Top University of Miami and Coral Gables city officials gather at inaugural meeting. UM president Donna Shalala (center left) sits across from Gables Mayor Jim Cason (center right).
For the first time, top officials from the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami convened to exchange information regarding future plans and programs of mutual benefit. The inaugural annual meeting between city officials and UM representatives took place on Nov. 29 at the Newman Alumni Center on the Coral Gables campus.
Members of the commission, key city staff, the university’s board of trustees, and top university officers attended the meeting. UM president Donna Shalala and Mayor Jim Cason briefed attendees on several items and projects the university and the city are working on respectively.
President Shalala updated attendees on projects at the UM. Mayor Cason updated the university on the various investments the city is making in neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Renaissance Program to preserve and enhance property values and communities.
Shalala expressed her support of the planned improvements and commented on the positive impact improvements have on the entire community including the university.
The meeting is part of the 20-year development agreement with the University of Miami. The development includes a number of discounted pricing for university events and programs for residents. UM’s CFO Joe Natoli and city manager Pat Salerno also spoke about upcoming projects. The collegial relationship between the city and the university will help lay the groundwork for a better future. Despite challenging economic times, both parties agreed to work together to build a great city and university.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts welcomed its two millionth patron in November. Mark Evans, with his son Benjamin, was surprised with a commemorative ticket presented by Arsht Center President John Richard (right). They also met the artists performing that evening as part of the Jazz Roots performance of “Jazz Meets Gershwin.”
A somber and remorseful former vice mayor Armando Oliveros Jr offered Community Newspapers an exclusive interview recently to say he is back from serving nearly seven years in federal prison for money laundering and 99 percent certain he will very soon announce his candidacy for commissioner in February’s election.
“I made a huge mistake and I paid the price. I can blame it on ego and selfishness but ultimately I was entirely to blame. They say to err is human and to forgive is divine. Well I certainly did err. Now let’s see how many divine people are out there ready to forgive,” said Oliveros.
An attorney at the time of his arrest in 2000, Oliveros was targeted by an FBI Political Corruption Unit and videotaped receiving money “to clean” from a former client. Oliveros immediately resigned from office and there was no connection ever made between the charge and his public service. “I cannot say I regret my decision to fight the case. They said if I wore a wire it would make everything go away since it was apparently aimed at targeting local politicians but I refused. What is the point of abusing the system to hurt other people and get myself off? No, I did my time.”
“Prison is a microcosm of society. When I was there I had roommates that were kids from the projects peddling drugs and breaking into homes. I had a lot more respect for them coming from an environment where those were the only survival skills they knew verses the Enron andWorldCom educated inmates who stole millions of dollars from their own employees and clients,” said Oliveros.
Because he was an attorney and politician Oliveros believes the prosecution went after him with guns loaded. “I was sentenced more harshly than second degree murderers and rapists but it is over and my family and I have turned the page.”
Oliveros does appear to have been embraced by family and friends since his return home. His 28 year old son Armando III is about to graduate from law school and solidly behind his dad’s return to office as is his 23 year old daughter Stephani. Oliveros’ wife Iliette said “I am very proud of his determination to go back to doing what he loves and what he is extremely qualified to do; serve the community. Regardless of the possible attacks on his character because of past mistakes, he is resolved and determined to move forward and learn from the past. These are qualities we can all admire.”
Oliveros said old supporters and friends have inundated him with phone calls to throw his hat in the ring this election season. He says that although he was interested he was worried about a possible backlash on his family. However the depth of support and faith in him offered by so many gave him the confidence to proceed and put his ideas forth.
“I see stagnation right now at City Hall. A few boisterous cliques are being catered to and that is about it. People like to look at South Miami as a small town and sure we have that going for us but we are also a young and growing city in need of greater diversity and practical decision making that will benefit the majority and not just a few loud citizens.”
“The African American community is not being heard and not voting. This is a critical historic part of South Miami that needs representation and service and not receiving it. When I was in office I walked the neighborhoods and I intend to do that again if elected. I especially want to work toward getting all of our youth invested back in the community.”
