Educational Excellence School Advisory Council

7571 International Studies Preparatory Academy

Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes for:    10/01/2015  04:15 PM

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

Recording Secretary:    Maria Lugo

Location of meeting:    International Studies Preparatory Academy - 1570 Madruga Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33146 - Room 408

Was a quorum established?    Yes

Was the meeting advertised?    Yes,  09/10/2015

Attendance:

Members Present:

Perez, Alejandro (Principal)
Bez, Lilliam (Teacher)
Monterrat Ledo (Teacher)
Lugo, Maria (Teacher)
Feiler, Mylene (Alternate Teacher/Paraprofessional)
Calvo, Tamara (Educational Support Employee)
Luna, Diana (Parent)
Ferrante, Rosario (Parent)
Vargas, Diego (Student)
Kassandra Casanova (Alternate Student)
Weiner, Jeff (Business/Community Representative)

Members Absent (Excused):

Rodriguez, Deanna (Teacher)
Martin, Onelio (Alternate Educational Support)
Harrison, Naomi (Parent)
Salazar, Martii (Parent)
Del Rio, Alina (Business/Community Representative)

Members Absent (Unexcused):

No one had an unexcused absence.

Others Present:

Ana Alamo, Teacher
Maria Martinez, Teacher

Topics Covered:

7571 International Studies Preparatory Academy
Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes for: 10/1/2015 at 2:30 p.m.
Please contact the school for a formatted hard copy of these minutes.
Recording Secretary: Maria Lugo
Location of Meeting: ISPA-Media Center
Was a quorum established? Yes
Was the meeting advertised? Yes
Attendance:
Members Present:
Perez, Alejandro (Principal)
Diaz, Felicia (Assistant Principal)
Maria Martinez (UTD Steward & Teacher)
Feiler, Mylene (Teacher)
Lugo, Maria (Teacher)
Liliam Bez (Teacher)
Ana Alamo (Teacher)
Monserrat Ledo (Teacher)
Tamara Calvo, (Support Personnel)
Weiner, Jeff (Business Community Representative)
Ferrante, Rosario (Parent)
Diana Luna (Parent)
Kassandra Casanova (Student)
Vargas, Diego (Student)







Topics Covered:
International Studies Preparatory Academy at Gables (ISPA) EESAC Minutes
October 1, 2015
I. Agenda
*Approval of minutes from prior EESAC meeting on May 21, 2015
*School Improvement Plan 2015-2016
*Opening of Schools Update
*EESAC By-Laws/Revisions
*New Parent/Teacher Members
*Recruitment Update
*EESAC Budget
*PTSA Update
*New Business
II. Call to Order
*Mr. Perez called the EESAC Committee meeting to order at 2:30 p.m., on October 1st , 2015, at International Studies Preparatory Academy at Gables (ISPA).
III. Roll Call
*Mr. Perez, Ms. Diaz, Ms. Alamo, Ms. Martinez, Ms. Lugo, Ms. Feiler, Ms. Calvo, Ms. Bez, Ms. Luna, Ms. Ferrante, Ms. Ledo, Mr. Weiner, Miss Casanova, and Mr. Vargas
IV. Approval of Minutes from May 21, 2015
*Ms. Feiler made a motion to approve the minutes, and Ms.Bez seconded the motion.
* Minutes from May 21, 2015 were approved by all members.
V. School Improvement Plan 2015-2016
*Copies are available from Mr. Perez upon request.
*The region will review the SIP during October. It is pending approval from the district as well.
*Mr. Perez reviewed the SIP with the EESAC Committee. The SIP format has been changed. Now, there is one goal per school. Our goal is related to improving student achievement in the core areas. Currently 53% of our school is on Free or Reduced Lunch. We are not a Title I school. Eighty-eight percent of our student body is made up of minority students. We have maintained an A-grade since the inception of ISPA in 2010. Based on preliminary results, we foresee that we will maintain our A grade this year. The county overall is encouraging schools to improve their student attendance rate. We would like to increase our attendance rate from 96% to 97% this school year. All parents and students have been informed of the district’s 20/10 attendance plan where students are not allowed to participate in end-of-the-year activities if they have more than 10 absences or 20 tardies. Mr. Perez also mentioned that we are on an 8 period day which is beneficial to students. The entire county seems to be moving in this direction. Additionally, ISPA has a full-time counselor this year, Ms. Marquez.
VI. Opening of Schools Update
*Mr. Perez mentioned that the Opening of Schools went very smoothly.
*We have many activities planned for our students. He will be joining Ms. Martinez for this year’s Florida College Tour which begins on October 28, 2015.
VI. EESAC By-laws/Revisions
*Currently, for the exception of new members, no changes have been made to the By-laws this school year.
VII. New Parent/Teacher Members.
*Ms. Ledo replaced Ms. Iglesias, Ms. Ferrante replaced Ms. Medina, Diego Vargas replaced Bianca Antunez, and Kassandra Casanova replaced Diego Vargas.
VIII. Recruitment Update
*The recruitment process for the 2016-2017 school year begins tomorrow October 2, 2015.
*Mr. Perez, Ms. Diaz, Ms. Marquez, Ms. Alamo, Ms. Ledo and Ms. Martinez are all visiting local schools to promote ISPA and its programs.
IX. PTSA Update
*Mr. Perez commended the current PTSA and its administration for being such a valuable resource to our school. They are very accommodating and do a wonderful job of promoting parent involvement as well as great fund-raising for the school.
*PTSA is organizing this year’s Mediterranean Gala which will be held at the French Consul’s home on February 5, 2016.
*PTSA has a website which has current information regarding all of the events that they sponsor.
X. New Business
*Diego Vargas and Kassandra Casanova, the student body representatives, spoke to the EESAC regarding school uniforms. A few students have approached them and wanted them to request more liberty when choosing which sweatshirts to wear along with their uniforms to school. The EESAC and Mr. Perez heard their concerns and asked them to go bring a written proposal delineating their expectations/demands. They will present next meeting.
*During the month of November both Mr. Perez and Ms. Martinez will be attending the Florida College Tour with a group of students. They will be visiting a variety of Florida universities in three days.
*Our activities director, Ms. Acevedo is planning this year’s Winter Formal.
*During Spring Break, a group of students will be visiting France.
*During the month of May, another group of students will attend Close-Up. Ms. Rodriguez expects that more students will attend this year due to the success of last year’s trip.
*Class trips this year will include Epcot, Busch Gardens, Magic Kingdom, and Grad Bash.
*Other activities that are planned for this year include: Spirit Week, The Senior Bowling Trip, Senior Picnic, Spain is Different, ISPA’s Got Talent, ISPAFEST, Prom, and The Senior Breakfast.
XI. Adjournment
*Ms. Feiler moved to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Weiner seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.