EAB Meeting Minutes Feb. 20 2020EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE HALL
6:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 6:04 pm by Mr. Netto with the following members present:
Dana Vignale
Patricia Walker
Leslie Fraser
Antonio Netto
Tiffany Anderson
Douglas Garber
Absent: Sylvie Duerkopf
Also present: Ysabely Rodriguez, Village Clerk
Daniel Diaz, MSES AP
Daniel Jimenez
1. Public Comments: No public comments were offered.
2. Ms. Walker moved to approve the minutes for the January 16, 2020 meeting. Ms.
Anderson seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously.
3. PASS Grant status: Ms. Wagar had stated that the grant in the amount of $75,000 had
been approved. Mr. Bourne stated that the amount approved was $100,000. Mr. Netto
has reached out to Mayor Wagar to get a definite number and more information about the
status of the grant. Once the grant is approved, the funds will be available for use and
may be spent according to the timeline specified in the grant. The Board agreed it is
important that we share the news with the community once we have a definite approval.
4. The Community Alliance grant is another possible source of funds. Ms. Rodriguez will see
if the Board is permitted to apply for this grant, and for what purposes the funds can be
used. One suggestion was refurbishing the media center.
5. The status of the stipend for teachers for the Cambridge program’s training was discussed.
Mr. Diaz was not sure, but believed the teachers had not yet received any of the funds.
6. Mr. Diaz shared that Tour Tuesdays have been very popular and several tours are given
each week. The administrative team and a group of teachers visited Marjorie Stoneman
Douglas Elementary School to observe the Cambridge program at that school, which
resulted in more clarification about how the program looks.
7. According to Mr. Diaz, there have been parents who live in Hubert O. Sibley attendance
boundaries who are interested in sending their children to MSES. They mistakenly
believed the process allowed them to register their children at MSES without requesting a
transfer. The Village has applied for the boundary change to include the families who live
in Miami Shores and are currently in the Sibley boundaries.
8. Antonio met with the PTSA president, who shared concerns about the low parental
participation rate. It was suggested that including some sort of program at the meetings
may be a draw. It was also suggested that there is an opportunity to use social media to
communicate with members. More activities and visibility may help increase participation.
The Board would like to invite the PTSA Board to attend our next meeting so we can
discuss how we can support them.
9. The planting around the perimeter, along the fence, was discussed. It was decided that
first is should be determined if fencing will be changed. Planting should wait until that
occurs if it is planned.
10. Ms. Rodriguez has requested that the Board have more involvement in communication
per the Education Compact. The Village Manager agreed.
11. The Board agreed that its primary focus for this year will be communication. Mr. Netto will
ask the Mayor to speak to Ms. Swain about providing a status report at a Village Council
meeting to inform community and council members about the Cambridge program’s
progress.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Next meeting: Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. in the Village Hall Conference
Room.