Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

G. W. CARVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Educational Excellence School Advisory Council
Ingrid Robledo, Chairperson

E.E.S.A.C. MEETING April 8, 2015

Council members in attendance:
Ingrid Robledo (chairperson)
Shelley Stroleny
Shelton Rivers
Annette Daniels
Guillermo Garcia
Shannon Sejeck
Richard Hudson
Brigitte Kavanaugh
Natalia Torres
Natalia Lopez
Richard Smithies
Elvia Braithwaite

Council members absent:
Cheli Fernández
Maria Alvarado
Suzie Prudhomme
Ana Hernandez
Pierre Apollon
Laura Weinfeld
Flavia Verde
Thomas Harley
Tom Kernan
Annie Baker
Melissa Nobles

Guests
Maria de los Angeles-Fernandez
Maria Guevara

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. The minutes from February 25, 2015, were reviewed and approved.

SIP Review: The EESAC is the sole body responsible for the approval and implementation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP). Mr. Rivers said we will use all available data from the 2014-2015 school year as a framework for the 2015-2016 SIP. With all of the new assessments, there is uncertainty as to how the SIP will be formed.

Principal’s Message: Mrs. Stroleny said this may be the final EESAC meeting of the year but there is a possibility of two more meetings if needed. She gave dates of upcoming events. Practice FSA testing has been taking place since we returned from spring recess. There have been challenges but we will finish practice testing soon. The computers from the Samsung competition have been a great help, doubling our number of labs. The FSA grades 6, 7, and 8 ELA Reading and grades 6 and 7 Mathematics will take place between April 13 and May 8. FCAT Science for grade 8 is on April 13. EOC exams are scheduled in Algebra and Geometry (April 13-May 15), Civics (April 20-May 22), and Biology (May 5). On April 6, A.P. practice exams in all four languages went well. On April 7 and 8 students are taking spring pictures as a PTSA fundraiser. Report cards go home on April 8. April 10 is Take Your Child to Work Day. Audits, including health inspection and sanitation, have been taking place on an ongoing basis and we are ensuring that we are in compliance. The FIPA Gala is April 18. Administrative Assistants Day is April 22. Carver will be recognized at the Magnet Schools of America awards ceremony on April 23 and 24 in Raleigh, N.C. It is important for us to be present at these national conferences and showcase our school. The annual Friends of Carver fundraiser is April 24. April 30 is early release. On May 1, Dr. Garcia will be honored at the Science Teacher of the Year Award Dinner. Dr. Garcia also is the Air Force Association Homestead Chapter Teacher of the Year and has been nominated for state teacher of the year, which will be announced later this month. The Literacy Team will meet on May 4. Orientation for new IS students is on May 5 and for new IE students on May 6. Teacher Appreciation is on May 5. Advanced Placement exams are as follows: May 7, Spanish; May 8, German; May 12, French; and May 14, Italian. A Science Fair meeting for grade 7 students and parents is on May 14. We have amazing science fair projects, and a lot of scholarship money is available for top students, who often want to start their projects before the next school year begins. The Student Council Convention is on May 20, with elections on May 21 and 22. The awards ceremony is May 28. Francophone Day is May 29. The eighth-grade banquet is June 4.

Mr. Redmond left Carver to take a university position in Indiana and to work on his writing career. We wish him well. He was so connected to the Carver family. His experience in Miami changed his life in a positive way. He loved teaching and was an excellent teacher; it was hard for him to say good-bye to students and colleagues. We have a permanent sub working with Mrs. Pinilla for the rest of the school year in teaching his classes; for the fall, we are looking for a teacher for this position. Mrs. Castellanos also left for a full-time job at a charter school. A parent of a former student is our new iPrep interventionist.

Open Forum: Mrs. Stroleny said the student trips to Europe and Washington. D.C. were both great successes. The Washington trip was led by Mr. Sands. Mrs. Robledo discussed the Europe trip, which she led. She said it truly was a learning experience: the countries we selected were totally different from what we had exposed our students to in past trips. Mr. Rivers accompanied Mrs. Robledo on the trip and said he enjoyed it greatly. Mrs. Robledo thanked Mrs. Stroleny for approving the activity, and Mrs. Stroleny commended Mrs. Robledo’s commitment. Mrs. Robledo said parents also were a great help. Mrs. Robledo also said she has been invited to grade A.P. exams this summer in Cincinnati, adding that being invited is a great honor. Mrs. Stroleny said that that all teachers except two will be administering state or district exams; only two teachers will be administering exams they had to prepare themselves. Mrs. Robledo said the Florida Educators Association is fighting to have a 33 percent impact on teachers’ evaluation scores instead of 50 percent based on test scores; She also mentioned the removal of school grades for next year, which could impact us because we are an A school. She said we need to communicate with our legislators to let them know how testing is affecting education. We all have a voice and need to express it. Mr. Smithies said the boys’ basketball team is doing well and recently had an exciting comeback victory.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 8:42 a.m.