I'm going to call this meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. And I'll start with you're going to start with All right. She's on her way. Oh, she's on her way. Okay.
Jacqueline here. Jessica. Is she coming? She said she was coming. She said she was on her way. She said she was. Okay. And then we're good. Yeah. She said she was on her way. So Jessica, I'm going to the meeting. Okay.
Um, order of business, deferrals, additions, and deletions. Does anybody have anything? I actually need to add um to the agenda. I have to add the discuss the budget. Yeah. So for new business, can I do somebody else's motion? Yeah. I'm going to motion for new business 7B,
the budget. Somebody second, please. Second. Okay. All in favor say I. I. Okay. Motion passed. Okay. And then now we have public comments. So, we have a presentation by the cohort. Is somebody here from the cohort or no? I think we got an email from them saying
that they're not going to be able to make Oh, but they're online. No, isn't or they're not? No, we have some one person online and it's the library cuz I wanted them to speak to Bob Graham when they a little bit ago that they Oh, a little bit ago.
Yeah. Yeah. [Music] Yeah. But I wanted them to talk to um the principal of the department because we have somebody from intergovernment to hear. She she'll stay later. She she she doesn't mind stay [Music]
here. Oh, they're not. They're not. They couldn't make it. They couldn't make it. So I guess so then we can't have it anyway. I guess it works out. Okay. So this is Miss This is Miss Frey. She's from Patty Mix. Hi. Nice. Okay. So then we'll go ahead and start then with the principles. Well, before we move on to that, we do
have public comment. There is one person. I just want to acknowledge I didn't know yet. Hi, I promise I we'll make it very brief. I know that you've got a lot to cover. Um first of all, I'm here. I'm the youth services specialist at the Miami Lakes
Branch Library. We and I'm Nancy Mtos and we wanted to say number one, thank you. Thank you for your support uh throughout many years. um you the continued support for all the programs has actually highlighted we've been able to have our teen library
advisory board who've actually helped to contribute to the programming as well as um just overall support of the library and due to the ongoing um programs that you've supported we've won and I didn't
know if they were able to reach out to you to let you know that we won our 2025 achievement award from the National Association of Counties. We received an excellent award for um best in show for the young adult advisory board
throughout the whole um country. So thanks to all the different programs that you've helped supported throughout the years and specifically the ones that are geared towards both teens and for the twins that has helped to shape and
uh proide dynamic programming and this is just us not asking for anything just saying thank you and because of you we were able to receive national recognition so that's it that's what I wanted to congratulations it was it was it was great to get that award. was like what? So, yes. So, I I
don't know if we say it often enough. So, I just wanted to say thank you and come. Thank you. Hope you have a great evening. Okay. Thank you so much. Anybody else wanted to ask or say anything to them? No. Okay. Thank you so much. We're gonna Any other public comments or
No, I don't see anybody else online. Thank you so much. Have a great night. Thank you for letting us know. Thank you. Okay. So, we'll start with principal meeting for beginning of the year. We didn't go around. We'll start with my educational center. Um,
see first to last. Um, so with 81% of the possible points earned, Emily C recorded the highest uh A rating in his uh in his history. We're very proud of that. Of the 10 components that make up the high school school grade, we only dropped in one uh and we dropped two
points. That was ELA learning gains. Um we were notified we were uh eighth consecutive year as a STEM uh gold designated school. So we maintain our platinum status. Our current enrollment is at 11:07 which is nine kids below
last year's 116 at this time. We held open house earlier this month and um even with the torrential downpours we managed to bring in 256 attendees. So we're excited about that. Uh, Adventures
305 recently filmed um a a Hispanic Heritage Month special at our school with our culinary students that should be airing soon. Uh, I was also at the school to film um a a financial partnership program that we have in conjunction with
you saw you saw it right on the the news. Yeah, posted it. Oh, because it was one of your students. Yeah. Yeah. Hector. Uh, no, not Hector. It's Edgar. Edgar. Yes. Um, young man. and he was on Univision. Uh, and he's going to be fantastic. He does my taxes every year.
So, um, toy we we we the toy drive has begun with our health science academy in partnership with Joe Deio Nicholas Children's Hospital. Um, our IT academy as well as our teachers are leveraging the use of Gemini and and um to enhance
learning with with AI. Uh, last but certainly not least, we were visited um by the Office of Safe Schools, Department of Eds, Office of City Schools. They spent over two and a half hours at our school. Um, I'm happy to report there were no findings with
regards to student safety. And so, um, that is it for me. Okay, short and sweet. Hi, good afternoon everyone. Maria Medina, principal at Nile Lakes Middle School. um our school um was able to
maintain the A grade for this um last school year. Um we actually were eight points above last school year. Um 19 students took AP Spanish um this past school year and 100% of them passed. So
everyone in the class um was able to pass the test. Our enrollment is at 996 which is about 20 students above what we were last school year. Um we've completed PM1 um AP1 so that we can start um moving forward with
interventions and um everything that we need to be able to continue success. Um we're starting to get ready for our magnet recruiting with elementaryaries with high schools. That's going to be happening now at the beginning of October. Um, we are going to be having a
parent night on October the 16th with our school board member, Mr. Alonszo. Um, Spanish Heritage Show October the 17th. Our annual haunted house is going to be on October the 24th. Um, and we're
already gearing up for sports. We were supposed to have our first soccer game today, but because of the weather, we had to cancel that. um cross country and um we started with the campaign um start with hello. We did donuts with dad with
214 dads that came to the school and we too did open house and had approximately 601 um parents come. So that's my good afternoon. I'm Lopez the proincipal
at the gram education center. Um, once again, our school was rated an A. Um, we've been an A since the inception of the school. And, um, we were celebrated and recognized at the last school board meeting held this month. Um, our school board member, Roberto Alando, recognized
the school with a proclamation for having 20 consecutive A's. Um, we're one of only two schools in the school district legacy of an A. The other one is Al Pinest Elementary. So I always tell my staff and and the community at large
that it's it's a huge accolade because we not only have advanced but we also have a middle school and we offer many advanced courses. So it's a huge accomplishment for um the entire schools. Um a change this year that kindergarten
has been moved to the main campus. Uh superintendent do along with the ESC department has launched a new initiative where they've expanded our program. We have ASD units at our school, kindergarten through 8th grade, self,
but now we've launched pre uh pre kindergarten. So, we've added three prek units to our existing um ASD program. So, the PLC, which is housed by Barbara Homeman, it's offsite, now is only prek.
