Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Approval of minutes: Mrs. Robledo called the meeting to order at 8:20 a.m. She explained her absence due to jury duty last month. She thanked Laura Londoño for the organization and distribution of the EESAC folders. Mrs. Robledo also recognized Miss Londoño’s work with the Club de Arte Dramático. The minutes from Feb. 14, 2006, were reviewed and approved with the correction that Mrs. Behar should be marked present.

Principal’s message: Mrs. Gonzalez stated that next week is FCAT and “the proof is in the test.” She thanked the members for their continued support of EESAC and thanked Mrs. Behar for her work in organizing the snacks that will be provided for the students during the FCAT testing. Mrs. Gonzalez then explained that the remainder of the Principal’s Message consists of an explanation of the Strategic Planning Focus Group mandated by the District and that Mrs. Stroleny would give this presentation. Dr. Crew in early 2005 held focus groups on how to improve the educational product district-wide. Now new focus groups are being held to see what has been done and what can be done now. The purpose of today’s meeting is to examine the packet from the District on the focus groups. Mrs. Stroleny went over the process of incorporating stakeholder input (page 4) and achievement data (page 5), and she pointed out that the number of students scoring level 3 or higher in reading and math shows gains but that numbers of passing students are higher in grades 3-5. Three is considered a passing grade, but this is not to be confused with grade promotion. She reviewed the summary of stakeholder perception (pages 6, 7); the customer is the child, parent and community. Mrs. Stroleny then reviewed stakeholder perceptions (page 8), academic and system-wide accountability (page 9), and district initiatives (pages 10, 11). Students are challenged at all levels: workforce readiness, accountability, and early preparation. Mrs. Stroleny then reviewed student health (page 12), stakeholder engagement and communications (page 13), human resources (page 14), business processes (page 15) governance (page 16), areas where improvement is needed (page 17), and the next steps (page 18). She said the remainder of the packet reiterates the material from pages 4-18 in more detail and more specifically.

Open Forum: Mrs. Robledo said that some points from the focus groups need to be discussed. She pointed out performance-based pay at the state level (page 11), adding that the state is making decisions without input of local stakeholders; salaries of teachers need to be “decent” to retain teachers. Mrs. Robledo next mentioned class size (page 11), explaining that the state legislature wants to reverse the class-size amendment. Mrs. Robledo said that she has participated in debates on radio and TV defending the rights of students to a quality education, a transparent system that evaluates teacher performance, and the defense of the Class Size Amendment. She told the members that state legislators need to be notified that we are dissatisfied with their decisions: “Please, let’s wake up and let’s have some action,” she said. Mrs. Robledo stated that teachers and professionals need time to plan, and morale is low because of salaries. Mrs. Robledo referred to page 14 and explained that money should be going to salaries of teachers and to the classrooms. She said, “Let’s express our concerns about these issues.” She said she is “very disappointed at this point.” Mr. Sands said something has to be done with housing costs so that teachers can afford to live here. Mrs. Behar questioned Mrs. Robledo about how teacher bonuses will be awarded, and Mrs. Robledo said there is no instrument for this and that FCAT is not a valid instrument to measure teacher performance for the bonuses. Mrs. Robledo said, “We are not scared of accountability. FCAT is not the right instrument to measure learning in many subjects.” She urged members to make their voices heard. Mrs. Gonzalez spoke about the move to give some schools more individual accountability. She explained that forcing all schools to give PE to all students would remove almost all electives from Carver. Mrs. Broadmeadow spoke about the need to give students choices in electives and humanities, adding, “We’re trying to help kids.”

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