Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Doral Academy Preparatory School
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

EESAC Minutes Tuesday, September 10, 2013

I. INTRODUCTION / WELCOME: By Marianella Mesa
Meeting began at 4:13 pm in the Cafeteria. Mrs. Mesa welcomed the principal, Mr. Rodriguez, the administrative team members present, Mr. Ferralls and Mr. Nunez, and faculty members present including Ms. Picon, Mrs. Cecchinelli, Mr. kaoski, Ms. Manning, Mr. Hunter, Ms. Blanco, Mrs. Prats, Ms. Alvarez, Ms. Steele, Ms. Lera, Mrs. Viyella, Mr. Crombet, Mr. Diaz, Ms.Sardina, and Mr. Pulido.

Mr. Rodirguez gave a brief welcome to the parents and spoke about the upcoming projects around the school, including the addition of a new building in the south west corner of the campus. This would eventually bring enrollment up to 4,000, but the schools would be divided between middle and high, as well as the addition of a new cafeteria.

He also spoke about the increased enrollment of our students in Advanced Placement course, up to 2,000 tests being taken this year from 1,300 last year. He also mentioned that the Doral College will be submitting its application for accreditation in a couple of weeks.

MEETING PROCEDURES/DATES

a. October 8, 2013
b. November 12, 2013
c. December 10, 2013
d. January 14, 2014
e. February 11, 2014
f. March 11, 2014
g. April 8, 2014
h. May 6, 2014
i. June 3, 2014


II. School Advisory Committee
a. The purpose is to ensure improved student achievement.
b. The Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (ESSAC) is responsible for the final decision making at the school relating to the implementation of school improvement and accountability.
c. ESSAC also assists in the preparation and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP)
A. Develop annual budget
B. Make decisions regarding the use of funds allocated by the Florida Legislature
C. Help develop fundraising projects for the school (incentives for 100% participating tutoring students beginning in November)

III. Approval of May minutes
a. We reviewed the minutes for May.
b. Meeting minutes were approved by consensus.

IV. School Improvement Plan
a. School improvement plan was presented and reviewed and with consensus the school improvement plan was approved.

V. Mathematics Department Overview (Ms. Picon, Mr. Pulido)
a. They spoke about the creation of pacing guides over the summer and new Common Core textbooks being bought for the Geometry Honors and Algebra 2 Honors courses to increase the rigor in those classes as will be demanded by the Common Core next school year.
b. New courses for 2013-2014 School Year include:
A. AP Calculus BC
B. 6th Grade Algebra 1
C. Math Research Classes
1. 6th Grade Algebra 1
2. Algebra 1
3. Geometry
4. Algebra 2
c. Math Department will be providing teachers with ongoing professional developments in order to increase their teaching techniques and the use of technology in the classroom. Some tentative PDs planned include: Geometer’s Sketchpad, Texas instruments (TI-Nspire), and Fathom for Statistics.
d. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have also been established by subject level and grade to provide teachers with the opportunity to collaborate with regards to the course being taught and come up with needed interventions based on results from the baseline and interim district tests.
e. After school tutoring will be available to students throughout the year from Monday through Thursday. HS- 2:40-4pm and MS- 3:40 -5pm. A flyer was available for attendees to get at their leisure and Math teachers are posting this information on their websites as well.
f. Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society) will be attending more competitions this year. They have already started their training sessions. If students are interested in joining, they can sign up for the club on the school website, of see Mr. Santa-Cruz in 208A for more information.

VI. Math, Reading, and Writing Tutoring
a. Tutoring sessions have already begun. They will be posted on school website, as well as handouts are available today for parents to take home with them.
A. Math Lab (Monday thru Thursday)
1. HS- 2:40 -4pm (111B and 117A)
2. MS- 3:40 -5pm (223A and 103A)
B. Reading Lab (Mondays and Wednesdays)
1. HS- 2:35-3:35 (205B and 201B)
2. MS- 3:35-4:35 (201B and the media center)
C. Writing Lab
1. Mondays and Wednesday from 2:35 -3:35 in104B (HS students only)
D. FCAT Reading Tutoring for Juniors and Seniors Only:
1. Sept. 3rd – Oct. 3rd, Tuesday and Thursdays
2. Time:2:35 – 3:35
3. Location: 205B and 224B

VII. ESSAC Voting Members
a. Sign in Sheet going around so you can sign up. Will be required to meet before or after the ESSAC meetings.

VIII. Open House
a. Will be this Saturday, September 14, 2013
A. Middle School Open House: 9am-11am
B. High School Open House 12pm-2pm

IX. Parent Volunteer Hours
a. Make sure all 8th graders and seniors have their required hours in order to graduate.
b. Hours need to be completed by end of school year.
c. Register online through the parent portal and send a copy of the parent’s driver’s license.
d. Level 1 clearance: for day/evening activities such as tutoring, teacher aides, school dances and field trips
e. Level 2 clearance: required for overnight activities like competitions and out of county/weekend trips
f. Parents who need the level 2 clearance are required a school volunteer form signed by our administration in order to get the fingerprinting fee waived.
g. Once you registered turn in a copy of parent driver’s license to the office
h. New parent volunteers will take 5-7 business days to be cleared and returning volunteers might take 2 to 3 business days.
i. We will honor volunteer hours for JAMS middle school (6th grade Only)
j. 30 hours per student and each additional student is 15 hours.

X. Testing Updates
a. Just finished the Baseline Assesments- District test to identify how much students know for the class coming into the school year.
b. There will be interim tests in October and January to test for growth in specific benchmarks.
c. FCAT 2.0 is in April and EOCs start in May.
d. EOC Algebra 1 Retake or for new students coming in from private schools start on Monday, September 16th.
e. PSAT in October for 9th and 10th graders, 11th graders must see CAP advisor, Ms. Brito, to sign up.
f. Next year for Common Core implementation, FCAT will be called PARCC. Can see sample PARCC questions at www.smarterbalance.org.

XI. New Business
a. Science Department will be presenting at the next meeting, October 10, 2013.

XII. Closure
a. Meeting adjourned at 5:01pm.