HomeMy WebLinkAboutEducation Advisory BoardChristopher Norwood
2103 Coral Way
Miami, Fl 33145
February 19"', 2017
City of Miami Commission
Mr. Chairman and Members of the City Commission,
I've served as a member of the City of Miami Education Advisory Board (EAB) for the past five years.
1 take my responsibility as the appointed representative of District 5 very seriously, largely because
one-third of all public schools in the City of Miami are within this district. I was honored to be elected
the Chairman of the Education Advisory Board a couple years ago. It's sad and with regret that I must
make the following report: The City of Miami Education Advisory Board is dysfunctional.
The Education Advisory Board has seldom held meetings for the past three years and only once in
2017. The EAB is a nine member board, but only has three members. Under the municipal code
section 2-1311 (h) it states that, "the education advisory board shall hold regular quarterly meetings".
We haven't met our obligations largely due to lack of quorum and miscommunication of scheduled
meetings. The role of the Education Advisory Board within the City of Miami has also diminished the
attendance of membership. We are charged by section 2-1310 to "advise the city commission on
educational activities" and "coordinate activities of the city with those activities of the local public
school, colleges, and universities to promote educational opportunity for citizens and residences of the
city." This legislative mandate has not been done by the manager this past year. Sec 2. 1311 (M) states
that "The city manager shall provide the necessary staffing to assist the education advisory board such
staff will: work with other city departments, public agencies, and private groups, as required to provide
information to the education advisory board on activities and developments in the area of education,
substantially impacting the residences of the city." If this is not done appropriately, then the Education
Advisory Board doesn't really have a job to do.
Over the past few years we have not been engaged by the city manager in youth activities and
educational initiatives of the city. Too often we hear about these initiatives after the fact without our
involvement and without our input. If the City of Miami wishes to undertake education initiatives
without the advise of its Education Advisory Board, then it is well within their purview to do so. If
under these circumstances, it would be my recommendation, that the City should exercise Section 2-
1315 of the Education Advisory Board Ordinance which states that "The City Commission may, by an
affirmative vote, abolish the Education Advisory Board."
The current scenario is not appreciative of the volunteer members of the EAB. We need reform within
the ordinance and language within it that requires the manager to provide written updates on every
proposed legislation, policy, issues or initiatives affecting matters relating to youth & education. The
ordinance should require the manager to receive input on these matters from the EAB on an ongoing
basis. This would embed the counsel and advocacy of the Education Advisory Board within the cities
public policies. This annual report is very similar to the one presented last year. I would like to formally
request a meeting with the Mayor and Manager to discuss the vision of the new administration towards
youth and education.
Respectfully,
Christopher Norwood