January 18, 2024 Aventura Governing Board (ACES and DSAHS) Meeting Minutes DON SOFFER
( AVENTURA
HIGH SCHOOL
AVENTURA GOVERNING BOARD
AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL AND
DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 18, 2024
9:00 a.m.
Aventura Government Center
19200 West Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
Aventura City Commission acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for the Aventura
City of Excellence School (ACES) and the Don Soffer Aventura High School (DSAHS):
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor
Howard Weinberg at 9:12 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present: Mayor
Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Paul A. Kruss, Commissioner Amit Bloom,
Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland', Commissioner Billy Joel, Commissioner Dr. Linda
Marks, Commissioner Michael Stern, City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa
L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers. Also present were ACES Principal Ana
Melhuish, DSAHS Principal Dr. Geoff McKee, and Rita Weaver - Director of Board
Governance - Charter Schools USA. As a quorum was determined to be present, the
meeting commenced.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge was done at the City Commission
Special Meeting.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion for approval of the September 21 , 2023
Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes was offered by Commissioner Joel,
seconded by Commissioner Bloom, and passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4. REVIEW OF CHARTER SCHOOLS USA FALL SURVEY RESULTS 2023-2024
FOR ACES AND DSAHS: Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
Ms. Weaver reviewed the results for ACES followed by DSAHS, along with Principal
Melhuish and Principal Dr. McKee.
'Participated via virtual communications media technology and telephone.
Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
January 18, 2024
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: questions and backup
for the survey slides, local decision making category decrease for ACES, and the
incorrect page for DSAHS.
Ms. Weaver will provide the Commission with the questions and backup to the survey
slides, as well as the corrected page for the DSAHS decision making page. Principal
Melhuish explained the reasoning behind the decrease in the local decision making
category, which wasn't unusual for bringing in someone new. Principal Dr. McKee
discussed the inaccurate student survey and reported that all categories were above and
improved from the prior year.
5. DISCUSSION: TEACHER/PARENT RECIPROCITY FOR ACES AND DSAHS:
Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
Mr. Wasson and Commissioner Friedland explained the concept to accommodate the
children of teachers as a benefit at not only the school that they teach at, but also for the
other school. Ms. Weaver provided the overall low retention and the number of students
that may be impacted. Both principals agreed that it would be a good benefit to offer the
teachers.
The City Commission discussed the item including possibly readdressing the concept
when another school is built.
The City Commission provided consensus for further review of the item to see if it could
be worked out.
6. APPROVAL OF CHANGE TO THE 2023-2024 GOVERNING BOARD MEETING
SCHEDULE: Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Vice Mayor Kruss and seconded by Commissioner
Joel.
Mr. Wasson explained the request to change the April meeting date to April 18, 2024, to
coincide with the date of the Commission Workshop.
No Commission comments were provided.
The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
7. APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED UPDATES TO THE 2023/2024
PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR ACES: Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Commissioner Bloom and seconded by
Commissioner Joel.
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
January 18, 2024
Mr. Wasson explained the updates that were provided in response to the requests at the
prior meeting.
No Commission comments were provided.
The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
8. APPROVAL OF OUT-OF-FIELD WAIVERS FOR DSAHS: Mayor Weinberg
introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Vice Mayor Kruss and seconded by Commissioner
Bloom.
Mr. Wasson, accompanied by Principal Dr. McKee, reviewed the item.
The City Commission discussed the item.
The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
9. APPROVAL OF DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL RECOGNITION FUNDS FOR
DSAHS: Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Commissioner Friedland and seconded by
Commissioner Joel.
Mr. Wasson, accompanied by Principal Dr. McKee, reviewed the item, with the
clarification that the distribution was in accordance with the letter dated January 3, 2024,
which provided an equal share for everyone.
The City Commission discussed the item and commended the teachers for their approval
of an equal share with other employees.
The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
10. SCHOOL UPDATES:
• ACES Principal Ana Melhuish: Principal Melhuish provided updates
including the following items: open enrollment, school lottery, number of applicants,
staffing and hiring process, PM2 testing, staff development, teacher planning day,
academics, tutoring and Saturday academy, accelerated track, math numbers, science,
NWEA, strategic planning and initiatives, extracurricular activities, and electives.
The City Commission provided input on the items discussed, as well as the need to offer
two electives for the middle school students as previously discussed.
The following members of the public provided comments: Enid Weisman (former Mayor).
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
January 18, 2024
School Electives: Consensus was given for Charter Schools USA to
provide a way to offer more electives (grades 6-8) for the next school year at ACES while
satisfying State requirements. Ms. Weaver confirmed that it could be done for the next
school year.
• DSAHS Principal Dr. Geoff McKee: Principal Dr. McKee, accompanied by
Dr. Andrea Beck (Senior Community Relations Specialist), provided updates including
the following: top 5% of the State, state category rates, scholarships, college
acceptances, Cambridge testing sessions and curriculum, PSAT/ACT prep sessions,
SAT, stress management, working on process vs. outcome, extracurricular activities,
sports, Holocaust survivor presentation/field trip, extending thanks to the police
department for their service during tumultuous times, dinner/dance/auction fundraiser,
enrollment, and personal tutoring through artificial intelligence.
The City Commission provided input on the items discussed as well as clubs, focus on
technology and robotics, questionnaire for college freshman and providing a survey.
11. OTHER BUSINESS: None.
12. PUBLIC COMMENT: The following members of the public provided comments:
Dror Gabay (21205 Yacht Club Drive, Aventura).
13. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission as the Governing Board, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner
Stern, seconded by Commissioner Joel, and unanimously approved-, thus, adjourning the
meeting at 11 :06 a.m.
3n
Ellisa L. Horvath, M ity Clerk
Approved by the City Commission, acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for ACES
and DSAHS, on April 18, 2024.
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