Educational Excellence School Advisory Council

7571 International Studies Preparatory Academy

Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes for:    02/21/2024  02:30 PM

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

Recording Secretary:    Montserrat Ledo

Location of meeting:    Media Center / Zoom

Was a quorum established?    Yes

Was the meeting advertised?    Yes,  09/05/2023

Attendance:

Members Present:

Alamo, Ana (Teacher / EESAC Chairperson)
De La Cruz, Leslie (Parent)
Diaz-Blanco, Alina (Principal)
Fajardo, Natalia (Educational Support)
Lancis, Beatriz (Teacher)
Ledo, Montserrat (Teacher)
Martinez, Maria Gemma (Parent)
Rodriguez, Andres (Student)
Taracido, Kevin (Teacher)

Members Absent (Excused):

Bryson, Maria (Parent)
Harrison, Naomi (Business / Community Rep)
Romano, Eliana (Parent)

Members Absent (Unexcused):

No one had an unexcused absence.

Others Present:

Calvo, Tammy (Alternate Education Support)
Padilla, David (Alternate Student)
Rodriguez, Deanna (Alternate Teacher)

Topics Covered:

I. Agenda
• Approval of minutes from prior EESAC meeting on November 20, 2023
• School Improvement Plan: Mid-year Review 2023-2024
• School Improvement Plan: Waivers & Secondary School Reform
• EESAC Budget
• PTSA Update
• New Business

II. Call to Order
Ms. Ana Alamo, EESCA Chairperson, called the EESAC Committee meeting to order at 2:30pm on February 21, 2024, at International Studies Preparatory Academy at Gables (ISPA).

III. Roll Call
Introduction of New Parent/Teacher/Student Members
a. Present Members
Alamo, Ana (Teacher / EESAC Chairperson)
De La Cruz, Leslie (Parent)
Diaz-Blanco, Alina (Principal)
Fajardo, Natalia (Educational Support)
Lancis, Beatriz (Teacher)
Ledo, Montserrat (Teacher)
Martinez, Maria Gemma (Parent)
Rodriguez, Andres (Student)
Taracido, Kevin (Teacher)

b. Absent Members (Excused Absence)
Bryson, Maria (Parent)
Harrison, Naomi (Business / Community Rep)
Romano, Eliana (Parent)

c. Others Present
Calvo, Tammy (Alternate Education Support)
Padilla, David (Alternate Student)
Rodriguez, Deanna (Alternate Teacher)

IV. Approval of Minutes from November 20, 2023
- Mr. Taracido made a motion to approve the minutes, and Ms. Ledo seconded the motion.
- Minutes from November 20, 2023, were approved unanimously.

V. School Improvement Plan: Mid-Year Review 2023-2024
- PM 1 and PM 2 results have been analyzed for ELA and Mid-Year Assessment data for Math EOCs.
- Data-based decisions are being made to ensure the highest level of proficiency.
- Afterschool and Saturday tutoring will be provided to students.

VI. School Improvement Plan: Waivers & Secondary School Reform
- Dr. Blanco discussed the Eight period day and Block Schedule currently in place at the school.
- This schedule is crucial for the school’s academic program and required additional language courses that the students take.
- Dr. Blanco discussed Block Schedule.
- During the faculty meeting held on February 7, 2024, the faculty voted to keep Block Schedule and an Eight period day.
- Ms. Sanchez made a motion to approve continuing with an Eight period day and Block Schedule. Ms. Ledo seconded the motion.
- The motion was passed unanimously.
- Dr. Blanco spoke about faculty participation in after school clubs and how ISPA is limited to the number of clubs it can offer students because teachers are only allowed to have three supplements.
- The faculty discussed waiving the three-supplement maximum requirement and increasing it to allow six supplements per teacher. This would allow for teachers to sponsor more clubs for students to participate in.
- During the faculty meeting held on February 7, 2024, the faculty also voted on waiving the three-supplement maximum and increasing it to six supplements per teacher.
- Ms. De La Cruz made a motion to endorse and support waiving the three-supplement maximum and increasing it to six supplements per teacher. Ms. Alamo seconded the motion.
- The motion was passed unanimously.

VII. EESAC Budget
- EESAC Funds are used on an ongoing basis to purchase items to highlight student accomplishments.

VIII. PTSA Update
- No new updates at this time.

IX. New Business
- David Padilla inquired about funds being procured for the Engineering club to purchase shirts or sweatshirts. Dr. Blanco recommended he reach out to Ms. Acevedo, the Activities Director, to help with a fundraiser.

X. Adjournment
- Mr. Rodriguez moved to adjourn the meeting and Mr. Taracido seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 3:20pm.