Educational Excellence School Advisory Council

7571 International Studies Preparatory Academy

Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes for:    11/03/2011  02:30 PM

Please contact the school for a formatted hard copy of these minutes.

Recording Secretary:    Marisol Marin Restrepo

Location of meeting:    Media Center - ISPA

Was a quorum established?    Yes

Was the meeting advertised?    Yes,  07/11/2011

Attendance:

Members Present:

Perez, Alejandro (Principal)
Iglesias, Caridad (Teacher)
Marin-Restrepo, Marisol (Teacher)
Jose Hernandez, (Teacher)
Milian, Nathalie (Teacher)
Rodriguez, Deanna (Teacher)
Ruiz, Richard (Alternate Teacher/Paraprofessional)
Calvo, Tamara (Educational Support Employee)
Bustamante, Rocio (Parent)
Luque, Thais (Parent)
Melissa Jacobs, (Community Rep)
Miguel Bermudez, (Community Rep)



Bermudez, Miguel (Business/Community Representative)
Jacobs, Melissa (Business/Community Representative)

Members Absent (Excused):

Martin, Onelio
Bustamante, Rocio
Ferre, Helen
Gimenez-Zapiola, Fernando
Luque, Thais
Parchment, Samantha
Kassner, Samantha
Onelio Martin

Members Absent (Unexcused):

No one had an unexcused absence.

Others Present:

Jose Courel

Topics Covered:

International Studies Preparatory Academy at Gables (ISPA)
EESAC Minutes – November 3, 2011
Attendees: Mr. Perez, Mrs. Iglesias, Mrs. Rodriguez, Mr. Courel, Mr. Hernandez, Mrs. Marin-Restrepo, Mr. Ruiz, Mrs. Milian, Miguel Bermudez, Melissa Jacobs, Tamara Calvo.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
• Motion to approve minutes by Mrs. Iglesias and seconded by Mrs. Milian
o Minutes approved by all

• Mr. Perez:
• Welcoming greetings to new members: Melissa Jacobs from Wholefoods and Miguel Benitez from Gables Pizza & Salad.
• Ms. Jacobs:
• Students’ tour through Wholefoods supermarket was a success. Cooking demonstrations on healthy recipes such as green smoothies were conducted. Students participated in games too as part of the visit.
• After holidays are over, we are thinking on doing more activities similar to the past visit done by students to wholefoods.
• Ms. Iglesias mentioned students had fun and wrote about it in their Spanish class journals.
• Mr. Perez:
• We have collaboration from L.A. Fitness gym and we are talking to Sunset Place mall administration in reference to the possibility of having students parking in their facility. We have some students that may want to drive to school. We are trying to see if there is a more reasonable fee for students. This is a long term project, as our kids grow. We have students coming from all over the county.
• In reference to the school improvement plan: Let’s hear from the different teachers.
• Ms. Milian:
o The results show most of our 10th graders are non-proficient in Reading. She thinks it is due to taking the test in the computer.
• Mr. Hernandez:
o No results available yet for Geometry.
o We are monitoring it
• Mr. Perez:
o In regards to recruiting and marketing, this is the busy time of the year, giving presentations, flyers, and passing information to parents, as well as explaining requirements for admission.
• Ms. Milian is taking students to the Miami International Book Fair.
• Most of students have the metrorail and that is how they are going to the book fair.
• Ms. Iglesias is taking the Spanish Academy students to see a play on November 15th.
• Mr. Perez:
o We are giving students a variety of activities to compensate for other special building limitations we have.
o We are thinking maybe in 1 or 2 years, we want to take students to Italy, France, or Spain.
• Mr. Ruiz, the Physical Education teacher will offer a CPR training session for any community members, teachers, and parents on November 15th at 6pm.
• Reviewing the bylaws:
• We are trying to find one more business community member to join the EESAC.
• Update on the Informational Meeting conducted on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.
o We had about 80 parents last night during the informational meeting; they toured the computer lab, science labs and other school facilities.
o The witness the state of art technology in every room: smart boards and a complete audio system.
o Next November 30 and January 11, we will have more informational meetings.
• In regards to the EESAC memebership:
o In a large school, teachers vote to be part of the EESAC.
o In our school, all teachers are members of the EESAC.
o Members are expected to attend all meetings.
o In total we have 6 meetings.
o EESAC decides how to distribute the money that is received from different activities.
o All meetings are open to the public
o The agenda is prepared by Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Perez.
o The minutes are written by Ms. Restrepo
o Quorum is 50% +1
• Mr. Bermudez:
o Edbucks program: coupons which parents or students could buy to generate funds for school.
• Ms Iglesias:
o She mentioned we need to find funds for the students’ participation in the National Spanish Test.
• Ms. Milian:
o She mentioned she needs a balance with instructional time to ensure students perform well in their English Assessments.
• Ms. Restrepo:
o Students from tenth grade will be participating in the Science Fair and ninth graders will participate in the Fairchild Challenge.
• Ms. Iglesias:
o This week students are turning their projects from Spanish to go into the county competition.
• Mr. Perez:
o Any additional questions?
• Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.