02-02-2004
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MINUTES
AVENTURA CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOC
SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
FEBRUARY 2,2004
AventuTa CharteT Elementarv School
3333 NE 188' SlTeeí
Aventura. Florida J3 180
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Board
Chairman, Gary Pyott. Present were members Gary Pyott, Julie Greenberg Shapiro,
Stephanie Oshinsky, Valerie Lustgarten, Luz Urbáez Weinberg, Eric M. Soroka, Dr.
Katherine Bray Murphy and Julie Renee Aim. As a quorum was determined, the meeting
commenced.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 5,2004 SAB Meeting. The board reviewed the
minutes from last meeting. Julie Shapiro moved to approve the minutes, and the motion
was seconded by Valerie Lustgarten. Motion was unanimously approved.
3. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: Mr. Soroka reported on the recommitment numbers for
the 2004-2005 school year, which is an outstanding 99.9%, with only one current ACES
student not having recommitted for next school year. There have been 654 new student
applicants as ofthe SAB meeting date (244, K; 108, 1st; 84, 2nd; 90, 3rd; 87, 4th; and 41
for 5th grade). The tetherballs will be installed this Friday (2/6/2004). Mr. Soroka is still
researching on possible companies for the purchasing of the ACES sign, and should
have an answer by next meeting. The City of Aventura is in the process of interviewing
firms for the designing of our middle school expansion, and will likely retain the same firm
that designed ACES. There will be a preliminary meeting next week with the Dade
County Public Schools regarding our middle school expansion, and the official hearing
will likely take place next month. Mr. Soroka will advise the school as to the hearing date
for those parents who wish to attend the meeting and support our school.
4. PRINCIPAL'S REPORT: Dr. Murphy shared a wealth of information with the Board and
the many parents in attendance. There is now an official after-school tutoring policy at
ACES, and you may call the school to schedule your child. Information to parents is
being disseminated via newsletter and website. Open enrollment period opened on
1/512004, and will close 2/27/2004; there were 654 applicants as of this meeting report
date. Report cards went home 1/30/2004. Asher's Place Catering Service will
commence serving our school on Monday, February 9, 2004, and will include a juice bar
and an optional salad bar. Class photos will be taken on 2/6/2004, and students should
be in uniform. 100% of the 5th graders graduated the DARE. Program and will be
honored in a graduation celebration this Thursday, 2/5/2004. Winners of the DARE.
essay contest and the ACES Patrol Students will have a chance to "Meet the Marlins" on
Friday 2/612004. There will be a Kindergarten-Sweetheart Breakfast scheduled soon.
School clubs begin this Friday, and will include, Chess, Money & Me, Math Madness,
Latin Dance, Hip Hop Dance, Conflict Resolution, and many more. There was a great
turnout on F.CAT. Math Night last Wednesday (1/28/2004) with 34 5th grade parents, 45
4th grade parents, 46 3m grade parents, and, even though not required to, there were also
five 2nd grade parents, six 1st grade parents and four Kindergarten parents. F.C.AT.s will
be administered next month. ACES just received the Title V Grant. ACES will be hiring a
reading specialist for the reminder of the year. Three Instructional Assistants were hired,
and there will be more coming. Mr. Soroka recently appro\ed the hiring of tutors and
ACES ability to use the community recreation center for tutoring services.
5. UNIFORMS: Terry Maus of Charter Schools U.S.A. reported that six companies,
including our current provider and Chewing Gum Company will place contract bids by the
Friday 2/6/2004 bidding deadline. CSUSA will report on the selection of the uniform
provider during the next SAB. meeting.
6. CAFETERIA SERVICES: As previously noted, Asher's Place will be ACES new service
provider effective Monday, 2/9/2004 at a per breakfast cost of $1.55 and a per lunch cost
of $2.55.
7. ELECTRONIC MASS MAILING: As discussed in the prior meeting, CSUSA consulted
the Information Technology Department, and they have put in place an electronic mass
mailing for ACES. Terry Maus instructed the Board and parents in attendance on how to
log in through the ACES website and provide the system with an email address, so all
parents can be included in the ACES Electronic Roster. Parents will now not only receive
school information by way of the newsletter, flyers and mail-outs, but also electronically
right to your personal email account. Parents: signing up is easy. Visit ACES website to
see!
8. ENROLLMENT UPDATE: Mr. Soroka reported on the current enrollment numbers,
which stand at 600.
9. PARENT VOLUNTEER TRACKING: Ms. Beverly Gittleman and Ms. Jodi Brown
reported as follows: There are 486 families that attend ACES. 359 families with one child
and 127 with 2 or more children. As of 1/27/2004, there are still 109 families that have
not completed their required volunteer hours for the year. 216 families still have more
than half their hours to complete, and 96 families have only completed about half the
hours. The deadline for completion of volunteer service hours is Monday, 5/24/2004.
10. FUNDRAISING ACTIVITES: As part of the Living Values Program, ACES is participating
in a fundraiser designed to help raise $3,000.00 for a Living Values school in Africa, for
that school to purchase a well, which they currently do not have. ACES students' artwork
went home for parents to view and purchase. Orders are due Tuesday 2/10/2004. There
will be a second Fresh Market Gala on May4, 2004, with 100% of the monies raised
coming to ACES. For every ticket parents purchase or sell, they will earn one full hour of
volunteer service. ACES will have a BBO on Sunday, March 21, 2004 at Founders Park
from 11am to 3pm. Volunteers are needed, and parents may call Beverly or Jodi for
information. The Tree of Knowledge project is still in the process of commencing. The
Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled for the week of May 10th through the 14th, with 50% of
monies collected returning to ACES for our library.
11. OLD BUSINESS: Ms. Luz Urbåez Weinberg inquired from Dr. Murphy as to the overall
performance on FCAT Practice Exam scores, which she had mentioned at the prior
meeting that would be available for this meeting. Dr. Murphy explained the scores were
received, and were used to identify problem areas and tutoring needs. Those areas are
being addressed in preparation for the actual FCAT Exam.
12.NEW BUSINESS: Ms. Luz Urbáez-Weinberg inquired from the Board as to preference, if
any, thltt will be afforded to our exiting 5th graders wishing to return to ACES upon
completion of our middle school expansion. It was agreed that the issue be reviewed as
an agenda item during the next SAB. meeting. Ms. Weinberg inquired from Mr. Soroka
as to the possibility of acquiring a sunshield (cover) for the children's playground. Mr.
Soroka informed the Board that since the playground will be moved closer to the main
building once construction for the middle school expansion commences, no changes will
be made as this time, but the playground will have a sunshield cover after it is moved.
There being no further business from the Board, SAB. Chairman, Gary Pyott then
opened the floor for discussion to attending parents. Issues reviewed and raised as
concern by parents included uniforms, IA Enrichment classes, cafeteria services,
playground improvement and exiting 5th graders.
. The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 1st, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
13. ADJOURMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board at this time,
after motion made by Luz Urbáez Weinberg, seconded by Valerie Lustgarten, and
unanimously passed, the meeting adjou[ d at 8:15 p.m.
Approved by the Boa'" 00 &
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