April 15, 2021 Don Soffer Aventura High School (DSAHS) Governing Board Meeting Minutes - -- DON SOFFER
AVENTURA
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DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 15, 2021
Following 9:00 a.m. ACES Governing Board Meeting
Via Virtual Communications Technology
The meeting was held via video conferencing through Zoom, as specified on the meeting
agenda and as a result of the continued state of emergency due to COVID-19.
City Commission, Acting in its Capacity as the Governing Board for the Don Soffer
Aventura High School (DSAHS):
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid
Weisman at 9:41 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present: Mayor Enid
Weisman, Vice Mayor Robert Shelley, Commissioner Jonathan Evans, Commissioner
Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks,
Commissioner Marc Narotsky, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L.
Horvath, and City Attorney David M. Wolpin. As a quorum was determined to be present,
the meeting commenced.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JANUARY 21, 2021: A motion for approval of the
January 21 , 2021 meeting minutes was offered by Commissioner Friedland, seconded by
Vice Mayor Shelley, and passed unanimously, by roll call vote.
3. ORDINANCE — FIRST READING/PUBLIC HEARING: Mr. Wolpin read the
following Ordinance title:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE
ATTACHED DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL BUDGET FUND 191 FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2021/2022 (JULY 1 - J[JNE 30), PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.05 OF
THE CITY CHARTER; AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS
ESTABLISHED BY THE BUDGET; PROVIDING FOR BUDGETARY CONTROL;
PROVIDING FOR PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATION;PROVIDING FOR GIFTS AND
GRANTS; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS; PROVIDING FOR
ENCUMBRANCES;PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
A motion for approval of the Ordinance was offered by Commissioner Landman and
seconded by Commissioner Narotsky.
Mr. Wasson provided an overview of the proposed $5,915,678 budget.
Brian Raducci, Assistant City Manager — Finance and Administration, provided
information regarding loan balances and will report back on the possibility of refinancing
certain loans.
Don Soffer Aventura High School(DSAHS) Governing Board Meeting Minutes
April 15, 2021
The Commission discussed refinancing loans, utilization of third and fourth floors, the
Principal and Charter Schools USA advising the Commission on any needed items, use
of the gym and providing a tarp for it, possible increase of school buses, and items for
students for the start of school.
Mayor Weisman opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weisman closed the item for public input.
The motion for approval of the Ordinance passed unanimously, by roll call vote.
4. APPROVAL OF 2021-2022 SCHOOL CALENDAR: Principal David McKnight,
accompanied by Rachel Wind ler-Freitag, South Florida Deputy Director Charter Schools
USA, reviewed the proposed school calendar.
A motion for approval of the school calendar was offered by Commissioner Evans and
seconded by Commissioner Dr. Marks.
Mayor Weisman opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weisman closed the item for public input.
The motion for approval passed unanimously, by roll call vote.
5. SCHOOL UPDATE — DSAHS PRINCIPAL DAVID MCKNIGHT: Principal
McKnight provided updates on the following items:
• Mid-Year Dashboards: the mid-year dashboards for 9th and 10th grades
were displayed and reviewed.
• Enrollment: the enrollment process and amounts to date were discussed.
• Hiring: the hiring process and progress for next year were discussed,
including offer letters.
The Board expressed concerns with staffing, proper grading, hiring advisors, etc. Ms.
Windler-Freitag addressed the issues.
• Parent Concerns: the areas of concerns expressed at the "Coffee with the
Principal" meetings were reviewed including school spirit, communications, and college
& career. A letter will be provided to parents outlining how those items will be addressed.
Charter Schools USA was tasked with coming back with a plan on how improvements will
be made for next year.
• Power School Parent View: Gaynor Duncan, DSAHS Enrollment Manager,
reviewed the Power School SIS program.
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Don Soffer Aventura High School(DSAHS) Governing Board Meeting Minutes
April 15, 2021
• Study Abroad: Ms. Windler-Freitag reviewed a PowerPoint highlighting the
following: Purpose & Background Information, Considerations, Current Enrollment
Requirements, and Next Steps. The Commission discussed the positive aspects of
allowing students to study abroad and allowing their seats to be reserved for up to one
semester while they were doing so.
A motion was offered by Mayor Weisman and seconded by Commissioner Evans
authorizing the City Manager to request the District to amend the City/District Don Soffer
Aventura High School (DSAHS) Charter Agreement to approve the DSAHS revised
enrollment policy that enables a student to study abroad at a compatible High School
(including but not limited to the High School in Israel Program) for up to one (1) semester,
while reserving that student's space for return to DSAHS. The motion for approval passed
unanimously, by roll call vote.
Principal McKnight provided information on the upcoming musical play.
The following members of the public provided comments: Diane Gleit (3148 N.E. 212
Street, Aventura) and Amit Bloom (20454 N.E. 34 Court, Aventura).
6. OTHER BUSINESS: None.
7. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission as the Governing Board, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner
Evans, seconded by Commissioner Landman, and unanimously approved; thus,
adjourning the meeting at 11 .20 a.m.
•
=7 -47
"'� Ellisa L. Horvath, M ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission, acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for
DSAHS, on July 22, 2021 .
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