School Community Relations Committee

City of Coral Gables 405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, FL 33134 www.coralgables.com Meeting Minutes Friday, May 21, 2021 8:30 AM Public Participation Via Zoom Commission Chambers School Community Relations Committee Chairperson Ariel Fernandez Vice Chairperson Sam Joseph Board Member Erin Anding Board Member Winnie Chang Board Member Sandy Dimitris Board Member Carmen Manrara Cartaya Board Member Cecilia D. Slesnick Board Member Mary Snow Board Member Sharon Watson School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee The School Community Relations Committee will be holding its Regular Meeting on Friday, May 21, 2021, commencing at 8:30 a.m. While the Committee is back to live in-person meetings, members of the public are still required to participate via the Zoom platform. Members of the public may join the meeting via Zoom at (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82815380103). In addition, a dedicated phone line will be available so that any individual who does not wish (or is unable) to use Zoom may listen to and participate in the meeting by dialing: +1 (929)-205-6099 Meeting ID: 828 1538 0103. To speak during the public comment section of the agenda please "Raise your Hand" or send a message to one of the meeting hosts using the Zoom Platform. If you joined the meeting via telephone you can "Raise your Hand" by pressing *9. City of Coral Gables Page 1 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 8:37 a.m. ROLL/QUORUM CALL Board members Erin Anding and Board Member Carmen Manrara Cartaya attended meeting virtually. Present: 8 - Chairperson Fernandez,Vice Chairperson Joseph,Board Member Anding,Board Member Chang,Board Member Dimitris,Board Member Manrara Cartaya,Board Member Slesnick and Board Member Watson Absent: 1 - Board Member Snow Attachments: Attendees.docx A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES A motion was made by Chairperson Fernandez, seconded by Vice Chairperson Joseph, that this matter be Approved on Consent Agenda. The motion passed by the following vote. Yeas: 8- Vice Chairperson Joseph,Board Member Anding,Board Member Chang,Board Member Dimitris,Board Member Manrara Cartaya,Board Member Slesnick,Board Member Watson and Chairperson Fernandez Absent: 1- Board Member Snow School Community Relations Committee Meeting of October 30, 2020. Attachments: Cover Memo.docx Draft SCRC Oct. 30 Minutes.pdf School Community Relations Committee Meeting Minutes of December 18, 2020. Attachments: Cover Memo.docx Draft SCRC Dec. 18 Minutes.pdf School Community Relations Committee Meeting of January 15, 2021. Attachments: Cover Memo.docx Draft SCRC Jan. 15 Minutes.pdf School Community Relations Committee Workshop of February 19, 2021. Attachments: Cover Memo.docx Draft SCRC Feb. 19 Minutes.pdf School Community Relations Committee Workshop of March 19, 2021. Attachments: Cover Memo.docx Draft SCRC March 19 Minutes.pdf The School Community Relations Committee Draft Workshop Minutes of April City of Coral Gables Page 2 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee 16, 2021 Attachments: Draft SCRC April 16 Minutes.pdf Cover Memo.docx City of Coral Gables Page 3 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee B. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Estelle Lockhart from Carver Elementary PTA – Update from last night’s General Membership Meeting – Priority to improve Spanish fluency program to an IS program. Parents asking for greater transparency from the district for criteria to get into Carver Middle. - Suzette Cleary from Ponce Middle School – Following up on sidewalk issue; Request that the City extend the sidewalk on the opposite of Augusto Street. Asking for a date by which the City will extend the sidewalk. Asking for the possibility of installing a crosswalk to retail establishments. - Response: City has contacted the County as Maynada is a County roadway and is waiting for response from County to get more information on requested project. City of Coral Gables Page 4 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee C. NEW BUSINESS C-1 Miami-Dade County Public Schools Update (Facilitated by Mari Tere Rojas, School Board Member) - 2021-22 School Year – Masks requirement will be determined based on conditions next year. Decision made by taskforce. Masks optional for sports practice and for outdoor activities. - Student regression – Presentation was made last week to entire M-DCPS board on this topic. Results – Approximately 40% of first, second and third grade students are below grade level in math. 35% are below grade level in reading in the first and second grades. - Summer 305 Adventure – Transition to full-time student learning for 2021-22 school year seeking to address achievement gaps and bring all students on grade level. - Graduation Ceremonies will take place district-wide from June 1– June 9; CGSH – June 1 at 9:30am - Carver Elementary – This is a boundary school with 2 magnet strands; 1 – IS Italian strand – Language immersion/acquisition program. 