April 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
APRIL 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 9:06 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, Jon Hage — Charter Schools USA CEO,
and Rachel Windler-Freitag — Charter Schools USA Area 2 Florida Deputy Director. As a
quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge was led by Mayor Weinberg.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion for approval of the January 18, 2024
Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes was offered by Vice Mayor Kruss,
seconded by Commissioner Bloom, and passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4. ORDINANCES — FIRST READING/PUBLIC INPUT:
Mrs. Horvath read the following Ordinance title:
A. AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION, ACTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE GOVERNING
BOARD FOR THE AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL (ACES):
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA,ADOPTING THE ATTACHED
CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE AVENTURA CITY
OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 (JULY 1 — JUNE 30),
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.05 OF THE CITY CHARTER; AUTHORIZING
EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BUDGET; PROVIDING FOR
1 Participated via virtual communications media technology
Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
April 18, 2024
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 was offered by Commissioner Friedland and seconded by
Commissioner Bloom.
Mr. Wasson reviewed highlights of the budget totaling $13,793,796, accompanied by
Finance Director Melissa Cruz and Principal Melhuish.
The City Commission reviewed the budget with the following items discussed: RedSpeed
cameras to capture speeders in school zones, speeding on 1851h Street, personnel
previously covered by ARPA funds, monitors for buses, ensuring there are cameras on
the school buses, and fiscal responsibility.
Mr. Hage discussed mitigating the loss of ESSER funds.
Mayor Weinberg opened the item for public input. The following members of the public
provided comments: former Mayor Enid Weisman.
There being no additional speakers, the public hearing was closed.
The motion for approval of the Ordinance on first reading passed unanimously (6-0) by
roll call vote, with Commissioner Friedland absent.
Mrs. Horvath read the following Ordinance title:
B. AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION, ACTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE GOVERNING
BOARD FOR THE DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL (DSAHS):
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA,ADOPTING THE ATTACHED
DON SOFFER AVENTURA HIGH SCHOOL BUDGET FUND 191 FOR FISCAL YEAR
2024/2025 (JULY 1 — JUNE 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 was offered by Commissioner Stern and seconded by Vice Mayor
Kruss.
Mr. Wasson reviewed highlights of the budget totaling $9,821 ,753, accompanied by
Finance Director Melissa Cruz and Principal Dr. McKee.
The City Commission reviewed the budget with the following items discussed: revenue
exceeding expenses, number of students, salary increase, the completion of the subsidy
repayment to the City and increased insurance rates.
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
April 18, 2024
Mayor Weinberg opened the item for public input. There being no speakers, the public
hearing was closed.
The motion for approval of the Ordinance on first reading passed unanimously (7-0) by
roll call vote.
5. APPROVAL OF 2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR ACES AND DSAHS:
Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Commissioner Stern and seconded by
Commissioner Dr. Marks.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the calendars, accompanied by Principal Melhuish and Principal
Dr. McKee.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: showing the dates the
teachers start, the disruption/impact of half days, the number of half days and planning
days for ACES versus DSAHS, the difficulty for working parents dealing with half days,
and directing Mr. Wasson to work with both principals to coordinate the calendars better
and provide revised ones.
The following members of the public provided comments: former Commissioner Denise
Landman.
A motion to table the item to the May 16, 2024 Governing Board Meeting was offered by
Vice Mayor Kruss, seconded by Commissioner Friedland, and passed unanimously by
roll call vote.
6. APPROVAL OF 2024-2025 GOVERNING BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE:
Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Vice Mayor Kruss and seconded by Commissioner
Stern.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the proposed meeting schedule, which aligned with the current and
expected Commission Workshop dates.
No Commission comments were provided.
No comments were provided by members of the public.
The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
7. DISCUSSION AND CLARIFICATION OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AND
MILITARY ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS: Mayor
Weinberg introduced the item.
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
April 18, 2024
Mr. Wasson, accompanied by Ms. Windler-Freitag, explained the item. Clarification was
provided that the residency requirement for admission preference is for those applicants
that have lived in the City for at least one calendar year prior to the date of the school
lottery. Clarification was also provided that the active military service member requirement
for admission preference is for those applicants living in the City, with the federal law
allowing the active requirement to be bypassed if a disabled military service member
applied within one year of being discharged and is living in the City.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: clarifying and publishing
the year requirement, addressing violators, reviewing the items required for proof of
residency, and making the process as fool-proof as possible.
8. FOLLOW UP ON SCHOOL ELECTIVES AT ACES: Mayor Weinberg introduced
the item.
Mr. Wasson, accompanied by Ms. Wind ler-Freitag, reviewed the item and confirmed that
the changes for the school electives for grades 6-8 are being finalized and will be
implemented for the upcoming school year allowing more options for 8th graders.
The City Commission provided input.
9. SCHOOL UPDATES:
• ACES Principal Ana Melhuish: Principal Melhuish provided updates
including the following items: end of year testing, field trips, family night book fair and
fundraiser, creation of an advisory board to integrate artificial intelligence at the school,
kindergarten readiness assessments, kindergarten ceremony, dance show, 5th grade
dance, K-5 field day, 8th grade ceremony, summer extended week for leadership,
conference, and new PA system.
The City Commission provided input on the items discussed, as well as the following:
implementing parameters of when artificial intelligence could be used, addressing
students attending field trips that cannot afford to participate, not denying participation in
field trips and/or activities based on the lack of funding, parents' initiative on collecting
funds to thank the cleaning staff, pot luck event for staff, and commending Principal
Melhuish on her first year as principal.
The following members of the public provided comments: former Commissioner Denise
Landman.
• DSAHS Principal Dr. Geoff McKee: Principal Dr. McKee provided updates
including the following items: college acceptances, scholarships, college classes offered
on campus, supplemental state revenue, after-school programs, projects, testing, spring
and fall induction for National Honor Society, success of the sports teams, art exhibit at
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
April 18, 2024
school, graduation at Turnberry, what universities are looking for, sports offered at other
schools, the separation of counselors to focus on general items and discipline, and
reassessing office space needs when a new school is built.
The City Commission provided input on the items discussed as well as the following:
National Honor Society induction, success of the school, improvements at the school due
to Dr. Andrea Beck (Senior Community Relations Specialist), college acceptances,
change in the letter of recommendations/support for colleges, impressive college advisor
at the school, football not offered at the school but available for students elsewhere,
additional office space needed, and a dean of students.
10. OTHER BUSINESS: Commissioner Dr. Marks distributed an article on the use of
cell phones by children.
11. PUBLIC COMMENT: The following members of the public provided comments:
Gustavo Lumer (3301 NE 183 Street #2909, Aventura), Marina Kessler (3301 NE 183
Street#2909, Aventura), Gustavo Blachman (3136 NE 212 Street, Aventura), and Debbie
Lazar (3625 N. Country Club Drive, Aventura).
12. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission as the Governing Board, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner
Friedland, seconded by Commissioner Bloom, and unanimously approved; thus,
adjourning the meeting at 11 :19 a.m.
C"��as Ellisa L. Horvath, MM i y Clerk
Approved by the City Commission, acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for ACES
and DSAHS, on May 16, 2024.
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