Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Recording Secretary: Marisol Marin-Restrepo

Location of meeting: Koubek Center - Room K-1

Was a quorum established? Yes

Was the meeting advertised? Yes, 10/06/2010

Attendance

Topics Covered

International Studies Preparatory Academy (ISPA)
EESAC Minutes
October 14, 2010
Attendees: Mr. Perez, Mrs. Iglesias, Mrs. Calvo, Ms. Rodriguez, Mr. Hernandez, Mrs. Marin-Restrepo, Mrs. Thais, Mr. Gimenez, and Samantha Kassner
Mr. Perez Introduction:
• Mr. Perez opened the meeting discussing the role of the EESAC and the process of the first meeting and procedures that will take place throughout the school year with EESAC meetings.
• Opening of new Magnet Schools throughout the county.
• Opening of ISPA.
• ISPA is still recruiting new students.
• Currently, we have certified teachers, textbooks, etc.
• Next year, ISPA will have state-of-the art technology; it will be a unique school, not with a traditional setting.
• The goal is to have 600 students. Next year, we will have a fully populated 9th grade and our current 9th grade becoming 10th graders.
Samantha Kassner answering about her opinion of ISPA:
“It feels like a private school”
Mr. Perez continued:
• Next year, the school will have an art suite, a personal fitness gym, there will be a music suite with keyboard and guitar opportunities for the students.
Mr. Gimenez:
• There will be new competition for our school. There is a high school opening soon in the Brickell area. It is a Charter School from the Mater Academy Charter company. It will have a similar name to ours.
Mr. Perez:
• Advantages of our school are excellent location, public school with unique academic programs available for the students.
• The school is actively participating on Magnet Fairs throughout the county (between 10 to 15 school fairs)
• Deadline for application for those students contacted in the Magnet Fairs is January 15, 2011
• On October 25, 2010, school representatives will be attending Carver Middle School Magnet Fair.
Mrs. Thais:
• As parents, how can we help?
Mr. Gimenez:
• Received pamphlet advertising from other school opening in his neighborhood.
Mr. Perez:
• You can help by promoting ISPA with your friends, explaining the advantages and unique setting of the school
• Target schools to recruit new students are Coral Way K-8 Center, Carver Middle, Key Biscayne K-8 Center, Ada Merritt K-8, Ponce de Leon Middle, Kenwood Middle, South Miami Middle, and South Miami K-8.
• Available seats for next year are as followed: 100 for Spanish, 25 for French, and 25 for Italian.
• EESAC committee will meet about six times per year
• This committee needs to select a chairperson to serve for a one-year term as EESAC Chair.
o Ms. Rodriguez was interested in assuming the role of Chair and committee voted to accept Ms. Rodriguez as Chair for a one year term.
o Ms. Rodriguez will be the EESAC Chair.
o All members voted in favor of Ms. Rodriguez.
• Due to the size of the school, all of the administrators, teachers, and secretary will be part -of the EESAC committee.
• The Educational Support person will be Mrs. Calvo.
• The Administrator Support will be Mr, Perez.
• The Student Representative will be Samantha Kassner.
• If Samantha Kassner is not available, the Student Representative will be Camila Gimenez
• One of the goals is to involve students in community activities.
• Bylaws are proposed and accepted by all committee attendees.
• EESAC meetings’ schedule is distributed.
o The EESAC committee will meet six times a year as stated in the by-laws.
• We need to establish a “School Improvement Plan”.
o However, we do not have any data to compare to yet.
o Therefore, we are using “District Data” to write our goals.
o Mainly, we will focus on FCAT scores for Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Writing, parental involvement, dropout prevention and suspension rates of students.
o This year (grade 9), FCAT will be only for Reading and Mathematics.
o Thus, we only have goals for Reading and Math for the moment.
o Mr. Perez reviewed and explained all of the components of the SIP and the goals and objectives for this school year.
o Mr. Gimenez motioned and Ms. Thais seconded the motion to accept the SIP and all responded “yes” with no one against the motion.
• Currently, all of the faculty members are Highly Qualified Teachers.
• Contributing to student’s post-secondary education is a key role of our school.
• If students are not performing well, academically, they will go on probation.
• If there is no improvement after probationary period, students will be recommended to go back to their home school.
• We plan to have higher parental involvement in the EESAC committee.
• In approximately three weeks, students will have laptops assigned to them for their use with class work and homework.
• Laptop computers will be assigned only to this year’s group due to high cost.
Mr. Gimenez:
• Is there any chance of having ISPA students compete in any type of sport competition with other schools?
Mr. Perez:
• Currently, the only sport activities that we can compete with other schools are Soccer, Track and Field, and possibly Cross-Country.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:35 p.m.