Attendence Boundary Committee - Regular Meeting

I would like to be able to call this meeting to order. and welcome all of you and before i pass the meaning to miss tracer abner for introductions i would like to remind all the members of this community that we are here to do the business of the abc committee and if any of you have questions regarding hope or the business of hope Staff has been instructed to be able to remain after the meeting so you can then direct your questions directly to them. In this moment, we're going to attend and manage the business of the ABC. And with that, let me pass the meeting then to Ms. Sapna.

good morning everyone and thank you all for joining us once again we're going to begin with introductions please be reminded that as you introduce yourself you need to express who you're representing if you're here as a community member please also state the school that you will be speaking on we'll give you further direction as it relates to what that process is going to look like But I just wanted to open up by saying that. So I'm Tracy Abner, the assistant superintendent who oversees the attendance boundary process. We want to go to Carla and then we'll go around.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Carla Sejas. I'm an associate general counsel.

Good morning, everyone. Pleasure to be here this morning. Dr. Lewis, deputy superintendent, school leadership and performance.

Good morning, everyone. Dr. Yesenia Ponte, North Region Superintendent.

Good morning, everyone. Brenda Swain, Central Region Superintendent.

Good morning. Rafael Villalobos, South Region Superintendent.

Thank you. Good morning. My name is Alfred Billings, representing the superintendent. Thank you.

Hello, everyone. I'm Jeffrey Goddia, representing the superintendent. George Garcia representing the superintendent.

You see a bus killer representing a Mister Joseph Keller district 3 school board.

Good morning, my name is Maryland one of representing school board member Robert Alonzo.

Good morning, Betty but Ada representing board member, Mary Blanco district 7.

Good morning, I'm Ms. Regina Davis representing Dr. Bindros-Mendigal. I was supposed to be not here today, but.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Mina Hosseini and I represent school board member Luisa Santos in district nine.

Hello, my name is Beverly Heller and I'm representing the superintendent's panel for children with exceptionalities.

Happy holidays to everybody. Rhonda Smith, representing our honorable, wonderful superintendent of schools.

Good morning, Amore Reyes, representing Alternative for Central Region.

Good morning, Sharon Watson, representing Miami-Dade County Council Parent Teacher Association.

Good morning, Robin Atkins, South Region Director.

Good morning, James Molina, South Region Office.

Good morning, Dorona Phillips, Central Region Office.

Good morning, Manny Garcia, Central Region Office.

Good morning, Leonard Torres, North Region Office.

Good morning, Kelly Hunter-Shepard, Exceptional Student Education.

Good morning, everyone. Verena Cabrera, Enterprise Development Office.

Good morning, everyone. Lizbeth Gonzalez, North Region Office.

Good morning. Ken Kilpatrick, Brownfield Civic Neighborhood Association here in support of Laurel Park Elementary.

Grand Rising Area 1, Larry Williams representing Dr. Steve Gallen.

Good morning. Michael Horn representing Dr. Steve Gallen.

Good morning, Dr. Nancy Lawler, member of the public at large.

Good morning, I'm Roberto Mejia, and I'm representing Lenore B. Smith Elementary. I'm a fifth grade student. I'm a fifth grade president.

Good morning, my name is Mia Esposito, Central Region. I am the Lenore B. Smith ESAC chairperson and educator.

Good morning. My name is Marianna Ville St. Pierre.

I'm the PTA president for Lenora Brayman Smith Elementary and also fifth grade teacher.

Good morning. My name is Jill Reed and I'm here with the Model City CAC Education Committee and I'm representing Lower Park Elementary.

My name is Arlene Palacio, mother of Roberto Mejia.

Thank you very much, Ms. Funius. Introduce yourself very quickly. Arlene Funius, school teacher performance and administrative assistant. Thank you. And we do have several, we have 15 people who are online, including myself and Ms. Funius, who is the host. So according to ABC guidelines and the ABC calendar, we are here today to finalize the targeted and advised schools. After the ABC meeting on November 20th, 2025, schools were identified as initially targeted and advised. A memorandum was sent out to all schools regardless of their status. And attached to that memorandum were definitions of what targeted and advised meant. Principals were then asked to meet with their ESAC representatives, PTSA president, and student leader to review and sign a memorandum, even if their school was not on the initial list. Principals were then asked to send out letters to their parents advising them of their targeted status. Additionally, parents and community members were advised that if they wish to appeal the decision that was made, that they were to contact our office by Tuesday, December 2nd, in order to speak at the public hearing, which is why we are here today. We have several community members who have signed up to speak. Before we commence that part of today's meeting, I will defer back to our chair in order to approve the minutes for the last meeting. Then we will hear from our three region superintendent related to the update on the 24-25 targeted schools. That was something we put in place last year so that we can continue to apprise the public of the status of our schools. Then we will have an explanation by our general counsel as to what the hearing process is so that everyone will understand what you are to do once you come to the microphone. At this time, I'm going to defer back to Mr. Barea to go over the minutes.

Thank you, Ms. Abner. And I forgot to actually introduce myself before I speak. Eddie Varela representing Maritere Rojas. I would like to be able to ask from the floor if someone can move to approve the minutes as they were sent to us. Ms. Barely?

We're not content questions.

So I would like to have the minutes approved with corrections, which are basically grammatical and nothing having to do with content. And I've handed that to be looked at.

Thank you. Do I hear a second? We have a second.

I second the motion for the minutes.

