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 December 6, 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 greetings for the coming year. She continued the message by explaining that much preparation is commencing for our standardized testing. At Carver we teach our curriculum not to the FCAT test, but we also want to be smart test-takers when it comes to the FCAT. The revised date for FCAT is March 13-24. We have a two-week extension; eighth-grade FCAT Writing will be Feb. 7-8. We do a school-wide exam with sixth- and seventh-graders taking practice tests; Mock FCAT Writing for eighth-graders on Jan .11. Flare Training by Roxanne Hurtado will occur Jan. 9- 19. She will model lessons for reading teachers. Through this venue we are able to provide our teachers with professional development and not have them leave the building. On Dec. 6, Mr. Redmond and Ms. Senior gave a very successful writing workshop showing our parents how they can help their children become better writers. Mr. Redmond’s leave of absence has begun: Mr. Hudson, Ms. Senior, and Mrs. Bryd are taking his students to prevent loss of instruction. Additional support for these teachers is provided through a substitute teacher; Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Byrd have interns from FIU. The school’s administration is preparing for an FTE audit, the mid-year SIP review, a reading audit, and Family Education Night. Family Education Night for Coral Gables Feeder Pattern will occur on Jan. 12, with sign-in and welcome at 6 p.m., followed by Parent Academy classes and a spaghetti dinner. Much preparation is taking place to make this event successful. Mrs. Gonzalez would like representation from EESAC and PTSA. The EESAC meeting originally scheduled for Feb. 7 has been rescheduled to Feb. 14 due to FCAT Writing testing. The tentative March date of March 7 is good as FCAT testing begins March 13. Budget (Ms. Robledo, Ms. Copeland, and Miss Londono) and Technology committees (Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Szmulewicz, and Mr. Vincent) have been formed. Each committee needs to first formulate its mission statement and plan of action. (This plan shall be presented to the council for review at the next EESAC meeting.) Also, each committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and deliver a copy to the EESAC council. Scoliosis screening will occur Jan. 5.

Open Forum: Mr. Sands explained that the trip to Tallahassee will take place on March 23-25, which are FCAT testing dates but that students will be present for the FCAT makeup dates. News will be sent to parents regarding this issue. There are 31 participants signed up for this trip, which will visit campuses and museums and will have guided tours and programs offered to students. The students also will visit Ocala Springs and Orlando, where they will spend Friday night. Mrs. Robledo complimented the administration for supporting these instructional trips. “Everything we do is educational here,” she said. Mrs. Daniels said the basketball season has started and the varsity girls have already won one game. Mrs. Gramling said it was too early for any news from her students.

Adjournment: Mrs. Robledo adjourned the meeting at 8:50 a.m.