Miami Today: Week of Thursday, March 30, 2017

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00

EDUCATION TRENDS

School opportunities growing in Brickell, downtown, pg. 13 CONSUMER PRICES SOAR: The consumer price index for South Florida jumped 4% at the end of February from February 2016, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. It was the highest year-over-year consumer price increase in South Florida since August 2011, said Janet S. Rankin, the bureau’s regional commissioner. The rise was far above regional and national increases. For the South as a whole, the increase for the one-year span was 2.8% while the nation as a whole saw an increase of 2.7%, the bureau said. If the costs of food and energy were factored out of South Florida spending, the total increase for the 12 months would have been 3.7%, which the bureau said reflected price increases for shelter and medical care. The cost of shelter in South Florida rose 4.6% in the year, reflecting increased rent cost averaging 5.7% and homeowners’ cost increases of 4.3%. The cost of medical care for the area soared 19.1% in the 12 months, the bureau said. The cost of transportation rose 9.7% overall, which included a 26.3% rise in the cost of motor fuel. Food costs, meanwhile, fell one-tenth of one percent.

Newest high school/college linkup doubles rolls, pg. 16

The Achiever

By Susan Danseyar

BEACH HOTSPOTS RENOURISHED: The USArmy Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District has completed the Miami Beach erosional hotspots beach renourishment. The $11.9 million project was part of the ongoing Miami-Dade County Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project. Eastman Aggregate Enterprises LLC of Lake Worth placed 233,300 cubic yards of beach-quality sand from an upland sand mine on more than 3,000 feet of critically eroded shoreline near 46th Street and 54th Street in Miami Beach.

TAKE A LOAD OFF: Miami city commissioners have approved a deal to buy recliner chairs for fire stations throughout the city. Commissioners have accepted a Dec. 27, 2016, bid from La-Z-Boy Inc. for the purchase of La-Z-Boy recliner chairs, as needed, for an initial contract of two years, with the option to renew for two additional two-year periods, allocating funds from the City of Miami Department of Fire-Rescue. The estimated annual cost for this contract is $30,000.

GAS PRICE LULL: Gasoline prices in Miami this week remained the same as a month earlier, though they fell 1.1 cents a gallon from the prior week, GasBuddy price tracking service said. The price now averages $2.40 per gallon, versus an average of $2.28 per gallon for the nation as a whole, the service said. “For just the first time since 2009, average gasoline prices today stand cheaper than on Feb. 15, traditionally the day of the lowest gasoline prices of the season,” said Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy.com senior petroleum analyst.

Benjamin Riestra

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

Makes new on-campus medical center feel like a hotel The profile is on Page 4

Spat over law firm choice delays city’s big deal

By John Charles Robbins

A multi-million-dollar deal to gain new offices for the City of Miami and open choice riverfront downtown to private development has been delayed.

It involves the lease or sale of the city’s riverfront offices – requiring voter approval – and any hope of having the deal ready for November’s ballot may be lost, said City Manager Daniel Alfonso.

Last week the city commission refused to hire law firm Shutts & Bowen as special real estate counsel to work in consultation with the city attorney on the sale/lease of the Miami Riverside Center and development of a new city administration building.

Those negotiations would be with Lancelot Miami River LLC, an affiliate of the Adler Group, chosen via a request for proposals.

Commissioners Frank Carollo, Francis Suarez and Ken Russell voted against hiring the firm. Keon Hardemon and Wifredo “Willy” Gort voted in favor. “They do have an awesome reputation in the legal community,” Mr. Hardemon said.

The move would have included waiv-

Solar study spotlighting county sites

ing conflicts of interest. Conflicts cited in debate included the firm representing clients in real estate matters with the city, including at least one pending case. That the firm has hired former District 2 commissioner Marc Sarnoff was also cited as a conflict.

In December, the commission authorized Mr. Alfonso to start negotiating with Lancelot. The matter is so big and complicated that commissioners wanted an outside real estate expert to help the city negotiate the best deal.

Of 70 firms contacted, four expressed interest, said City Attorney Victoria Mendez. Besides Shutts & Bowen, one firm was not qualified, one represents Adler directly and one was from Palm Beach.

Grace Solares, a 2015 candidate for the District 2 seat, objected to hiring the firm because of Mr. Sarnoff’s role there.

Attorney Alex Tachmes of Shutts & Bowen said Mr. Sarnoff is not an equity partner and doesn’t share in the firm’s profits. He also said Mr. Sarnoff would not work on the city deal.

Mr. Carollo took care to point out he has no issue with Shutts & Bowen but cited a

2014 commission decision not to do business with law firms that have sued the city.

Mr. Tachmes said his firm, on behalf of a client, has appealed a city zoning decision in court but “it would have no impact on our ability to represent the city.”

Beyond the client conflict, Mr. Russell – current District 2 commissioner – had another objection: Mr. Sarnoff.

“I have to be very honest, he’s a good part of why I ran for this seat, because of the way he was handling many issues within our district. And anything that puts him closer back to this dais, I don’t think is positive for this city,” Mr. Russell said.

“The firm says they don’t want to play politics; they probably shouldn’t have hired a politician,” he continued. “I feel conflicted in this. I think this is a very important deal to the city. This is a very big expenditure, and that’s why I’m a ‘no’ on this.”

When commissioners approved a wider search for another law firm to help with the deal, Mr. Alfonso said there wasn’t enough time.

“This is a big deal,” said Mr. Carollo.

“I’m not going to rush.”

Miami-Dade commissioners have unanimously ordered a study of generating solar energy at county properties and a report within a year.

County-owned properties have the potential to generate solar energy and hot water, which could be both economically and environmentally beneficial, the resolution states.

“Placing solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems might be cost effective for certain county properties and not cost effective for others based on a variety of factors, including... the available placement area; amount of energy and hot water that could be used by the county onsite; and the estimated cost of installation and maintenance,” a memo by County Attorney Abigail PriceWilliams said.

She wrote that Miami-Dade should evaluate generating electricity and hot water with solar technology at all county properties, with analysis of cost benefit, opportunities to sell or net-meter the energy output, the return on investment for different funding options and creative low-interest financing opportunities using the county’s property and rooftops in particular, The study is to provide a preliminary analysis of the estimated cost of installation and maintenance; available area where solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems could be placed; amount of electricity and hot water being used by the county onsite; and the opportunity to net-meter the output.

The preliminary assessment is to include a prioritized list of county properties recommended for additional in-depth analysis. To complete the study and evaluation, the administration is to designate senior-level executives already on staff.

