Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. The minutes from June 10, 2010 were reviewed and approved. All members introduced themselves. Mrs. Robledo was reelected chairperson.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Gonzalez welcomed all members. She said the summer was filled with challenges to get ready for this school year. The greatest challenge was balancing classes at the 22 student: 1 teacher ratio required by the state. Some schedule changes are being made to meet the requirement, and classes that meet only one period have presented a special challenge. Previously, class size was based on averages. Mrs. Stroleny has done “an almost inhuman job in balancing the classes.” Additionally, five teachers retired last year. Mrs. Gonzalez said she was able to acquire outstanding new teachers because she interviewed many surplused teachers before they were placed and hired Ms. Gayol, Mrs. Pena and Ms. Bonifacio. She also rehired Mrs. Jourdaa, former French teacher here, to teach French math. Ms. Neuwahl was hired as a 3100 for Mrs. Izquierdo, who is on maternity leave. A new science teacher, Mrs. Lombardo, was hired on the Friday before school started.

Mrs. Stroleny presented FCAT results for reading and writing. In grade 6 reading, proficiency improved from 94 percent to 97; in grade 7, proficiency dropped from 98 percent to 96; and in grade 8, proficiency dropped from 97 percent to 93. Our 2010-11 School Improvement Plan (SIP) calls for an increase in Level 3 scores from 23 percent to 24 by reducing the percentage of Level 1 and 2 scores. Our goal is to increase the Level 4 and 5 scores from 71 percent to 72; increase learning gains from 78 percent to 88; and maintain learning gains of the lowest quartile at 91 percent. All subgroups met adequate yearly progress (AYP) in reading. Strategies include Reading Plus (used last year with struggling readers and in selected homerooms), which has three components: vocabulary, reading passages with comprehension questions, and fluency; The program will be assigned as homework in all three grade levels and we will maintain our literature-based curriculum. We have added a special reading tutorial program for about 40 seventh-graders identified as low Level 3’s under the direction of Mr. Redmond and Mr. Sands for the first grading period. Levels 1 and 2 readers are enrolled in special reading classes. In writing, 100 percent of students scored proficiency, and the SIP calls for us to maintain that level. Strategies to meet our writing objective include VTS where students analyze art, Carver’s Perfect 6 Club and an FCAT writing tutorial during homeroom for 20 eighth-graders working with Mr. Hudson.

Mr. Rivers presented math and science FCAT data. In grade 6 math, proficiency improved from 93 percent to 95; in grade 7, proficiency continued at 99 percent; and in grade 8, proficiency dropped from 100 percent to 99. The SIP calls for us to maintain the percentage of students scoring Level 3 at 24 percent; maintain Levels 4 and 5 at 74 percent; maintain learning gains at 82 percent; and maintain students in the lowest quartile making learning gains at 95 percent. All subgroups met AYP in math. In grade 8 science, proficiency dropped from 91 percent to 87. The SIP calls for us to increase the percentage of students scoring Level 3 from 52 to 53 percent by reducing the percentage of students at Levels 1 and 2 and to increase the percentage of Level 4 and 5 scores from 35 to 36 percent. Strategies for math and science include FCAT tutoring by grade level (grade 8 only for science), implementation of the Next Generation of Sunshine State Standards, Gizmos, and FCAT Explorer.

Mrs. Stroleny reported that Carver had a 98.51 percent attendance rate last year, but we still had a problem with students coming late and leaving early. The SIP goal is to decrease excessive absences (10 or more) and excessive tardies/early dismissals (10 or more) by 5 percent. Mrs. Gonzalez added that this is an important goal because if students are not here, they are not learning and we have the clinic to deal with minor health problems. Mrs. Stroleny said the strategies to address this problem will be to prohibit students with problems with absences and tardies from participating in fieldtrips and special activities such as socials. Mr. Rivers said district policy requires the grade to be withheld for students with five unexcused absences in semester courses or 10 for annual courses. Mrs. Gonzalez said parents should plan trips and vacations based on the school calendar and that students need a doctor’s note after five absences (excused or unexcused). Mr. Sejeck said that he calls parents at home and that we send a social worker after five tardies or absences.

Mrs. Gonzalez gave some upcoming dates: The PTSA general meeting is on September 8 at 8:45. Open House is September 15; parents may arrive at 5 p.m. for the book fair and pizza sale, and the regular open house begins at 6 p.m. Two parent workshops take place on September 23 at 6 p.m.: study skills for sixth-grade parents and science fair for eighth-grade parents. Science fair dates have been moved up this year to November 22 for student projects, November 23 for judging, and November 29 for parent night. EESAC meeting dates for the 2010-11 school year are October 5, November 9, January 4, February 1, April 5, and May 3. Mr. Sands reported that the Washington, D.C. trip is May 5-7 and that the response has been strong.

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