Okay, everybody in favor say aye. Okay, minutes are approved. And then with that, we move the meeting to the regional superintendents.

Thank you, Ms. Abner and Dr. Lewis. Thank you to the attendance, Boundary Committee Chair, Mr. Eddie Barreira, and Vice Chair, Mr. Billings, and all the committee members for your time and dedication to this process. A special appreciation goes to Mr. Torres, ABC Administrative Director for the North Region, and Ms. Liz Beth Gonzalez for their assistance and guidance with this presentation. At this time, as a North Region Superintendent, I would like to present updates on last year's North Region Office targeted schools. During the 2024-2025 school year, the North Region targeted the following schools. Country Club Middle, Lawton Child's Middle, Palm Springs North Elementary School. The reassignment of Country Club Middle School's attendance boundary area was assigned to Lawton Child's Middle School, which resulted in an enrollment increase of 113 students at Lawton Child's Middle. Lawton Child's Middle School current enrollment stands at 627 students, with 312 students originating from the added boundary. Of the projected 188 students in grades 6th and 7th within the reassigned area, 167 all previously attending Country Club Middle are now enrolled at Lawton Child's Middle School. This change also positively impacted student retention. Lawton Child's Middle School enrolled 68 rising sixth graders from the added boundary, achieving a 27% retention rate, which is a two percentage point increase compared to their previous 25% retention trends for that boundary, a boundary that was shared with two strong K-8 centers. In response to this growth, Lawton Child's Middle has expanded its offerings. It introduced two new programs, forensic and biomedical programs. It expanded its services, enhanced the ESC, Exceptional Student Education Program, to now include students with intellectual disabilities, and also expanded the dance program. It also created new partnerships. The school established partnerships with the University of Chicago inherited from the Country Club Middle to provide academic small group math intervention. Palm Springs North Elementary School was also targeted last school year, but it did not undergo a boundary change. Instead, it was a school configuration was modified from a K through five elementary to a K eight center. As a result of adopting a K-8 configuration, Palm Springs North has seen rapid growth in its middle grades. The inaugural sixth grade class of 2024 and 2025 had 95 students. This year, the current sixth grade enrollment has surged by 68 students, a 42% increase, reaching 163 students in the current sixth grade class. This growth is heavily supported by school choice, as 77 students in the current sixth grade are attending from the outside boundary. Of the students exercising the choice option, 31% were new middle school enrollments into Palm Springs North. Historically, majority of these students would have moved on or articulated to schools outside of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. However, Palm Springs North successfully retained 127 of its previous year's fifth graders for its current sixth grade class. The seventh grade enrollment remains stable, totaling 98 students this year, up three students from the 95 students enrolled in last year's sixth grade class. To further support student development, Palm Springs North K-8 Center has significantly expanded its course offerings and clubs. Notably, the school now provides high school courses such as algebra and physical science to its middle school students. Additionally, the demand for programs like yearbook, journalism, office library aid, art, music, slash band was met by establishing a second sequence for each offering. At this time, this concludes the updates for the North Region Office. I thank you for your attention.

Good morning, everyone. I'd like to also take this opportunity to thank you for all of your efforts and your support of the ABC process. I'd also like to thank Mr. Manny Garcia, who is our administrative director from the Central Region Office that helps to oversee the ABC process, and Ms. Phillips as well, that she is the Central Region Office support. For the 24-25 school year, Central Region Office had four schools that we identified on the advised status. Ponciana Park Elementary continues to house our Educational Transformation Office. I'd also like to give you updates on Charles Drew K-8 Center, Lily C. Evans K-8 Center, and Liberty City Elementary. While there were no major boundary changes to those schools, I want to update on the number of students and faculty and staff members that transferred to those sites. For Charles Drew K-8 Center, they had 18 students that enrolled from Ponciana Park Elementary. There were no teachers that transferred over. And there was one secretary treasurer that now works at Charles Drew K-8 Center. Charles Drew K-8 Center's utilization is now 78.4% with a total of 519 students. For Lilly C. Evans K-8 Center, we had 29 students to transfer over from Ponceana Park. Where we had no teachers that transferred over, we had one instructional staff member. At this time, Lilly C. Evans K-8 has a building utilization of 50.17%, having a total of 301 students. For Liberty City Elementary, we had 34 students to move over and transfer over. The larger number of students for Liberty City was because the entire ESC units that were there were moved over to Liberty City. We had three teachers to transfer over, two paraprofessionals, and one support personnel that transferred over to Liberty City Elementary. Liberty City now has a total of 304 students and their building utilization is 36.63%. This concludes the update for Central Region Office.

Good morning, everyone, and I, too, would like to thank the committee members of the ABC. Thank you for your commitment and thank you to those parents that are here today as well. And then I'd like to special thank you to Robin Atkins, my administrative director of the South Region, as well as Mr. James Molina from the South Region office. The South Region did not have any targeted schools last year. So for the South Region, there's nothing to report out on targeted schools. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you for the reports to the superintendents. And now I would like to be able to recognize Ms. Carla Cezas that she will be giving us instructions for the hearing process.

