Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Recording Secretary: Marina A. Prieto

Location of meeting: Media Center

Was a quorum established? No

Was the meeting advertised? Yes, 08/24/2016

Attendance

Topics Covered

EESAC Meeting Minutes – 09-22-16
3:30 p.m.
Last month’s meeting minutes:
Introductions/Welcome
New attendees: Ms. James (parent), Ms. Umana (parent), Ms. Talavera (parent), and Ms. Paz (parent).
(Welch) Correct from “500” Role Model to “5000” Role Model on last month’s meeting minutes.
There are currently six (6) openings for EESAC. There was great interest shown at the last Title I meeting. There is also an alternate parent position. We meet on the 1st Thursday of every month. Please send an email to Dr. Omar Riaz, Principal if you are interested.
Motion to approve last month’s meeting minutes (Quintero).
Past meeting outcomes: Ms. Gracely Rodriguez has been hired as a media clerk. The morning announcements are in place and can be accessed via a link on the school’s website.
(Johnson): Is the t-shirt idea from last meeting still something that be pursued?
(Dr. Riaz): Yes.

Motion carried: (all).
Handouts: meeting minutes, agenda, EESAC budget availability report, EESAC roster, EESAC bylaws, School Improvement Plan (SIP) excerpt.
Review Bylaws/Roster
Copies were distributed to those in attendance.
The terms, election process, rules/bylaws were discussed. If you see any changes that need to be made, please contact Ms. Amparo Quintero, EESAC Chairperson.
The roster was discussed. The group codes were defined. The roster will be updated accordingly.

SIP Review/Updates
(Dr. Riaz) The School Improvement Plan (SIP) is a living document that delineates the most actionable items and explains that goals for our school. It is used to guide the initiatives that we will implement at our school. It provides details about our school history, and also has teacher demographic information. A complete copy can be found at our school’s website. Simply click on “About Us” and you will see the link for the entire SIP.
[SIP excerpt handout]
The attendees discussed the handout. The main goal was read and explained. The barriers, available resources, and implementation timeline for action items was also explained. Dr. Riaz also discussed the coaching cycle and how we use Ongoing Progress Monitoring (OPM) as a tracking mechanism for at risk students. The barriers listed on this document were part of a discussion during a summer professional development where a team of teachers and instructional coaches chose one (1) barrier to target.
RtI (Response to Intervention)
The procedures and timelines for completing referral packets was explained by Maria Y. Rodriguez, Assistant Principal. The referral process is designed to identify students who are having difficulties with grade level coursework. There is a team in place that reviews the packets. The due date for submitting the packets is at the end of October. This will allow sufficient time for the team to review the cases and gather data.
School Operations
Broadmoor no longer has the extended day schedule. Primary students (Pre-K through 1st grade) are dismissed at 1:50 p.m. All other grades are dismissed at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday dismissal is 1:50 p.m. for all grades.
(C. Moore): I have a question regarding the Bond Referendum. Will there be upgrades to technology and equipment such as air-conditioning?
(Dr. Riaz): The General Obligation Bond as you recall was voted on three (3) years ago. A tax was assessed on property owners in order to support our schools. Currently, we are in year 4. There is a list of items that will be addressed at our school. There are pictures being taken tomorrow of our school that will assist a committee from the Office of Strategic Planning to make decisions about how to best allocate resources for capital improvements. The committee consists of project managers, zone mechanics, etc. You can visit gob.dadeschools.net to see details about this initiative. They may plan to install air-conditioning in the main hallway, build a playground, etc. The work takes place during the summertime and teachers will need to pack and label belongings that will be kept in containers.
(James): Are teachers involved in the decision-making? How about the principal?
(Dr. Riaz): The committee makes the decisions. You can research other schools in the area and get an idea of what improvements are made to schools in general. These projects are geared towards structural capital maintenance. They do not include the replacement of SmartBoards. There was also a walk-through conducted two (2) weeks ago.
(Welch): Can I suggest that they add windows to the Kindergarten pods?
(Dr. Riaz): They will do extensive work, but we will know more when the team has finished assessing the school site.


Curriculum Issues
There is an upcoming Instructional Review. The action plans can also be adjusted based on this group which is composed of people outside of our school.
Due to the new dismissal schedule, there have been challenges in meeting the needs of our students with regards to intervention and enrichment. The Spanish time has been adjusted accordingly.
Budget Updates:
Budget conferences will be held next week for our feeder pattern. The budget is not as substantial as last year. The Gifted program is under enrolled. We have been asked to share this teaching position. The program may be converted into a “push in” type model like is utilized in the SPED program. There needs to be thirty (30) students in the Gifted program in order for it to function under the resource model. We currently have fifteen (15) students and there are eight (8) cases in queue.
(Welch) – Why can’t we test students in the primary grades in order to increase our numbers?
(Dr. Riaz) – The Division of Advanced Academics has guidelines and they state that the grades that are taught need to be concurrent. In a combination class you can only have concurrent grades. Adding primary, would not fall under this guideline. Other schools in the area function on a consultation basis due to low enrollment as well. There is a stipulation that the program offered is 12 hours per week.
There will be a copy of the finalized budget at our next meeting.
Our school will offer before school tutoring for selected students for grades 3-5. Saturday School (paid with general funds) will also be available. We found these offerings to be very effective in increasing student achievement. Tutoring will be tentatively offered in November.
(Welch) - Are we using Imagine Learning?
(Dr. Riaz) – This program is being used by ESOL Level 1 students. It can be accessed by smartphone as well.