The resolution by Daniella Levine Cava was co-sponsored

by Vice Chair Audrey Edmonson, Sally Heyman, Barbara Jordan and Rebeca Sosa.

JOB EXPANSION AID TO GABLES MORTGAGE CREDIT FIRM ...

2

QUICK TACTICAL FIXES SOUGHT TO AID TRANSPORTATION ...

7

FUNDS TO BRAND SOUTH DADE AWAITING LEGISLATURE ...

3

SPAIN TRADE MISSION TALLIES 64 ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS ...

8

MIAMI MOVES TO BUILD FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING HUB ...

3

BIRD AVENUE IN GROVE TO GET MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS ...

23

VIEWPOINT: SPEAK OUT ON COUNTY’S CHARTER REVIEW ...

6

COUNTY BACKS NATURAL HAZARDS INITIATIVE IN STATE ...

23

6

MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Miami Today is an independent voice of the community, published weekly at 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133. Telephone (305) 358-2663

Speak up to county charter review or wait five more years If you read only the daily newspaper and haven’t seen Miami Today’s reports, we’re going to tell you a well-kept secret: within two weeks a 15-member team should be named to review MiamiDade’s equiva- Michael Lewis lent of a constitution, dissecting every facet of government.

It’s a great opportunity we won’t get again until 2022. Make the most of it.

We need to proactively tell those 15 handpicked representatives of elected officials what citizens need at county hall.

Don’t wait until the year-long study ends to speak up. That will be too late.

As we reported, commissioners voted unanimously last week to begin to review the county charter – as close as we get to a constitution – and name the review team within 15 days.

Some commissioners bridled, even though the charter itself requires a review this year and commissioners will control who does the job and whether any of their recommendations will ever go on the ballot.

These commissioners consider public discussion of their powers and functions an imposition. Besides, they think they know just how things should be done: the way

they are today.

Maybe those commissioners are right, maybe not. But this every-five-years review is as close as the public gets to helping tweak the system.

Don’t miss that chance. If the charter review opens the door to public comment, be alert. If it doesn’t, tell the team’s members your concerns.

Frankly – knock on wood – Miami-Dade County today works better for the public than it has in years. It’s no disaster zone.

But that’s not to say we can’t do better. The problems in most cases are not those we elect but the structure under which they function.

And that’s just what a charter review should look at: the rules and structure that shape our county. It’s not a case of throw the rascals out but how to make county hall more functional. Because a charter is a constitution, it’s not the place to legislate specifics but to structure how government can run.

While the charter review can examine anything under county control, nine perennial concerns need probing: 1. Every inch of Miami-Dade might be put into a city, town or village, with more city councils doing the purely local things that 35 of them already do in the county. That would let the county focus on regional, big-picture issues that improve lives. The county can go from micro control to visionary action. This was the plan when the charter was created 60 years ago, but it never happened.

2. The charter could specify that the county commission can’t decide who gets county

Smart ways to do SMART plan A recent meeting of the Transit Solutions Committee resulted in a very pointed discussion of the technology to be used for the various branches of what we have called the SMART plan.

It took place during a presentation Xavier Suarez by transportation officials, who kept referring to catenary technology – a rather esoteric term to describe overhead power lines for at-grade streetcars.

I reminded the committee members that overhead power lines for streetcars are quite objectionable to many communities. In particular, I referred to the vocal opposition expressed historically by Miami Beach residents when confronted with such technology. The basis of the opposition is more than just aesthetic; it also stems from the danger that such overhead power lines pose to both manned and unmanned aircraft.

In the era of drones, overhead catenary technology is almost dead on arrival. Instead, what we have is new technology that allows the streetcar to receive its power from a buried power line that poses no risk to pedestrians, cyclists or automobiles crossing the line. The technology is rather simple: the power line is only electrified when the streetcar is overhead, since it is the streetcar itself that completes the electrical circuit.

Ideally, of course, mass transit would take place either underground (as in New York and DC subways) or above ground, as in Metrorail/Metromover.

But in today’s dollars, the cost becomes

The Writer

Xavier Suarez is a Miami-Dade County commissioner. prohibitive. And so almost all of the rail corridors contemplated in SMART (except Baylink, which must use elevated guideways to cross the bay) assume atgrade technology. Under that assumption, the total cost of the six new rail corridors is set at $3.6 billion.

With the exception of the East-West connector, which languishes for lack of a right-of-way, the plan is to use the traditional streetcar and couple it with the innovative, hidden and safe power line technology.

On hearing about the new concept, Commissioner Barbara Jordan immediately instructed county officials to explore the feasibility of it for her cherished Northwest corridor, which extends rail along Northwest 27th Avenue all the way to the Hard Rock Stadium.

I suspect, when all is said and done, that the new technology will also be embraced for South Dade (Dadeland to Florida City) and for the East-West corridor – unless that ends up being elevated along the SR836 roadway. Committee Chairman Dennis Moss has cautioned that the new technology is a more expensive solution.

That consideration will also be a part of the public debate to follow.

What’s important is that we have a plan, that we have set priorities, agreed on a rough cost estimate, and are proceeding with engineering and environmental studies while funding sources are identified.

More news to follow on that front, as the state legislature convenes in the upcoming months.

contracts. State and federal governments leave such decisions to departments and procurement officers who don’t get campaign donations from those who seek contracts, or their attorneys or lobbyists.

3. The review could look again at term limits. Voters sought term limits because officials previously could stay on forever, but as term limits oust commissioners in three years, long-timers who know the key issues will be forced out no matter how good they are. New blood, however, is not always better blood. The ballot box can limit terms at every election without mandating it.

4. For 60 years the charter has frozen commission pay at $6,000 although the job is now full time. Should we really pay those who spend billions just $6,000 and assume they’ll live on only that $6,000? Every other Florida county pays more, ranging from $25,000 in the smallest up to almost $100,000. How can honest commissioners get by on so much less here?

5. A corollary to fair pay is that we might bar commissioners from outside jobs. That’s dicey. It could avert obvious conflicts of interest, but would it rule out of office true executives? A good debate.

6. It’s also a valid debate whether commissioners should be on every county ballot even though they must live in specific districts. Decades ago that system limited parochialism because every commissioner had to appeal to every voter, while still making sure that every area had a representative on the commission.

7. At the same time, we might ask whether our 13 commission districts are too many. At what point is diversity reached? Again, the county did well with nine commissioners who debated every issue together without breaking into multiple committees first.