Thank you, Chair. In order to maintain order and decorum during the public comments, the school board has established decorum policies, which will be utilized here. The intent of these policies is not to regulate speech or the content thereof, but to provide for the efficient and orderly functioning of the business of the board, to protect the rights of each individual, to protect the right of the majority to decide, to protect the right of the minority to be heard, and to preserve the spirit of harmony within the board and those appearing before the board. The policy and procedures governing today's public comments are as follows. Pursuant to school board policy 0169, the purpose of the public hearing portion of the board meeting is to allow the public to address matters within the ABC's jurisdiction and not for resolving individual grievances or disputes. Although the purpose of the public hearing is solely to receive public comment and participation, the purpose is not served when citizens become disorderly or disruptive. Accordingly, speaker's remarks should be directed to the chair or to the ABC committee as a whole. In accordance with policy, speakers are prohibited from discussing their own pending court cases, legal claims, complaints filed against the district or district personnel, or disciplinary matters involving any individual school board employee, as there are other more appropriate forums established for those purposes. In accordance with board policy, substitutions for scheduled speakers will not be allowed except in exceptional circumstances. While clapping and applauding is typically allowed and expected for resolutions, honors, and awards, it is prohibited at the public comments since it disrupts and delays the orderly presentation and efficiency of the meeting. Speakers may not use any form of profanity, loud abusive comments, intentionally disruptive noises, heckling, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker's remarks. Speakers whose comments are not related to the business of the ABC or who make personal attacks or impertinent or slanderous remarks or otherwise engages in boisterous behavior which creates a disturbance or disruption may be ruled out of order and may be warned that they must confine their comments to the matters related to the school district or be prohibited from speaking further. Speakers who persist in violating this board's decorum policies may be asked to yield the floor, have the microphone turned off and will not be permitted to continue to address the committee. Finally, I would like to remind the public speakers that pursuant to board policy 0169, each speaker will be limited to two minutes to address the ABC and no more than a total of 10 minutes during the entire meeting. We will give each speaker a 15-second warning prior to the speaker's time expiring. For the purpose of not interrupting the speaker, whoever the timekeeper is will just raise their hand, and that indicates that you have 15 seconds remaining. Speakers may not refuse to yield the podium when the chair has advised that their time has expired. Mr. Chair, this summarizes the procedures for the conduct of the public hearing.

Thank you. And now I would like then Ms. Abner to be able to say a few words before we start the meeting.

Okay, so what you see on the chart or what you saw prior to was the list of schools that we have identified as targeted and advised. Thank you. So at this time, we're going to ask that once your name is called, that you come up to the microphone and your two minutes will begin. I will be the one waving my hand when you have 15 seconds remaining as not to disturb you, but please remember to contain yourself to the two minutes.

thank you thank you miss abner i would like to call mr journal reed representing laura park elementary good morning abc committee my name is gerald reed with the model city cac education committee

I'm here to speak on behalf of Lower Park Elementary and your presentation about the ABC goals here about how current students are being transferred and how there's being like a equilibrium of the attendance right now. But as far as it comes to Lower Park Elementary, I would like for you to consider the spatial opportunity that's going to be provided for schools in the future okay here's a google maps of lower park elementary west of northwest 32nd avenue there's no public school opportunities for anybody from the 112 expressway all the way up to broadmoor elementary so from northwest 87th street all the way to the 112 expressway roughly four miles there's no public school opportunity So when deciding which schools to keep and which schools to close down or repurpose, please consider the public school opportunity in the future for students that may move into the area. i circulated a petition in favor of lower park elementary because i know everyone couldn't make it this morning and we received over 600 signatures in favor of retaining lower park elementary and i would like to submit that to the clerk's office hey thank you thank you mr reed i would like to call miss mariana

Bill of Saint here from Laura B. Smith as well to the podium.

Good morning, ABC committee. Well, when you think about Lenora Raymond Smith Elementary, we do support when it comes to the PTA vision. We are an active Lenora Raymond Smith PTA members. We're bridging the vision when it comes to bridging the school and parents together, including our staff and our teachers. we've had many activities at the school that brings our community together even coming back of having our past students coming in with our activities like our celebrating our hispanic heritage with painting with pta our spaghetti night sitting down together and even having our steam night because we are steam designated school But there are two concerns that we do have when you're thinking about us being in this attendance boundary. One of the concerns that we have as parents, we know that we've had our school open to three-year-olds now. So seeing as it comes to crowd control of having our three-year-olds, we don't know what the vision of our school is going to be if it becomes. We know that we're seeing K-8s. but just seeing the crowd control when it comes into the cafeteria, breakfast time, or even during dismissal of seeing how that looks like of having little three-year-olds along with older ones together. Another concern that we would have is Right now, we're 0081 at Lenora Braman Smith Elementary. Our staff is concerned as to when we are teaching our preferred subject area, and now we are a K-8 in administration, maybe they want to go ahead and move us to K-8. to middle school subject area. How did that look? Are we going to be compelled to have a middle school certification?

Can you wrap up five seconds because your time expired? Thank you.

Yes, but thank you for hearing us, and we support the vision of continuing bridging school and parents together.

