Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: In the absence of Mrs. Robledo, chairperson, Mrs. Gonzalez called the E.E.S.A.C. meeting to order at 8:15 a.m. The minutes from January 6, 2006, were reviewed and approved.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Gonzalez began by stating that FCAT Writing on February 7 went better than it has ever gone before here. FCAT writing is now three sessions. Sixth- and seventh-graders did a mock test. The test was lengthy: the last eighth-grade class finished at 12:35 p.m. Ms. Castillo’s “organization was second to none.” FCAT is for the entire school and logistics are very complicated, in addition to test security. Mrs. Green, Mrs. Basso, and Mrs. Peralta also helped. FLARE is helping the reading classes, which did well in the curriculum audit. FLARE representative Roxanne Hurtado has been working with reading teachers; she gave a workshop and has been working one-on-one, observing and debriefing and providing great support. Mrs. Stroleny explained that the state format must be followed closely in reading classes and that reading teachers were not familiar with this procedure at the beginning of the year but now are following the correct procedure. The bell has been extended for first period to meet the state format, and reading students get announcements later to adhere to state procedures. Barry University is also providing assistance for students in the reading classes. Mrs. Gonzalez said the same teacher for homeroom and first period has cut down on movement in the hallways; teachers can extend class a few minutes, giving teachers more flexibility. The mid-year School Improvement Plan review went well; teachers are working with hard data to track student progress in Reading and Intensive Math classes and in writing through Language Arts classes, and quarterly tests are occurring in Science and Social Studies classes; the Reading Fluency test and Sharpen Up are being used in reading classes. Family Education Night went well and all schools from the feeder pattern were represented. The FTE audit went well. Subject selection is scheduled for February 21-24. SIPA had an incredible event at the consulate’s house. Friends of Carver night is scheduled for Feb. 24 at the Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables. Mrs. Gonzalez said that Mrs. Stroleny and Mr. Fisher are hard at work on next year’s schedule with a start date of Aug. 14. A new event, the Renaissance Fair, is scheduled for April 20, which is an early release date. Mr. Fisher is Assistant Principal of Year for Region IV and is now competing at the District level. The District competition for science fair went well with Dario Pedrajo and Adrianna Bracho being selected for the state competition. In addition, Andrew Harrington won awards totaling $830.

Open Forum: Ms. Gramling reported on the Odyssey of the Mind state competition where Carver earned two seconds and one fifth. Ms. Gramling was “very pleased.” Teams projects included ancient Egypt, the great parade (a vehicle problem), and a jungle with animals and song and dance. Mr. Sands reported on the African-American Read-In. On February 6, Mr. Sands’s and Scippio’s classes participated. Feedback on the FCAT Writing test was given. Mr. Hudson explained that the eighth-grade teachers emphasized planning more than they had done in past years and that eighth-grade teachers said that they observed almost all students doing some planning before writing the essay. Mrs. Copeland said it was the smoothest FCAT from a parent’s viewpoint (She has a sixth- and a seventh-grader here.) Mrs. Gonzalez thanked parents for snacks for FCAT writing. She said she would prefer no potato chips in the future because of their high sugar level but said pretzels are possible.

Adjournment: Mrs. Gonzalez adjourned the meeting at 8:55 a.m.