QEC Minutes 1.26.21
COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION
City of Miami Beach Tuesday, January 26, 2021
9:00am-11:00am
_________________________ MINUTES ____________________________
Members Present: Mary Keinath, Joshua Levy, Elisheva Rogoff, Judith Berson-Levinson,
Tiffany Heckler, Karen Edelstein, Rachel Weissman, Beverly Heller, Ivan Alvarez, Yvette
Tache, Karen Latham, Jordan Leonard and Lauren Cantor
Members Absent: Jamie Adams
Welcome & Introductions
Minutes approval for November 2020
Education Compact
1. Safety / Traffic
• Update contact tracing update discussed
• Update PPE at schools update discussed with $175 per teacher 1
time from district allocated
• Baker acting information – Mary to make public records request
• Invite PD to next meeting to discuss 2021-22 MBPD placements
2. Communication
• Introduction of our New Board Member – Lucia Baez Geller spoke
on issues and appointment of Dr. Cabrera District 3 Region
Superintendent
• School Board Update/Budget update provided
• Feeder Pattern Update provided
• Sub-committee budget to be scheduled for later date
• Youth Commission Community Outreach Program Update provided
#MBHistory Series
3. Student Achievement
• STEAM Partnerships discussed
• Afterschool tutoring at MBSH and Nautilus for mathematics
discussed and to be implemented early February 2021
• Discussed student required testing – Motion #1 made (see below)
4. Parental Involvement/Family Support/Youth and Community Engagement
• Pre-Kindergarten Pilot Lottery January 5, 2021 deadline – program
status discussed
• Field use at South Pointe Elementary and MBSH – agreements routed
to MDCPS for review and signature
• Beach High Courtyard CMB funding $60,000 – item with MDCPS for
Feb. 10 SBA meeting
5. Technology
• Update on Laptops or tablets for all students in Distance Learning
discussed with MDCPS indicating kids will keep laptops over the
summer
6. Teacher Recruitment/Retention
• How many teachers did we lose this school year in our Feeder
Pattern Schools discussed – Per Bonce MB feeder lost zero
teachers
• Motion #2 made to market CMB public schools and support virtual
tour development
7. Health / Mental Health
• Mental Health virtual and live access discussed
• “R U OK” Day for the City of Miami Beach – item deferred
• COVID vaccine Motion #3 made (see below)
8. New Business / Announcements
• ADL No Place for Hate Recogntion and CMB Community of
Respect designation at January 27 Commission meeting
• Nautilus Middle Orange Bowl funds discussed
9. Adjournment 11:15 am
Motion 1
Made by Beverly Heller Second by Rachel Weissman
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and City Commission to request Miami -
Dade County Public Schools and the Florida Department of Education waive student
standardized testing for the 2020-21 school year and not require make-up testing for the
following reasons:
• Keeps students learning through May
• COVID safety issues
• Displacement of teachers
• Curriculum continuity
• Loss of learning due to extended testing period
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 12-1 (T. Heckler)
Motion 2
Made by Beverly Heller
Second by Judith Berson-Levinson
The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and City Commission support Miami-
Dade County Public Schools’ initiative to prioritize teachers and school personnel and
categorize them as essential workers so they receive the COVID vaccination immediately.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the ab ove
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 13-0
Motion 3
Made by Beverly Heller Second by Rachel Weissman
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and City Commission to market the
attributes of the public schools in Miami Beach with a focus on City fu nded enhancements and
develop virtual school tours.
The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above
request.
Motion Passage: Votes 13-0