National Board Certified Teachers
Recognized
The School Board congratulated and acknowledged the
achievements of 198 new National Board Certified teachers
from Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). Under the
requirements set in 1987 by the National Board of
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), each of the
teachers completed at least 120 hours of videotaped
classroom instruction, analytical writing activities, and
rigorous written assessments on effective teaching practices
and content knowledge.
The mission of the NBPTS is to maintain high and rigorous
standards for accomplished teaching practices, provide a
national voluntary system to certify teachers who meet those
standards, capitalize on the expertise of National Board
Certified teachers, and promote educational reforms to
integrate National Board Certification into American
education.
Discussions on Educational Facilities Benefit District
Move Forward
With new home development on the rise in the South Dade
area, including the City of Homestead, the School Board
voted to continue discussions about the establishment of an
Educational Facilities Benefit District (EFBD) for the
construction and funding of new schools to help relieve
anticipated school overcrowding. Further discussions will be
held at a special School Board meeting.
State legislation governing EFBD allows a School Board,
county, and affected local government to authorize the
establishment of an EFBD. The legislation requires that all
impact fees collected as a result of new home construction
in the EFBD be used to fund construction and capital
maintenance costs for new schools built concurrently with
the new residential development.*
* Editor's Note: A subsequent Special Board meeting was held
February 25, 2004, where the Board chose to table the item
to allow further discussions between district staff and the
developer.
"I Have A Dream" Foundation Supporters Feted With
Proclamation
Supporters of the "I Have A Dream" (IHAD) Foundation
were presented with a resolution from the School Board
honoring the foundation for its significant contributions to
education. Founded in 1981, IHAD is a national organization
whose mission is to help inner-city children reach their
educational and career goals. The organization accomplishes
its mission by providing a comprehensive, long-term program
of monitoring, tutoring and life skills enrichment with a
guarantee of a state college or accredited vocational
training opportunity. "[This is] a program that
gives parents and students something to look forward to,"
said the sponsor of the resolution, School Board Member
Solomon Stinson.
Ninety-seven Charles R. Drew Elementary School
second-graders were among the first class of "Dreamers"
sponsored by Jules and Stephanie Trump, who spearheaded the
program in Miami in 1992. Students at Phillis Wheatley
Elementary School also have benefited from the program.
Other supporters of IHAD include Norman and Irma Braman, The
Scharlin Family, David and Beth Ertel, Nancy Hector and
Margie and March Buchbinder of the MBM Family
Foundation.
A Job Well Done - Chief of Staff Ends His Tenure With The
School System
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Chief of Staff Paul
Philip, who recently announced his February resignation, was
recognized for his service to the school district.
Superintendent of Schools Merrett R. Stierheim and School
Board Chair Michael M. Krop praised Philip for his
dedication and professionalism. "I think Paul is an
outstanding professional; he is going to be missed," said
Stierheim. Dr. Krop reiterated, "We are going to miss your
dedication." Philip joined the school system in 2001 after
holding senior positions with the FBI and Miami-Dade
County.
Mattie Koonce Learning and Technology Center
Recognized
As proposed by Vice Chair Robert Ingram, the Mattie
Koonce Learning and Technology Center was recognized for its
contributions to advancing learning in our community. The
center's namesake, the late Mattie A. Koonce, a former
M-DCPS teacher for many years, is the mother of six
children, including School Board employees George M. Koonce
Jr., Associate Superintendent, Instructional Operations; and
Donald U. Koonce, District Supervisor, Office of
Intergovernmental Affairs and Grants Administration.
The center and its partners provide a wide variety of
learning opportunities and services to our community,
including free financial and computer literacy classes for
adults; comprehensive consulting services for non-profit
organizations; and tutoring, mentoring, and after school
enrichment programs for students.
National School Breakfast Week: March 8-12, 2004
A resolution proposed by School Board Chair Michael M.
Krop and approved by the School Board proclaims March 8-12,
2004 as National School Breakfast Week in Miami-Dade County
Public Schools. Promoting the theme, "Navigate Your Day With
School Breakfast," the weeklong celebration will bring
attention to food service programs in school districts
throughout the nation. Food service personnel will involve
principals, teachers, students, parents and the community in
planned activities during the observance.
Six-Month Agreement with FMI Corporation Approved
In an effort to provide the facilities construction
department with the necessary resources and support to carry
out recommendations outlined in an assessment conducted by
the FMI Corporation, the School Board approved a six-month
agreement with the consulting firm. The agreement runs from
February to August 2004.
FMI services include reviewing and providing input on the
procedures manual developed by district staff; assisting
with the development of a template to reflect the five-year
work plan's milestones, cash flow, and resource projections;
developing a standard questionnaire to gauge best practices
in other school districts; and reviewing internal and
external committees involved in the delivery of the capital
program.
Newly Appointed Principals and Assistant Principals
Several school site staff personnel have been appointed
to principal and assistant principal positions. Newly
appointed principals are: Aaron L. Enteen, Interim
Principal, Gratigny Elementary School; Tamme Y. Williams,
Temporary Principal, Lillie C. Evans Elementary School; and
Jimmie L. Brown Jr., Interim Principal, Robert Russa Moton
Elementary School. Newly appointed assistant
principals are: Gloria I. Garcia, Miami Senior High
School; Clinton E. Bates, Miami Palmetto Senior High School;
Maria P. Costa, North Beach Elementary School; David
Cadaval, Miami Coral Park Senior High School; Alexis B.
Morris, Miami Beach Senior High School; Elieser B. Siles,
Ponce de Leon Middle School; Carmen Jones-Carey, Coral
Gables Senior High School; Lisa I. Devires, Eugenia B.
Thomas Community School; Rameisha S. Ferguson, Ponce de Leon
Middle School; Nyce Daniel, W.J. Bryan Elementary School;
Jimmy Weatherspoon, Miami Killian Senior High School; Jorge
J. Diaz, Fienberg-Fisher Community Center; John J. Donohue
Jr., Hialeah Senior High School, and Alfred Sciabarassi,
Southwood Middle Schools. Newly appointed temporary
assistant principals are: Mia Y. Merritt, North Beach
Elementary School; Natalie S. Mack, Frederick Douglass
Elementary School; Ramses Ancheta, Riverside Community
School;