So, we have um DPK, but then the ASD prek classrooms, of which we have three. Our enrollment is at almost 1300 where 1265 as of today. It has dropped a little. Um not as many kindergarten babies were born on that year. So yeah,
that's what happened. We did have two successful open houses. We also had two successful cafeos with our in the afternoon. Um even though it was pouring, the weather was terrible, but our wagos came out. We changed it to the afternoon this
year. Um and it was a beautiful turnout. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cafe, though. We changed it to cafe. That's cute. We also had donuts with dad last week. We have increased our student clubs. We now have 18 student clubs. Uh we also play soccer this week. Hopefully they
won't cancel our game because it's not raining. So hopefully we get to have our first soccer game this week. Super excited about that. We continue to increase electives. We currently have 31 sections of electives being offered at our school. do a thanks of course to um
this committee. We have our uh robotics which you guys were thankful that you paid for those supplies so we're able to offer that elective as well as the vocabulary course. Uh we applied for steam last school year finally convinced the staff because it's
like you guys already doing this like why don't you just allow yourselves to be showcased and show off what you already do. So, um, against many odds, right? Because teachers, they don't they don't seem to like, um, want to showcase what they do. And I have two of my
teachers sitting on this committee. Miss Lemo was actually very helpful with with launching our scene. And we were designated. We made it all the way to being silver on our first year. So, we're designated this summer. And next month, we have movie night, which is a
celebration um, on behalf of our schoolboard member, Mr. Alonzo along with Senator uh Renee Garcia. They're going to celebrate our aid and have a movie night for families this upcoming month. We continue to test. Of course, we're testing in order to provide
interventions. Thus, testing at this time of year never looks great, right? But it's comparable as to what we've seen in past years as we are gearing towards our continuous aim. And those are the updates for Bob Education.
Good afternoon everyone. Janelis Pereira, principal at Miami Dates K8 Center. So this year once again we've been able to maintain our A. We were very happy about that. We actually went up, we made our A stronger this year. We've been up in all the components except in the math learning meetings
where we dropped slightly. So that's going to be one of our focus areas this year. Um our orientations, meet and greets, everything went very smooth at the beginning of the school year. We had a great turnout, great support from our parents. So we were happy about that which made the first day of school so
smooth. Those those meet and greets really do help make the first day smooth. Um our enrollment has also slightly dropped from last school year. However, you know, not not significant enough. Um we are definitely, you know, continuing to get different students in every single day basically. So it is
going up as well. Um we start this the school year every year with assemblies. We do assemblies with each of our grade levels in second through 8th grade. We talk about the code of student conduct and just basically set the expectations and the tone for the opening of school and this really does help you know go
over all the expectations. The parents are aware of it. So in turn the parents also voted to student comedy for the students in preparation for our assemblies. Um we also had a fantastic turnout for open house although it did rain a couple you know we had two nights as well and it did rain but it was you
know the parents came out definitely to to meet the teachers. Um we are implementing in the vocabulary and communications course once again once again this school year. So thank you and thank you for the continued support with the um the supply money also given that really helps to buy supplies for
different elective courses under steam. We have achieved this designation once again to this school year and also the Everglades foundation designation. So we're very happy to be able to continue that. We have also started our interventions addressing the needs of our tier 2 and tier three students um
since the second week of school to ensure that we're meeting their needs. We have numerous activities, you know, in a ka there's always something going on. So, we've already had our grandparents day breakfast as well. Book fair took place last week. Um our Hispanic heritage activities currently
taking place, donuts with that coming up next week. We are also having our annual um trunk retreat and that's coming up now in October. Our clubs are officially starting next week with all of you know we had an enrollment period so the
parents are we offer the the clubs since kindergarten all the way to 8th grade different clubs for the students. So they've enrolled and the parents are happy to see that. The pumpkin patch very popular here in Miami Lakes. So they've already signed up and they have the date for the future for the little ones. Also, United Way activities under
your way as well, you know, depending on the next month. Tutoring. We're going to begin tutoring um in November to be able to address the needs of our students. Our career day is coming up, the fourth annual career day and it's a big event, huge event. We invite a lot of our community, our parents really show up
and we have a lot of law enforcement that comes out, fire department. So, it's it's really a nice event and we are focusing a lot this year on career readiness. our students in our survey in the climate survey last school year that was kind of the one of the areas that the students said that they you know
they really wanted more information on different career paths and so forth. So we are going to be that's one of our set goals this year for our school improvement path. Um our annual turkey slam taking place in November once again and I know we have Barbara Goldman and HML they come out and they do pep
rallies for our students and so forth. So it's it's a very nice event as well and the students get very excited about that. That's the day before um Thanksgiving break recess and the holiday show preparation also underway. We've um we've been invited once again this school year to the green schools
recognition event that's taking place October 3rd. So we are going to be recognized for our green school's efforts. The cell phone house bill has been going really well with our students. We that was our practice you know to begin with at the school. So, it's been an easy transition for our students and we have as well completed
our fast PM1 and finishing with the A the I Ready AP1 and our scores seem to be a little slightly higher than we started off last year. So, that's all. Thank you. Hello, my name is Ba Frey and I'm the
assistant principal for highly rates representing Ramirez. Um we we're starting the school year I feel like we're starting school year very strong. We had a wonderful opening with our um new student orientation. We had a very
successful back to school night. Um this year we were able to maintain our V rating. We currently are have 12 1,237 students. Our room has gone down. We've lost about 100 students from where we
started last school year. um which is an area of concern for us. Um we are our our proficiency scores though and our schools um our scores I'm sorry this is my first time.
