2022-09-15 MINUTES1
EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
September 15, 2022
9900 NE 2ND AVE
6:00 PM
The meeting was called to order at 6:014PM with the following members present:
Mr. Antonio Netto
Ms. Kristen Feuer
Ms. Dana Vignale
Ms. Leslie Fraser
Mr. Joseph Paulino
Also present: Ms. Ysabely Rodriguez, Village Clerk
Ms. Sarah Vahan: MSES PTA President
Ms. Andrea Fleury: PTA
Ms. Miller (MSES Assistant Principal)
Ms. Brenda Swain (MSES former Principal)
1. CALL TO ORDER:
2. ROLL CALL: See above
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS- None
4. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 2022 MINUTES: Motion by Dana Vignale, Seconded by Leslie Fraser.
Motion passed.
5. CONSIDERATIONS
a. VIDEO DISPLAYED BY MSES ADMINISTRATION
- Requested by Mr. Diaz at the scheduled June meeting. Video of the virtual
tour from last year. The video has been on the website.
- In person tours are beginning in October, 2022.
b. BOARD MEETING GOING FORWARD – FOCUS ON EDUCATION COMPACT
- DISCUSSION PRIORITIES FOR 2022: PROPOSAL (1) STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
AND (4) COMMUNICATION
- Mr. Netto: Discussion about the meetings going forward this year, Mr. Netto
would like to focus more on the education compact which is our mission as a
board and to strategically focus on student achievement and communication
for 2022-2023 and then tackle the priorities one by one.
- Ms. Miller: Discussed the school Meet and Greet before school started, open
house this past Tuesday, 61 parents participated in the Title 1 meeting prior to
the meeting and had a back to school GLOW party. Very exciting. The school
has been promoting on Instagram, Twitter and the website, up to date
weekly. As far as student achievement we are now a B school for 2021-2022
year, the last FSA. State has transitioned to new testing. This year there may
not be a school grade since it is a new test but next year we can compare.
FAST (Florida Assessment for Student Thinking) Pre-K to 10th grade. The
testing is all computer based.
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- Mr. Netto stated when the board stated the school was a C school, then we
moved to a B and then Covid happened, etc. and we were slowed down and
now a B.
- Ms. Miller: Stated we are a higher B than we were before.
- Mr. Netto- we want to get to an A school. Asked what we can do as a Village
and School to get to an A. For future meetings would like to discuss what
specific agenda items we should discuss to get to an A.
- Ms. Miller: Stated the only sub-group that did not make gains was the 37% for
students with disabilities sub-group. We had 37% and needed to get to at
least 41% which the state identifies as “Adequate Progress”. This sub-group is
tied to our school improvement plan.
- Ms. Fraser discussed the importance of recess for children with disabilities
and inquired about the value of a 504 plan.
- Ms. Miller and Ms. Vignale explained the value of a 504 plan.
- Ms. Vignale- To bring it back, what is it that we can help you with to best
support your plan? At our next meeting it would be beneficial to know the
need, financial? Etc. as far as supporting the strategic plan.
- Ms. Swain- Discussion about the Cambridge funds and ensuring we are able to
move that money into the area that Mr. Diaz most needs it.
Intergovernmental affairs also needs to be involved. Must ensure Cambridge
dues are paid timely.
- Discussion about student enrollment. Numbers- at 562 for enrollment. We
have lost about 22 students to Mater.
- Regarding school capacity, Ms. Swain stated before the new building it was
713 so after should be about 820.
- Mr. Netto asked if it would it be something worth thinking about using the
extra capacity to extend the school to a K-8.
- Ms. Swain suggested it could be a possibility.
- Mr. Netto suggested that could be a goal of ours.
- Ms. Vignale stated there are pros and cons to K-8’s. It would hinder Horace
Mann and we would need to consider the boundary issue again.
- Ms. Rodriguez stated we had a meeting before the May meeting with Village
Manager and will remind him as well as Marta.
- Ms. Feuer stated the Village Manager was present at the April 21, 2022
meeting and per the minutes of that meeting, he stated he would handle it.
- Mr. Netto- stated he wants our main goal to be to get to an A school. At some
point we should bring to Village the transition here from C to B and then to A.
- Ms. Swain stated there is now an enrollment dashboard. Tracy Cruz is in the
student engagement enrollment office. The dashboard shows students in
Miami Shores and who is in private or MSES. Ms. Vignale requested to see
that data at the next meeting because it would be great to present the data to
the Village and show the increase, sensing the numbers are up.
- Ms. Fleury discussed communication with the Village, stated she reached out
to the manager regarding having a blurb on the Egret. The PTA is happy to
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help with that but needs to know the right contact to reach out to. Ms.
Rodriguez stated there is now a new communications officer, but a couple
months ago the position was vacant. Relayed information.
- Ms. Miller discussed the school’s master calendar for dates through-out the
school year.
- Mr. Netto suggested it would be good for the newsletter to have one thing
from the PTA and one thing from the school.
- Ms. Vaugn stated the PTA is doing classroom sponsorship this year. $200 a
year to sponsor a classroom. We have 15 classrooms sponsored so far. 13 are
still available. Ms. Vaughn encouraged EAB members to also join the PTA.
- Regarding construction, Ms. Miller stated active construction is still
happening. The projected timeline is December and Mr. Diaz has been
working diligently to get it on the move.
- Ms. Vignale again brought up the idea of inviting the realtors in once the
construction is wrapping up. Right now, December is the tentative date.
- Mr. Netto inquired if the Village communications specialist can go to the
school and take pictures. Etc. or PTA could provide her the write-up and
pictures etc.
6. BOARD APPOINTMENTS- several appointments will most likely occur in the October Village
Counsel meeting. The EAB board has 4 vacancies. Ms. Rodrigues stated as of today four
applications have been received. There are two new applicants. Next meeting is October 20th.
7. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned 7:21 PM