Town Council Workshop

Town Hall 10720 Caribbean Blvd Cutler Bay, FL 33189 Town of Cutler Bay Meeting Minutes Town Council Workshop MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Peggy R. Bell Vice Mayor Ernest N. Sochin Council Member Mary Ann L. Mixon Council Member Sue Ellen Loyzelle Council Member Roger Coriat CHARTER OFFICIALS Town Attorney Mitchell Bierman Town Attorney Chad Friedman Town Manager Rafael G. Casals Interim Town Clerk Jacqueline N. Wilson 7:00 PM Council ChambersMonday, July 13, 2015 1. Call to Order, Roll Call, & Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Bell called the meeting to order at 7:06pm. Interim Town Clerk Jacqueline Wilson called the role. Mayor Bell led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Peggy Bell, Vice Mayor Ernest Sochin, Council Member Mary Ann Mixon, Council Member Sue Ellen Loyzelle, and Council Member Roger Coriat Present 5 - · Presentation by Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools Mayor Bell welcomed Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Alberto M. Carvalho, School Representative Dr. Lawrence Feldman, Assistant Superintendent of Intergovernmental Affairs Ms. Iraida Mendez-Cartaya and South Region Superintendent Ms. Barbara Mendizabal in attendance and expressed gratitude. Mayor Bell announced that this meeting will provide an opportunity to hear the action plan for Cutler Bay Middle School and permit the Council to plan a follow-up workshop to discuss the action plan. Mayor Bell requested that questions following the presentation be related to the presentation and not past events. Mayor Bell introduced Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Alberto M. Carvalho to present the Cutler Bay Middle School Action Plan before the Town Council. Mr. Carvalho stated that Cutler Bay Middle is not the most violent school in the State of FL, it is not the most violent school in Miami-Dade County. Mr. Carvalho explained that the data collection systems alignment reporting the statistics was flawed, but has been corrected. Mr. Carvalho reported that culture issues beyond the school impact and contribute to the issue when the values taught in school are not reiterated outside the school and are not being taught to today’s youth, expressing the importance of a connection between school and community for improvement. Mr. Carvalho introduced South Region Superintendent Ms. Barbara Mendizabal to speak on behalf of Principal Paul Pfeiffer who was unable to attend the meeting due to a family emergency. Ms. Mendizabal provided an overview of the measures taken for transformation of Cutler Bay Middle School and Principal Pfieffer's action plan for implementation focusing on creating a safe environment to promote learning. Mr. Carvalho introduced Mr. Jaime Torrens, Chief Facilities Officer to present developments with regard to the Page 1Town of Cutler Bay Printed on 11/19/2015

July 13, 2015Town Council Workshop Meeting Minutes general obligation bond investment for schools in Cutler Bay, particularly Cutler Bay Middle School and the transformation taking place in hopes of making this school an asset to the community. Mr. Torrens introduced Deputy Superintendent Ms. Valtena Brown to present the goals for Cutler Bay Middle School and the steps taken to reach those goals as the transition moves forward. Mr. Carvalho announced they are going to fund a music program in the Middle School. Mr. Carvalho acknowledged commitment to the investments, but the vigilance will not mend itself. Mr. Carvalho suggests the school and community declare this school a top priority and challenges the Town to address the parents directly to orient children in the right direction with the appropriate plans in place to help this school get back on track. 2. Town Council Questions/ Comments/ Discussion Mayor Bell opened for Town Council Questions and Comments. Council Member Mixon spoke in strong favor of the return of the music program and thanked the Superintendent for bringing it back. Mayor Bell announced Commissioner Daniella Levine-Cava in attendance. Council Member Coriat stressed the importance of dealing with the impact of bullying and the severe effects it has on children. Vice Mayor Sochin suggested enforcement of uniforms. Mayor Bell acknowledged a correlation between behavior of students and how they dress. Mr. Carvalho stated the responsibility of the parent is being replaced by the placement of a principal and the principal has a right to demand the role of the parent be restored to teach their children to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. Council Member Loyzelle thanked Mr. Carvalho for his attendance and for her invitation received from Principal Pfeiffer to attend the National Association on Community and Restorative Justice Conference June 1-3, 2015. Council Member Loyzelle reported on her attendance at the Conference and announced that she would like to donate books presented to her as a doorprize at the Conference to the Superintendent. Town Manager Rafael Casals thanked the Superintendent and members of the School Board for their attendance. Mayor Bell acknowledged members of the Education Advisory Committee, also in attendance. Mayor Bell introduced Commissioner Daniella Levine-Cava who expressed support of addressing violence in a broader context, and thanked the Mayor, Town Council and Superintendent for tonight's meeting. Commissioner Levine-Cava announced the Miami-Dade C.O.R.E. 2015 Hurricane Preparedness Engagement Session on July 21, 2015, the County Budget Meeting on July 22, 2015, and the Homes for All Pets Workshop event on July 25, 2015. Mayor Bell introduced Dr. Feldman to express his appreciation for this meeting and the current staff in place. Council Member Loyzelle presented Mr. Carvalho with her donation of books obtained at the National Association on Community and Restorative Justice Conference. Mayor Bell thanked everyone for attending and requested a brief recess at 8:22PM prior to scheduling the follow-up workshop to discuss the action plan. The meeting reconvened at 8:39PM and the Mayor requested Interim Town Clerk Jacqueline Wilson to poll the Council in efforts to schedule the follow-up workshop to discuss the action plan. 3. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Mixon to adjourn. The motion received a second from Vice Mayor Sochin. The meeting adjourned at 8:40PM. For complete audio recording of this meeting, please visit www.cutlerbay-fl.gov or contact the Town Clerks Office at (305) 234-4262. Page 2Town of Cutler Bay Printed on 11/19/2015

July 13, 2015Town Council Workshop Meeting Minutes Page 3Town of Cutler Bay Printed on 11/19/2015