Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Recording Secretary: Sarah Russell

Location of meeting: Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center

Was a quorum established? Yes

Was the meeting advertised? Yes, 05/08/2003

Attendance

Topics Covered

The minutes from the previous meeting were read by Sarah Russell and approved, with corrections.

OLD BUSINESS:

Ms. Ames handed out the seven Sterling Criteria for Performance Excellence.

Mrs. Clarington discussed the points value for various criteria.

Ms. Bradman wasn’t clear on the standard we set for our school. Is it realistic for SIP? Is it to look good to others or is it to work?

Mrs. King said it is to show what we are doing.

A discussion followed. We need to plan for long and short range. Where’s the data showing that we are addressing our needs? Where’s the evaluation? We must have post-evaluation and make sure that everybody knows what it is.

What is our motivation to get everyone to buy into the plan?

Do we think we’re good enough to apply for Sterling?

The District is offering to pay for the Sterling Challenge based on our self-assessment. We have to submit our application by January/February 2004. Carlos Viera is checking to see if he can pay in advance for us.

The Sterling judges look for trends.

Ms. Bradman asked how do we deal with parents whose kids can’t pass FCAT but have done everything else?

Mrs. Clarington asked do we have a system for evaluating part-time personnel and pool substitutes?

Mrs. King said we don’t, but some of those personnel evaluations fall under contract issues.

Ms. Strong asked how soon do we prep kids for taking the FCAT. Mrs. King said preparation is done on a daily basis. Classroom instruction is based on the FCAT standards.

Ms. Ames said that members would coordinate with department heads and parents so that all understand.

Mrs. Clarington asked if we could obtain copies of reports from other schools who had applied for the Sterling Award.

During this discussion it was decided that we need seven (7) subcommittees -- one for each of the seven categories.

Mrs. King said looking at the written part -- the documentation, and gathering of data will be the biggest job.

The question was asked, “How do we get the information out?” The answer was, “By using work days, early release days, staff meetings and the subcommittees can do presentations.”

Mrs. King asked, “How do we present?” One suggestion was to get Ms. Helen Maguire to do an initial presentation to the staff on June 4, 2003.

The EESAC members and department heads will take a leading role in the Sterling effort.

The EESAC members unanimously agreed to go for the Sterling Challenge.

The EESAC members agreed that we need to have a timeline for events and we need to meet again prior to June 4, 2003.

We formed a Sterling Committee with parents invited to attend. All members present agreed.

Subcommittees were formed as well: They are as follows:

Leadership Category - Regina Johnson, Edwina King, Sharon Blair-Pottinger
Strategic Planning Category - Naima Bradman, Stephanie Hamlin
Customer and Market Focus Category - Naima Bradman, Stephanie Hamlin, Alfreida Joseph-Goins
Information and Analysis Category - Lavonda Clarington, Sarah Russell, Alfreida Joseph-Goins
Human Resource Focus Category - Gwendolyn McKay, Lavonda Clarington, Katrina Strong
Process Management Category - Natalie Kane, Alfreida Joseph-Goins, Elaine Pearson
Business Results Category - Sandra Ames, Edwina King, Brenda Pratt

The Sterling Committee will meet Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. on May 16, 2003 to plan for the June 4, 2003 meeting which will kick off our Sterling Challenge efforts.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mrs. King informed us that we have an opportunity to apply for a grant. Someone else will write the grant proposal for us. We can apply for up to $20,000. There are 27 program areas for which we can apply.

We need to get ideas for the grant to her by Monday (5/19/2003). This will include a topic and title.

The next meeting will be June 11, 2003 at 4:10 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.