July 21, 2022 DSAHS Governing Board Meeting Minutes - -- DON SOFFER
AVENTURA
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DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JULY 21, 2022
Following ACES Governing Board Meeting
Aventura Government Center
19200 West Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
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 10:50 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present: Mayor Enid
Weisman, Vice Mayor Denise Landman, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland,
Commissioner Billy Joel, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Marc Narotsky,
Commissioner Robert Shelley, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L.
Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers. Also present were DSAHS Principal Dr. Geoff
McKee, Rachel Windler-Freitag - South Florida Deputy Director Charter Schools USA,
and Rita Weaver - Director of Board Governance - Charter Schools USA. As a quorum
was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion for approval of the May 19, 2022 regular
meeting minutes was offered by Commissioner Narotsky, seconded by Commissioner
Joel, and passed unanimously by roll call vote.
3. RESOLUTION: Mrs. Horvath read the following Resolution title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA,
FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE CITY, AS A CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING
BOARD FOR THE AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL AND THE DON
SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL, TO BE DESIGNATED AS A LOCAL
EDUCATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS
THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF
PROGRAMS, THE SAME AS THOUGH THE CITY WERE A SCHOOL DISTRICT;
PROVIDING FOR THE CITY TO ADOPT AND FILE THIS RESOLUTION WITH THE
SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
A motion for approval of the Resolution was offered by Commissioner Friedland and
seconded by Commissioner Narotsky.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the item to allow federal funding for school-related programs to
pass directly from the State to the City of Aventura and recommended approval.
Don Soffer Aventura High School(DSAHS) Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2022
The City Commission discussed the item.
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 Resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote, thus
becoming Resolution No. 2022-53.
4. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE DSAHS FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 MENTAL
HEALTH ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION PLAN: Mr. Wasson introduced the item and
recommended approval as outlined in the agenda.
A motion for approval of the Plan was offered by Commissioner Narotsky and seconded
by Commissioner Friedland.
Ms. Weaver reviewed the Plan and main provisions.
Mr. Wasson provided comments on the document deemed to be a working document.
Principal Dr. McKee provided comments on staff training and therapist on campus.
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. MOTION APPROVING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE DSAHS PARENT
FACILITATOR/CONFLICT RESOLUTION OFFICER FOR FY 2022/2023: Mr. Wasson
introduced the item and recommended approval to reappoint Kimberly Merchant as the
Parent Facilitator/Conflict Resolution Officer for the high school.
A motion for approval to reappoint Kimberly Merchant as the Parent Facilitator/Conflict
Resolution Officer was offered by Vice Mayor Landman and seconded by Commissioner
Joel.
The City Commission discussed the selection of Ms. Merchant versus another person
and the training that she should obtain should she be reappointed. Mr. Wasson ensured
that Ms. Merchant would obtain the proper training.
Ms. Weaver explained the statutory requirement for the person to be posted on the school
website and the need for the person to live in Miami-Dade County.
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 (6-1) by roll call vote, with Mayor Weisman voting no.
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Don Soffer Aventura High School(DSAHS) Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2022
6. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE DSAHS FAMILY HANDBOOK FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2022-2023: Mr. Wasson introduced the item and recommended approval, via his
agenda memo, with the revisions as proposed by Principal Dr. McKee.
A motion for approval of the Handbook was offered by Commissioner Joel and seconded
by Commissioner Dr. Marks.
Principal Dr. McKee reviewed highlights of the handbook with special emphasis on the
following items that had changed from the prior year: academics, diplomas, administrative
support team, tardiness, bell schedule, grading policy, laptops and tablets, parent/teacher
cooperative, parking on campus for students, and parent volunteer hours.
The City Commission discussed the following items: notifying the Communications
Department for public relations items, grading policy, AP chemistry results, writing a letter
to the AP teachers commending their efforts, laptops and tablets, school newsletter and
enhancing distribution efforts, parking on campus and the possibility of a lottery for the
spaces, and the feasibility of providing student parking elsewhere.
Mr. Meyers provided comments regarding the search of vehicles on school property, as
well as looking into the legality and liability of students parking elsewhere.
Mayor Weisman opened the item for public comment. The following members of the
public provided comments: Nikki Shein (DSAHS Parent) and Taryn Shein (DSAHS
student).
There being no additional comments, Mayor Weisman closed the item for public input.
The motion for approval passed unanimously (6-0) by roll call vote, with Commissioner
Dr. Marks absent.
7. SCHOOL UPDATES — DSAHS PRINCIPAL DR. GEOFF MCKEE: Principal
Dr. McKee, accompanied by Ms. Windler-Freitag, provided updates and addressed
questions regarding coding and robotics.
The City Commission discussed the following items: coding program, providing robust
computer programming, the possibility of providing changes to the weighted system
assigned to AP classes, technology teacher, technology support person, and relocating
the school's weight room.
It was the consensus of the City Commission for Mr. Wasson to provide a proposal to
move the school's weight room to another location.
It was the consensus of the City Commission for the City to provide breakfast for the
teachers for both schools on their first day back.
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Don Soffer Aventura High School(DSAHS) Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2022
8. OTHER BUSINESS: None.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
10. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission as the Governing Board, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner
Dr. Marks, seconded by Commissioner Friedland, and unanimously approved; thus,
adjourning the meeting at 12.06 p.m.
•
<<< x Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC, ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission, acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for
DSAHS, on September 22, 2022.
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