So, um, this year though, this year our we we didn't maintain our B, but we did go up with our scores. And I'm proud to say that our ELA did very very well. Um, we went 10 points up for um, ELA proficiency and um, we have a lot of um,
L25s and learning gains and we were in the 60% for our learning gains. Um our focus this year though is US history because we um past three years we have maintained lower than the state and district average which is 70% and we're
trying to get back up to that average. So one of our big goals this year and we have a schoolwide initiative which is um claim evidence reasoning that we are doing crosscurricular. Um we also have a a vocabulary initiative that is up and running and
going very well. Um, our fall sports have started. Um, unfortunately with the football, the rain has impeded a lot of our games. Um, they keep getting cancelled because of um, the rain and lightning, but we're pushing through. Um, we had Club Rush last week, which
was very successful and, um, a lot of the kids are eager to participate in a lot of the activities that we have. Um, our planetarium, our new planetarium is complete and um, we hope to begin having schools come in from our feeder patterns
and across the district where we can have field trips and utilize that space. Um, magnet applications are going to go out in October. We're excited to expand our space program for um, HML. Um, we also look forward to
articulation with the middle schools and all that. Thank you. Good afternoon. Dr. Sanchez, principal Barbara Goldman Senior High School, home of Gators. I have three new administrators this year. My team, Miss
Gant, Miss Port, and Mr. Mr. Romero. Uh, we were rated in a school for a seventh year in a row. over Magnet School of Excellence, Florida School of Excellence, and we're named top 100 high school in the state of Florida just in the number one number two achieving comprehensive high school number
in Miami Dade County, which means that they have a football team. We're the second highest behind Coral Reef. We have exactly 3,30 kids. We're up 170 from last year. Uh we had last year over 2,000 kids pass AP tests. Uh we are happy to announce that our AP AP
capstone and STEM AP capstone programs is now linked to bright futures. So if you complete that program and you pass research seminar and the four classes, it's an automatic bright futures no matter what SAT or ACT score you receive. And we're going to integrate that into all all of the other eight
programs that we have so that you can do those classes and get that automatic bright future. Our open house for our magnet is going to be on November 13th and on December 9th. Um applications open October 1st. We're gonna have band day October 2nd, which means I'm going
to invite your your bands to come out. It's a teacher planning day and then at night we have a football game so they can play with the band and then watch the game at night. We had Club Rush with over 55 clubs. As you see, I'm wearing my Domino club shirt as one of the new clubs and they named me Doc Domino. Uh
our football team is three and one. I'm not going to mention that we beat Gardens or American because it would be very upsetting to our you region director, but we beat them in football uh badly. And then um really I was there for the game. Yeah, it was a good game.
It was uh we have we won last year too against South Beach. No, not that's a different game. That's not Don't deduct that from my time. Um we have boys and girls swimming going. We usually go to the pool, but with the weather, we've just been swimming in the
backyard of the school. Uh we have boys and girls cross country. We have boys and girls bowling, and we've have girls volleyball going on. We just finished PM1 testing. We will have 100% graduation rate, and we upgraded our basketball gym floor, our auditorium
as well with new audio visual and curtains, and our weight room was completely remodeled. Thank you. Thank you. See, before we let you go, a couple of things very quickly. I just want to because I know you guys your time is is of the essence. Um, we, as you know, we talked
about the spelling bee that we have the spelling bee coming up in January, if I'm correct, in January. And did we send the words out yet or if you guys know you're doing that in We're going to send it to them soon. Soon you'll be getting the list of the words soon. So, if you can start preparing for that spelling bee for
January, so the kids can can be ready for that. I don't remember the day. January 30th. January 30th is the January 30th is the date. Um, and when do you think we may have the words to send it to them? Never mind, Daniel with the invitation. And that'll be all the words don't get
sent out till the invitation or they get on before. So, they need to formally commit. So, last year you guys participated, the sixth graders did a great job. Um, but we felt that the students needed a little bit more preparation. So, we're going to supply them with a
list of possible words. that they can use. Um, last year we started like at fourth grade and some of the students really really struggled at the beginning. Um, so we want to make sure that they have something to start working off of. Um, so there will be a
list included with the formal invitation. We sent the invitations out last year. Do you remember last month? Right before right before it was everything last year was very rush because it was it was the first year we were doing it. So I I think we're in September. September's
gone. So maybe like by early November. No, our goal was October. October. So middle October that should be sent out. Okay. So hopefully by middle October we should have the words sent out to you. So that way they can practice October, November, all of November and half of
October. So at least six weeks of preparation, I think would be nice. So we're going to get that out to you as soon as we can. I don't know if you already want to start talking to the teachers that are going to be using formulating those groups, but they can maybe start practicing or getting at least the kids together. I don't think I'm going to do that for that competition again.
Sixth graders, right? Sixth graders. Y that's the problem we had last year. We found out with very little time. Yeah. So, we're telling you now. We're telling you now. It's January 30. That date summer. Yeah. We told you the summer, but I'm I'm just refreshing. Yeah. We want the kids to have enough time.