Why shouldn’t all commissioners be at all debates?

8. The county’s single crying need is an impartial professional manager who reports to both mayor and commission rather than forcing the mayor to be both a strong, visionary political leader and a technocrat who makes the trains run on time while being ordered about by the commission.

The two worlds don’t mesh. The present mayor, a former city manager, has done it well, but that luck will run out when he exits in three years.

9. Finally, should the charter limit sources or amounts of campaign funds? It would make for heated debates.

There are more provisions to probe.

That’s what the review is all about: to look broadly and deeply into how our county should function and seek upgrades.

After the review comes a far harder step: persuading commissioners to allow the public to vote on each proposal. Usually, commissioners decide what’s best – at least, best for them – and limit public choices.

That will play out a year from now. But first, the public should weigh in and help the charter team focus on what will help us all.

If you don’t speak up, you’ll have to wait five years to try again.

Letters to the Editor A cause of permitting lags

Don’t forget that the county reviews all municipal permits. That’s where a lot of the delay is caused.

Jesus Garcia

In 3 days, 7 inspections

Thank you for this opinion. Just resealed and restriped a parking lot, the same as it was before. Three days in permitting and then seven different inspections over the course of three days. $435 for the permit. What a waste in time and resources.

The overzealous command and control mentality burdens our community far more than the benefit they create.

Orin Black

How to Write

Letters for publication may be sent to the Editor, Miami Today, 2000 S. Dixie Hwy, Suite 100, Miami, FL 33133 or e-mail to letters@miamitodaynews.com. Letters may be condensed for space.

oak trees in the park and destruction of some of the only low/moderate income housing left between the boulevard and Biscayne Bay. Stephen Sauls

Build automated transit

I suspect the loss of [transit] riders is due primarily to the bus routes. And I think the best way to improve ridership numbers is to remove the human equation as much as possible: build automated or semi-automated mass transit. New buses and bus lanes are not the answer as long as there is a driver involved Good article. This is a bigger problem trying to make it through traffic.

DC Copeland than most residents imagine. The city building department requires too much and they employ too many people.

It is the city residents that work for the city, not the other way around. Taxes are high in miamitodaynews.com Miami Beach, and that’s because too many FOUNDED JUNE 2, 1983 VOLUME XXXIV No. 44 city employees are getting rich off of fees and ENTIRE CONTENTS © 2017 fines. In many cities, there is a criminal mob To contact us: News

(305) 358-2663 that extorts money from people. In Miami Advertising (305) 358-1008 Beach and other left wing cities, it is the city Classifieds (305) 358-1008 Subscriptions (305) 358-2663 officials that extort money, legally, from Reprints

(305) 358-2663 residents. These special interest people are Editor and Publisher / Michael Lewis well entrenched in the city.

Vice President / Carmen Betancourt-Lewis Tom Fisher

City employees love fees

Legions West out of scale

The Legions West proposal is way out of scale with the neighborhood, and would inject up to 1,000 cars in a small area fronting an already congested Biscayne Boulevard, not to mention its negative impact on old growth

MIAMI TODAY (ISSN: 0889-2296) is published weekly for $145 per year; airmail: to Europe $190 per year, the Americas $145 per year. Published by Today Enterprises Inc., 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Miami, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MIAMI TODAY, 2000 S. DIXIE HIGHWAY, SUITE 100, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33133.

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

MIAMI TODAY

7

Quick tactical fixes sought in battle to speed transportation

By Catherine Lackner

While the multi-year Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit plan moves forward, the county’s Transportation and Public Works Department has launched a campaign to create small changes with big payoffs.

“Miami-Dade Transit is really pushing the envelope, trying to be innovative, coming up with interesting ways to improve the daily experience of transit,” Charles Scurr, executive director of the Citizens Independent Transportation Trust, told board members at a March 16 meeting.

The county’s transit department wants to see “what are some innovative, out-of-thebox kind of ideas for improving that experience,” he said, and one of its partners is Tony Garcia, a transit consultant and board member of the Green Mobility Network.

“I’m here because we recently won a grant for $150,000 from a New York-based nonprofit called Transit Center,” Mr. Garcia

said. The money will enable the Street Plans Collaborative to give small transit grants to citizens and cities for improved access to transit, he said.

“It could be a bike lane, or a bus stop improvement. These are very low-cost, short-term improvements – they’re not meant to be the final version – but things we can all accomplish right now while longer-term improvements take place,” Mr. Garcia said.

In a strategy he called “tactical urbanism,” a program of small improvements that can be completed quickly and inexpensively acquaints people with the concept of getting around without using a car.

“In my practice, I’m coming up against a constituency of people who are not quite ready for the type of infrastructure that we’re trying to pursue,” he said. “So we have to find ways to convince people and elected officials that that this is a good idea; that progressive, multi-modal transporta-

tion is in their best interests. At least here in Miami-Dade County, this idea but hasn’t really taken hold.”

But Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the county commission have made transit a priority, he said, which created an opening for this type of program.

In Miami-Dade, 25% of the population lives on 6% of the land. And in condointense communities like Aventura and Sunny Isles, 45% of the population occupies 15% of the land area, he said.

“This is not the old Dade County anymore,” he said. “We’re in a new urban place, but our transportation isn’t there.

We need fast solutions.”

The Street Plans Collaborative is holding a contest for citizens and cities to submit ideas until May 1; the winners will receive small grants, a site design, budgeting and permitting assistance, help with marketing and with finding people to do the work, the services of a transit advocate, and assistance

with procuring materials, Mr. Garcia said.

“Anybody in the county can apply for projects that we can do on our own. We’re going to out there,” he said. “We’re not hiring anybody to do this work. We’re going to go out there and paint the ground with bike lanes and actually build the infrastructure ourselves. We can do a crosswalk for $200. It doesn’t have to be a big deal; it’s something we can do right now.”

Successful projects should be based on an approved mobility plan, be intended to be permanent, have municipal or community support, and be eligible for scale-up (that is, a municipality or the county can expand upon it after the program is done), he said.

“We’re looking for a partnership,” Mr. Garcia said. “We can accomplish a lot.

Everything is a lot easier than you think.”

Details: QuickBuild.GreenMobilityNetwork.org or email Tony@streetplans.org.

New standards aim to increase business in heart of Gables

By Catherine Lackner

New standards for Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue, two of Coral Gables’ more heavily trafficked restaurant streets, are aimed at allowing more flexibility and increasing business. They are a collaboration between the city and the Coral Gables Business Improvement District (BID).

