August 17, 2021 Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) Governing Board Special Meeting Minutes AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 17, 2021
10:00 a.m.
Aventura Government Center
19200 West Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
City Commission, Acting in its Capacity as the Governing Board for the Aventura City of
Excellence School (ACES)-.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Enid
Weisman at 10.00 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present- Mayor Enid
Weisman', Vice Mayor Dr. Linda Marks2, Commissioner Jonathan Evans, Commissioner
Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Denise Landman, Commissioner Marc Narotsky3,
Commissioner Robert Shelley, 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. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge was led by Mayor Weisman.
3. DISCUSSION AND MOTION APPROVING THE 2021-2022 WELCOME BACK
TO SCHOOL PLAN FOR THE AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL: Principal
Dr. Anthony Tyrkala, accompanied by Rachel Wind ler-Freitag, South Florida Deputy
Director Charter Schools USA, reviewed the Plan covering the following items- Message
from Principal, Governing Board Recognition, Innovative Learning Opportunities, School
Safety Measures & Protocols Option A and Option B, School Community Protocols,
Before and Aftercare, Enrichment and Extracurricular Activity.
Following review of the Innovate Learning Opportunities, the Board/City Commission
discussed the possibility of offering extending learning through the mobile classroom for
illnesses, upon reasonable notice.
A motion made by Commissioner Friedland and seconded by Commissioner Landman to
amend the Plan to allow for mobile learning for all illnesses was rescinded for further
discussion.
'Participated via virtual communications media technology.
2 Left the meeting during the discussion of Item 3.
3 Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura City of Excellence School(ACES) Governing Board Special Meeting Minutes
August 17, 2021
It was the unanimous consensus of the Board/City Commission to amend the Safe &
Innovative Learning Experience (Mobile Classroom) to provide for student participation in
extended learning for certain core courses with a 24-hour notice of illness.
The Board/City Commission discussed options A and B of the School Safety Measures
& Protocols.
Mr. Wolpin provided comments.
It was the unanimous consensus of the Board/City Commission to select the School
Safety Measures & Protocols Option B, with modifications to require masks with
substantial medical condition exceptions.
Principal Dr. Tyrkala will be provided with guidance on the implementation of the
substantial medical condition exception language.
Mr. Wolpin will confer with the Charter Schools USA Attorney, to implement the action of
the Board/City Commission.
It was the unanimous consensus of the Board/City Commission for the same language to
be used for to the Don Soffer Aventura High School Plan for this item4.
Principal Dr. Tyrkala continued his review of the Plan. As suggested, hand sanitizer will
be provided when entering/exiting the buses.
Mr. Wasson provided comments on the bus sanitation measures and school air filters.
Dr. Michael Weiss, Assistant Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine - Joe Dimaggio
Children's Hospital, provided information on the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to
children and the importance of using mitigating factors including masks for children to
attend school in person.
Principal Tyrkala continued his review of the Plan.
Mayor Weisman opened the item for public comment.
The following members of the public provided comments: Dana Marin (3700 Island Blvd.,
Aventura), Alice Bonvicini (3029 N.E. 188 Street, Aventura), Lindsey Margolin (3250 N.E.
188 Street, Aventura), Blair Laster (21055 N.E. 37 Avenue, Aventura), and Howard
Weinberg (Hidden Bay).
There being no additional comments, Mayor Weisman closed the item for public input.
Principal Dr. Tyrkala reported on the results of a parent survey on masks with the majority
in favor of requiring them.
4 Unanimous consensus, including Vice Mayor Dr. Marks,was given at this meeting since Vice Mayor Dr. Marks
needed to leave before the DSAHS Governing Board Meeting.
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Aventura City of Excellence School(ACES) Governing Board Special Meeting Minutes
August 17, 2021
A motion to approve the Plan as presented, with the two amendments as noted through
unanimous consensus, was offered by Commissioner Landman and seconded by
Commissioner Shelley. The motion passed unanimously, by roll call vote, with Vice Mayor
Dr. Marks absents.
4. DISCUSSION AND MOTION APPROVING THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL
ACCOUNTABILITY GRADE/SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATING FOR THE
AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL: Mr. Wasson reviewed the option for
ACES to opt-out of the 2020-2021 School Accountability Grade/School Improvement
Rating, which most schools in Miami-Dade County were doing due to the effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic on learning.
Principal Dr. Tyrkala provided comments in support of opting out.
The Board/City Commission provided comments individually.
Mayor Weisman opened the item for public comment. There being no comments, Mayor
Weisman closed the item for public input.
A motion to opt-out of the 2020-2021 School Accountability Grade/School Improvement
Rating was offered by Commissioner Shelley and seconded by Commissioner Landman.
The motion passed unanimously, by roll call vote, with Vice Mayor Dr. Marks absent.
5. OTHER BUSINESS: None.
6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission as the Governing Board, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner
Shelley, seconded by Commissioner Landman, and unanimously approved; thus,
adjourning the meeting at 11 .48 a.m.
Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission, acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for
ACES, on September 30, 2021 .
s Although absent for the vote for approval of the Plan, Vice Mayor Dr.Marks was present during the discussion and
provided consensus on the two amendments as noted.
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