Thank you, Ms. Pierre. Ms. Mia Esposito. Also from Lenore B. Smith. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my colleagues and community and to represent Lenore B. Smith Elementary. I first just wanted to take a moment to honor Lenore B. Smith. Lenore B. Smith served several roles in the educational community, starting as a school secretary and ultimately becoming a school principal right here in Miami-Dade. She was also honored with the distinct honor of being the first African-American woman to be named Teacher of the Year here in Miami-Dade, and we are just so proud to honor her legacy with her name at our school. This is my 15th year as an educator at Lenore B. Smith Elementary. It was my original placement school with Teach for America, and it's definitely the place that I've called home for the last 15 years. I just wanted to talk a little bit about the programs that we offer at Lenore B. Smith Elementary. We are a STEAM designated school with a current bronze distinction. At LBS, we've always emphasized and valued the importance of exposing our students to all the opportunities that Miami-Dade offers. We have an active STEAM program that attends STEAM and SECME competitions yearly. We have an active student government led by Roberto Mejia, a safety patrol that works diligently daily in our cafeteria and our hallways, a 5,000 role models and a book club. Our students attend cultural passport field trips regularly, exposing them to all that Miami-Dade has to offer in the arts and in our environment. Through the leadership and the administration, we've seen, at least I have in the last 15 years, this school go from a failing school, an F-rated school, to a STEAM-designated school that provides pathways to magnet opportunities and also higher education for your universities. As Ms. Pierre referenced, it is one of our greatest honors to have our students come back and invite us to their high school graduations and to see them move on to college. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. We would like to recognize Robert Mejia.

Thank you for the opportunity and good morning. My name is Roberto Mejia, and I'm a fifth grade student. It's a great honor to stand here today and represent my school in Robbie Smith at this very special district event. Three years ago, when I was nine, I moved to Miami from Nicaragua. Everything was new for me, the school, the language, the people, and even the way classes work. It was a big challenge, but also the beginning of something amazing. When I started school here, I didn't know English, but something very important happened. My teachers never ignored me or my situation. They made a real effort to communicate with me, and they helped me believe that I could succeed. Today, I want to recognize Ms. Esposito and Ms. Leal and Ms. Francis. With patience, dedication, and kindness, they taught me English, encouraged me when I felt lost, and celebrated every little step I took. Their support has been one of the main reasons why I'm standing here in front of you today. I also want to thank the ESOL program, which helped me learn English and feel more confident in the classrooms. With this program, I realized that learning a new language is not impossible when you have teachers who truly care. There is something very important I've learned. Teachers who change lives are empathetic, passionate, and patient and kind. A teacher who believes in a student can completely change their world, especially when that student comes from another country, another language, and another reality. To my fellow students who are facing challenges, I want to say, don't give up. If I was able to start from zero and make it here, you can too. Hard work always brings results. To the district leaders and administrators, thank you for supporting students like me and for the incredible work of our teachers. To my family, thank you for teaching me discipline, faith, and perseverance. And finally, thank you for listening. This recognition is not only mine, it belongs to my teachers, my school, and everyone who believes in me. I will continue to work hard because this is only the beginning. Thank you very much.

I know that we have... more speakers on the list but they were not letting me i just want to know if there's someone present that is going to speak okay kenneth bill patrick yes please and can we recognize you

Good morning. Ken Kilpatrick, Roswell Civic Neighborhood Association, here on behalf of Laura Park. In the first quarter of this calendar year, I appeared before this ABC committee when Laura Park was on the advisory list, but was told that no action steps could be considered until the school had reached the targeted threshold. So we watched the school's enrollment and services deteriorate into the new school year where it's now a targeted school, subject to closure and repurposing. So this is systemic in terms of a failure of our children, slapping the face of the community. It's my understanding that with the assignment of only three buses to Lower Park, um to transport children living west of 32nd avenue that would adequately increase enrollment levels and may restore which that which was um that has impacted the community in terms of the enrollment and the services now so um if those three buses could be added to the routes and to where Lower Park can bus kids west of 32nd Avenue to the school that should bring the improvement that's needed. And we don't understand why that can't happen when several buses come into the community to bus kids out of the community to Miami Springs Middle and Miami Springs Senior High. So it's not as though you can't get buses. It's not as though buses are not available. Just for some reason, the buses are not being made available to lower park. Although there is an enrollment crisis. So I'll close by saying, in the interim, until we can get this resolved, we are preparing for worst case scenario. We are putting together a team of qualified educators and experts to come together and form a qualified organization.

Can you wrap up your time, Inspire, please?

Yeah. OK. We have put together a team of qualified experts, educators. We reject outside charters coming into the schools. If it comes to that, we want the opportunity to be able to come in with the team that we put together with a qualified organization, qualified individuals with curriculum that can help refresh the enrollment and services at the school. Thank you.

I want to thank you for your comments. I would like to recognize Montgomery. Please come to the podium.

Hello, good morning everyone. My name is Kisa Montgomery. I'm a parent of two children at Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy. My concern really is once I saw this, the verbiage is kind of confusing and I wanted more of an understanding of exactly what will be happening and how would it impact the schools and are there adverse effects that you guys see ahead with the changes that you guys plan on making?

do you have any other comments uh or that's all your comments today um that's pretty much it because i just don't know what's going on so i just wanted more information thank you i will defer now to answer to your regional superintendent

Miss Montgomery, good morning and thank you for being here. We were, we are going to have some community meetings that will be established in January and at that time we're going to explain what the processes are and what the proposals are so that way we can meet in a larger forum and have that understanding.

So is this something that's definitely going to happen or is this a projection at this point?

So we're here because we want to listen to the community and we want to project what we are proposing to the community. And that way we can have input before making any decisions. So nothing is going to happen yet until we have input from the community. And once we share that information at that time and you'll be getting information of when that community meeting is going to take place, it'll be in January at some time at some point. And we will make sure that every student and parent receives that information at Mandarin Lakes K-8. Thank you. You're very welcome.

