Item Coversheet

Board of Education Meeting Date:  6/11/2020

Action under consideration

 The Administration recommends that the Board of Education authorize The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, to execute and perform a contract, subject to funding, as follows: 

 With:
Demetrius Weaver  

 Purpose: 

Provide coordination and collaboration of partnerships, as well as help students with postsecondary bridging and experiences that will help them gain insight into their college and career goals.


 Start date: 7/1/2020

 End date: 6/30/2021
 Compensation not to exceed: $50,000 
 Location: 
Science Leadership Academy (SLA) at Beeber


 Description:

As an Inquiry-driven, project-based school that uses the support of the community, it is essential that Science Leadership Academy @ Beeber (SLA Beeber) have a Partnership Coordinator who can bridge the gap between the community and the school. One of the key tenets of the Science Leadership Academy model is that high school should not only be preparation for real life, high school should be real life.

 

Contracting with Mr. Demetrius Weaver as a Partnership Coordinator will benefit the entire SLA Beeber school community. Mr. Weaver will provide guidance and insight for students while connecting them to programs and agencies that peak their interest. He will collaborate with community partners to support various initiatives for the school as a whole. Through the collaborative work of the Partnership Coordinator and the Principal, internships will be provided to all students to enable them to enter adulthood by giving them the opportunity to develop and answer questions about their postsecondary goals. Furthermore, students will be able to gain real experience by working with adult mentors in the professional world. Moreover, not only will the students obtain real work experience, they also will have the opportunity to engage in services that benefit the local community. 

 

The Partnership Coordinator position has been extremely successful over past years and particularly last year with Mr. Weaver. Mr. Weaver is familiar with SLA Beeber goals and students. In addition, he has contacts with many other outside organizations. This position works closely with over 125 partners to ensure that our students have the opportunity of an education that is outside of the school doors, which is beneficial for the school community. Mr. Weaver will organize and maintain Wednesday mini-courses, where current 5th, 6th, and 9th graders are provided small group activities through outside agencies. As the Partnership Coordinator, he will also assist with fundraising activities, new student recruitment, site visits, open houses, new student orientation, and organizing Individual Learning Project Opportunities. The school has always valued the flexibility of hiring this role through a contract because it allows the scope of work to be defined, based on current needs as the school grows to scale. There is not a non-rep SDP position that aligns specifically to the uniqueness of the role.

 

 

 

 



 Anchor Goal(s) Supported:    

 Related resolution(s)/approval(s): 
August 15, 2019; C-57
 Funding Source(s): 
FY21 Operating

 Office Originating Request: Board of Education