Enough time. So, I think if we send you the word six weeks before, I think that'll be enough time. So, we're going to definitely do our best to get that up by mid-occtober. So if you can split a date um write it down for I don't mind this not here but the two of you and I think we're working on that to have it out by mid-occtober and probably put
that in a minute so we don't forget October. Got it. Um the other thing is um to also for the end of the year awards I know it's extremely early. It's the beginning of the year but if you can already designate somebody at your schools that that's going to be nominating the students because we had to get rid of some categories because nobody was
nominated and it's a shame. We have great kids in our community. So, we would like to make sure we have all the categories filled this year. So, I don't know if you want to appoint an administrator or somebody in the faculty or staff that can kind of make sure that they're handling those nominations so that they can get them in on time. I mean, again, it's the end of the year,
but I'm just just another reminder because we don't see you guys again till it's over and we would love to have your schools represented and your kids winning as many awards as possible at the awards of excellence. The third thing very quickly is the town of Miami. Well, actually, there's four things, but the third thing, the town of Miami Lakes
is going to be having a haunted house for Halloween that they invite everybody in the community to come. We may be familiar with it or not. It's um it's it's well, this year anyway, it's it's in October. It's right before Halloween. Um but they need candy donations and I don't know if you guys would be interested in the schools to have a
candy donation drive and they can drop it out and we can pick we can coordinate picking it up. I'm going to actually have you speak to the student reps from all the schools and ask if I can get the emails for the other managers of student government for each of your schools just so I have in case I need to contact anyone. Yes. Well, she can contact them and then maybe you guys can do drives and that
would be a great way because this is candy we give out to the kids in the community and these are local students and people in the community and I think it's a great way maybe all the schools could do a little bit of the candy drive that could help tremendously. And then the last thing um unfortunately is a little bit of bad news. Well, not bad
news. I mean, well, I'm not going to comment. Anyway, we have, as you may or may not have heard, the town is looking at their budgets and they're thinking of cutting certain things in the budget and I I think it my my suggestion and this is what I would do. Um, they have a a
meeting on the September 20 this Thursday. Thursday, September 25th. I would be there, but Thursday I have I'm going to be on a plane. I'm going to be in Philadelphia for a competition for Montreal competition. So otherwise I would be there but if you want to send a representative or go yourselves to speak as to why your school should be receiving continuing to receive the
money because all of that is on the chopping board. I mean they're looking at the whole budget and I would hate for your schools to lose that money. It's not up to us the board. It's up to the council. So, I would I would recommend having somebody come and say what you know how the money has benefited your schools and your students and and how it's all the learning gains, everything
that you've done from that because hopefully if they hear from you that night, they won't cut they won't cut that out of the budget because it would be a shame to have that be gone. And again, I won't be here unfortunately. We're going to talk about who can be from our board who can be there that night. But if you guys come, that would be really really um helpful, I think,
for your programs because I we it's it's out of our control. and and you you were just speaking about how great the programs have helped you, but they're on the chopping block for a lot of the date. It's this Thursday. This Thursday, September 25th at 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers. So, if you have
benefited here, here here if you have benefited from those programs, please I would I would highly What time did you say it was? 6:30. 6:30. It's going to be a it's going to be Yeah. important for you to come. Is there anything else, ladies, that I'm forgetting?
I do have a couple of concerns. Yeah. Hi. Uh, good afternoon everyone. Call you Lisa. I'm sorry I was late, but I had a very giant poster that we were trying to accommodate in the classroom. I couldn't break and I got delayed. Anyhow, um I do have a couple of questions in light of the fact we've we all know
we've seen um the superintendent's um conversation on the drop and enrollment. Do we know what's happening with those schools that are closing down? Does anybody know what's what's happening to them? Are they being sold? Are they going to be leased? Do we know what's
going on with them? The reason I asked this question is for the following reason, and it kind of can tie into what she discussed. I was here at that last meeting um that the town had on the budget, and I tried my best to defend the programs. Um
however, um I know that it is on the cho the chopping block. Okay, that as well as the awards. There's a few things from the EAB that are on the chopping block. Um obviously decision will be made on Thursday. My question is you know if we remove these programs and let's say we
make our schools less attractive to members in our community and let's say our schools start to just you know hypothetical fail um or you have to combine you know two into one. What's happening with those buildings of those empty buildings of those schools that
have already been closed down? I mean, the only school that was closed down right now were I mean, when you're talking when you're talking to schools that closed down Well, in general, just around the district itself, I mean, I' I've heard conversations, but I'm not following it per se, but I guess my question is what
is what is the purpose? What are they going to do with those schools in the future? Are you aware of anything? because that's something that can affect, believe it or not, the decision that's going to be made on Thursday whether or not to continue to support schools. I'm going to be honest with you, that's that's above my pay grade. Okay?
I mean, they they have not they don't include me on on those conversations. Okay. So, that's I if I were to speak on that, I'd be just guesstimating and I want to I don't want to do that to the Okay. No, understood. Understood. Okay. But you do know that the long child that
was moved over, you know, they have the office of professional, right? And they also have, I believe, autistic over, right? That's what I'm trying to repurposing. They're repurposing many that you can repurpose. That was that was my why I asked my original question. The only
uh building that I know of was Country Club Middle. Okay. And so that's the only Right. Right. As she just stated, you know, there's different offices there. uh believe a charter school um for autism um I can't remember the name off the top
of my head uh is coming in to to utilize this coming to utilize the space right um there's only so much repurposing that you can okay but I'm just giving you okay I don't want to I don't want to I got you no worries we're good project anything in the future
your answer is fine thank you what they're doing with my school because you were a parent at my school and I got that three-story building which opened up a whole lot of seats I mean fish percentage go down. Then when of course students started growing up and what have you. Um one thing that they're doing with Bob Graham is that
they've they've opened the building to three and fouryear-old children with autism which we didn't have before. So the staffings are coming through. It's not going to happen overnight but eventually that building will be filled with three and four year olds, right? And then they will feed into my program
for five to you know 13 year olds, 14 year olds, right? So they do repurpose the abilities in ways like like I said earlier which you hadn't arrived I believe where you know they try to increase programs and that's an initiative that um um Dr. Doris has and actually we're working very closely with
UM card. UM card they have their own room at the PLC and they're having parent workshops. They're having workshops um for the teachers. So it's about you know making you know having not contracts per se but you you build you know relationship with you on card
which we've done now and they've been essential in helping our teachers and our parents and now we're starting with three-year-olds. Okay. So um okay I think I'll leave my questions on that. Are there any other issues or concerns that people want to bring up before they
leave? Well, related to what she said, I just wanted to know the high school because I know that elementary school, the population that is leaving is maybe, you know, homeschooling, we didn't have that many, but high school, I was surprised to see that you guys have so many students dropped this year. Do we know
where they're going? Are these students from Miami Lakes? We don't know. I don't know. Well, if that's something that can be answered, I don't know. I mean, the drop drop in enrollment seems to be, you know, not just a Miami Lakes issue
or highly everywhere. It's everywhere. It's not just in day county, it's in Broward County, you know, it's it's just everywhere. And there's there's multiple variables for the job drop enrollment. Um, you know, some are moving, you know, and there's
nothing they can do about that. Um I you know in the in the data I've seen you know there may be a few going to charters or a few going to private but not as much as you would expect. I think it's more more from what we've seen it's
more in the line of moving out of the county. So they're also so they're also leaving Miami landings and also the population they're like she said they're not having children cuz it's an older crowd and you know the kids are already run up they're in college they're high and they move on
and then new families don't move in that's an excellent excellent time you're absolutely right when you when you have these communities where kids grow up and they go through elementary, middle, and high school. Yeah. And then they go off to college and the families are still there. There's not
new families moving in because you know mom mom and dad are empty nesters now. Right. Exactly. And so that's an excellent excellent point. No offense but in my neighborhood I mean young couples can't afford the real estate in Miami makes sense everywhere in Miami.
