Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. The minutes from November 5, 2008, were reviewed and approved.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Gonzalez discussed the Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ current financial situation. She said there is a complete freeze on hiring except for classroom teachers to meet class size requirements. The forecast is very bleak for personnel. This year she went to great lengths to keep teachers by not replacing four retirees and using extra-period supplements to meet class size requirements. Ms. Darity was hired for only three periods because that was all she was needed for.

Mrs. Gonzalez said the sound system costs $21,000 to update, but the school system is presently not giving approval to purchase items that are not critical for classroom instruction and the safety of the school. Purchase orders for computers are not being approved either. Mr. Sands asked if we could lose money that is not spent. Mrs. Gonzalez said that is a possibility, but she added that we have what we critically need here at Carver. Our sound system is completely broken and she plans to submit this request at the budget meeting. Mrs. Gonzalez said these times are more challenging than at any other time during her career, but she is working to get what is needed for our school.

Midterm exams went well. Next week is the Principal’s Honor Roll breakfast and more than sixty students will attend. Mrs. Wilson is working on the Perfect 6 Club, and Student Council members will visit homerooms to promote it. Last year, fifty-eight students scored 6 on the state test. In total though, one hundred-and-five students scored a 6 with at least one reader, with forty seven students earning scores of 5.5. Mrs. Stroleny said we hope to increase that number this year. Mrs. Robledo said she likes that students will be delivering the messages to the eighth grade homeroom classes. Mr. Sands said students have created skits to present during homeroom announcements. Carver has been selected as a NAEP testing site this year; 90 students were selected randomly, and each student will take one test in a major subject area on February 4, 2009.

Open Forum: Mrs. Robledo pointed out that funding comes for Tallahassee and we need to ask ourselves what we are doing to hold legislators to their promises to protect education funding. We need to let them know that we are not happy with the current situation. There may be a time when magnet programs may be affected by these cuts. Indifference cannot be tolerated; it is our obligation to express our disapproval. Mrs. Gonzalez said that this is an expensive school to run but gives a great return on the investment and therefore helps the district financially: Carver helps the district’s FTE because many of our students could go to private schools if not for Carver’s magnet curriculum. Mrs. Junghahn asked if academic reputation is a factor, and Mrs. Gonzalez said that in today’s climate money is the greater concern.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 8:59 a.m.