Thank you Mr. Reyhalos. And now we would like to be able to call to the podium Crystal Walker.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Crystal Walker, and thank you for the opportunity to be here and speak on behalf of Rainbow Park Elementary. Like the other parents said before, I'm really not sure as to what is actually going on as it pertains to the targeted schools, but I wanted to be here to be a representation of the students at Rainbow Park Elementary. I'm also the PTA president at Rainbow Park Elementary, and we have been trying to actively engage the parents to join into what is going on at Rainbow Park. When I was looking up some information, a lot of this stuff about Rainbow Park Elementary started with launching a legacy. I am actually a legacy of Rainbow Park Elementary. I went to Rainbow Park, my parents went to Rainbow Park Elementary, and now my daughter is there at Rainbow Park Elementary. It's a community school that has been in the community for quite some time, since 1957, I believe, and we don't want to see it go away. From the new information that I found out recently is that it is the only magnet elementary school for the arts in the North region. So I think that our purpose in this is to get kids and parents to know that this is a program here that will provide education regarding the arts and drama and dance in elementary school outside of extracurricular activities. During the last two years, being this is the second year, we've had a new principal and I've seen her actively work to get the students more involved, to get more programs at the school. We have a 5,000 role models program, a new girls group, a Sapphires program that my daughter is also a part of. She's also in the magnet dance as well. When I was at Rainbow Park Elementary, we also had a program called the Academic Excellence Program, which it was a program that I was in as well. So I implore you all to just think about the opportunities that will be for other children that can experience this magnet opportunity at the elementary school in the North region.

Thank you. Thank you very much. I would like to be able to ask if...

Sorry.

I'm from Bridget. Is there someone else or not?

Is there someone else to speak?

No. Okay. I just would like, if it's possible for Ms. Swain... The concern about the bus is just for us to get the information. Can you speak a little bit about the concern that was brought from one of the members of the community?

Yes, through the chair. I actually had the opportunity after our last meeting to actually go over to meet with the principal to discuss the concern with the buses. There was a situation that was brought up about an activities bus for kids afterwards to be taken to one of the local areas that's there. But we also wanted to try to pull the data to be able to see how many kids were actually coming out of a specific area. The principal was concerned about an area that's close to Okeechobee and it's called Lindsay Court. So we were looking at the number of kids that were coming from there. And the number of school age children that were in that area at that time is only one student that's coming from that particular area. So what I wanted to go to is look to see. The other concern that came up was the number of students that were in the Laura Park boundary that were attending South Hialeah Elementary. We wanted to look at that number of kids to be able to see about them actually to be bused back over. The number was about seven school-age children at this particular time. Those were the numbers that we found when we did the research for that particular area that is a part of lower parks boundary. It's about a total of eight students coming from that particular area.

Thank you, Ms. Swain.

Yes, please, Dr. Lewis. Thank you, Mr. Barrera. And through the chair, let me add some additional content in reference to Laura Park. First of all, I would like to thank those parents that came today and actually spoke up. But let me also remind those parents as well, when it relates to Laura Park, as of right now, that school is actually on the advised list, right? So in other words, we're looking at the school, looking at the boundary itself. But let me also put that boundary into context as well. Currently, within that Laura Park boundary, you have about 367 students that reside in that area. Out of that 367 students, you only have about 63 students that lives in the Laura Park boundary that attends Laura Park. With that being said, you have neighboring schools such as South Hialeah, Hialeah. You have about 63 students from that same boundary that attends Hialeah Elementary and another 54 that attends South Hialeah Elementary. And when you look at Laurel Park, I think the biggest barrier is 32nd Avenue. Those students that I referenced that goes to Hialeah Elementary and, of course, South Hialeah, unfortunately, those students live closer to those schools. The parents, should I say, chose to exercise their right and made those schools a choice. Going back to the transportation issues, transportation is provided for all of our students that meet certain criteria. Wanting to add additional buses, it really doesn't solve the problem. in order for you to add those additional buses, those kids must reside or must attend that school. And if they attend that school and they live within two miles outside the radius of that school, then automatically they qualify for transportation. Just thought I'd try to get that on the record as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Lewis. And before we proceed, I know that there are members of the committee that have arrived. Can you please stand up and recognize so we can recognize you?

Hello, Ernie Martinez, representing the ESE.

Hello, Dr. Martha Hernandez, representing DIAC.

Thank you, Dr. Hernandez. Before I move the meeting to the next part that is for a vote, I would like to be able to give any opportunity to any member of the committee that would like to be able to speak. If I don't see your hands up, then I will move and proceed. Yes, go ahead, Mina. Two minutes. OK, remember, two minutes. Thank you.

Thank you for the community members that came out this morning to provide testimony. We really appreciate it and we don't take it for granted. My question is on the form itself. So we know the difference on the committee between targeted and advised, but I'm seeing that it says at the bottom schools denoted in bold will have boundaries dissolved. There are schools that are in bold in the advised list. So I'd love for you to clarify that point for the audience and for the committee. And I'd like to confirm, because we did hear from audience members that folks are unclear about what will be happening to their schools. Can you provide them with a timeline of when they will learn about what the actual recommendation is for their schools and for all the schools on the list? Thank you.

Go ahead. Who would like to answer? Thank you.