Great. Well thank you all for coming and if you can come Thursday ladies I would highly recommend for your programs. That would be my suggestion. Thank you so much. Have a great day. He's definitely going to get me upstairs.
You organize the awards at the end of the year for the house. Maybe they only see I tried to No, but they didn't show up. Don't worry. He says that he's that program. It's already in the building, but I think
what he wants is after school. So, I think it's he wants it. So, it would be an extension of that program after school, but I don't am I allowed to talk to you. Good afternoon. Take a picture.
[Music] Let's go because I have to head back to Hia for that town meeting. This is No, I know. I just don't want to abandon you.
Thank you so much. Okay, so I'm going to continue ladies. Um, whatever it is, Jessica, let's go over the minutes. I'm going to go uh approval of minutes from the last meeting. If you ladies can look at the minutes and then let me know if we have a motion to second the minutes.
No, I'm going to read them. Just the minutes. No, no, no, no. Just everybody read the minutes and then let me know if somebody wants to um second to I mean if you can change the the front where it says um let her know she's the one that creates the
if you can change this because I am the secretary. Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry. I don't know why that was I didn't pass. I'm sorry. No, but I told her that her noses she's even for next for next time. I'm so sorry.
I didn't even think I was looking at an old How dare you sort of make a mistake. Oh my goodness. All that work up there. Thank you. When I got it done, I was blind
because I did it at night because you needed the state. So I did it and I think I got finished like at 10 or 11 o'clock at night. I was like I was like to accept the meetings. Why you scared me here?
I know. I wasn't here last. I'm sorry. That wasn't That was a typo. That was a typo. I'm sorry. Better job. will never happen again. You do such a better job. I was like, please don't tell me they changed me.
No, you do an excellent job. I'm so sorry. [Music] Let me What's your first name? Esther. Esther. Okay. So, we accepted the minutes. So, I'm going to move on now to new business. Oh. Oh, yeah. Oh, I'm Well, no, you
second it and then Oh, all in favor say I I I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I haven't seen you in a while. Everybody's in a hurry to go somewhere some wrap. Okay, number we're now moving on to
number seven, new business. So, planning on the spelling be. Okay, so then we just talked about that we want to send them the Let me look at a calendar. Let me look at the calendar. I set a date when we want to send them to send them the um the words by
um so I think my love what what date looks good to you by Friday October 10th Friday October 17th. Sorry. No, that's fine. The list is fine. It's just we talked about it last time. We don't want to send it too early because then they forget to share. No, no, no, no.
The list is fine. What do you think? Friday, October 10th or by Friday, October 17th? I'll send it to Isle. I know that I can't send them myself and I assume it goes with the formal invitation of we have a while to take it to send it. So I would say of October October 10th October 10th
by Friday. So if you can send it to her as soon as possible when you send it to her because we're essentially the same invitation we had last year, right? Just changing like you guys can do that you can you can modify. Yeah, we can do a little like modify the thing and send it out. Okay. because same info I mean it's just
changing I don't know maybe the date you can send that out if you want October 6 you can send that out that'd be free yeah I'll send that out whenever whenever so Jackie if you can send it to her by October 6 she'll send it out on Monday take them a while because yes has to go through intergovernmental right yeah they're the ones that so should we do it in the week before
September 29th do it by then this week is a little crazy the first week of October first week of October Wednesday is the 1st October 1st is that's fine Okay. So, okay. So, by Wednesday, October, by Wednesday,
October, Jackie will send it to uh thinking it's for sixth graders. Sixth graders, same as last year, same as last sixth graders need to be better. So, that's really just Miami Lakes Middle, the three schools. Um, K through Bob Grant. And we always invite Our Lady of the
Lakes if they want to. They invite them in. But you can invite them. Yeah, invite them as well. Does it get sent to them? It got sent to them. Yeah. But they don't participate in it. But do they you sent it to them, right? She sent it to them. Yeah. Do you guys request it? Yeah. I I have a question.
Send it to them as well. Sorry. Just a question. Are these things funded for this year? What? The spelling be I'm going to talk about the budget. It's on the Oh, she has a budget as an I'm talking about the budget. Okay. I got she
I have a 7B. But anything else with the spelling be because I mean and that that really from my understanding it's not on the chopping block. This this and the AB awards are not on the chopping block. All their funding is no I heard I heard otherwise people said it was safe for this year. I heard otherwise that the awards was
safe for this year. Uh and well everything's kind of safe for this year. It would be for next year. But I heard that the award was not on the chopping block. the awards. I'm just sitting here because I'm going to get I know what I heard was on the chopping block is with the money that the money that the school that's on the chopping
block because that's a big chunk that's they also discussed at night. I don't know if you watched the meeting because I was here and I actually stood up and I tried to defend the program as much as I could. But um on the chopping block is also the awards. They don't want to do the awards.
They see it. How much did they give us for the award? Well, they budget in a minute. $1,000. Yeah. look at the budget. We're we're one of the committees that is we do not really take a lot of town money. We we most of the things we do are for this this better be what does it
cost us? I mean it didn't cost anything. I mean we donated everything. It was nothing really. Yeah. Based on donations, you know. Yeah. And we're not and we didn't ask them for money. So we didn't ask on the choppy from my understanding those two events which are the only two events we have. If you take those two events away, then
why are we here? Let's just close this thing down. Exactly what we talked about. If we don't if they want to chop us down, chop us down. That's up to them. I think we provide a good service for the community. I think we keep the community informed. I think we're a good leaison between us and the schools. But if they want to chop us down, that's
a good team putting everything together and and I'll talk about that in the budget because I I really unfortunately my hands are tied. I'm not here Thursday because I'm taking the team to compete in Philadelphia. So somebody could one of you or more of you can be here Thursday to fight for some of these programs. That'd be great. So who who can go Thursday? It's this Thursday.
