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HAAB Minutes 10/26/1999 Minutes Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting October 27, 1999 ..- HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES OF MEETING of October 27,1999 at the Immokalee Community Park, Immokalee, Florida PRESENT: ABSENT: David Correa, HAAB Member Frank Loney, HAAB Member Pete Cade, HAAB Member Faye Reddick, HAAB Member Andrew 1. Fox, HAAB Member Christopher Bent, HAAB Member Ramiro Mailalich, Chief Assistant County Attorney and HAAB Staff Liaison Member Forrest Cotton, HAAB Liaison from County Administrator's Office Dora Vidaurri, HAAB Member Maria Grimaldo, HAAB Member Faye Reddick, HAAB Member AI so Present: Frank Rodriguez, Citizen Rosario Medina, Counselor Jerry Primus, Collier County Public Schools Rick Heers, Lake Trafford Elementary Anne Goodnight, Board Member, Collier County Public Schools Sebastian Torres, Jr., Principal, Immokalee High School The meeting of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board of Collier County (HAAB) for October 27, 1999 commenced at approximately 7:05 P.M. A quorum of six (6) members was present. Jerry Primus, Assistant Superintendent, Collier County Public Schools Instructional Leadership North, spoke on behalf of the Collier County Public Schools with regard to lmmokalee issues. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to appear before the HAAB. He mentioned that he had been employed for twenty-two years in this School District, and that he had served as a Principal at several schools. He is currently the area Assistant Supervisor for Immokalee. He stated that he believed he had made a positive difference in the Collier County School system, but that it had been a hard road that he had traveled. He wanted to emphasize to the young people in the Immokalee School system that there are many opportunities available to them if they are willing to face the challenges. He stated that education is the key to advancement for ,.- young people provided that it is bolstered by parent support. He thought that there are many Immokalee students that are capable of attending college and that the School system is attempting to make itself very accessible to parents. He mentioned previous efforts working with Activist Juan Medina in the lmmokalee community to promote successful students. He said that many aspects of the community contribute to successful educational efforts, but that the support of parents and the belief of students that they have support in the School system is crucial. The School system is attempting to provide students with a well-run program of academics and extra curricular activities. High expectations must be set. The teachers should treat the students as their own children and provide care as well as motivation to the students. There must also be a safety net program to, whenever possible, not expel or lose students, and to teach students to respect themselves and others. He thought that the need for identifiable role models and for resolution of conflicts without violence greatly assist the educational system. Chris Bent asked what could be the role of the Hispanic Board in School District goals. Mr. Primus responded that reading is key and programs for families to learn together are very helpful. The HAAB needs to tell parents to get involved in the education of their children. Anne Goodnight, School Board Member and Immokalee resident, recalled how the HAAB was established after she was approached by the NAACP and that she sought the creation of both the HAAB and Black Affairs Advisory Board (BAAB). She specifically mentioned that the HAAB should 1) get County libraries to open earlier and later to serve working Hispanics; and 2) work to develop community transportation options for parents to have transport for, and access to, educational facilities and functions. Mr. Primus added that, as an example, there are difficulties for residents of Farm Worker Village to obtain transportation to educational facilities. Perhaps a feasibility study needs to be done to determine what are the needs. Rosario Medina is a Counselor at Manatee Elementary School. She explained that she works with the Hispanic population and feels overwhelmed and frustrated with the unique community in the area. She said that there are many difficulties in the homes of the children and many disadvantages. Many of the families have two working parents, and the parents do not speak English and have difficulty helping with the homework. She said that support from the parents is generally lacking. Chris Bent commented that there should be a role for the Hispanic Media to support the efforts of parents to assist students with their education. Sebastian Torres mentioned that he had been in the County for several months and had been watching the environment. He believes there is a need for common goals and a coordinated response. Parental involvement is needed and the best way to have it is to reflect a positive school attitude to the parents of the students. Jerry Primus mentioned that the graduation rate is one measure of the success of the educational system. He mentioned that sometimes the kids in the schools lock themselves out of the process due to a lack of guidance. He mentioned that the HAAB can help obtain scholarships for the students. It also can help recruit role models. He mentioned that the School Board has its own goals but that a collaborative effort of the School Board and the County is needed. He mentioned that $700,000 in scholarships had been awarded in the last year. 2 - Frank Loney questioned why some schools have a greater success rate than others. Jerry Primus responded that there is a need for higher expectations from minority students and that more of them should be enrolled in honors classes. There is what he called a "hidden hurdle" of peer pressure affecting minority students. The HAAB could be involved in removing this hurdle. Sebastian Torres commented that the school and home environments must have coordination from pre-school stages onward to get parents involved and make the kids feel like they enjoy school. Success of the students will attract parents to school functions. Even without home support, students can succeed if they have support sources other than the parents. Rosario Medina, as a Counselor, disagreed that there can be school success without parental involvement. Mr. Torres responded that not all family problems can be fixed but that kids can be helped in school even without parental involvement. He emphasized, however, that parental involvement and support should always be sought. He feels that education has always had too many excuses for failure and that there is a need to get busy on all fronts. Richard Heers, Lake Trafford Elementary School Principal, mentioned