Asha SV poll: ------------ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ashasv-vol/surveys?id=2986485 Question Do you approve Rs.3,50,000/- to support Olcott Memorial High School- Bridge project for the period June 2010- May 2011? Related documents are at https://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=360 Responses Choices Votes % 1 reply Yes 10 100 No 0 0 ============================================================================= Asha SV chapter mtg minutes: --------------------------- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ashasv-vol/message/7583 Attendees: ---------------- Anand R, Anshu, Vamsi N, Madhu, Meena, Rajeev, Prema, Venki, Pinkesh, Ragini, Anand A, Ram* Olcott Memorial High School Renewal : Anand ------------------------------------------------------------------- Background - Free school for underprivileged children - Founded in 1894 in Besant Nagar, Chennai by Theosophical society - Classes 1 to 10, Tam medium 539 children - 8 acre acampus - Very high quality - Kids from nearby slums, fisherfolk, coolies, housemaids - Annual income is < 15-20,000 per year per family - Domestic violence, alcoholism, women and child abuse in families - Students of class VIII-X learn vocational skills Initiatives - Nutrition program - Classroom provisions - Uniforms: 2 good quality ones - Technology Aided Learning (TAL) - Special program for English Language Learning (SPELL) - Library and playground Teachers and Staff - We have been supporting the teachers' salaries. - They try to find teachers from same community - Average teacher salary: Rs.3300/month - Average staff salary: Rs.1800/month - Teachers are getting additional training etc. Nutrition/Medical - We are providing medical support Updates for 2009-2010 - 302 boys and 237 girls from classes 1 to 10 - Noon meal with enhanced protein supplements - School has been able to instill a lot of confidence into the children. Breaks some of the stereotypes that we assume about poor underprivileged kids - Dance classes - One student recently got Rs.50,000 grant from UNESCO for photography project - Counseling program is active - Adventure and physical endurance camps (IAYP) AI: Please share info so we can pass to other projects Progress in exams - Has gone from 43% in 2003 to 87% in 2009. Some of it has definitely been our support since we focused on reducing teacher turnover and retention and training Budget for 2010 and 2011 - Increased support for teachers' salaries and school health and medical support to students - Total budget for AfE is 16K USD, asking SV for 9K USD. - Last year's budget was $8K for SV - Losing teachers from here to govt. schools since the govt. salaries are higher. So, they are trying to increase salaries to keep the senior teachers. - This problem is more since it is urban area - Well equipped school in terms of what it can bring to teachers, plus they get training - Salaries quite low for urban area Q - Anshu: Get the kids to govt./private schools as part of RTE, since they have to admit 25% of underprivileged local kids now. Can you ask them if they can do that? - Some of the kids are charged a nominal fee - They don't have govt. aid but are govt. recognized Q - Madhu: Isn't this a good candidate for SAT? A - Anand: We need a good steward to be able to do that. Am looking for one as it is. Q - Pinkesh: Where do students go after 10th? A - Anand: Some go for higher studies, one came back to help with vocational training. Others used vocational jobs - Funding cycle from June to May AI: Project page needs to be updated with Anand's name as contact. AI: 2009-2010 budget needed to open poll - Note: Last year gave an update, but there is no record of that in any of the minutes. Was presented at the meeting! - A chunk of money has been recieved (7 lakhs) and they need to figure out why and from whom ... just a note