Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:25 a.m. The minutes from November 13, 2012, were reviewed and approved.

SIP Review: The EESAC is the sole body responsible for the approval and implementation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP). On the 2012 FCAT Writing examination, 97 percent of Carver eight-graders scored 3.0 or above. In August 2012, 97 percent of the current eighth-graders scored 3.0 or above on the District’s baseline expository essay with an average score of 3.82 on a 6-point rubric. In January 2013, 96 percent of students scored 3.0 or above on the District’s winter interim expository essay with an average score of 4.4 out of 6. Mrs. Stroleny commented that Mr. Hudson gave a highly successful parent workshop on the FCAT Writing examination. Mr. Hudson commented that the current sixth-graders will not take the FCAT Writing examination in grade 8 because the current test will be replaced by the PARCC exam. Mrs. Robledo said the PARCC assessment is a more effective, because it calls on students to synthesize from two or more sources. Mrs. Fernandez said we will get an idea of the type of questions on the PARCC next year. Mrs. Stroleny said that on Early-Release days the school has been addressing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Ms. Senior (Reading and Writing), Mrs. Moore (Science), and Mrs. Cheli Fernandez (Mathematics) have been presenters at the workshops. Mrs. Vinat will address how the CCSS are implemented in Social Studies in the last workshop later this year. Mrs. Stroleny said that Mrs. Coto-Gonzalez, Mr. Rivers, and she are collecting student work samples, reviewing lesson plans, conducting observations, and doing classroom walk-throughs to monitor implementation of CCSS and to ensure students are prepared for 2013 standardized testing.

Principal’s Message: Mrs. Stroleny announced that IPrep Math is coming for the 2013-2014 school year. It is an innovative program that will create a student-friendly learning environment, with a huge influx of technological resources, and provide professional development for teachers. First priority will be given to next year’s sixth- and seventh-grade students. The program will serve 240 students and will only be for students who are taking mathematics in English. The IPrep program is only for traditional middle schools. There will be15 days of professional development for the participating teachers each summer for three years to implement the Carnegie Curriculum. It will be voluntary for students and teachers, with 60 students in each classroom and a curriculum that is individualized for each student, allowing them to progress at their own rates. Students who do not adjust well to the program will be taken out of the program. This initiative is a grant funded with Race-to-the-Top funds. Two full-time teachers will teach four periods and also have two paid planning periods. Mrs. Robledo said the original plan was for high schools to implement this program, but union discussions moved it to middle schools. The program also will utilize one hourly teacher.

Another innovation next year is that we will offer sixth-grade gifted language arts and social studies. It will feature the same curriculum as our advanced courses, but the delivery will be different. We have many qualified gifted students here already and this will result in a positive impact for the school. The original plan was for all three grade levels to offer gifted, but we have decided to start small with one grade level and to add another grade level each year. Teachers will need to take courses to get gifted endorsed and learn new strategies. The Word of Week (WOW) has begun with the word “evidence.” On Tuesdays, students will learn the definition of the word; on Wednesdays they will learn synonyms and antonyms, and on Thursdays they will write a sentence with the word. Mr. Rivers has been named Assistant Principal of the Year for the Coral Gables Feeder Pattern. We are very proud of Mr. Rivers and expect a visit soon from the Assistant Principal of the Year Committee. Carver has been selected for the Civics End of Course (EOC) Field Test, April 29- May 3.

Dates of other upcoming events were given: At 6 p.m. on January 22, Mrs. Green will give a parent workshop on substance abuse and bully prevention. The math and science interim exams (paper-based) take place on January 23 and 24; Reading interims are January 25 and 28. At 8:30 a.m. on January 23, the Healthy Schools Initiative meeting will take place in Dr. Garcia’s classroom. On January 24, climate surveys will be administered in selected homerooms. At 6 p.m. on January 30, the Spanish Department will present a workshop for parents of sixth-grade IS students. On January 30, the District for Teacher of the Year Recognition takes place; our honoree is Mrs. Cheli Fernandez. February 8 is report card distribution. The Literacy Team meets on February 11. Elective choice options for students for the 2013-2014 school year will take place from 4-5 p.m. on February 12. The next EESAC meeting will be February 13. Mrs. Stroleny thanked Dr. Garcia for his efforts with the Healthy Schools Initiative and pointed out that lines on school walkways have been painted.

Official Business: Mr. Rivers discussed the school dress code declaration notification. The EESAC agreed for Carver to remain a uniform school. Mr. Rivers also discussed updates to school safety: Some access points have been eliminated; the gate by Room 22S is now locked and closes automatically. The gates by the buses and parent drop-off also are being locked, forcing people to go to the security desk in the front of the school for entry. Parents must bring their driver’s license for access. A security check-point has been set up by the back gate from 8:30-9 a.m. Teachers are asked to be vigilant and keep their doors locked at all times and not to prop doors open.

Open Forum: Mrs. Fernandez reported that Carver will compete with 26 schools at the Math Counts Competition at Miami-Dade Community College on February 10. Mrs. Daniels reported that the track team has been competing every Saturday.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 9:02 a.m.