Oliveros got his start in community building in the early 90’s while coaching basketball for Gulliver when his kids were in school. He then went on to serve on area boards like Parks and Recreation, Planning, and Environmental Review. Eventually his declared passion for being involved in positive changes in the community brought him into office where he served as commissioner in 1997. He was re-elected as vice mayor from 1998 to 1999 before his resignation.
“I was a part of one of the best board of commissioners we have ever had. When we would go up to Tallahassee for Dade Days we came back with funding. We may not have always agreed but we worked together as respectful colleagues to get the most done for the community. This is the kind of leadership South Miami is now sorely missing.”
University of Miami undergraduate alumnus and Nova University Law School graduate Oliveros currently works in real estate. He suggests his passion today is tempered by patience. “The worst thing about the time I was away was the impotence you feel in not being able to help your family when all you can do is talk on the phone for five minutes. I feel transformed in that I grew up through this experience and my passion is now managed by patience and a vision for the future. I hope the community will allow me another chance to serve and prove myself as I continue to heal.”
Ribbon-cutting for new ‘iPrep’ building at Varela High School plaza includes (l-r) Milagros Fornell, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum; Helen Blanch, Associate Superintendent for Schools of Choice; Valtena Brown, South Region Superintendent; School Board member Dr. Larry Feldman; Freddy Woodson, Deputy Superintendent for School Operations; Nery Fins, Felix Varela High principal; Daniel Camous, ‘iPrep’ student representative; Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho; Dr. Alexis Martinez, South Central Regional Superintendent, and James Torrens, Associate Superintendent for Facilities and Maintenance.
“Engaging the 21st Century Learner” was the theme for the Nov. 28 opening of “iPrep,” the new magnet program at Felix Varela Senior High School Learning Center for Technology and the Sciences.
“This is a credit to the innovative curriculum for the entire school system,” said Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, as he addressed more than 100 school administrators, parents and students during an afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony on the school’s outdoor plaza.
The Varela “Virtual Village “ structure was renovated during the summer to be equipped with wireless Internet access, smart boards, and research labs.
The building is distinguished by a mural of four stylized tropical palms and a star cluster flanking the building’s east entry, designed by local artist Tony Mendoza, who, with student and staff assistance, painted the exterior artwork on the east façade of the structure that faces SW 152nd Avenue at 96th Street. The artwork is typical of his memories of growing up in colorful Little Havana.
Singled out from the audience for a special thank you, Mendoza was one of many contributing time and effort “to make this day become a reality,” said Varela principal Nery Fins.
“iPrep at Varela is a new and innovative magnet to provide students with an opportunity to participate in a rigorous curriculum that is technologically enriched,” she said.
Students will participate in various college preparatory and college level courses with flexible scheduling, if they choose to participate in internships and community based projects, she explained.
“The facility [offers] students the latest tools in technology. Our mission is to prepare students to be successful in college, wellrounded intellectually, and leaders in our community,” Fins added.
College Board Advanced Placement courses are offered as part of the iPrep curriculum that will provide students with college credits, recognized nationally by both public and private universities.
Program participants included the Varela Naval ROTC honor guard; Varela Jazz Band; School Board member Carlos L. Curbelo; Daniel Carmous, who greeted guests on behalf of Varela students, and Valtena Brown, South Regional Center Schools Superintendent, representing a host of academic and administrative officials.
One of the many renderings received over the years as possible designs for the Murray Pool project from Recreational Design Construction and Zyscovich Architects 2009
In 1968 when Richard Nixon was President, a group of neighbors proposed the idea of a community pool so all of South Miami’s children would have a place to get through the summer heat and learn how to swim safely. Forty three years later, it appeared that this city commission might finally make the approved and funded project a reality but the possible operator was rejected at a recent city commission meeting because their proposal did not come cost-free. Elected officials guided by Vice Mayor Valerie Newman then punted the decision back into the hands of the community as a referendum question this February.
Vice President of Operations for USA Pools Matthew Satterly thought he was going to make a presentation at the November 15 city commission meeting. USA Pools was chosen as potential pool operator. However Mayor Philip Stoddard invoked a Committee of the Whole discussion during the meeting so the commission could speak candidly about the pool prior. It appeared by the response that there would not be a majority in favor of USA Pools as operator so Satterly’s presentation went unheard.
