Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Recording Secretary: Sarah Russell

Location of meeting: Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center Media Center

Was a quorum established? No

Was the meeting advertised? Yes, 02/01/2006

Attendance

Topics Covered

Sandra Ames called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m.

OLD BUSINESS:

School Uniform Update – The students are pretty much in compliance with wearing school uniform. We have received positive feedback from the students.

Mentoring Program – Ms. Loring said every student in the accountability group now has a mentor. She said this program has great potential for success. Ms. Clarington said she thinks this program is working. She said some students have asked why they didn’t have a mentor. If this program works, may open it up to all students.

Secondary School Reform – The main item is block scheduling. Mrs. King discussed the pros and cons of block scheduling.

Ms. Ames said the district wants all schools to be on the 4 x 4 block of instruction.

Mrs. King said we need to decide if we’re going to have block scheduling at all.

Ms. Loring commented that teachers are being asked to do much more now and longer periods might reduce teacher stress. She supports block scheduling.

Ms. Allen said she thinks block scheduling would be a better approach. Ms. McKay and Ms. Clarington agreed.

Ms. Ames noted that Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be the days with the best attendance.

Ms. Allen asked if block scheduling would extend the length of the school day and was told that it would not.

Bonding will be separate.

With block scheduling we will have to rework everything, including lunch.

Mrs. King said we may have to do two master schedules – one for six periods and one for eight periods.

Ms. Clarington informed meeting attendees that the union has sent out a survey regarding union negotiations.

Mr. McIntyre asked if we could block schedule intensive classes. He also made a motion to open discussion to the entire faculty about the pros and cons of block scheduling.

Ms. Loring said a discussion could be held during PLC.

Mr. McIntyre then suggested that EESAC recommend block scheduling to the faculty and have an open discussion during PLC where they can discuss the pros and cons and then vote on block scheduling.

Mrs. King said the discussion and voting can be done next Thursday during PLC.

Ms. Allen seconded the Mr. McIntyre’s motion that the EESAC committee recommends block scheduling.

At the next staff meeting everyone will vote whether or not the school wants block scheduling.

Mr. McIntyre said he had read an article about offering attendance incentives for students.

Mr. Fair invited the EESAC committee to the Soul Food Feast to be held on 2/23/06 from 7-9 p.m. outside the coffee house at Miami-Dade College. They will be featuring Taprina. Also, on 2/15/06 the national president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will be present from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Room 6120, Building 6000. He also told us Mary Wilson of the Supremes will be speaking from 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on 2/16/06 in Building 6000, Room 6120.

The next meeting will be held March 8, 2006 at 4:00 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:51 p.m.