Sarasota Military Academy
School Advisory Council Special Meeting
October 23, 2013
Attendance: Daniel Kennedy, Sharon Mitchell, Keith Daly, Gale Downs, Christina Bowman, Pamela
Donehew, Jim Young, Caitlin Sagirs, Bridget Ambrose, Dana Russell, Dalton Jenkins, Trinity Betts,
Cynthia West, Lia Merlin, Whitney Stewart, Phil St. John.
The SAC Meeting was called to order by Sharon Mitchell at 7:43 a.m. in the Urfer Building, Room
1001. Pamela Donehew motioned to accept September 18, 2013’s minutes as amended for attendance
and was then seconded by Daniel Kennedy. The committee unanimously accepted the minutes. All
members introduced themselves and Chris Bowman chaired the meeting in Terry Lipman’s absence.
Headmaster’s Report: We currently have 989 enrolled students. Net FTE is 957 students as many are
attending SCF.
Financially we are doing well as we have adequate reserves to go with the new middle school building,
which will accommodate 450 students. The new school will be built with regulation sized
gymnasium/bleachers, and it will be able to accommodate all sports activities with an athletic field that
will include a concession stand. Estimated cost for the school is around $5 million. We have a three year
option plan. At the end of the third year, we will do a bond issue if we do not get enough donations. The
plan for the middle school includes mentors from the high school to help the middle schoolers transition
to high school.
As for SMA high school, the plans include major changes. We will continue constructing new buildings
and destroying all the old St. Martha’s buildings with the exception of the office building, which has
been remodeled, and promised to remain as an historical building. Plans include keeping campus
numbers in the upper 900’s.
The new SMA middle school will need 40 to 50 staff members and will include classes that are the same
to be complimentary towards the SMA high school to help students easily matriculate from middle
school to high school. Penmanship/cursive writing will be taught as many students cannot write or read
cursive writing. Middle school pre-registration is currently going on with 200 students signed up at this
time.
We came very close to having our own high school football team with the Giants donating $5 million.
However, in the end we did not have enough students on free & reduced lunch to qualify.
We did make it through the Advanced Ed accreditation process so we are good for the next five years.
This process nor receiving verification for middle school was easy. Colonel Kennedy commented that a
big thank you should be given to Pamela Donehew for her hard work on both of these endeavors.
Currently, we have $1 million in liquidation funds. Compared to other charter schools, we are on very
solid ground.
New Business: The School Improvement Plan sent out by Chris Bowman received no changes from
staff or SAC members. Besides numbers, we can make changes as this is considered a living document.
Multi MTSS/RTI: All struggling students (behavior or academics) are receiving services. Every six
weeks the committee members meet and decide what needs to be done to help these students improve.
Tier 1 = all students. Tier 2 – work with students with support. Tier 3 – 504 or IEP.
Attendance is a concern as are 10% suspension statistics. Fortunately, we now have ISS, which means
those numbers will change, and we are in a position to work with those students as we have a new
employee who can council them. We are also completing a root analysis on why students are missing
class. A truant officer is employed to check on major unexcused absences.
Due to testing demands, SMA will be moving to an A/B block schedule, which will allow for a
concurrency of instruction, as well as IB implementation.
AdvanceEd Report:
Pamela Donehew reported on the arduous and challenging AdvanceEd process. Three recommendations
were given, and documents exhibiting improvements will need to be handed in two years. Accolades
were given to Colonel Kennedy for his leadership skills, to JROTC for structure and discipline, and to
community support. PLCs will continue as part of the improvement plan and will include
staff/administration. Unfortunately, technology was not viewed due to firewall failure. However,
teachers did a terrific job in modifying lessons/activities to accommodate for this handicap. The
committee would like to see more student-centered learning. Therefore, Kagan instruction will be
offered to all teachers. The last recommendation was for all teachers and staff to review our mission
statement on an annual basis.
Literacy Report:
Testing: Pert testing is a test given to all juniors who scored a FCAT 1 or 2 score. This is required for
SCF entrance test. EOCs will start in the beginning of December until Christmas break.
IB program: We will be working with a consultant on January 23rd & 24th. Currently, we have 50
freshmen in the program, with plans to add up to 50 more students next year. All freshmen will need to
reapply for IB in their sophomore year. IB teachers are now designing course work outlines for next
year.
Further Business:
SAC officer elections will take place next month. 2013-14 SAC focus will be on technology. All monies
from the Legacy of Valor with the Patterson Foundation’s support (doubling all funds from $25 to
$1,000) will be put towards technology.
Plans are to have both the middle school and high school SAC’s and PTCC’s work together as a means
to ensure viable student articulations. High school leadership training will include mentoring middle
school students. Middle school uniforms will be ACU’s or polos with some means of recognition.
New business partner Phil St. John was thanked for his technology donation.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20th.
Closing: Pamela Donehew made a motion for adjournment, which was seconded by Sharon Mitchell.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 a.m.