Their budget meeting is this Thursday. Can anybody go? Can you go? Okay. So you're not going this Thursday to that budget meeting yet. It's a big one. It is. I already my I know you have. You have. They already know. Yeah. I'll try my best. So I have another
meeting that day. Um the problem is I keep defending. Here's the problem. I've been I think they probably think I'm biased. So, I'm usually the defender of said programs. Yeah. Um but I think they're looking at it, you know, through a different lens. And
I understand the lens they're looking at from. It's not that I don't. So, um maybe if they hear from other people and you know, other residents come out, then maybe that's something that would appeal to them. But, you know, the same person keeps on coming out. It's
Yeah. They just ignore. So maybe you can come and maybe they'll come and maybe parents from the schools to hear from actual benefit from these programs. So maybe it would be good to come like I can have you know Lopez send out to the
vocabulary class and see if any of those students come to the budget meeting. Um I don't know maybe if anybody has anybody but I think that would be the best thing for parents to come out and say parents that way. I think that's a great
idea. Bring parents and kids to the meeting and and have them speak out about it. That would be great. Whatever you guys can do, that would be wonderful. The thing is, do we know for sure that they're doing the cutings? Oh, they talked about it. They're going to cut these. I mean, it's always we don't we don't really know. I mean, they're going to
when they decide on Thursday, it's too late. It's too late. So, somebody needs to be there, right? And the thing is, it's always been should we should we not should we? Like, it's always been up in the air. Yeah. Yeah. The vocab class has always been like, "Oh, should we use it? Should we not use the money for the voc classes?
Should we not give?" But here that I see a little more the votes. Well, yes, because the residents don't want the taxes to be higher. Correct. So, it's it's like where can they skim? They're trying to figure out where to cut, right? They're cutting from everywhere because I mean, here's the thing.
They're looking at government waste and there is a there's a significant amount. So, they're saying, "Okay, the theory is we already pay taxes. We already do this. Why do we have to give more? That's that's that's the money. Yeah. Well, if they cut if they cut our two
main events, then just cut this committee because this all we have two events. They can cut the spelling fee and we can still pull the money up for that. The penalty for the one award, but there's no cutting the spelling. The spelling isn't a budget line item.
Oh, okay. So, perfect. So, that continues. But the is a budget is the line item and what is the money that we just got from that that check that was the library. They're also looking at the weren't they
also looking at the looking at the classes. They were looking at the boards and they were also looking at the um imagination at the library. at the library at the friends of the library. At the friends of the library different and that was like the
talked about the programs and she got a word for the programs and I'd rather cut that than our awards I think though some of like our our neighbors right some of our residents I think people were appalled to see that Miami Lakes was you know increasing taxes by 30%. That's a bit
I think that they can cut in other areas. That's not education. That's just my sense, but you know, like I mean I think one of the things that we're going to cut, you know how they replace the flowers in the intersections? Yeah, cut that. Put some native plants that could stay there all year long. I'm fine with that.
having I'm fine with not having sat there but I think that having I think that having program I sat there through the entire that's one of the things so much but I think I sit through but having having guys having programs that that benefit our students and it's for the education of the kids I think that's important if the if the town
doesn't value that that should be number one I would think that's number one the education of your children so the public education of your children because when we hear these schools with these drops in enrollment these students are guest leaving and they're moving to different places. You know, the high
school setting, there's a lot of Port St. Lucy, you know, Fort Worth. There's a lot going to charter and private, but there is a lot going to Charter and Private and they're able to offer different classes that I mean, not that those classes keep those kids at the school, but for some kids it is. That's why I was trying to stress the
point that they make it attractive to the community to keep their students there. I won't be here to fight. a little bit like what what you want me to I mean if I never talk you can send an email you can put something together that somebody can read if you guys can't make it and you send
the emails you can send it directly to your elected officials oh or you can call them whoever appointed you yeah person's gone maybe else who are based here just look at our absentee paper
oh there There you go. Okay, moving on. Appointments from the mayor. Yeah. Yeah. So, any planning? Okay. So, for the spelling be, that's all we have to do for now because we'll have next month we can talk more about it. But the
most important thing is to get them the invitation and get them the the words and that's all we have to do for now. There's nothing else for them. Okay. As far as the budget, we kind of been talking about the budget, but that's basically it's the same thing we've just been saying. They're thinking of cutting the programs for them, the the imagination library,
which is horrible with that, too. And um uh to my understanding that the words of excellence is is not there, but it is heard otherwise that it could be cut. So like I said, that's the main thing they do. So well, imagination library. No, we have
that 15 the library. Sorry, the imagination library is still there cuz that was how much go to the friends of library. I don't have the No, hold on. I'll So, I'd rather move that 4,000 from the front of the library. But there is no moving. It's just going
to get So, it's not like they would take away. Okay. So, don't take away the classes. Just take away this line item. At least that's not what it sounds like. It sounds like they're just going to cut. That's $4,000, $5,000. Okay. But if you're cutting that four or
five, then don't cut the cost. I mean, give or take. Like, take one. Don't take everything out. They're going to cut the ad. They're going to cut the programs. They're going to cut. So, why don't they cut from another area? Like, she started. But I was so excited about this. Okay, I'm moving on. I'm just starting to get
We were just starting to get done and we had we had a successful everything going very successful. Well, that's the hard one, guys. It's not up to us again. But, but again, if you can go, that would be great. And then somebody can write a letter. Write a letter. Jessica speak the principles
can bring parents and their kids. Yeah. Did you start with our budget? Oh, but you're saying like the effect like how they have benefited from those programs. They really I just think there's other areas to come from.
I do too. I don't think it's us. Um and they don't have to put and all that stuff. Yes. Oh, no. Yeah. Yeah. over here so you could see better. I thought you were sitting over there. I was getting I was too hot in here.
