School Community Relations Committee

City of Coral Gables 405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, FL 33134 www.coralgables.com Meeting Minutes Friday, January 14, 2022 8:30 AM Priorities Workshop Police and Fire Headquarters, Community Meeting Room 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 January 14, 2022 Committee The School Community Relations Committee will be holding a workshop on Friday, January 14, 2022, 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/83893614478). 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: 786 635 1003 Meeting ID: 838 9361 4478. 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 January 14, 2022 Committee CALL TO ORDER Workshop called to order at 8:40 a.m. ROLL CALL A. DISCUSSION ITEM Naomi Levi Garcia Staff Liaison stated that this meeting was a workshop held to clarify the School Community Relations Committee’s priorities and no official board business nor votes would take place. Resolution 2015-87 was read which revived the committee as it exists today. Various other resolutions were mentioned, pertaining to the amount of people that are allowed to sit on the committee, a list of school improvement projects, and notice requirements to stakeholders for projects. A-1 Committee Priorities City of Coral Gables Page 2 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes January 14, 2022 Committee The two School Improvement Project (SIP) lists were read. One was the original SIP with descriptions of the project the other was a recommended list provided by Vice Chairperson Sam Joseph. Vice Chairperson Sam Joseph explained the provenance of the items on the original SIP list. The Vice Chairperson also gave a brief status update on some of the items on the SIP. Board Member Cecilia D. Slesnick provided the following list of priorities via email. 1.City and school relationships 2.City capacity to contribute to existing schools 3.City to be aware of population impact to schools with new development 4.Preserve what you have and enhance where possible Board Member Erin Anding mentioned that one of the items on the SIP -Coral Gables History Tours - could be a good way to include the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber). Vice Chairperson suggested the SCRC build a relationship with the Chamber in order to create a partnership in support of these issues. Chairperson Ariel Fernandez stated that by engaging the business community, sponsorship opportunities could arise for SCRC’s initiatives/projects. Board Member Sharon Watson suggested the promotion of community membership in Coral Gables Schools PTA, by joining newsletters. Board Member Winnie Chang stated that community members need to be aware that they could join other schools PTA and suggested a website be created which could link to instructions and the signup page. PTA signup links will be added to the SCRC’s agenda. Mary Palacio Board Member of the City of Coral Gables Advisory Board on Disability Affairs (DAB), wanted to voice her agreement with the Vice Chairperson regarding reaching out via SCRC Board Member Jennifer Ward Sando and the DAB to move initiatives forward. Board Member Palacio also mentioned the attendance of Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado at the Disability Affairs Board on January 18 at 4:30 p.m. Board Member Erin Anding suggested that SCRC recognize teachers outside of the once-a-year teacher of the year award. Board Member Winnie Chang proposed that the City or the SCRC recognize teachers with a small token of appreciation during teacher appreciation week. Vice Chairperson Sam Joseph recommended that the token of appreciation should include support staff and paraprofessionals, maintaining that the current awards should be changed to the City Beautiful Education Awards to encompass school personnel. Chairperson Fernandez proposed a proclamation be made at a City of Coral Gables Commission Meeting and sending every teacher in Coral Gables a copy of said proclamation for teacher appreciation day. Naomi Levi Garcia, Staff Liaison will look into the scope of the request. Board Member Sandy Dimitris asked for clarification regarding the City Beautiful initiative and whether that fell under the relationship building priority due to the inability for the City to beautify a school without the Miami-Dade School District’s input. Staff Liaison Levi Garcia stated that in the past the Landscape beautification committee alongside the City conducted beautification in certain City of Coral Gables Page 3 School Community Relations Meeting Minutes January 14, 2022 Committee cases but with the District's Approval (Arbor Day). The School Community Relations Committee Priorities: • City Beautiful Schools Initiative • Special Needs Services/ Programming Initiative • Relationship Building Initiative Attachments: SIP Descriptions SIP Descriptions_2022 Updates Proposed by Vice Chair.docx Attachments: Education Compact Recommendations_2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT Workshop adjourned at 10 a.m. NOTE City of Coral Gables Page 4