“We’ve been working with them for more than a year,” City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark told the city commission Feb. 28. “They want the flexibility that the Village of Merrick Park has had with signage and operating hours. We hope it will be wellreceived on first reading.”

The new rules, if adopted by the commission at a second reading, would permit pedestrian-oriented signage, change the noise ordinances, and expand the opportunity to sell alcohol.

Now, any sales of alcohol outdoors must coincide with outdoor dining; the new rules would permit outdoor sales of alcohol by businesses licensed to sell it.

Music outdoors can only be played from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. The revised rules would allow it from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. until midnight Friday and Saturday. Outdoor noise levels now must comply with the city’s code, but under the new ordinance, special exceptions could be granted with a temporary permit.

Also in the works: a Miracle Mile Outdoor Dining Plan that would provide pre-approved locations, configurations and furniture options that aim to expedite outdoor dining permits, and “a special design review for applicants seeking unique outdoor dining locations,” a city document said.

The sign ordinance would be expanded for Miracle Mile and Giralda Avenue to allow retail directory signs, digital kiosks, temporary window wraps, umbrella and awning signs, menu boards and signs in the alleys.

For special events, banners and A-frame signs would be allowed.

“The only issues before you today are operational,” Ramon Trias, city planning and zoning director, told the city commission. “They don’t change the uses.

We’re placing them in the code so that everybody can understand them.”

“Give me some examples,” said Vice Mayor Frank Quesada.

“If you go to New Orleans, Key West and Fort Lauderdale, you can walk up to a little booth or to a window, buy a beer and walk down the street drinking it. Is that what you’re envisioning?”

“No, but the city should allow

what the state allows,” Mr. Trias said. “We’ve had additional requirements that made it difficult.

There was a desire for more flexibility.”

“If Navarro [drugstore] wanted to put seating outside and sell alcohol, they’d be allowed to do so?” Mr. Quesada asked.

“They’d have to have a liquor license and a sidewalk café permit,” Mr. Trias said. “I don’t want to make it seem like it’s all about alcohol.”

The new rules don’t apply to establishments that are purely restaurants without sidewalk din-

ing, said Craig Leen, city attorney.

Rules also have to be worked out regarding smoking at outdoor dining venues, he added.

Commissioner Pat Keon asked if there would be paid advertising on the signs. “I only want to see a listing of the shops on the Mile.

I don’t want to see them become advertising billboards.”

“The belief is that the branding of Miracle Mile is different,” Mr. Trias said.

“There is one exception,” said Javier Betancourt, city economic development director. “We’re anticipating that, with the digital

kiosks, we may be looking for advertising. But it will be controlled by the city or the BID in terms of limiting that content.”

New regulations will deal with pop-up retail and other activities that may take place on the two streets, both of which are being extensively renovated, Mr. Trias said.

“I think this is a long time coming,” Mr. Quesada. “You look down Miracle Mile and you don’t know what store is where. We’ll be tweaking it as we move forward, but I’m glad we can have some nice signage in the city.”

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

MIAMI TODAY

11

April vote could cement moratorium on Legions West plan

By John Charles Robbins

The Miami City Commission favors a 240-day moratorium on Special Area Plans near Biscayne Bay. Special Area Plans, or SAPs, allow large mixed-use projects with relaxed conditions and several have been proposed in recent years.

One proposed SAP for the Upper East Side called Legions West was being considered by adding a portion of an abutting public park to make the 9-acre threshold for SAPs. The idea has angered residents of the neighborhood who strongly oppose tampering with Legion Memorial Park and who say the plan is way out of scale for the area.

The Legions West project was the catalyst for the city commission to direct staff on Jan. 26 to begin a review of the SAP rules and prepare amendments.

Commissioner Francis Suarez launched that move.

Keon Hardemon sought 240 days.

City officials say they need more time for a thorough review of the SAP regulations, and Commission Chairman Keon Hardemon set out to give them some breathing room.

On March 23 commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of Mr. Hardemon’s ordinance to set a 240-day moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for Special Area Plans encompassing properties zoned as Civic Space within 500 feet of Biscayne Bay.

A second and final vote is expected in April.

Mr. Hardemon garnered thanks and praise from residents who spoke about the proposal; for his move toward reform of the zoning code and for meeting with Upper East Side residents early last week to explain where things stand with the city’s handling for Special Area Plans.

“I’d like to thank Mr. Hardemon for coming up yesterday and meeting with us,” said activist Peter Ehrlich.

It was Mr. Hardemon who arranged for a Jan. 18 town hall meeting on the Legions West project that brought out more than 200 residents opposed to the development, and in particular to using part of the public park.

The proposal would generate money for major improvements to the park, but residents remain suspicious.

Mr. Ehrlich said it was clear from public meetings that the neighborhood has great respect for the park and residents oppose

Francis Suarez backed measure.

the city becoming a co-applicant to the proposed SAP. “The residents are following this very closely,” he said.

Elvis Cruz, another longtime activist, also expressed opposition to the Legions West project and Special Area Plans in general.

He said it would be wonderful to see SAP reform.

Mr. Cruz said Special Area Plans “greatly threaten low-scale areas.” Use of the Special Area Plan designation seems to be carte blanche for constructing taller

2017 May 4

Now more than ever, transportation determines the future shape of our community. Transportation limitations are potential roadblocks to our future.

On May 4, Miami Today will produce a special section focusing on transportation, its challenges and opportunities, ranging from our roads to our airports and ports. This section will contain vital information that will discuss our transportation future.

• Over 68,000 readers • 77% rank Miami Today higher than any other local publication for credibility of business and civic news.

All figures from a survey released in 2015 by Behavioral Science Research.

Advertising in this section is a must if you are in the transportation industry.

For reservations call our Advertising Department at 305-358-1008 Deadline: Tuesday, May 2, at noon

MiaMiToday A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

buildings, he said.

Mr. Cruz mentioned that Mr. Hardemon, Mr. Suarez and Commissioner Frank Carollo attended the often-heated Jan. 18 town hall meeting.

“You saw the opposition … and it’s not just isolated to the Upper East Side,” said Mr. Cruz.

“Please reform the code. Please make changes.”

ACRE GCDM Bay Investments LLC plans Legions West, a major mixed-use residential and commercial project, east of Biscayne Boulevard, north of Northeast 64th Street and west of Biscayne Bay. An attorney for the developers said they are aware of Mr. Hardemon’s proposal but had no comment on it.

