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Home My WebLink AboutQEC Minutes 11.18.2025Members Present: Donielle Cohen, Laurie Kaye Davis, Beverly Heller, Mary Keinath, James Orlowsky, Christine Perrin-Stocco, Jacquelynn Powers, Jonathan Rothman, Karen Fryd, Nathalie Merle, Rebecca Wehby, and Jessica DeLeon Members Absent: Rina Bass, Seth Guttenberg, Amy Ostroff, Elizabeth Soto, Jelena Khurana, Devorah Zeiger Commissioners absent David Suarez and Alex Fernandez City of Miami Beach Liaison present: Dr Leslie Rosenfeld Welcome & Introductions Minutes approval for October 17, 2025- approved Status of Motions reviewed and discussed – C4 L REFERRAL TO THE COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION AND THE YOUTH COMMISSION TO DISCUSS AND ISSUE RECOMMENDATIONS ON CURRENT PATTERNS OF E-SCOOTER, BIKE, AND OTHER MICROMOBILITY DEVICE USAGE AMONG K-12 STUDENTS. Applicable Area: Citywide Office of Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt Addendum added on 7/18/2025 Sept. 17, 2025 Commission meeting C7 I A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY NEIGHBORHOODS QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, AT ITS JULY 9, 2025, MEETING TO ESTABLISH A PARKING PROGRAM FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS. Applicable Area: Citywide Parking Commissioner Alex Fernandez Education Compact Safety / Traffic – MBSH Pilot Drop Off Program Update effective status and 2025-26 implications – emailed Commissioner Steinberg as requested and Dr. Bonce to invite district personnel – awaiting response and next steps Communication School Board update – legislative issues update - provided Feeder Pattern Update- updates provided Schools of Hope Discussion – next steps and discussion held. Motion made. Motion 1 Made by Beverly Heller Seconded by Laurie Kaye Davis The Committee for Quality Education requests the Mayor and Commission support the concerns delineated below by Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) regarding Schools of Hope Rule 6A-1.0998271 transmitted to the State of Florida Department of Education during rulemaking in September 2025. The Committee for Quality Education urges the Mayor and Commission to support the above request. Motion Passage 11-0 MDCPS Summary of Concerns About Rule 6A-1.0998271: Schools of Hope These revisions will strengthen the rule and ensure it achieves its intended purpose for students choosing both traditional public schools and Schools of Hope. Definition of “Underused”: We support clear criteria for identifying underutilized schools; however, relying solely on excess seats can lead to misclassification. We recommend a multi-year, COFTE-based standard to ensure decisions reflect consistent enrollment trends rather than short-term fluctuations. Other Uses of Space: We value programs that extend learning and support families, such as VPK, Pre-K, Adult Education, Workforce Training, and other community services. To safeguard these vital offerings, the rule should recognize and protect such uses and establish a process for districts to reclaim or repurpose facilities when needed. Title I Schools and Specialized Centers: We commend efforts to maximize space but emphasize that Title I schools and specialized centers (e.g., ESE cluster sites) require dedicated areas not reflected in utilization data. This can create a misleading appearance of “excess seats” when the space is, in fact, essential to student success. Unfunded Mandates: We are committed to providing high-quality services to all students. Requiring districts to deliver custodial, maintenance, food service, and nursing support without additional funding places undue strain on limited budgets. Disruption to Planning: We support innovative educational opportunities, but co-location should not compromise long-term district planning. Schools of Hope should not be allowed to claim space earmarked for phased growth or future grade levels in new schools. Overcrowding Risks: We respect the need for access but urge safeguards to prevent overcrowding. Districts typically maintain a buffer up to 90% capacity to allow for student mobility; allowing Schools of Hope to claim 100% of available seats risks displacing district students and forcing costly stop-gap measures. Loss of Shared Space Access: We encourage equitable use of facilities but caution that unrestricted access to cafeterias, gyms, auditoriums, and parking can disrupt district students’ schedules, enrichment programs, and daily operations. Grade Level Misalignment: We strongly support safe and developmentally appropriate learning environments. The rule should address grade-level alignment to avoid mixing incompatible student populations (e.g., elementary with high school) in the same facility, which poses safety and scheduling challenges. Student Outcomes and School Ratings: Without clear accountability measures and demonstrated success, placing Schools of Hope in district facilities risks undermining the goal of improving student outcomes and may not represent a higher-quality option for families. PreK Scholarship 2026-27 application deadline December 1, 2025- update provided Student Achievement STEAM Plus 2025-26 start date October 2025 private/charter – update provided Parental Involvement/Family Support/Youth and Community Engagement Biscayne Beach Community Schoolyard funding up to $1.5M approved by CMB. Letter to Superintendent sent August 2025. Update provided Technology STEM equipment for Charter/Private Schools –Purchasing complete. Remaining one-time funds on carryforward for school to use in 2025-26- update provided Teacher Recruitment/Retention Teach at the Beach – update provided Health / Mental Health Current mental health city support status – Jesse Trice designated Trust provider. – update provided New Business / Announcement Fienberg Fisher Infrastructure MBSH 100th Anniversary Nurses MDCPS Schools (req. Mary K.) Subcommittee request QEC Hotel Funds (need to establish chair and meeting dates to be publicly noticed) Tatum Waterway Easement Status Dual Enrollment MBSH decline MDC Trio Program discussed Adjournment