Through the chair, the... Information provided to the community will take place during the month of January. Based on our calendar, from January 5th through 30th is when we'll host community meetings in which proposals will be presented and any additional feedback from the community will be received. Regarding your comment related to the dissolving of the boundaries, we try to... simplify the form so that we were able to identify which of the schools was actually the school that an action was going to take place. If you recall from our previous documents, it was just kind of a list and it was hard for people to really understand which school was the actual targeted school. So that was really the intent this year when speaking about both the targeted and advised. So with the advised schools, In the north, you'll see for potentially the upcoming year, Golden Glades, Myrtle Grove, and North Dade would be the schools of consideration. And in the central, that will be Laura Park. And in the south, it will be CIE and Killian. So that was really the intent of the new format to try to help make things clearer for all involved. However, no actions are being taken for the advice schools this year. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, Ms. Vice.

I thank you so much to everybody that came. I just want to ask a few questions quickly. Sorry about my voice. Many of our schools and my time on the board have MOUs, memorandums of understanding where they are hubs for the community. Has there been a survey done of these schools of how many have these MOUs or have community commitments already that may be affecting children and where programs may be affected? I also would like to know what happens if in any of these schools where there will be movement, whether there's been a survey, whether there's similar programs or what happens if a school that's dissolving has a program and the receiving schools don't have that program. And then my final question would just be. I know that in the meetings for January, there's a lot of time for feedback, but I remember attending one of the meetings last year. And after the meeting, it said, if you'd like to give us feedback, you can do so after. I was wondering if there's an opportunity to get feedback before as well. Thank you through the chair.

Thank you, Ms. Baez. I will ask Dr. Lewis if he can answer.

Thank you, Mr. Barrera. Through the chair, and I'll try to go one by one, starting with the last question that was asked. The answer is definitely yes, there are several opportunities. I would advise and I would recommend to everyone that's listening and for those that are here to really print and keep a copy of the calendar of ABC. As it relates to ABC, I just want to remind everyone that it's a year-long process, as we all know. And between the dates of January 5th through January 30th is when the region's superintendents will be scheduling those meetings within our communities to be able to go and engage the community in conversation. The aspect that you were referencing, there's a specific date or timeline, I should say, and I want to say it's February 5th, whereas the community now get an opportunity after they've heard what is being recommended. They can make their own recommendation and that information has to go to the region. and then turn back around February 9th, if I'm not mistaken, is when the region now have to submit that information to the ABC committee for them to take into consideration. But let me also say up and down the ABC calendar, there are ample opportunities for community to engage us in conversation to also make recommendations. When that timeline comes up, Quite naturally, it would also be shared. But once again, I truly recommend for those that are truly interested and wanting to make a difference or wanting to have their voices heard to ensure that they get a copy of the ABC calendar as well. Going back to your question in reference to MOUs and different programs that we may have at schools that recommended or proposed actions will be taking place. For those that are listening, that may not necessarily look through the lens that you and I look through. The MOU, like you said, is a memorandum of understanding. And normally such memorandums are basically drawn up. For example, we have organizations such as TFA and other said organization, whereas they work within our schools based on that understanding. I want to remind everyone or just kind of inform everyone just about every or any recommended action that are being proposed by ABC. Our moral compass is always our students. What's best for our students? What's best for our communities? I want to make sure that that is perfectly clear. But furthermore, if there's any actions that are being taken towards the school and to that teacher that spoke about her certification normally a certification is doing is for a particular subject area for particular grade levels right that doesn't change it doesn't matter the configuration of the school it has to do with the certification that you have and what you're allowed to teach so along that line any programs that we have let's say for example at an elementary school because i heard someone reference the fact that a particular school has a art program or performing art program, normally that is moved along with the students into the school that they're going to be combined with. And what it does, it enriches that particular school. You heard about the actions that were taken during the 2024-25 school year. And from what I've seen, from what I've heard, they've all been positive because what we've been able to do it's really moved those students into another school which increased the enrollment of that particular school but also it also brings along additional program whether it be gifted and any other said program so hopefully i answered your question if i missed any i'll be more than happy to um do my best to answer thank you for your questions All right. Correct. Correct. Okay. Just going back to that, no different from CBOs, which are community-based organizations. What we always do, we always honor our commitment to others. That is always and has always been our commitment. And so I say that if an action is being taken, And a school is being moved into or the population of the school is being moved into the other school. Well, along with that, we are able to make set adjustments and I'll use Lenore B. Smith because I'm very knowledgeable about the area. Haven't spent about nine years working at Alabama Middle. I'm sorry, Georgia Jones Heirs Middle. And so we all know that, for example, you have Charles Hadley. which bothers both schools. And the only thing that separates Lenore B. Smith, Georgia Jones, is offense. That is it. It sits on the same plot of land. One is on 46 and 13. One is on 46 and 12. And so I say that as a reference point that whatever or if anything that's happening at the park or if there's any kind of commitment, then there's no changes to that. We just make whatever adjustments need to be made. But at the end of the day, I just want everyone to know that every actions that are taken is for the betterment of our students and hopefully for the viable future.

