Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Recording Secretary: Sarah Russell

Location of meeting: Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center Media Center

Was a quorum established? Yes

Was the meeting advertised? Yes, 11/08/2013

Attendance

Topics Covered

The meeting was called to order at 8:02 a.m. by Alfreida Joseph-Goins in the Media Center of Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center.

In Attendance: Alfreida Joseph-Goins, Sonya Harrington, Constance Gilbert, Patricia Florit-Valenzano, Sylvia Hadley, Annette Burks-Grice, Dr. Yvonne Parchment, Tarika Quinn, Sarah Russell, Daisy Butcher, Kawanna Washington, and Chantise Ellison.

Minutes from the meeting of October 15, 2013 was approved with no changes.

New Business:

Mrs. Goins welcomed Ms. Sonya Harrington to the meeting.

No meeting was held on November 12, 2013 as was previously announced.

Incentives:
Dr. Parchment asked about the question of student incentives which had been raised at previous meetings. Ms. Gilbert volunteered to follow up with Chantise Ellison and the Student Government Association (SGA). Mrs. Grice suggested information regarding incentives currently implemented is provided to all SGA members, including the ones for good attendance.

Dr. Parchment commented that it is important to instill in students good attendance habits as one of the assets they will need to take to the workplace after graduation.

Miss Ellison asked if bonding time will continue to be used as an incentive and was assured that it would be. It was also suggested that more activities be done around holidays to encourage students to come to school which will assist in improving attendance.

Assessment
Ms. Goins initiated a discussion about the Interim Data and the relationship to the School Improvement Plan (SIP). Selected department teacher leaders presented subject area data.

• Ms. Florit-Valenzano discussed on the raw data received from the Interim Testing for Math and Science. In Algebra I 47% (7 of 15) of the students were proficient, 53% need remediation. In Geometry 40% (10 of 25) of the students were proficient and 60% need remediation. In Grade 8 Math 50% of the students were proficient while 50% need remediation. In Grade 7 Math 25% of the students were proficient and 75% need remediation. In Biology 44% of the students were proficient and 56% need remediation.

Ms. Florit-Valenzano said that she has students who have submitted an application to the Fairchild Challenge. This submission is a result of the STEM portion of the SIP. She also has ten students who are interested in entering projects in to the Regional Science Fair. The cost of the entry is $20.00 per project. She informed attendees that the Regional Science Fair is open to all students.

• Ms. Hadley discussed Career and Technical Education (CTE). The goal is to get high school individuals prepared with industry certifications. COPE has two academies and one academy pending. At COPE we have the Early Childhood Academy, the Health Science and Health and Wellness Academy and the Applied Information Technology (Business) Academy has been applied for and is pending approval. The Early Childhood Academy has 12 students enrolled in the Career Technical Organization (CTO) in connection with the FCCLA. Students must pay to take these industry certification examinations. The Applied Information Technology (Business) Academy has partnered with AT&T. This program currently has ten students enrolled and they are affiliated with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). The Health Science and Health and Wellness Academy have an enrollment of 35 students.

• Ms. Quinn discussed the SIP goals for reduction of absences. The 9th grade students who have one or more absences is at 18%. The goal is to reduce this to 17%. Students with two or more behavioral referrals have been identified through RTI and are currently at 13%. The goal is to reduce this to 12%. Student dropout in 2012 was 9%. The goal for 2014 is to reduce this dropout rate to 7%. Ms. Quinn said we need to find out why the student is not going to school.

Student Services:
Student Services will provide orientations each nine weeks with the students to make sure they know the school-wide rules and are provided information about community service hours. Students need a minimum of 10 hours to graduate and at least 100 hours to be eligible for scholarships.

Ms. Goins explained that all staff members are responsible to help with student service issues. Data chats are geared toward truancy issues and attendance.

• Ms. Goins gave an update on Reading results. On the Fall Interim tests the 10th grade students taking the FCAT for the first time tested 54% proficient (Satisfactory – 30%, Proficient – 24%). The 9th grade students tested 80% proficient (Satisfactory – 20%, Proficient – 60%). The students in middle school were deficient in all areas. Attendance is an issue.

Concerns
Ms. Butcher is concerned that the middle school students are in mixed classes. She was assured by Ms. Goins that they will address this in department meetings and common planning.

Budget
Mrs. Grice informed members of the EESAC budget for this school year and invited staff and others to sit with her to discuss the school’s budget in depth. She told members present to email Ms. Goins their ideas for spending the EESAC funds.

Announcements
• The Honor Roll Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2013.
• Ms. Sheree Cooper has resigned from the EESAC. Ms. Marilyn Morning has been asked to replace her as representative for the Paraprofessionals.
• Dr. Parchment donated funds for the Science Fair participants.

The next EESAC meeting date will be held on either February 4 or 11, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.

The EESAC meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m.