Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Ingrid Robledo, chairperson, called the E.E.S.A.C. meeting to order at 8:20 a.m. The minutes from October 11, 2005, were reviewed and approved.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Stroleny gave the message because Mrs. Gonzalez was out working on a district committee. Mrs. Stroleny began by passing along Mrs. Gonzalez’s wishes for a happy holiday and thanks for the hard work of the EESAC members. Mrs. Stroleny continued the message by saying that the school is quietly preparing for mid-term exams, Dec. 12-15. Dec. 16 will be an eighth-period day and will include the highly successful kick-it-up soccer activity, again organized by Mr. Sands. The School Improvement Plan is in place and department chairs are submitting documentation from their respective teachers of reading across the curriculum. FCAT-type reading and writing is occurring across the curriculum. Social studies, science, foreign language, and elective classes are giving their students frequent FCAT timed reading activities, as well as FCAT-type writing activities using the subject area curriculum. Also to help facilitate this goal, all mid-term exams must have an essay component. Science classes are using math warm-ups activities to reinforce math benchmarks. Teachers’ professional development plans are in full gear. Mrs. Corzo is conducting meetings with teachers. Both Mrs. Corzo and Mr. Fisher are actively working with learning communities. Mrs. Byrd gave an FCAT-type writing workshop for teachers new to Carver on Nov. 30. On Nov. 22, Roxanne Hurtado from FLARE and the Department of Education gave a reading workshop for parents and reading teachers and she will return in January. On Nov. 8, a Science Fair workshop was held for parents. The science teachers have said that this year’s Science Fair projects were of the “highest caliber” and they attribute this in part to meeting with seventh-graders at the end of last school year so that they could begin projects during the summer. They said they plan to meet with this year’s seventh-graders in a similar fashion. On Dec. 6, Ms. Senior and Mr. Redmond will conduct an FCAT writing workshop for parents. Currently $2,663 remains in the EESAC funds and Mrs. Gonzalez would like to spend it on LCD projectors, which are much needed by the teachers. If any amount remains, she would like to spend it on technology also. Mrs. Stroleny then directed attention to the 2004-2005 NCLB Public School accountability report (demographics, graduation /drop out rate, FCAT Results, school safety and environment, professional qualifications of staff, and school performance grade). She explained that the report is thick because it is in English, Spanish, and Creole and that the information contained herein has been presented at past EESAC meetings. Mrs. Basso then gave an update on recruiting for the 2006-07 school year. Every Thursday for the last two months, she has been conducting school tours. She also will appear at three magnet fairs: Dec. 7 at Coral Gables Elementary, Dec. 10 at Booker T. Washington (district event), and Dec. 13 at Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary. Mrs. Stroleny added that many high schools have visited Carver to recruit the current eighth-graders. Stroleny then asked Mrs. Robledo to comment on the situation of make-up days necessitated by the three hurricanes this fall. Mrs. Robledo explained that UTD has worked to save recesses for holiday and spring breaks and that teachers will give up all remaining planning days. She emphasized that UTD is protecting the rights of teachers and students. Information on the dates for FCAT testing are forthcoming.

Open Forum: Mrs. Robledo began by acknowledging Carver’s three new National Board Certified Teachers: Ms. Driggs, Mrs. Noa, and Mrs. Gomez. Recently 222 students attended a successful fieldtrip to Islands of Adventure with the Spanish Drama Club and the German Club. Spanish AP students have attended two dramatic performances on Saturdays to help them prepare for the AP test. Mrs. Robledo then initiated a discussion of the EESAC bylaws. Ms. Gramling pointed out that the bylaws state that the meetings are to be held on the second Tuesday of each month. Mrs. Robledo explained that the move to the first Tuesday is temporary and will last this school year but could be made permanent by amending the bylaws. Mr. Sands discussed the position of PTSA student representative and how this person should be selected. He said he is agreeable to having this person elected as part of the annual Student Council elections. Mrs. Robledo suggested that the Student Council president fill this role in the future. Mrs. Robledo then asked Miss Londoño to read section VB, which states that any member who misses two straight meetings without an excuse may be replaced. Mrs. Robledo emphasized the importance of attendance. She then asked Ms. Gramling to read section X11, which explained the need for certain committees. Mrs. Robledo then stated that the council is required to have a Budget Committee and a Technology Committee. Mrs. Grief said that members of the council should fill the positions. Mrs. Copeland, Miss Londoño, and Mrs. Robledo volunteered for the budget committee. Mrs. Szmulewicz, Mrs. Fernandez, and Mrs. Grief volunteered for the technology committee, and Mr. Sands assigned Mr. Vincent to the committee as student representative. Mrs. Gramling then informed the committee that eighth-grader Chloe Clunis has been selected to appear at two prestigious storytelling competitions: the National Storytelling Competition and the Association of Black Storytellers.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 9 a.m.