life of our communities as well thank you thank you dr luis we have another member uh please mr horn you've been recognized yes uh good morning uh i wasn't able to make the last one so just bear with me a little uh after uh i'm also a part of the fciac uh committee and which we basically discuss the same things um so i just wanted to bring it over to this committee as well One question, soon as we, that last meeting that I had, I went straight to the community. We understand that we have to get the community involved. That's the only way that we can solve this issue. The parents must be involved because it's going to be their choice to erode the children inside of the schools. These parents are not, they are not informed. And what's pushing my issue a little bit more with this marketing of what's going on is I talked to a couple of teachers on yesterday that's on this list, not gonna say who, and they don't know what's going on. They do have no clue about schools or hopes or anything. So my question is, what are we gonna do? And before I go to that, I think we did an excellent job on informing the community with the merger of schools last time. That's why it went very well because the parents was informed. Because the same thing that you guys are saying we heard, But it's not about emotions. It's about things that that's making sense for the best education for your child. Some of my schools, all of my schools that I attended are on the list. So that's why I'm going to these schools and educating them personally on on these topics. And I'm also the PTA president. But I would like to know what will we. like to do to make this situation a good transition. And I think that we have to do more marketing. The parents have to know what's going on. The teachers have to know because the teachers will let the parents know. So I think we are, in my opinion, and the same thing I said in the other committee, we need to be more aggressive with disseminating the information. Mr. Horne, your time.

Can you wrap up your question? Thank you.

Okay. And so the last thing. are we willing to adjust the numbers? Since the schools are being shut down or closed or repurposed, would the numbers change? Because if they're going into their schools and there's only a certain amount of kids, will we be willing to adjust the numbers to keeping the schools open?

Mr. Corn, I appreciate your concerns and your questions. And when I started the meeting, unfortunately, I asked all the members of the community and even the members of this committee that if they have any concerns regarding the hub schools, this is not part of the... the job of the ABC Committee, that staff has been instructed to be able to stay after this meeting to be able to respond to any concerns of any of the presidents here today. So please, I know the staff will be very eager to be able to answer you any of those questions. Dr. Hernandez, I notice that you want to speak, please.

Yes, I do. And I want to thank Dr. Lewis for reminding us why we're here. And I want to thank this young man right here, who came to talk to us to remind us why we're here. Thank you.

George Garcia, please.

I just want to make one comment in reference to the accessibility. Since I work with all of the people that I see on the dais and also the representatives from the region, any community member, any community agency or organization that is out there that is interested in being involved and being part of the change factors These are the individuals that you can reach out to. They are there. They are always available. They make themselves available. And the more you communicate directly with the regions and the region staff, the better impact you will have and they will have in reference to the recommendations that come forward to this board. So thank you.

Thank you.

Just regarding the follow-up conversations, is it going to be about School of Hope? Can we do it like this publicly, or do we have to speak individually with people through the chair?

Individually to each of them. We won't have an opportunity. Everybody's going to stay, and you'll be able to speak to the individual. Any other questions from any other members? No? Mina? Yeah, I know.

Also want to express my gratitude to district staff on moving this forward. I really do appreciate the ability to speak to folks one on one and seek clarifying questions. I think, as I've articulated in the past, folks, community members come to us some of us, you know, on this committee for clarification, and it would be incredibly useful to create a forum by which you all can address the public directly on schools of hope. So my, I think I'm grateful for the opportunity to ask you questions. But I think what needs to be offered is a public forum to do so for for community members.

I hear you, Mina, and I believe that your comment is valid, and there will be put in, I guess, a plan of action for that, but let me then recognize... Go ahead.

Thank you again, Mr. Barrera, and through the chair, Ms. Hosseini, and of course, Ms. Bias-Geller. In reference to your question, they are very good questions. Let me just say that as well. But I also want to just point out the fact that we have an expert when it comes to School of Hope that's sitting directly in the audience. And I would strongly recommend that maybe after we can have a conversation with Dr. Cabrera and see how, you know, how we can address the questions that are being raised. Okay. But just want to remind everyone and hopefully it doesn't sound negative, but this is definitely ABC and we definitely want to kind of stick to that and we can address that after, see how we can create something to address that as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Lewis. I need to ask the attorney, the public hearing ended, but I see that I have one of the members of the community that is Mr. Kilpatrick raising his hand and he would like to be able to address the committee. May I to accept that or not?

You can do a motion and see if it's seconded to extend the time to allow him to make any additional comments.

Thank you. Do I have a motion from the floor Okay, we have a motion. Do I have a second? Do we have a second? Mr. Patrick, you are recognized, please. Thank you. Thank you.

It really just two questions. One was a question of clarification. A gentleman just outside clarified that Lower Park is still in advisory status. And so I just wanted to clarify that that was correct, because the letter that we that we received, it said that it was initially a targeted slash advisory. So that that means that it is an advisory status. okay and the second question that i had um this and this involves the boundaries we talked about i talked about the western uh boundary and the buses uh the bus issue um crossing 32nd avenue but i also wanted to ask you to consider um the eastern boundary because that also has an impact on uh the number of students who are eligible to come to lower park without having to invoke schools of hope in particular i'm talking about 27th avenue um and my understanding is that the boundary the feeder pattern ends uh west of 27th avenue and i want the committee to consider extending that natural boundary east to 27th avenue so those kids don't have to cross 27th avenue to go to arlington heights and so those could those kids could now um be patterned back naturally uh into lower park and maybe that'll help as well

Thank you for your comments. And as it was explained, and I can share this with you because I went to many of the different schools last year, there's going to be plenty of time for the community to be able to get feedback directly to the principal and to the regional superintendents as we move through the process. So I really recommend that you, as a leader of your community, that you can put all the people that you can together and submit the things in writing to your region. Thank you for being present here.

I have a question.

I'm sorry.

