Yeah, we were just talking about this at the Resistat meeting. I think it's interesting to measure. But certainly squishy.
But I was less happy with the Resistat meetings than I used to be. When they first started, the emphasis on data was awesome. There were really stats on how much recycling happened, how much traffic monitoring, and stuff like that. But as my housemate said now they are starting to feel like "ResiMarketing" and I feel like it lost the thread.
Sorry, no, I went to 5. But I had also gone to 4 before and there wasn't much difference. I think there was more rat trauma in 4. Rats are making many people unhappy.
That's the thing--the meetings are getting less specific about stuff in general I think. We started with Happiness Survey (in both), then MCAS improvements (city wide). Then there was a brief intro to NEXUS new program (community ecosystem network analysis of complex issues). Then teeny bit of MBTA update. Then rats. Then crime in the neighborhood--the only part with real numbers and actual data specific for the ward.
All I have is the slides handouts, so I'll write what I know from that. I don't know if there's other info around yet.
There were a few slides about this project with one piece that is being piloted now. It's under the overall name of NEXUS which is: Somerville's Network for Exploring & Understanding Systems
As I understand it, the idea is that with all this data we have, you can start to see connections between issues. Kids with food security problems don't do as well in the classroom, for example. This also has public health impacts. And recreational programs can improve fitness so we need good parks and activities...and so on. The "pilot" part is called "Somerville's Family Development System" that aims at "Strengthening Urban Families" according to my slides. There will be a phase of mapping the system (what are the components at play) with some workshops of some sort. Then that will be evaluated to "find leverage points". Then this will lead the city to "create policy" relevant to those issues.
I'm a big fan of evidence-based policy, so it sounds good. But as I don't have kids in the system I doubt it would be so relevant to me in this phase.
I went to the Ward 6 meeting. This is what I remember;
First, they handed out clickers, and asked questions, such as how happy people were with the lighting levels or cleanliness of a favorite street. As people responded, you could see everyone’s answers on a bar graph. It was pretty cool, but I think it was mostly a test of the system.
Then they talked about student improvement in the schools by using a measurement called student growth percentiles. It basically compares kids at the same levels across the state. Kids in Somerville improved more than other kids at the same levels. They used scatter plots to show how much student scores improved from 2011 to 2013. Somerville is now the number 1 urban district when SGPs are compared.
They also said that schools are classified into accountability levels (based on narrowing of achievement gaps, student growth, and graduation rates). Level 1 is the best. Level 5 is the worst. The high school improved from a Level 3 to a level 1. Some other schools improved, too, but I gave away my written notes, so I can’t remember the details.
I think I spaced out on the community ecosystem NEXUS stuff because I don’t remember any details at all.
Miscellaneous stuff: Someone has now classified Somerville as the 7th most walkable city in the nation, and the ninth most transit-friendly.
The new Kenney Park will open this summer.
The Green and Orange Lines are coming. Some money has been appropriated. The Community Path will be a part of the Green Line extension. (Again, I gave away the specifics.)
There’s a war on rats, modeled on a program that’s working in NYC.
Then there was crime data. Most crime is down for the years compared. The police caught someone who was estimated to have committed 40 to 60 break-ins. There haven’t been any arsons since the summer. The police have arrested 7 people on arson-related charges (I think that’s what I heard).
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sarken
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 05:08 pm (UTC)But I was less happy with the Resistat meetings than I used to be. When they first started, the emphasis on data was awesome. There were really stats on how much recycling happened, how much traffic monitoring, and stuff like that. But as my housemate said now they are starting to feel like "ResiMarketing" and I feel like it lost the thread.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 05:55 pm (UTC)That's the thing--the meetings are getting less specific about stuff in general I think. We started with Happiness Survey (in both), then MCAS improvements (city wide). Then there was a brief intro to NEXUS new program (community ecosystem network analysis of complex issues). Then teeny bit of MBTA update. Then rats. Then crime in the neighborhood--the only part with real numbers and actual data specific for the ward.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 08:08 pm (UTC)There were a few slides about this project with one piece that is being piloted now. It's under the overall name of NEXUS which is:
Somerville's
Network for
Exploring &
Understanding
Systems
As I understand it, the idea is that with all this data we have, you can start to see connections between issues. Kids with food security problems don't do as well in the classroom, for example. This also has public health impacts. And recreational programs can improve fitness so we need good parks and activities...and so on. The "pilot" part is called "Somerville's Family Development System" that aims at "Strengthening Urban Families" according to my slides. There will be a phase of mapping the system (what are the components at play) with some workshops of some sort. Then that will be evaluated to "find leverage points". Then this will lead the city to "create policy" relevant to those issues.
I'm a big fan of evidence-based policy, so it sounds good. But as I don't have kids in the system I doubt it would be so relevant to me in this phase.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-22 07:18 pm (UTC)First, they handed out clickers, and asked questions, such as how happy people were with the lighting levels or cleanliness of a favorite street. As people responded, you could see everyone’s answers on a bar graph. It was pretty cool, but I think it was mostly a test of the system.
Then they talked about student improvement in the schools by using a measurement called student growth percentiles. It basically compares kids at the same levels across the state. Kids in Somerville improved more than other kids at the same levels. They used scatter plots to show how much student scores improved from 2011 to 2013. Somerville is now the number 1 urban district when SGPs are compared.
They also said that schools are classified into accountability levels (based on narrowing of achievement gaps, student growth, and graduation rates). Level 1 is the best. Level 5 is the worst. The high school improved from a Level 3 to a level 1. Some other schools improved, too, but I gave away my written notes, so I can’t remember the details.
I think I spaced out on the community ecosystem NEXUS stuff because I don’t remember any details at all.
Miscellaneous stuff:
Someone has now classified Somerville as the 7th most walkable city in the nation, and the ninth most transit-friendly.
The new Kenney Park will open this summer.
The Green and Orange Lines are coming. Some money has been appropriated. The Community Path will be a part of the Green Line extension. (Again, I gave away the specifics.)
There’s a war on rats, modeled on a program that’s working in NYC.
Then there was crime data. Most crime is down for the years compared. The police caught someone who was estimated to have committed 40 to 60 break-ins. There haven’t been any arsons since the summer. The police have arrested 7 people on arson-related charges (I think that’s what I heard).