The meeting opened with a conversation about a new initiative designed to assist special needs students, particularly those from middle-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid assistance. A group associated with the University of Miami’s ETL program presented their findings on the community’s needs, emphasizing the gap in services for families earning between 200% and 400% above the poverty line. This gap leaves many families unable to afford essential therapeutic services such as occupational therapy and applied behavior analysis (ABA). The group proposed incentivizing community members to create after-school programs to fill this gap. Bob Graham Education Center, which has several students with special needs, was identified as one of the three potential pilot schools for this initiative.

During the discussion, the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders was highlighted. The group underscored the necessity of involving the principal of Bob Graham Educational Center, the special needs advisory board, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools to ensure a coordinated approach. Questions about funding sources were raised, with suggestions that independent funding could be explored. Additionally, the potential for using proceeds from the mayor’s gala to support the initiative was mentioned.

An insider from Bob Graham Educational Center’s Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department shared insights into existing programs and their limitations, noting a significant gap for middle-income families who cannot afford the required support services. The insider revealed that over 200 families associated with Bob Graham could potentially benefit from the proposed program. This revelation emphasized the urgency of addressing these families’ needs, as current programs primarily serve students who qualify for Medicaid.

In addition to the initiative for special needs students, the council addressed traffic safety concerns near schools. Officer Amador highlighted the lack of school zone lights on Lakeway South, noting that while signs were present, they were insufficient to deter speeding outside peak traffic times. He advocated for the installation of school zone lights, suggesting that their presence would serve as a constant reminder to drivers, potentially reducing speeding incidents. The committee discussed the number and type of lights needed, with references to successful implementations of solar-powered options in other areas.

The possibility of the town council funding and installing the lights was discussed, with a suggestion to reach out to council member Roberto Alonso for assistance. The urgency of addressing traffic safety concerns was underscored, with a desire to present a proposal to the council at the next meeting scheduled for November 8th. The report on traffic safety is to be vetted by the committee before presentation to ensure that all concerns are adequately addressed.

The meeting also covered preparations for an upcoming spelling bee event. Participants agreed on the importance of providing participating schools with a spelling word bank two to three months in advance. The word bank will consist of 300 words, reduced from the previous 750, after only managing to get through about 50 words in the last competition. The spelling bee is tentatively scheduled for January 30th at 6:00 PM, with rules and procedures to be shared well in advance.

Administrative matters, including the approval of previous meeting minutes and scheduling conflicts for upcoming meetings, were briefly addressed. Discussions included debate over the specific date for the next meeting, with suggestions to push it to September 22nd to accommodate school principals’ attendance.