Miami 21, the city’s zoning code, says the purpose of a Special Area Plan is to allow 9 abutting acres or more to be master planned to allow greater integration of public improvements and infrastructure, and “greater flexibility so as to result in higher or specialized quality building and Streetscape design.”

In order to meet the 9-acre threshold for an SAP, about 1.85 acres of Legion Park would have to be incorporated into the Legions West project.

In early January, city officials said they were considering becoming a co-applicant on the Special Area Plan.

However, in response to the wave of opposition, Mr. Suarez on Jan. 26 moved to direct the administration to prepare an amendment removing the city option to be a co-applicant to SAPs and make sure no city property is incorporated into a private SAP. The city’s involvement in a privately developed Special Area Plan is a conflict of interest, he said.

Mr. Hardemon’s proposed moratorium says city officials have determined they need more time to review the regulations.

The existing regulations “necessitate a thorough review and modification of the current SAP regulations in the Miami 21 Code and other applicable portions of the City Code to ensure any SAP containing CS-zoned property within 500 feet of Biscayne Bay does not have a deleterious effect on traffic, congestion, surrounding property values, city services, and on other aspects of the general welfare.”

A temporary moratorium will allow the city to determine how best to modify its SAP regulations to protect both quality of life and general welfare of city residents, businesses and visitors, it says.

“It’s a good piece of legislation,” Mr. Suarez said of Mr. Hardemon’s proposal. It will ensure that nothing happens for 240 days, he said, “and it helps my legislation.”

The Legions West project would include three residential towers with 476 units, 30,300 square feet of ground floor commercial uses, covered plazas and other civic spaces.

That, in addition to Phase I, already begun: a 5-story building with 237 residential units and 435 parking spaces, along with a new 15,000-square-foot facility for the American Legion.

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

13

Education Trends Aventura’s charter high may have 800 students

By Camila Cepero

Southside Elementary at 45 SE 13th St. is being remodeled from within to preserve its historic façade.

School opportunities likely to grow on both sides of the river downtown

By Catherine Lackner

Advocates for more schools in downtown Miami – which has seen its population double over the past several years – might be encouraged by new ideas currently being circulated, and improvements that are already underway at one school.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has allocated $43 million in its budget to expand educational options downtown north of the Miami River.

At the same time, it is “pursuing monetization opportunities” for the School Board Administration Complex, a 10-acre parcel near the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

Arequest for proposals for uses of a one-acre lot at Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast 14th Street is under the cone of silence now, but the county and school board signed a memorandum of understanding last summer to consider a joint venture.

The county would acquire the property for arts center patron parking, and give the school board “the use of downtown property for expansion of school facilities,” a school board memo said.

Another part of the school board office complex, a half-acre offstreet parking lot at Northeast First Avenue and Northeast 16th Street, would be made available to the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), which would make an unspecified amount of funding available “to serve the downtown Miami residential areas,” said a Jan. 11 school board memo. “The Omni CRA has also expressed a willingness to provide tax incentives and credits to developers that may be interested in board-owned properties within the CRA boundaries.”

“The Omni CRA is very much interested in investing in educational options for their area,” said Lisa M. Martinez, chief strategy officer in the office of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. “We want to be a good partner with them in finding a short-term solution to their need for parking.”

The school board has earmarked $51 million to add or enlarge facili-

‘As with any growing community, there is a need to expand education options and amplify school facility capacity...’

Alberto Carvalho ties south of the Miami River, she said.

“Downtown Miami is experiencing double-digit population growth, and as with any growing community, there is a need to expand education options and amplify school facility capacity for students and families,” said Mr. Carvalho. “As the greater downtown area continues to flourish, Miami-Dade County Public Schools is determined to meet the education needs of children by continuing our tradition of delivering innovative technology and high-quality classroom instruction. Establishing new school, business and municipal partnerships while strengthening existing ones will be critical to the development of effective funding strategies that support both education programming and increased facility utilization in the area.”

At Southside Elementary, 45 SE 13th St., building No. 1, which dates to 1914, is being remodeled from within to preserve its historic façade, Ms. Martinez said. “We are doing all necessary repairs and renovations while adhering to its historic status.”

Two circa-1920s buildings on campus are also included in the $21 million project. Once updated, they will add classroom space, she said.

Meanwhile, the district will also negotiate with The Related Urban

Development Group “to develop a future educational facility at the site of the affordable and workforce housing project The Gallery at West Brickell, located at the northwest corner of Southwest SecondAvenue and Southwest 10th Street,” a school board memo said. The district has set aside $36 million for that endeavor.

If the project does materialize, Miami would make Southside Park available to the school for outdoor recreation during specified hours, the memo said.

“The City of Miami has been a great partner, both south and north of the river,” Ms. Martinez said.

The district is in conversations with the Southside Elementary PTA, the Brickell Homeowners Association and other stakeholders “to gauge their interest in the Related Urban Development Group project and bring it back to the school board,” she said. “Then we can begin to work out the details.”

The downtown authority is conducting its own survey of downtown residents and other stakeholders to see what school options they want for the area, said Christina Crespi, authority deputy director. Survey respondents are being asked about all educational options, including private and charter schools, she added. “In two to three months, we should have good numbers.”

Last October, authority directors questioned whether impact fees collected downtown from developers are being spent downtown, especially on the creation and expansion of schools.

“We want to be a stop on the spending train,” said authority chair Ken Russell, who is a Miami commissioner, in October. The school board is “not unaware” of downtown’s needs, he said.

But it must balance the education requirements of the entire county – including neighborhoods that have failing schools with low enrollments – when allocating funds.

“They have to improve the schools on the perimeter before injecting money into downtown. The market is going to decide. If we don’t have adequate schools, people are not going to live here.”

The City ofAventura is in the planning stages of developing a charter high school with capacity for up to 800 students, with the City Commission entering into an agreement to purchase two acres of property on which to develop the school.

The commission this month entered into an agreement with Gulfstream Park RacingAssociation Inc. to purchase the two acres next to Waterways Park.

The city would construct the school, per the agreement, and it would be the first high school within city limits.

The current funding model, presented by City Manager Eric Soroka to the city commission last week, estimates the school will cost $10 million to build, including start-up costs and furniture, fixtures and other equipment.

Funding would come from a bank loan of up to $6 million, another $6 million in reserves, and state startup grants ranging from $300,000 to $500,000.