These are your original numbers from the beginning of you guys had 26,500 is allocated towards the roll cap classes. 2600 26,500. So between three schools but three schools. So they each get like
12 eight um then you have $10,000 allocated between two schools for the stent. You have two get 10 or one. No, they split
and then you have 4,000 that's given to the library. Four,000 and a thousand is what's given to you under your line. That's our normally you guys used to go with awards. this year. I think you kind of use it for spelling be. But really the
reality is that you guys spend a lot more than that. Yeah. Um which is supplemented through the sponsorships. So but my question is this if they cut the awards as an item even if we fund raise oursel for it we can't have it right or no the approved you just have no funding
come up with the money. I think I yeah I'll do a gof fun. The only hard thing there is that you have to get sponsors to commit without you having any initial seed fund any seed funding which I mean they should be fine if they're returning sponsors so they've seen what the
but I'm saying like we can't confirm anything right because there's no money till we receive a check from the sponsor so it's a little I think especially because some sponsors wait till last minute to send in their I think it's up to those schools if they want to keep the 26 $26,000 for the
cabinet STEM. I don't see why they would cut that. I think STEM is important. The vocabulary cost if they want to if they want to cut that, they need to fight they need to fight for the programs to study because that's not up to us. $26,000. And you know what? Oh, I'm going back to the awards. If we don't get money or if
we don't get $1,000, we can always do, you know, provide for dinner. Oh, yeah. And we can always work around things for the I mean, what we spend is what 3,000 usually like 2,000. I think it's a little for we already bought stuff this year with
money. So we have like decoration. It's just like the food and stuff. I we can get that donated guys. I I have faith that I believe you get that donated if we're even a community. So I think this one right No, you're right. It was about
you guys actually cut your cost. Yeah. Pretty economic. I think we did really good at cutting cost. The previous two years you had spent more. Yeah, we did. We did excellent cutting. We had the balloon arts was cheaper. There's a lot of things cheaper and everything turned out very successful.
The only thing we can't cut is the food. The food is $1,000. It's food. You can't I mean unless like we said we just appetizers food little sandwiches. Sometimes more expensive. Exactly. Than actual food. It depends. Yeah. So, we'll see. But again, if they want
those programs to be, they're going to have to fight for we can't be the only ones talking about. They have to go to the ladies and they have to bring the parents. Just to give you guys some background, which I know I happened to earlier, uh there was direction given from council to request numbers from those schools
from those schools to see how many Miami residents are actually benefiting. The numbers have been given to us, but I'm happy to they're saying that those kids in the schools aren't benefiting. They're not residents of Miami Day. So, they're not benefiting from the M Right. So the residents only want to pay for their
for their resident children. So if we don't have most of the kids be residents, then they probably don't want to pay which if and if that's if that's you know I I think they should just be then use that theory across the board. I think that should should apply.
Absolutely. The events that we do from outside of the town coming. Yeah. They're benefiting from and that's I think that's part of the conversation. And it's like, okay, you know, at what point do you draw the line and say enough? We're funding this, we're funding that. But, you know,
obviously, yes. What to Jackie's point, what, you know, was put out there of course was also a game. You know, let me throw out the big amount so then when I give you the middle amount, you're okay with it. Even though, you know, it's part of the game. Unfortunately, it backfired. Um, so now this is where we are. But the
reality is, you know, they're looking at this from the lens of school board taxes are going up. There's a van out there already, etc. So, they're looking at the totality of tax money that's going from the taxpayer to
what are school related issues. They look at those, they're looking at the procs because I think crossing guards are also also crossing by the Those are paid by us. Those aren't paid by the county. The one for the yellow. Yeah. They want to click on.
So those are things that they're saying, okay, why doesn't the school board the school district those gone right that cost? I have a question. I'm sorry to interrupt. Are the three schools the three schools are they are any of the magnet schools? The K through8s are Miami Lakes.
K through8 is a magnet. Miami. They're the law magnet. They're the law. You're not the only one. The other two are are regular. But the thing is that for for them to stay open, they have to have kids from other other places other than Miami Lakes is there's not enough kids in Miami Lakes schools
and then the schools are going to end up closing. Well, I think that that goes into another conversation because, you know, our school system has shifted into school of choice. Yeah. If if they're school of choice, the town of Miami Lakes cannot prevent other kids from other communities from coming in.
But we do, but no, no, but we do have kids from other communities coming to us. The the thing is that they're saying, "Okay, if their point is there's schoolboard taxes, there's the bond. The tra the taxes are increasing, so
there's more tax money going that way. Why does Miami Lace have to continue to funnel more money into the And that's what they're looking at. Yeah, we're not we're not going to solve this right here." So, but we're venting our frustrations and hopefully somebody did the same. Just telling the story.
Yeah. No, no, no. We have to. Yeah. Okay. So, for the budget right now, there's nothing for us to do because the budget they're going to vote on other than us and send and send emails. You ladies can all send emails to your if you guys want to post it on your social media, share it with your neighbors. Yeah. And see what happens.
Okay. So, that's that for the budget. Um I have to move on unfortunately. Number eight, announcements. Is there any are there any announcements for the student? I didn't I didn't tell the student the student report from the add it. I can add it now. Sorry, this this agenda was
crazy here. So, I'm in a motion to add seven C I guess the student student new student. It's not a report because she doesn't have a report yet, but new um new student new student report. Yeah. Who um who's who
second? All in favor? I Okay, so motion passes. So, hi again. So, as you said, I think their first thing, so they gave you all the contacts for all the schools, right? So, you can email them and set up your first meeting. Let me know when you have that first meeting so I can hopefully be here with you that night.
Um, hey, how you did it last year? They they came here again. I don't even know who paid for that pizza last year. I don't think it was the sponsor. It wasn't you guys. It wasn't us. It was Who was the sponsor? It was the VP. No, it's the strange name. popular
that popular. Yeah. Okay, that's perfect. I have I have a friend at my school who actually is like very much in connected. to see if they can they would like if they'd be interested in getting pizza for also told me that if I want I can ask the community but they're very much like
in advance if they could allocate for the pizza via well right now they're trying you know they can contact Vicky Bakery maybe they'll get something for the kids to eat if we can't get pizza maybe get patitos Vicky Bakery might be willing to do that so contact them or you have the contact
for Vicky Bakery right so let me know if you need them she can give you the you don't I mean if you guys coffee. Yeah. If they don't want to donate or anything, then you know, then then you can get them at least baktaritoss and some, you know, water or something and then have them
come here and then that could be one of your first initiatives maybe, then fill it in the candy for that for that event. And if you have any other initiatives you want to do with them, that's the time to let them know. I don't know if you want to maybe prepare an agenda and send it to me and then I can look it over. Um, but other than that, right now, we
don't have anything else. Anything else that anything that you guys can think of? Okay. Okay. So, the attendance I didn't have I didn't know it was going to be on here because now that's a new thing every meeting. Yeah. I think it's discussing this. I don't know. Well, remember you can't have more than three.