2- International education (Multi-cultural experience) with focus on Spanish; School is in high-demand. 83% of students that attend (with robust waitlist) come from outside its boundaries. - If a student at Carver Elementary takes the test for IS test and does not pass the test, they do not lose their IE seat at Carver Middle School. - Carver Elementary went from 88% to 121% capacity over the past four years. - Ponce Middle is the feeder school from Carver Elementary. - New renovation improvements are in the works at Tucker Elementary. - Crosswalk – Meeting was held with School Board Member Rojas and representatives from the County and Transportation Department. Board Member Rojas is requesting a follow-up meeting with CG Mayor, with the County, and with the School District. - Chair requests that Wawa Crosswalk be placed on the agenda for next meeting. - Carver Elementary Population - 23% of students are boundary students; 77% are coming from outside of the boundaries. 83% of students are in the Magnet program. - Summer Reading Program will be offered online and in-person. City of Coral Gables Page 5 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee C-2 Board-As-A-Whole Appointment - Cecilia Slesnick A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Joseph, seconded by Board Member Chang. The motion passed by the following vote. Yeas: 8- Board Member Anding,Board Member Chang,Board Member Dimitris,Board Member Manrara Cartaya,Board Member Slesnick,Board Member Watson,Vice Chairperson Joseph and Chairperson Fernandez Absent: 1- Board Member Snow C-3 Board-As-A-Whole Appointment - Sharon Watson A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Joseph, seconded by Board Member Manrara-Cartaya. The motion passed by the following vote. Yeas: 8- Board Member Chang,Board Member Dimitris,Board Member Manrara Cartaya,Board Member Slesnick,Board Member Watson,Vice Chairperson Joseph,Board Member Anding and Chairperson Fernandez Absent: 1- Board Member Snow D. OLD BUSINESS D-1 Election of SCRC Chairperson Deferred D-2 Election of SCRC Vice Chairperson Deferred D-3 SIP Committee Member Assignments Review (Facilitated by Ariel Fernandez, Chair) Deffered Attachments: SIP Descriptions D-4 Discussion on School Board Item H-8 (Facilitated by Sam Joseph, Vice Chair) Attachments: School Board Item H-8 A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Joseph, seconded by Board Member Chang, that this matter be approved. A motion of the SCRC urging City Commission to support the expansion of school board regions with Miami-Dade County passed by the following vote. Yeas: 8- Board Member Chang,Board Member Dimitris,Board Member Manrara Cartaya,Board Member Slesnick,Board Member Watson,Vice Chairperson Joseph,Board Member Anding and Chairperson Fernandez Absent: 1- Board Member Snow City of Coral Gables Page 6 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021 Committee E. ONGOING BUSINESS E-1 Update on the Gables Family Literacy Festival (Facilitated by Sam Joseph, Vice Chair & Carolina Vester, Assistant Director of Community Recreations) - Presentation by Carolina Vester, Assistant Director of Community Recreation - Festival will take place May 29 from 11am to 4pm and will emphasize literacy. Event will take place at the War Memorial University Center at 405 University Drive and will be presented in partnership with Scholastic Books. E-2 General Updates (Facilitated by Naomi Levi Garcia, Staff Liaison) - Discussion of latest Administrative Order from the City Manager regarding public meetings and mask requirements pertaining to the Committee, masks are recommended in City facilities. - Meetings of Boards and Committees need to happen in-person beginning June 14. Members of the public can participate virtually. - Two retiring CGSH teachers (Ms. Paula Munnerlyn and Ms. Jowanda Patterson) will be honored with City proclamations at the upcoming Commission meeting on May 25. F. ANNOUNCEMENTS F-1 Next SCRC Meeting - Friday, June 18, 2021 Questions/Comments: scrc@coralgables.com ADJOURNMENT Meeting ended at 9:54 a.m. NOTE City of Coral Gables Page 7