Aventura plans to file an application for the school with the MiamiDade County School Board and begin construction this fall.

The city will issue a request

for qualifications for a design and build firm.

The school would probably open in August 2019 with ninth and tenth grade classes. The upper classes would be added over the following two years.

The city commission has authorized Mr. Soroka to negotiate with Charter Schools USA to assist in the planning of the school and the overall management once opened.

The contract with the charter school management company would include specific performance standards that both the company and the school must meet, including budget compliance, qualified teachers, accreditation and school safety.

The new structure would utilize the existing basketball court at Waterways Park for the school gym by adding cover or enclosing the space and utilize 60 of the 83 parking spots at Waterways Park during the day for the school.

Since 2003, the City of Aventura has operated the Aventura City of Excellence School, which is also a charter school serving 1,020 students from kindergarten to eighth grade.

As proposed, the new charter high school would give enrollment preference to Aventura residents.

Alliance plans go ahead to link Barry, St. Thomas

By Camila Cepero

St. Thomas University and Barry University are in early planning stages of a possible strategic alliance with the express purpose of strengthening Catholic higher education in the community.

Miami Gardens-based St. Thomas University and Miami Shores-based Barry University have begun to explore options for an alliance meant to further enhance the educational options for all students.

The planning process was requested by the religious sponsors of both universities – the Adrian Dominican Sisters for Barry University and the Archdiocese of Miami for St. Thomas University – and has been approved by the boards of both universities, said Hilda Fernandez, vice president of advancement, marketing and communications at St. Thomas University.

The process is still in the early stages, she said, with no deadline for an agreement.

“However,” Ms. Fernandez said, “we are confident that whatever the outcome, it will build on both universities’ complementary programs and excellent offerings, and common Catholic mission and values.”

Founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Barry Univer-

Sara Herald: priority is students.

sity was originally Barry College for Women. In 1961 St. Thomas University was founded as Biscayne College. St. Thomas came under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Miami in 1988, making it the only Catholic Archdiocesan sponsored university in Florida.

Sara Herald, vice president of institutional advancement & external affairs at Barry University, said the universities have a long history of collaboration and alliances from their early days as all-women and all-men colleges that shared classes and activities.

“Our priority will always be our students,” Ms. Herald said. “We are looking to further strengthen our universities and offer an even more comprehensive academic experience for our students that build on the programs of both universities.”

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

EDUCATION TRENDS

MIAMI TODAY

15

Florida Memorial draws students from California accord

By Camila Cepero

Miami Gardens-based Florida Memorial University has been reaping the benefits of a partnership established less than 10 months ago with more than 100 community colleges on the West Coast by accepting new students and having a place at multiple conferences.

“What has happened since the agreement was enacted was that [Florida Memorial University[ has participated in many outreach activities, including the Umoja Conference, the Black College Expo and the A2MEND Conference,” said Emmanuel Lalande, VP of student affairs at Florida Memorial.

The expo and conferences essentially promote the importance of higher education and provide guidance towards positive postsecondary pursuits for students from underserved and underrepresented communities, according to their websites.

In March 2015, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors signed an agreement with the leaders of nine historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), guaranteeing admission for California Community College students who meet certain academic criteria admission.

In June 2016, California Community Colleges expanded its guaranteed transfer agreement with HBCUs to include an additional 12 schools, one of them being Florida Memorial.

Florida Memorial entered into the agreement with the 113 California Community Colleges and 72 Community College districts.

Since then, seven students have been accepted as a result of the agreement and 33 application decisions are pending, Dr. Lalande said.

The memorandum of understanding between the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and Florida Memorial stated that admission to Florida Memorial is guaranteed to California Community College students who have complete either an associate degree with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, or a minimum of 30 transferrable semester units with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

Florida Memorial has also been doing some outreach since the agreement was enacted last year, Dr. Lalande said.

“We have... conducted HBCU webinar and conference calls to communicate with our California

Community College counselors and students,” he said, “informing them about academic programs being offered at [Florida Memorial University], as well as resources.”

Per the memorandum signed last year, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office works with Florida Memorial University to develop an internal and external marketing plan to communicate and

publicize the chancellor’s support of the agreement to all California Community College campuses.

“Florida Memorial University has benefitted by being one of the first institutions to become a part of this agreement,” Dr. Lalande said.

“It has been introduced to the California Community Colleges in hopes of attracting more transfer students to Florida Memorial University.”

EDUCATION LEADERS Sacred Heart Education 55 years in Coconut Grove 200 years in the United States 216 years worldwide

Where Excellence is Emphasized!

Limited Homework

Small Class Sizes

No FCATs

Grades 1-12

An affordable private school in Coconut Grove

2911 grand ave | suite 400 A | mayfair center | miami, 33133

305.442.2283

3747 Main Highway, Miami, Florida 33133 • 305-446-5673 www.carrollton.org Carrollton is a Montessori-3 through Grade 12 all girls Catholic college-preparatory school that admits qualified students of any race, color, religion, nationality, or ethnic origin.

| www.mcaacademy.com

Non-Discriminatory Policy:

MCA Academy 2, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

REALIZING THE POWER

OF POTENTIAL FDLRS South Serving both Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties The Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System - South

‘Florida Memorial University has benefitted by being one of the first institutions to become a part of this agreement.’

Emmanuel Lalande

For PreK 3-8 admissions: contact 305.665.3593 For 9-12 admissions: contact 305.666.7937 or visit our website at www.gulliverschools.org

Operating through the Miami – Dade County Public Schools in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education, we are a special education support system for parents, professionals and others who work with children with disabilities, ages birth – 21 years.

Our services are Free and include: CHILD FIND: Offers information and FREE Screenings for children (birth - 5 years) not attending school who may have difficulty with: learning, speaking, playing, seeing, walking, hearing, behavior.

FDLRS South ∙ Main Office ∙ 305-274-3501 6521 SW 62nd Avenue, South Miami, FL 33143 FDLRS South ∙ FL KEYS ∙ 305-289-2490 x59329 http://fdlrs-south.dadeschools.net

16

MIAMI TODAY

EDUCATION TRENDS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

School pupil counts mirror construction

By Catherine Lackner

Enrollment patterns throughout Miami-Dade County predictably follow population spurts – with an influx of families, demand for schools surges.

That’s the case in Doral, where 1,200 new housing units are under construction or have recently been delivered, said Jeannette AcevedoIsenberg, principal of the Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School. The school is at capacity and has a waiting list of 1,500.