Title I –
Parent Involvement Plan (PIP) – Ms. Wanda Rosario, Community Involvement Specialist, discussed the outcomes of the meeting that took place after the Parent Academy. There was great feedback about the Parent Compact about the needs and concerns that parents have. Please contact for the complete Parent Compact. EESAC also receives parent feedback as well.
Handout – There is $2,151 available in EESAC funding to support school activities. A vote must take place in order to decide how these funds are utilized. A quorum of 50% of voting members + one (1) member must be in attendance to be able to vote. In the past the school has purchased Accelerated Reader (AR) books and incentives for all grades. The AR Hall of Fame is located in the Media Center and past winners photographs are on display.
Northside Center – No tutoring due to funding issues. Other parent services are being offered. Please continue to refer parents. The center is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is located in the the Northside Shopping Center next to the uniform store. Many of our parents have received certificates.
(C. Moore) – Why are they no longer offering free tutoring?
(Rosario) – Due to funding issues.

New Business –
(Welch) - Can Pre-Kindergarten request a field trip to the pumpkin patch?
(Dr. Riaz) – Please fill out the necessary forms.
(C. Moore) – What is the farthest you can travel for a field trip? We would like to go to Butterfly World in Coconut Creek.
(Dr. Riaz) - Please fill out the necessary forms.
“Bee Bucks” are an incentive that is proving beneficial. This is a reward system that uses a form of “currency” that students receive from their teachers. As a result, students are improving their behavior and attendance patterns. Ms. Patricia Schevis, Success Coach and Ms. Constance Alexander, School Counselor are looking for donations for the “Bee Boutique”. This is a store located in Room 9 where students can purchase merchandise with their Bee Bucks.
(Umana) – I have donations of practically new toys such as Minecraft that I would like to donate.
(Dr. Riaz) – Please bring donations to the Main Office.
School announcements – There is a You Tube channel link to the morning announcements on the school’s main web page. The teachers control when the announcements are played in the classroom in order avoid interruptions to instructional time.
Comments/Concerns
(C. Moore) – It has been brought to my attention that some of our students are not satisfied with some of the menu options in the school cafeteria.
(Dr. Riaz) – The Office of Food & Nutrition selects the menu items. At times, the menu varies due to a shortened work week or delivery food supplies. Snacks are no longer offered due to the regular school day schedule. As a result, there is a decrease in labor hours. The cafeteria staff is working to balance their work hours.
(Umana) – Sometimes the food is cold.
(Dr. Riaz) – The staff is trying to manage, but it will be addressed. They are attempting to rework the schedule for serving meals.
(C. Moore) – Is there a lunch calendar?
(Dr. Riaz) – The lunch schedule is posted on our school website and is available on the Dadeschools App. The app has the most updated information and has the lunch menus for approximately two (2) weeks in advance.
(Umana) – P.E. is overcrowded.
(Dr. Riaz) – We are not able to “level” classes in grade 5. It is a large group. Although we cannot change the number of students in the class, we are working to structure the activities. Due to a lack of funding, we cannot generate an additional Physical Education teaching position. Classes are combined as with other special areas such as Music.
(C. Moore) – Can we have a PJ or spaghetti night to raise funds?
(Umana) – How about a talent show?
(Dr. Riaz) – These are good ideas. Please propose them to the Social Committee or PTA. As a reminder, the Social Committee cannot collect funds from students.
(Welch) – How many field trips can we request in a school year?
(Dr. Riaz) – There is no set limit, but the number of requests should not be such that instructional time is greatly affected.
(Rosario) We are noticing a decline in fund raising. For example, the pizza cards. PTA membership is now $10. Can we send a Connect Ed call to remind parents the membership drive is underway and that membership is $10 per family and not per student? Part of the membership amount is used to pay the PTA Board on Orlando. The amount paid is $3.50 per member out of $10. The PTA is meeting on Saturday. We have paid insurance, but we need to continue to fund raise.
(Rosario) – We have a new parent that would like to hear what the roles/responsibilities of a parent in EESAC.
(Dr. Riaz) – The committee is comprised of parents, teachers, students, and other stakeholders. As a voting member, you have the opportunity to discuss school related issues such as academic progress. You also have the right to vote and make decisions. There are no ballots involved, rather it is a consensus among EESAC voting members. You also relate information to other parents and encourage them to attend.
Motion to Adjourn (Quintero)
Motion carried (all)
Adjourned 4:27 p.m.