendees:

Robin Ambrosino, Becky De W it, Robin Lyle, Kelley Bayer, Kati Behrens,
Bev LaBarge, Stephanie Lang, John Kelly, Dan Tallman, Mary Haley,
Diane McGarry, Dan Morley, Ellenor Stanton, Sarah, Josh Walker, Elizabeth, Bill Bomhke, Jim Murphy
Brenda Quinn, Judy Tirelli, Dave Torres.
 

Materials Distributed:

 n/a

Overview

Discussion

Decisions/Actions

News &
Announcements

·     Introduction of the new Partnership Coordinator – Courtney Lamport.  She will be moving into new position on October 6.  We are very excited and would like to wish her luck and welcome her!

·     Maureen Cary and family are doing well in England and will be back in touch with the world as soon as they get settled and the internet is set up.  The children started school and everything is going well so far.

·     Strengthening Families Starts at the Middle School on October 16. This is a program for 6th grade families that discusses teen issues, family communication.  Dinner and childcare is provided.

·     Upcoming year is a bi-annual survey year:  6-page survey that covers various risky behaviors.  The survey will be given to 100% of the student population.  It will be held 2 days at the Middle School and 2 days at the High School.  We will be holding a parent survey as well held during the winter possibly via surveymonkey.com.

·     Robin Lyle – The Parks and Recreation department is hosting a program called Options New Beginnings.

·     OASAS grant has developed notepads and magnets to promote the Underage Drinking Not a Minor Problem message.  Robin is looking to get these into local community member’s hands.  Please call Robin Lyle at the Prevention Council if you are interested in helping spread the word.  There will also be a mass mailing through the school district promoting parents' influence on youth along with the consequences of underage drinking.

·     Eleanor Stanton is looking for topics for parent meetings at the Presbyterian Church. Anyone interested in speaking about a topic such as underage drinking, please let her know.

·     John Kelly discussed homecoming and mentioned that he and Lisa Chamberlain are heading to Comstock Jail to raise awareness among kids participating in risky behaviors. Also mentioned Northeast training on prescription drug abuse from 9 am- 3pm with a break for lunch (on your own) at Saratoga High School.  Youth Court officer training October14-15. For more information call Lisa Chamberlain.
 

Partnership Updates

·    9th Grade Assistant Principal Josh Walker came to talk about the district's new pilot mentoring program for at-risk freshman. Participants were referred by Maple Avenue's guidance counselors, based on education, economic, and emotional concerns, poor academic and attendance throughout their three years at middle school.

Over 50 mentors for this program that have been trained through the Prevention Council on what activities are appropriate to reach out to the students to foster positive development. Every mentor created a folder with one side based on what the student is all about – likes dislikes etc. and the other side is set up with activities that might help the student develop.  More recommendations are coming as report cards are coming out. The overall feedback has been positive from both mentors and mentees. 

·    Jim Murphy reported on new efforts to expand the Truancy Program. Developed in 2001, Saratoga was the first school in the district to develop this program and there's been an 80% attendance increase.  Eight other schools in the county have signed on to the program.  The truancy program is supported by the DA’s office, but ultimately the school works to bring the families back into the fold by reaching out tto help figure out what issues are preventing child from getting to school.  The school and DA’s office work with parents on getting involved in their student’s education so the parent doesn’t end up in jail for up to a year.
 

·    Some good news:  the Partnership's grant from CSAP was renewed for another five years of funding. Next month we would like to take a look at the overall vision of the grant, what we need to do, where we're going.

·    The Southern Comfort Concert was canceled. Local community members and agency members came together to looking at the logistics of the concert and the concerns of underage drinking. It was moved to Altamont without much fanfare.

·    The Amethyst Initiative. Former Middlebury College president began a debate about lowering the drinking age and seeking help from other college presidents. Skidmore’s president did not sign the initiative.

·    The new Saratoga Springs logo has been unveiled, also without much fanfare. Logo now depicts a shopping bag and art pallet with a wine glass front and center. Group agreed there's not much to be done after the fact.

Committee
Updates

·  Becky gave a brief update on the Youth Committee and Josh Walker gave an update on the Transition Committee. 

The group agreed that we would only update when a committee had pertinent info to report or ran into a wall.
 

·   

Visioning

Next Meeting

The next Partnership meeting will take place on Thursday,  Thursday, October 16^th from 12 - 1:30 p.m.