Its unique dual-language curriculum (English/Spanish or English/Portuguese) prepares students for a global society, she said.

Math, science and social studies are taught in both English and the other language. It is rated A+ and is a silver STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) school.

Its mission “is to provide our students with a comprehensive dual curriculum and bicultural/ bilingual education through language acquisition and innovative programs, facilitated by a highly qualified staff promoting students’ academic excellence creating future world leaders,” according to its website.

“We’re a victim of our own success,” Ms. Acevedo-Isenberg said. “All of the schools here are overcrowded and there’s a definite need for more.”

That wasn’t the case when she was principal of a school in Northwest Miami-Dade, she said. “Enrollment was constantly decreasing, because not as many families were moving in. Enrollment affects your funding. If you lose enrollment, not only do you lose teachers but also office staff, custodians, guards and so on.”

The entry of a charter school into a neighborhood can also affect public-school enrollments, especially at under-performing schools, observers say. “Parents have the misconception that a charter school is a private school,” Ms. Acevedo-Isenberg said. “But it might not be the right fit for that child. Lots of times, the charter school is more effective and does a better job, but it depends on the makeup of the school. Leadership is a big factor, but parental involvement and participating in school with the child are important. The child’s first teachers are the parents at home, because it really does take a village.”

“When Greater Miami grows, it grows unevenly,” said John Schuster, Miami-Dade Public Schools spokesperson. “It’s a challenge for administrators, because you have to plan for the students you have now, and for the students ahead.

Doral is a great example. Because

of the new homes, new shopping, new businesses, you’re going to need schools there.”

On the other hand, some parts of Miami-Dade are losing students who grow up, move out of town for college and do not return, he said.

“It’s a challenge; you either have to find new uses for those schools or find a way to increase enrollment.”

A number of factors go into predicting enrollment numbers, he said. “It’s everything from birth rates to competition from private and charter schools.”

According to Miami-Dade Public Schools, there are 349,840 full-time active students as of mid-March, not including coenrolled and part-time students.)

The breakdown: ■Pre-K Students: 7,609.

■Adult/Vocational Students: 29,021.

■Kindergarten: 24,470.

■Grade 1: 25,465.

■Grade 2: 26,861.

■Grade 3: 28,887.

■Grade 4: 26,492.

■Grade 5: 27,511.

■Grade 6: 26,135.

■Grade 7: 26,509.

■Grade 8: 27,154.

■Grade 9: 27,672.

■Grade 10: 27,702.

■Grade 11: 26,813.

■Grade 12: 26,048.

As of February 2016, there were 30,015 immigrant students in Miami-Dade public schools, which constituted approximately 9% of the total kindergarten-to12th grade enrollment, the school board’s website says. “Most of the immigrant students were English language learners: 83% participated in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program, while 5% were former students of that program. Immigrant students came from more than 100 different countries in the world and from a variety of language backgrounds.”

The five countries of origin most represented were Cuba, with 11,176 students (37% of all immigrant students); Venezuela, with 4,094 students (14%); Honduras, with 2,114 students (7%); Haiti, with 1,745 students (6%); and Colombia, with 1,407 students (5%).

Spain, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Brazil and Mexico rounded out the top 10.

Spanish was the language of 24,384 students (81% of all immigrant students), followed by Haitian Creole, spoken by 1,601 students (5%), and English, spoken by 1,559 students (5%). Portuguese was the native language of 556 (2%), while 387 students’ native language was French (1%), Russian was the language of 358 (1%) and Italian was spoken by 177 (1%).

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

The newest School for Advanced Studies is doubling class size on Miami Dade College’s west campus.

School for Advanced Studies doubles

By Camila Cepero

Just one year after opening its newest campus in Doral, the School for Advanced Studies is looking forward to doubling the class size at the campus, while all four other locations continue to do well.

The School for Advanced Studies, initiated from the combined effort of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami Dade College, is a collegiate high school that has been giving students the chance to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate of arts degree since 1988.

Last fall, the school opened a fifth campus on the college’s west campus in Doral, in addition to the existing locations on the college’s Homestead, Kendall, North and Wolfson campuses.

Since then, “everything has been going according to plan,” said school Principal Omar Monteagudo.

“The students in Doral are doing exceptionally well,” Dr. Monteagudo said. “They are involved in variety of internships and activities with the college.”

The west campus alone will be at

its 120-student capacity next school year, he said, which is double its current class size.

The school is entering the second year of its five-year strategic plan, which outlines further expansion, both in terms of infrastructure and class size, to a student capacity of 240.

Roughly half of the students in the west campus hail from Doral, Dr. Monteagudo said, while the others come from adjacent municipalities.

While the school has already achieved a collective 100% graduation rate, this will be the first year in the school’s history where 100% of graduates will obtain their associate of arts degrees from Miami Dade College as well as their high school diploma.

This is an outstanding result, Dr. Monteagudo said, especially when compared to eight years ago, when only 25% of students were graduating with associate of arts degrees.

Overall, the School forAdvanced Studies will be welcoming 732 students next school year.

“It’s a major shift,” Dr. Monteagudo said. “In a matter of eight

years, we’ve gone from 400 students to having 732 next year.”

All incoming students for next year have already been selected, he said.

The application process includes taking the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test, which evaluates reading, writing and math skills.

The students receive free tuition and fees, free textbooks and materials, and may receive free school bus and Metrorail transportation funded

by Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

The students’ college courses are taught by college faculty, meaning that the students take the college classes amongst actual Miami Dade College students.

Their high school classes also take place on the college campus but are exclusively for School forAdvanced Studies students and are taught by high school faculty.

The model is intended to be a two-year program, which is the reason the school accepts only applications from 10th graders who have two years of high school left and can therefore earn a minimum of 36 college credits.

St. Thomas hails its step into downtown

By Camila Cepero

The opening of St. Thomas University’s downtown campus last fall has been a success, according to one academic dean, leaving university officials happy with the move and thinking about future expansion.

The location opened its doors last fall at 100 S Biscayne Blvd., housing the university’s Gus Machado School of Business’ cybersecurity management and trade and logistics management graduate programs.

The school was expanding into downtown as a response to a perceived high demand for programs in that area, administrators told Miami Today last fall.

While the bulk of the busi-

ness programs are still at the university’s main campus in Miami Gardens, the downtown campus was created to offer programs that cater to professionals working in the S. Bhattacharya area.

The move was the first time that St. Thomas had established academic operations outside of its main campus.

