School Community Relations Committee

City of Coral Gables 405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, FL 33134 www.coralgables.com Meeting Minutes Friday, September 24, 2021 8:30 AM Police & Fire Headquarters - CMR A, 2151 Salzedo Street 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 Jennifer Ward Sando Board Member Sharon Watson School Community Relations Meeting Minutes September 24, 2021 Committee The School Community Relations Committee will be holding its Regular Meeting on Friday, August 27, 2021, commencing at 8:30 a.m. While the Committee is back to live in-person meetings, members of the public may participate in person but are also able to participate via the Zoom platform. Members of the public may join the meeting via Zoom at (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89581198854). 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: 895 8119 8854. To speak on an Agenda Item, 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 September 24, 2021 Committee CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 8:34 a.m. ROLL/QUORUM CALL Present: 6 - Watson,Dimitris,Joseph,Chang,Fernandez and Anding Absent: 2 - Slesnick and Manrara Cartaya Excused: 1 - Board Member Ward Sando A. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES School Community Relations Committee Meeting of August 27, 2021. Attachments: Cover Memo Draft SCRC Minutes- Aug. 27 Meeting minutes were approved with amendment for recognition of Board Member Anding's virtual attendance. B. PUBLIC COMMENTS • Estelle Lockhart – Portable at Carver Elementary needs to be removed and possibly replaced. • Suzet Cleary – Requested an update on sidewalk at Ponce Middle School. C. NEW BUSINESS C-1 Miami-Dade County Public Schools Update (Facilitated by Mari Tere Rojas, School Board Member) • Mayor Vince Lago and Board Member Mari Tere Rojas visited Ponce de Leon Middle School last week to deliver the school supplies gather during the Supply Drive which was a great success. • Board Member Rojas' satellite office hours at City Hall have resumed, on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the Month from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. • On September 22nd a New Emergency Rule was signed by the Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo re: Schools handling of COVID. New protocols for returning in-person after a positive COVID test have been put into place. • School Board Member will follow-up on the portable removal request, made in Public Comments. C-2 Introduction to Melissa DeZayas, Sr. Transportation Engineer • Brief introduction is made. • Ponce Middle School sidewalk update stated that a survey crew is currently working on the project, a plan will be developed based on the results of the survey. City of Coral Gables Page 2 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes September 24, 2021 Committee C-3 Approval of 2020-2021 SCRC Annual Report Attachments: SCRC Annual Report 2020-2021.docx A motion was made by Vice Chair Joseph, seconded by Board Member Chang, that this matter be approved as amended. The motion passed by the following vote. Amendment included providing additional detail in relation to the success of the Coral Gables Family Literacy Festival. Yeas: 6- Watson,Dimitris,Joseph,Chang,Fernandez and Anding Absent: 2- Slesnick and Manrara Cartaya Excused: 1- Board Member Ward Sando C-4 Discussion regarding topics that are to be discussed with Mayor Lago during his attendance at the October SCRC meeting (Facilitated by Ariel Fernandez, Chair) • How can the committee align with the mayor’s educational initiatives? • Page program / Fellowship Program – ways to keeping Coral Gables Senior High School at the forefront of these programs. • Thoughts on future of Coral Gables Family Literacy Festival. • Having Book readings at Farmers Markets. • CGPA and High School100th year Anniversary. • Request for SCRC Budget. • What is a need or blind spot that Mayor thinks the SCRC can assist with? • Sustainability in Coral Gables Schools C-5 Update on the Fall Artisan Market • Brief update provided. • Location yet to be set. Three options being considered. C-6 Update on the lot across from Zamora Avenue near the Coral Gables Preparatory Upper Academy • No permit request filed at this time. • Vacant Lot has issues with cleanliness of right-of-way, as well as on the sidewalk. C-7 Update regarding police officer presence at Coral Gables schools Sergeant Melissa DeJong (Youth Zones Unit- Coral Gables Police Department): • Coral Gables Police Department no longer responsible to be on site. Miami-Dade County Public Schools have taken over. CGPD is providing support as needed so schools are never un-covered. Still assisting schools and actively involved in the protection of the schools. • Moving towards building relationships. Programs included, DARE, Police Athletic League, Police Explorers, also responsible for Juvenile Crime investigation, etc. • Private schools pay for off-duty officer. • Issue at Saint Teresa with directing traffic - Sergeant to follow up. City of Coral Gables Page 3 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes September 24, 2021 Committee C-8 Update on crossing guards at Coral Gables schools Major Jennie Hoff • All crossing guard positions filled. Carver, Saint Teresa, Gables Preparatory. • Board Member Dimitris request for additional guard at upper academy at Zamora. School Board Member and Principal have been reviewing and are revisiting process. School Board Member spoke with Manager, and he said the City would look into it. • School Board Member thinks that high schools should also be assigned crossing guards. • This item if to be added to Mayors discussion list. C-9 Discussion on Miami-Dade County Public School Board Redistricting (Facilitated by Ariel Fernandez, Chair) • School Board met last week regarding this issue. Maps available online at redistricting.dadeschols.net. Public Meetings upcoming with Zoom options. School redistricting occurs every 10 years. D. OLD BUSINESS D-1 SIP Committee Member Assignments Review (Facilitated by Ariel Fernandez, Chair) • Brief discussion and review of proposed updates list. • Thought of setting priorities list that several members can work on together. • Defer to November for further discussion. Priority: • Board Member Chang: Consider technology as priority. • Teacher of the Year Awards • Coral Gables Family Literacy Festival: Look at adding a technology donation component. Backburner: • Financial Lit • Mentorship Attachments: SIP Descriptions SIP Descriptions_2022 Updates Proposed by Vice Chair.docx E. ONGOING BUSINESS E-1 General Updates (Facilitated by Naomi Levi Garcia, Staff Liaison & Solanch Lopez, Secretary) City of Coral Gables Page 4 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes September 24, 2021 Committee E-2 Notice Pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-245 (Facilitated by Naomi Levi Garcia, Staff Liaison) Attachments: 09-16-2021 Preliminary Observation Report -VOID.pdf 09-16-2021 Preliminary Observation Report - REVISED.pdf 09-16-2021 Preliminary Submittal Drawings.pdf 09-16-2021 Public Comments.pdf 09-16-2021 Application and Letters.pdf 2021-05-07 - GABLES VILLAGE DRC Submittal.pdf A motion is made by Vice Chair Joseph urging the City Commission to require a traffic study for Gables Village that includes Somerset Academy, if one has not yet been performed. Board Member Anding seconds. Yeas: 6- Watson,Dimitris,Joseph,Chang,Fernandez and Anding Absent: 2- Slesnick and Manrara Cartaya Excused: 1- Board Member Ward Sando F. ANNOUNCEMENTS F-1 Next SCRC Meeting - Friday, October 15, 2021 Questions/Comments: scrc@coralgables.com ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 10:21 a.m. NOTE City of Coral Gables Page 5