that his school had previously had a failing grade. He suggested that the HAAB should reach out to parents of pre- school aged children to get involved. As an example, he mentioned that Guatemalans in the area speak unique languages. In his school, lessons are prepared and adults volunteer to read to the children between 2:30 and 4:30 PM each day. This should be done in Naples and Immokalee also. There is a need for Hispanic volunteers for these types of functions. These volunteers do not necessarily have to have a college degree. Mr. Primus mentioned that the Hispanic Board should seek more parental involvement in the schools and on advisory boards. He mentioned an example of Frank Rodriguez who was on a board at Lely High School. There is significant power to make positive changes in the schools through these advisory boards. Mr. Primus also suggested that the Hispanic Board members visit the schools and ask students their opinions on limitations to effectuating change. This is important because opportunity is there but there is a need for mentors, especially at the high school levels. Students also need to be made aware that there are resources at the schools for students that have other types of problems. Chris Bent suggested that there should be an effort to recruit groups of young Hispanic professionals to serve as role models. School Board Member Anne Goodnight agreed on the importance of role models of the students own races. She mentioned that it's regrettable that many kids never get out of the County to see other horizons. She mentioned that she and others have recruited people for that purpose. The HAAB can serve that purpose in the schools. Sebastian Torres mentioned that the HAAB members could participate on the lmmokalee Task Force to develop ideas. This is held the fourth Tuesday of the month at Immokalee High School. By consensus, it was agreed that Pete Cade could serve in this capacity for the HAAB. 3 Frank Rodriguez asked whether there were any programs designed to help students and parents with the educational mission at home. Anne Goodnight responded that there are reading programs, but that there is a lack of parental involvement at the middle and high school levels. Sebastian Torres mentioned that there are "contracts" for parents to involve 1 hour every so often in the school system. David Correa raised the subject of SAT testing and the lack of participation by minority students due to fees that must be paid by the students to participate. He mentioned that there had been a change in policy at the School Board on this subject, and that the School Board has agreed to pay some of the fees and change the date of the test to a weekday when more students are available for the test. He mentioned that Dr. Dan White, School Superintendent, and the Collier County School Board should be commended for these and other changes which equated with positive results for minority students. The Chairman also asked to include as part of the record an additional clarification regarding the minutes of the September 29, 1999 meeting. That clarification follows: "At our last meeting of September 29, this Chairman spoke of the need to increase minority students participation in the P.S.A.T. exams and of the necessity to assist in the payment of fees for exams. I stated, 'In order to increase the number of minority students who go on to higher education, there must be an extraordinary effort to assist the disadvantaged students who may have numerous obstacles, since poverty has many faces. Ifwe are to provide a 'World Class Education,' then everyone must be given an equal opportunity to excel, regardless of income. Weare cognizant of the fact that there is a fee structure involved in the different exams; nevertheless, I believe our students must be encouraged to take all of the exams and the fees should be paid by the District School Board.' Since our last meeting, there has been a change in policies. The District School Board has agreed to pay the fee for all of the students in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grade, and give the P. S.A. T. on a school day instead of a Saturday, when many students are working. 'In the past, this Board and your Chairman have been highly critical and vocal in our condemnation of certain issues before the School Board. We have also had our differences with Dr. White. 'This Chairman also believes in pralsmg when pralsmg is due. The Collier County School Board is to be highly commended for their decision to provide the P. S.A. T. to all students. That action will increase the number of minorities able to take the exam. Dr. White and his staff are to be congratulated for their extensive efforts to improve the test scores of minority students. 'The academic improvement plan (AlP) is one of many initiatives to improve the academic standing of students. The plan includes mentoring teachers, adopting successful reading and literacy programs, and reducing class size and the use of language specialists to assist the minority student who requires assistance. 4 'Dr. White is to be personally congratulated for his efforts to recruit highly competent minority educators. We wish him continued success in his endeavors to close the gap in the disparity of performance between the higher and lower income students. '" Chris Bent emphasized that the media should be approached in regard to assisting with all of the efforts which have been discussed as potential aids to education of minorities in Collier County. A motion was made by Pete Cade, and seconded by Chris Bent, for a letter to the Board of County Commissioners to request an extension of library hours. A unanimous vote in favor occurred. A motion was made by David Correa, and seconded by Frank Loney, for a letter to the Board of County Commissioners to be sent by the HAAB supporting community transportation for Immokalee educational facilities and programs. A unanimous vote in favor of the motion occurred. Frank Loney made a motion for the HAAB members to visit schools and serve as a resource for classes. He also mentioned that this could include being part of career fair and also attending PT As. There was a unanimous vote in favor. Frank Rodriguez mentioned that the Census Committee is very important as well as voter registration as approaches that will also impact the education system. At the end of the meeting, Chris Bent provided an update regarding subcommittee work. He mentioned that he was working on getting more media publicity for Hispanic issues. The meeting was then adjourned. Prepared by: Ramiro Maiialich, Liaison Approved by the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board on the !.X1Lday of November 1999. ".' '\ 'j}}~) ( ~,fh <<'/1) David Correa, Chairman Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board 5