Now, it seems to have all paid off as the school is seeing the downtown campus flourish.

“The Masters’ in Cyber Security Management at St. Thomas University’s downtown location

is now at full capacity,” said Somnath Bhattacharya, dean of the Gus Machado School of Business.

The university is leasing 600 square feet in the building on Biscayne Boulevard, sharing a floor with Alonzo Mourning’s Mourning Family Foundation.

Since the beginning, though, administrators have noted that the building allows for some expansion in the future, if necessary.

“The facility will also allow for programmatic expansion for our MBA and other graduate programs down the road,” Dr. Bhattacharya said.

Overall, he said, the school is “happy with the growth to date downtown.”

EDUCATION TRENDS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

MIAMI TODAY

17

Widely used Algebra Nation increases passing rates 27%

By Catherine Lackner

Algebra Nation, a program developed by the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning, has dramatically increased pass rates in end-of-course algebra tests, especially for minority students. It’s free, available to any student in Florida, and widely used in Miami-Dade County.

Statewide, pass rates in 2015-16 increased 27% overall for Algebra I, a university release said. There was a 52% improvement among students who receive free or reduced-rate school lunch, and 95% for minority students overall, the center said. The average pass rate among students who maximize the program is 83%, a 20% improvement over scores at schools where the program is not emphasized as much, the release said.

Created in 2013 and now in every school district in Florida, Algebra Nation blends teacherto-teacher training and strategy sharing among 6,500 math educators with a batch of kid-friendly interactive tools that students can access from their phones, tablets or any internet-enabled device.

The goal was to “create a socialmedia-based, easy-to-navigate, 24/7 online resource to give students and teachers the high-quality content and support they need,” said a release.

Students can access microvideos by master teachers, get homework help via an online Algebra Wall, administer selftests, get skill assessments with real-time feedback, and tap into personalized adaptive tools that identify a student’s learning style and point out areas that require more work. Students can choose from among five teachers from diverse backgrounds to be their online tutors. There is also a free printed Algebra Nation workbook.

“We were trying to create a Facebook-type wall to encourage students to talk with one another and get the help they need” with algebra and geometry, said Stephanie Cugini, marketing and communications manager at the Lastinger Center for Learning.

The program was founded

by Don Pemberton, director of the Lastinger Center and a national leader in the teacherquality movement, according to a release. “More than half of Florida’s ninth-graders flunked the 2012 end-of-course exam.

In many high-poverty schools, failure rates surpassed 80%,” it said. Students must pass the endof-course algebra exam in order to graduate from high school.

“I thought about the students whose futures hinged on getting through algebra,” Dr. Pemberton said in the release. “I thought about those who must master this gateway subject to achieve their dreams of becoming physicians, programmers or other professionals.”

A work group dissected the end-of-course exam and aligned Algebra Nation with the latest state standards, conducted teacher focus groups statewide, and researched online learning, peer tutoring and math instruction, the release said.

A social-media tech platform was identified.

Algebra Nation debuted in January 2013. “When the results of

the 2013 Algebra 1 end-of-course exam came out, Florida students showed a marked improvement,” the release said. “Ninth-graders boosted their passage rate by more than 8 percentage points, going from a majority failing to a majority passing.

Since 2013, about 3,500 teachers and 50,000 students have utilized Algebra Nation in Miami-Dade County, Ms. Cugini said. The county “was one of the first districts to use it, and we have a high usage rate there. We have many strong teacher-users in Miami-Dade and some teacher-ambassadors who take it upon themselves to promote Algebra Nation.”

When the first teacher-training sessions were held, “We had to bring extra people in to do the professional development,” she said. “We love that!”

Because the program is interactive, students’ progress can be measured against how often they log on. Students who tap into the program at least 30 times during a school year enjoy a 95%

About 50,000 Miami-Dade County students have used Algebra Nation.

improvement in their passing Currently there are three rates compared to students who modules: algebra I, algebra II log in 10 or fewer times during and geometry. A program in the that period, she said. works (developed in cooperation

with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) will show students how algebra is used in aviation.

Future refinements include highlighting algebra’s importance in other industries, including video game creation and the manufacture of drones.

“The workforce is changing and we have to make sure we’re keeping up with that,” Ms. Cugini said. “We really need to show kids the connection, because their question is always ‘How does this apply to my life?’ So many students want to be game designers, and there’s a lot of math involved in that.”

Algebra Nation is dependent on the Florida Legislature for funding, she said. “Each year, we have to see what the funding is, and then decide how to build out the program.”

The eventual goal, she said, is to have Algebra Nation available to all Florida students in grades six through 12, and possibly to include statistics and pre-calculus in the course offerings.

SHARE THE FUN AT THE YOUTH FAIR! DON’T MISS THE EQUESTRIAN EVENTS AT THE BARN! SUNDAY, APRIL 9 3:30 pm - South Florida Trail Riders Parade of Breeds & Opening Ceremonies 4:30 pm – Mexican Folkloric Dancers, Music & Traditional Mexican Horse Show 6:00 pm – Paso Fino Youth Division Horse Show Series & 2017 Homestead Rodeo Queen Meet & Greet

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 6:00 pm – English Youth Division Horse Show Series THURSDAY, APRIL 13 6:00 pm – Western Youth Division Horse Show Series APRIL 14, 15 & 16 All Day – The Grand Finale of Ranch Sorting Championship

MEET AND GREET AT THE MARKETPLACE STAGE Stop by The MarketPlace every Thursday to Sunday for the opportunity to meet your favorite celebrities

PLUS, ICE SKATING SHOW • ROBOCARS • XTREME CHINESE ACROBATS THEM SWEENEY BOYS • AND MUCH MORE! Youngsters 5 and under and adults 65 and better are admitted FREE FREE concerts & daily entertainment with admission • FREE parking Concerts and show times subject to change without notice.

BE THERE! THE FAIR®.

MARCH 23-APRIL 16 2017 Open daily except March 27-28 & April 3-4

BE THERE! THE FAIR.® TAMIAMI PARK - CORAL WAY & SW 107 AVE fairexpo.com #MiamiYouthFair #BeThereTheFair #ShareTheFun

24

MIAMI TODAY

STAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

CON

NEC

TED

Subscribe to our E-paper only $60 a year • Easy to read and navigate • Unlimited access to 11 years of searchable archives • New issues available before print edition

Go to www.miamitodayepaper.com for a free demo Wherever you are, Miami Today can be

MiaMiToday