May 16, 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
MAY 16, 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 9:17 a.m. The roll was called and the following were present: Mayor
Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland,
Commissioner Billy Joel, Commissioner Paul A. Kruss, Commissioner Michael Stern',
City Manager Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert
Meyers. Commissioner Amit Bloom was absent. Also present were ACES Principal Ana
Melhuish and Rachel Windler-Freitag — Charter Schools USA Area 2 Florida Deputy
Director2. 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 April 18, 2024 Aventura
Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes was offered by Commissioner Friedland,
seconded by Commissioner Kruss, and passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4. APPROVAL OF REVISED 2024-2025 GOVERNING BOARD MEETING
SCHEDULE: Mr. Wasson reviewed the revised schedule with the addition of a meeting
on June 13, 2024 in order to accommodate the approval of a new management
agreement with Charter Schools USA for both schools and the associated budgets to
include that item.
A motion for approval was offered by Commissioner Friedland and seconded by
Commissioner Joel.
1 Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Z Participated via virtual communications media technology.
Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
May 16, 2024
Ms. Windler-Freitag spoke in favor of the revised calendar.
The Commission discussed the item and voiced concern regarding the lateness of the
agreement as it related to items that needed to be done for the upcoming school year.
Mr. Meyers reported on the business terms that were still being worked out and the ability
for the agreement to be effective June 141h, with CSUSA being able to work on what was
needed in the meantime.
No comments were provided by members of the public.
The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
5. 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
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.
Mr. Wasson requested that the item be tabled to the June 13, 2024 meeting.
A motion to table the item was offered by Commissioner Kruss, seconded by
Commissioner Joel, and passed unanimously by roll call vote.
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.
Mr. Wasson requested that the item be tabled to the June 13, 2024 meeting.
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
May 16, 2024
A motion to table the item was offered by Commissioner Kruss, seconded by
Commissioner Friedland, and passed unanimously by roll call vote.
6. APPROVAL OF 2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR ACES AND DSAHS:
Mayor Weinberg introduced the item.
A motion for approval was offered by Commissioner Joel and seconded by Commissioner
Kruss.
Mr. Wasson reviewed the calendars, accompanied by Ms. Windler-Freitag and Principal
Melhuish.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: corresponding days off
for both schools and working on the October/November/December dates.
No comments were provided by members of the public.
No action was taken, with input provided for additional changes to be brought back.
7. DISCUSSION: AFFILIATION BETWEEN DSAHS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA: Mayor Weinberg introduced the item and suggested that the high school have
an affiliation with the University of Florida, which was a highly ranked public university.
The City Commission discussed the item and voiced support in doing so.
No comments were provided by members of the public.
Consensus was provided to empower Charter Schools USA to look into the possibility of
an affiliation with the University of Florida and Don Soffer Aventura High School.
8. SCHOOL UPDATES:
• ACES Principal Ana Melhuish: Principal Melhuish provided updates
including the following items: testing and preliminary scores, school resource officer,
teacher certification, end of year events (graduation, dances, field day, and ceremonies),
field trips, pre-survey for electives and 8th graders provided with two options, and
curriculum.
The City Commission provided input on the items discussed, as well as the following: the
continuous request to provide more elective options for 6th and 7th graders as well, the
possibility of adding another period to accommodate more electives, and assessing the
curriculum to see if time spent on technology, etc. could be adjusted.
Ms. Windler-Freitag discussed the mandatory electives, discussions with Mr. Wasson on
the possibility of providing seven periods in the 25/26 school year, staffing that would be
needed, and biology coming back for 8th graders next year.
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Aventura Governing Board Regular Meeting Minutes
Aventura City of Excellence School and Don Soffer Aventura High School
May 16, 2024
Mr. Wasson and Ms. Windler-Freitag will follow up on the items that needed to be
addressed.
No comments were provided by members of the public.
• DSAHS Principal Dr. Geoff McKee: No report was given as Principal Dr.
McKee was not in attendance due to testing at the school.
10. OTHER BUSINESS: None.
11. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
12. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the
Commission as the Governing Board, a motion to adjourn was offered by Commissioner
Joel, seconded by Commissioner Friedland, and unanimously approved; thus, adjourning
the meeting at 10.12 a.m.
ems. Ellisa L. Horvath, MM -,-City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission, acting in its capacity as the Governing Board for ACES
and DSAHS, on June 13, 2024.
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