Verified EESAC Meeting Minutes

Recording Secretary: Lourdes Ambas

Location of meeting: Arnold Seltzer Room

Was a quorum established? Yes

Was the meeting advertised? Yes, 05/28/2024

Attendance

Topics Covered

This meeting was called to order at 2:40 p.m. Quorum was established.

Ms. Ambas welcomed all the members.

Ms. Orellana moved to approve the minutes of the March meeting as written. Ms. Triche-Eugene seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

Mr. Fernandez reported that, after two postponements, the preliminary budget conference has been waived by the district. However, the tentative and final budget conferences are still scheduled for July and October, respectively. He mentioned that the increased enrollment for next year will mean more money to pay for more teaching positions. He also added that we are poised to receive Title I funds for the next school year in an amount similar to this year’s which allowed us to fund two full-time teaching positions, one full-time community liaison specialist position, hourly tutoring, and activities for Chess Club.

Mr. Fernandez shared the end-of-the-year reflection on the School Improvement Plan:
• We have exceeded the instructional planning goal of improving five percentage points from last year’s 80% in geometry proficiency. This goal was surpassed by achieving an improvement of six percentage points with the aid of data trackers and collaboration between teachers and administrators.
• The goal of maintaining our acceleration rate at 96% was exceeded this year. 264 of the 265 graduating seniors have earned an acceleration point. The tracker proved successful; however, the challenge will be to maintain this 100% success rate. We have found that Saturday tutoring does not work, so we need to look for ways to incentivize students to stay after school for extended learning.
• The master schedule allowed to differentiated instruction which, in turn, allowed for an increase in learning gains. However, we need to look for more opportunities for dual enrollment outside those limited opportunities offered by the technical college. We also need to offer more professional development to the faculty.
The reflection prompted a discussion about opportunities for extended learning:
• Ms. Suarez stated that Mu Alpha Theta offered tutoring after school, but attendance was much lower than last year.
• Ms. Civil attributed the lack of attendance to tutoring to transportation challenges, and Dr. Mendez agreed. Ms. Civil suggested online evening tutoring; however, Ms. Suarez disagreed with this idea since it is very difficult to do math online.
• Mr. Fernandez stated struggling students need extra motivation and asked the students in the committee for suggestions. Ms. Gonzalez added that there seems to be a drop in work ethic. She suggested the extra credit may help; both Ms. Civil and Ms. Martinez agreed.
• Ms. Orellana inquired about turning to artificial intelligence. Mr. Fernandez responded that most teachers are not comfortable with AI and would need moretraining. When Ms. Orellana asked about the AI Institute sponsored by the District, Mr. Fernandez stated that the training needs to be job-embedded in order to prove successful.

Ms. Borges reported that the testing season will end next week. The added that it was much smoother this year than in the past and attributed it having moved most AICE testing to the gym and the extra flexibility in this year’s testing calendar.

Mr. Galarce reported that we are wrapping up the recruitment season. Orientation for incoming students will take place on August 9 and will include a tour of the school and the taking of ID pictures. Parents will be able to pick up the uniforms they have preordered. All of this should ensure a smooth first day for the freshmen.

Ms. Ambas thanked everyone for their time and dedication to our EESAC this year.
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Ms. Skinner made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Triche-Eugene seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.