Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:20 a.m. Election of the chairperson was the first order of business. Mrs. Robledo was renominated and accepted “the honor and responsibility” of the position. The minutes from May 6, 2009, were reviewed and approved.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Gonzalez welcomed the new EESAC members. All members introduced themselves. Mrs. Gonzalez informed the EESAC that based on the 2009 FCAT scores, Carver is the number one middle school in Florida for the fourth straight year, adding: “We are thrilled with that designation.” The school also was named number one middle school in the South in an article on AOL that cited the top schools in the nation. She said she announced this news on the first day of school and credited the teachers, parents, and students for this honor. Mrs. Gonzalez announced that the school is conducting district baseline assessments as follows: FCAT Writing on September 1 and 2, followed by Reading and Science (both scheduled for September 3 and 4) and Mathematics (September 10 and 11). The PTSA will hold its general meeting with a breakfast on September 4. Grade-level orientations are set for sixth (September 8), seventh (September 10), and eighth grades (September 11). GIPA will hold its welcome-back breakfast on September 11. Back to School night is September 16, with the book fair taking place September 14-18. The PTSA will sell pizza and water at the open house. Sixth-graders will have vision screening October 14 to November 9 during homeroom. The first of four early-release days is September 17, when students are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. The annual fundraiser begins on September 24, directed by parent Peggy Herrin. September 28 is a teacher planning day. Study skills workshops for sixth-grade parents are September 29 at 6 p.m., September 30 at 9 a.m., and October 1 at 2 p.m. and are conducted by our counselors, Mrs. Green and Ms. Castillo. Future EESAC meetings are October 6, November 3, January 5, February 2, and May 4; there is no meeting in March because of FCAT testing. The annual German Unification Luncheon that marks the fall of the Berlin Wall is October 6.

Mrs. Stroleny then discussed the School Improvement Plan. The SIP needed to be completed earlier this year and the document was written this summer by Mrs. Stroleny, Mr. Rivers, and Mrs. Basso with input from all departments. Team teaching has been highly effective in recent years and has been expanded this year, especially in the language arts department. In reading, the goal is 98 percent of students achieving mastery on the FCAT. Strategies are similar to last year including higher-order questions in instruction and assessments. We will continue to track and monitor students’ progress and have individual data chats with students. Social studies, electives and foreign language classes will continue to infuse reading into their curriculum. In writing, the goal is 99 percent of students achieving mastery of at least 4.0 on the FCAT Writing examination. Strategies are similar to last year with Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to increase critical thinking and descriptive writing. We provide writing tutoring during homeroom with Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Salman. We also provide explicit instruction to students on how FCAT writing is scored. In mathematics, the goal is 98 percent of students achieving mastery. Again, strategies are similar to last year, with tracking and monitoring student progress and using data to determine instruction. We will utilize Gizmos and Explore Learning for students who need additional practice and also will have data chats with students. Teachers also will ensure that all benchmarks are taught prior to testing. The science goal is 92 percent of students achieving mastery, and strategies will remain similar to last year with tracking and monitoring student progress and using data to determine instruction. Science also will utilize Gizmos and Explore Learning for additional practice and ensure that all benchmarks are taught prior to testing. Mrs. Small and Mrs. Vazquez are doing FCAT science tutoring during homeroom. With parental involvement, we are continuing with our parent workshops and orientation meetings. Professional development helps us reach our goals: VTS with the language arts department; Health Initiative, led by Dr. Garcia; Culturally Proficient Instruction, led by Mrs. Corzo; and Environment, led by Mrs. Vazquez. The SIP now includes Response to Instruction / Intervention RtI Framework. The principal provides a common vision for the use of data-based decision making. A team is composed of administration, department chairpersons, a mentor teacher (Mrs. Corzo) and student services. The team collaboratively analyzes student performance data in an ongoing manner and determine if the instructional focus remains on course or needs to be modified.

Open Forum: Mrs. Gonzalez was asked by some parents about class size and explained that the budget conference is upcoming later this month after FTE. The size of the incoming sixth grade was increased this year and this should positively affect the school’s budget, all while maintaining the 22:1 class size average. She also explained that Carver’s enrollment was affected when Coral Way became a K-8 school and the Coral Way IS students did not continue to have direct articulation. Furthermore, to consolidate resources, the district moved Ponce de Leon Middle School’s IS program (Spanish, French, Italian) to Carver Middle School which resulted in us being able to offer Italian.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 8:57 a.m.