Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:27 a.m. The minutes from May 3, 2011 were reviewed and approved. Mrs. Robledo said she is concerned with state budget cuts to public education and explained that there is much sacrifice among teachers, who have been penalized. She said she wants all members to be educated about the current state of education. She also said that “we are excited about our students.”

Official Business: Mrs. Robedo was nominated to continue as EESAC chairperson and she was unanimously reelected. All EESAC members introduced themselves.

SIP Review: The EESAC is the sole body responsible for the approval and implementation of the School Improvement Plan, (SIP). Mrs. Stroleny welcomed members back. She said that the SIP was submitted to the district before the 2011 FCAT data was available and the process of entering that data and modifying strategies is being completed now. Constant communication with department chairs regarding strategies to improve student achievement is taking place; last year’s strategies were effective but some have had to be revisited because of the next generation of FCAT benchmarks. Homeroom tutoring started this week; 2011 FCAT results were analyzed to identify students who could use a “boost.” About 180 students have started tutoring. Currently, district baseline exams are being administered to chart progress. Not all testing is finished, but the partial scores on the district’s baseline indicate the following: In grade 6 reading, 58 percent of the students scored proficient (the same as on last year’s baseline) and the goal is for 97 percent of students to score proficiency in reading on the 2012 FCAT. In grade 7 reading, 92 percent of students scored proficient, up from 87 percent last year; the goal is for 98 percent of students to be proficient. In grade 8 reading, 69 percent scored proficient compared to 64 percent last year; the goal is for 94 percent of students to score proficient. On the grade 6 mathematics baseline, 2 percent of students scored proficient compared to 4 percent last year; the goal is for 93 percent of students to be proficient. In grade 7 mathematics, 17 percent of students scored proficient on the baseline, compared to 24 percent scoring proficient last year; the goal is for 98 percent of students to score proficient. In grade 8, students were administered the Algebra 1 baseline this year, and no students scored proficient. Last year, the Algebra 1 baseline was not administered; instead, the grade 8 mathematics baseline was administered and 48 percent of students scored proficient on the grade 8 baseline. The goal is for 100 percent of students in grade 8 to score proficient in mathematics on the 2012 FCAT. Mrs. Gonzalez explained that math teachers at Carver traditionally raise scores; students are accepted from all over the district, and students’ readiness levels vary widely. Historically, State assessments show great math gains in all three grades. On the grade 8 science baseline, 23 percent of students scored proficient compared to 42 percent of students last year; the goal is for 88 percent of students to score proficient in science on the 2012 FCAT. The writing data is not available as of this meeting. In addition to homeroom tutoring, other intervention strategies for the 2011-2012 school year to increase student achievement include data chats with students and faculty members to see where growth is needed and implementing computer programs such as Reading Plus, Gizmos, Brain Pop, and TeenBiz. Our high level curriculum is the best strategy we have, and teaching began on the first day of school.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Gonzalez welcomed all members back. She said this is her twelfth year here and it is like a family. She gave the dates of EESAC meetings for the school year: September 20, November 1, February 7, and May 1. She added that we may have to meet at other dates but members will be notified in advance. The school has started putting its monthly calendar on Carver’s website. A few copies will be available in the attendance office, but this will save making 1,100 copies. The PTSA helped fund the school’s new website and it is a great improvement. Mr. Jose Gonzalez, math teacher, is responsible for maintaining the website and is doing a great job. Grade level orientations are taking place this week. A parent workshop about reading and the Reading Plus Program is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday; the grade 8 parent science fair workshop is at 6 p.m. on September 7.

No confirmation has come from the district, but presently, midterm and final exam grades are not visible as individual columns in the teachers’ grade-books. The exams are currently scheduled; End of Course exams will continue to be administered as appropriate. Mrs. Gonzalez said she is considering using quarterly tests to replace midterms and finals if they are eliminated; Social Studies already uses quarterlies with great success. The general PTSA kickoff meeting is September 14. The book fair will run from September 19-23 concurrent with Open House on September 21. High school articulation assemblies begin on September 27 and will take place on Tuesdays during homeroom for eighth-graders. Starting with the next meeting, the EESAC will meet in Room 10 so as not to interfere with Spanish Department meetings.

Open Forum: Mrs. Holian reported on the PTSA. She said the new sound system finally has been installed and sounds wonderful. It was purchased with donations and fundraising from Friends of Carver. She said the next project is to get the lights in the auditorium working properly. She also said the PTSA has a wireless credit card machine to help with various activities. It was used for sales at the grade 6 orientation on August 17. In an effort to go green, the PTSA is using Constant Contact to send out news and information and is exploring the possibility of starting a PTSA website. Mrs. Robledo said better lighting in the auditorium is much needed for performances and academic activities that take place there.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 8:58 a.m.