Well, there's a couple of different rules, but that's Yeah, there's a lot. They can't have more than three. It's three consecutive or three um three consecutive will you will get you kicked out no matter if they're excused or excused. Five in a rolling calendar of 12 of the 12 months uh will get you
kicked out whether they're excused or five five in the year. So in the year 12 months you can't have three consecutives and you can't have five January January. It's be 12 months back from wherever
we're at. But since this just started in April right now it's just on April. April. All right. Okay. So, and and it doesn't matter if it's accused or excused. If it's five, if it's five, it's automatic. Okay. They're back to back five excused even. Even five more than five times in the
year back. Yeah. So, we have M has two back to back, but her but hers is a health issue. She was hospitalized and they don't care. Yeah. Not me. I'm We have to text. Somebody
text the same as me with one two. Well, they're back to back cuz maybe missed I got excused. This isn't in red, but jury duty cuz these aren't in red. It says excused, but they're not in red. They have to be They have to be absent
means red is unexcused. Well, they're absent or unexcused. If it's back to back, it's three back to back, it's you're gone. That's not No, excuse it. Wait a minute. So, is this May's third? This is May's third. Where?
No. August and then you have two days. June. Exactly. So, she has two. You have two back to back. You can't Well, I better jury. What will happen? It doesn't matter if you don't.
You have two back to back. Yeah, you're here today. You're fine. No, I thought M was back to But has this one and maybe not back to one second and five in a 12 month period.
The only one right now. Okay. So what what's telling please not to miss foot? Um so the only thing that I remember and I don't want to add anything else. Did we hear anything not to reach out about Miami l K through8 the help
on the light? I haven't heard anything back about the the light when officer Amador came and he spoke to us about the light. Yeah. What was the last thing that he that he said the other day? Well, we discussed it. I was going to contact Alonso's office. Hi. And then
you texted me not to do it, that Haley was going to take care and Haley was going to be here today and she couldn't make it. But I can text her right now from seconds and ask. I mean, she's going to be at the high aliyah high town hall meeting. Where you at? Oh, tonight she can tell you tonight. She can tell you I follow up with her tonight about that. Remember to ask her
because I'm the traffic the about the traffic light K through big thing. We'll see on the traffic light. So Jackie will contact any workforce office. I think very hard to make sure that people
understand like all the great things that happened there. Oh no, I know. Okay. Any any other any other pending issues? Last minute. No, go ahead. Uh like exactly what you'd like me to include in Mr. and like what information
would go into what would be when So hopefully you'd have your meeting in October sometime. So when we have our next meeting, hopefully they can give us an opportunity to help me. But she wants to know like what do you want her to get from the students? Any suggestions? It could be any suggestions or like last year they
wanted us to do um well I forget who wanted us to do but that that heads down heads up whatever I forget it heads up like but if there's any initiative that you want to do in the town the group wants to do in the town that would be the time to bring it up
I think sixth grade I know in our school they do like the elections So I think they do have a sixth grade rep. Okay. Okay. Those are a little bit later in the year. No, they already have. Yes. No, they're already finished. Yes. All lectures are done. So you should Yeah. Like maybe that
person in charge of sixth grade other represent can also encourage other students about spelling. Yeah. encourage and any other initiatives that you want to introduce or that they want to introduce especially in open forum you
know mention the just because I was going to mention to you guys the parade like any of the schools that want to sign upration is now open on our website that's parade veterans day parade is a
big town event in November and October is the Halloween event that they want to also they want to volunteer, they can they can register through Eventbrite for that and anything they want to volunteer. We Yeah, we have on the website like a tab that's for volunteering and it has all the committee events that we like
volunteer. They're like a direct link she can text them. And same thing for the parade parade it'll come up. Yeah. I think that that's anything else. Yeah.
Our next meeting would be when we have Okay. Okay. Let's set the date now. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I thought you guys changed. I have you guys set for the third of the month. That's so what? The 20th. At 6:30 is what? Is that okay with everybody? What day was it?
If we need to Monday, October. Is that okay with everyone? I'm really Monday. Monday. At what time? 6:30. Is there a meeting? Yes. October 20. 2030.
Yeah. Okay. Does that work for you? Yeah, that works. Nobody says no. Well, Monday was 6:30 and I'll text and I think is anything else
as a committee if you guys can let me know um if you guys want to participate in the parade. When is the parade? November. Sunday, November 10th. And what is that for? For the veterans parade. We've never done it.
What do we do? No longgo a long time ago, but they had like a car. Yeah, remember it used to be like a Jeep that you guys you guys from the committee if they're working or anything right now. I can't tell you
different things that were like I think. Yeah, we do it. American American flag. Let me know now, but you do have to let me know before the parade. So, yeah.
Are we at our next meeting? Is that I'll let you know next meeting. Um, put it if you I'll put it on there. for the next meeting about the parade. Veterans parade parade. What was the date again? I'm sorry.
Sunday. Okay. Other than that, is that anything else before I call the meeting? Yes. No. Catholic like prays for to raise awareness or just celebrate anything. We have our cheerleaders come and they come cheer and they come off with a page. Do you want me to ask if any clubs that are
kind of similar to that from these schools that want to be involved like that or just like the help like the clubs that come help to set up right or like we need student volunteers but we also need like clubs and the clubs that aren't like they always get invited in our school make a phone
call to whoever like for me it's like I'll make a phone call and say what's going on. Well, that's I think as many people as you can. I think everyone should Yeah, I'm going to send an email somewhere. And maybe they can take
They already know where I put maybe they can take the money from like she was saying the flowers or flags that they put up every year. It wasn't something. So, we just No, but what flags? Flags to weather. No, no, no.
the kids that pay for the the 911 plan. We donate money for that to pay for that. They don't even pay for is a part that they really should. Okay. So, with that, I'm going to call the meeting to
close at 5:38. Beautiful.