No, you didn't say it. um i'm very mixed up i must tell you i and and maybe you can somebody can clarify this for me and and it has to do with schools of hope but it has it has to do with abc if school of hope moves into a school that is underrepresented it doesn't have enough students then they have enough students if those students are students and then they are they taken off the the the list or i i don't understand how this works because the a whole bunch of schools are being identified as they want the schools of hope to move in and and this is not a question just about schools of hope this has to do with us so they move in and then the school is filled and then what happens they're taken off the list i don't understand what happens

Yes, thank you, Ms. Geller. I'm sorry. If possible, Dr. Cabrera, if you may, please.

Good morning, everyone, through the chair. So for the purpose of ABC, a school becomes advised or targeted if they are concerned with the utilization of the building as it pertains to the specific boundary. In the event that we have a site that they are concerned regarding the utilization of the space in the building, let's assume we are in a scenario that the use of the facility has been for all of the seats. And there are students in that building that are part of our student body. And there are students in that building that are part of the School of Hope Operator School. then that is something that at that point, it could be considered the exploration of how do you then adjust that particular boundary, given that there may be space when it comes to other schools in the area. But that will be at that point. And we must remember that the focus of this committee is to look at a site, look at a school, and analyze it from the boundary standpoint and what can be done to better address the seats and the programs in those schools. So, Beverly, to answer your question, in the scenario that we have a site that there are Too many children. Hopefully we could have that kind of problem. That's a good problem to have. Then, yes, it becomes a responsibility of this group to take a look at that particular site and explore solutions. What those solutions will be, it's part of the decisions of the group.

So then it comes back to the ABC. Is that what we're saying? It will come back and we will look at what's happened then?

Any scenario of a school where it is... overcapacity or undercapacity to the extent that we cannot have a viable educational program. Yes, those are scenarios that are brought to the ABC for review and consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I want to make the clarification that the ABC responsibility, okay, that we are here sitting and we start able to talk to the community is based on the actions that the superintendents and the staff and they send to us. And then we go through the list of the schools that the administration has decided to be able to advise. We cannot suppose and take any action in anything in the ABC committee that it doesn't pretend until we have not been advised by the administration as we represent either the superintendent or committees or some of the school board members so we need to wait for but now being on the paper for us to be able to move. Nevertheless, I think we all are anxious about things that are happening in the community. And that's why if you have questions and that is a way to be able to start communicating, conversations, et cetera, Ms. Cabrera will be here and also the superintendents after the meeting. With that said, I would like to move forward with the agenda. And now the point is both on the targeted by schools and on the recommendations. Can I have a member of the floor to be able to move? Do I have a second? We have a second, Mr. Seymour. All in favor, say aye. Do I hear, there's no, I know, right? Okay, so we move forward with the recommendations, okay? And then with that, I would like to be able to pass the meeting to Dr. Luis for the night, for the final targeted vice schools.

Thank you again, Mr. Barrera. Through the chair, the following schools are listed on the targeted and the advised list for the 2025-26 school year. Starting with the North region, we have Parkway Elementary, along with Nolan Elementary, Rainbow Park Elementary, Bunch Park Elementary, Robert Ingram Elementary, and of course, through action of the Central Region, what's taking place at Miami Springs Middle, they've also identified Westland Hialeah Senior and also Henry H. Filer Middle School. Schools that are on the advice list for the North Region office, you have Golden Glades Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, North Dade Middle, Carroll City Middle, and Norland Middle Schools. The schools that have been identified as targeted for the Central Region Office, you have Georgia Jones Ayers Middle, Lenora B. Smith Elementary School, Brownsville Middle School, Jose D. Diego Middle School, Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School, Frederick Douglass Elementary, Paul L. Dunbar K-8 Center, Miami Springs Middle School, Miami Springs Senior High School, Brownsville Middle School, Kenlock Park Middle School, Westland Hialeah, which is in the north, and Henry Filer, once again, which is in the north. Schools that have been identified for the advice list for the central regions are Laura Park Elementary, Anginor S. Powell, Olinda Elementary, and Arlington Heights Elementary School. Schools that are on the targeted list for the South Region Office are Biotech at Richmond Heights 9 through 12 Senior High School, Richmond Heights Middle School, Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy, Air Base K-8 Center for International Education, Irving and Beatrice Pascoe K-8, Leisure City K-8, Pine Villa Elementary School, Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, Robert Russo Moten Elementary School, Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy of the Arts, Pine Lake Elementary, The following schools from the South Region Office have been identified on the advice list. You have the Center for International Education, CIE, Campbell Drive K-8 Center, Homestead Senior High School, South Dade Senior High School, and Miami Killian Senior High Schools. Those are the schools that have been targeted and advised for the 2025-26 school year. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Lewis. And with that, the next step is that we will have our next meeting on February 19th. And before I move to be able to ask for us to be able to close for a vote to close the meeting and all that, I want to wish all of you a wonderful holidays. Spend time with your family and also time talking to the community for all the tremendous amount of changes that we need to be able to be part of it. And I want to tell you, I'm very proud of all of you because you do a great job on taking the concerns to the community and bringing it also here. So do I have from the floor someone to be able to do a motion to adjourn the meeting? Beverly, and then second by Dr. Hernandez. Thank you, and happy holidays to all of you. And as promised, the staff will be around to be able to speak to all of you. I want to thank you again, the members of the community, the students, and the teachers that came here to speak to us today. Thank you.