Satterly said: “They asked me the day before to go down there and I spent a whole lot of money to try and present the information. I understand when the commission is moving in a certain direction they go with the flow but it sure would have been nice to be able to provide our information rather than allowing the commission to misquote us on fees.”
According to Satterly operating costs would run approximately $150,000 annually or about $12 per taxpayer per year, not the nearly half a million dollars suggested by the board. The commission has been looking for an operator to sustain the pool without incurring any fees to the city. An unrealistic option according to Satterly and one he claims the commission was well aware of before he left Atlanta and got on the plane to head south.
“We told them what they want to do is not feasible for this area. We did the research. They knew this ahead of time and the city manager still told us they were ready to negotiate. It is a little frustrating because we had told them from the very beginning we could not accomplish the original goal of the letter of interest. Two weeks later we have an agreement in place and then it is a shock that it is going to cost money. They had voted on it already knowing that information.”
But Stoddard says otherwise. “USA Pools does not know the community well but they know pools and how to run them. They did the marketing research and based on their models they were not convinced they could run the pool and make a profit without a city subsidy. They did not come forward and say we need x amount of dollars. They wanted the city to cover all of the operating costs and then pay us back at the end of the year with revenue earned.”
Federal grant money reserved for the Murray Pool has been sitting idle for years awaiting someone to pick up a shovel and start digging a hole in the ground. Several months ago it appeared the city would finally lose that funding set to expire this month. Clarence Brown of the County Community Development Block Grant office sent a letter to the mayor and commissioners stating those dollars were at risk if there was no movement on the project. The city did receive an extension from the county; however Brown said they really needed to see some traction to keep those dollars allocated.
Assistant Director for Housing and Community Development for Miami-Dade County Rowena Crawford said in a recent interview: “We agreed to an extension for another year. But these are federal dollars that come with rules and regulations and you can’t tie up funds forever. They have agreed to work with us on deadlines but if nothing happens we have to recapture those dollars and allocate them to projects that are ready to move. Federal dollars need to be spent on the community. They cannot just sit for years and years.”
As Satterly was leaving city hall that night he said Purchasing Manager Steve Kulik and an associate came out to speak to him. Satterly said: “As I left they came out and spoke to me and said this is not going to move forward and we are not even going to build a pool.” When asked by the South Miami News for clarification, Kulik would not comment.
UPDATE FROM DECEMBER 6 CITY COMMISSION MEETING:
Over 40 residents showed up at the last city commission meeting to denounce a proposed resolution for the Murray pool project to go back into the hands of voters to decide. Opposed by Mayor Stoddard as a “disingenuous” question, the language of the non-binding referendum proposed for the February ballot reads:
The City of South Miami has considered as part of its capital improvements projects to build, maintain and operate a swimming pool. If the question is approved by voters the city may decide to build, maintain and operate a pool at the taxpayer’s expense, would you favor such a project?
“We already have 1.2 million dollars in federal money for the pool so this would not be on the taxpayers back. There are dollars in house ready to be spent, burning a hole in our pocket,” said Stoddard. Commissioners Palmer and Harris agreed with Stoddard’s remarks. Commissioner Beasley suggested a change in the language of the referendum was what was necessary to proceed. Palmer said for the past 25 years that she has lived in South Miami every year it is “pool, pool, pool. The community has been wanting this as long as I can remember and this attempt to put it to the voters is an effort to kill it once and for all.”
By a show of hands it was apparent that 37 people in the auditorium supported the pool happening and rejected presenting it to voters to decide. Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board Richard Ward said after the board discussion, “it is clear you have four votes up there to reject the resolution. Vote it down now and save us all the time.” The proposed resolution from Vice Mayor Newman (who was not present at the meeting) was rejected. The next meeting on the Murray Pool proposal status will be the December 20 regular city commission meeting when a new potential operator will be considered.
Pictured (l-r) are Doria Camaraza of American Express; Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason; Chamber of Commerce president Mark Trowbridge, and Mitchell Kaplan, owner of Books & Books.
Following on the heels of “Black Friday” came “Small Business Saturday” on Nov. 26, an event sponsored by American Express in 15 cities across the country. More than just a name, the day drew the participation of the City of Coral Gables in a big way.
Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason presented a proclamation stating the city’s commitment during a 10 a.m. ceremony at Books & Books with Chamber of Commerce president Mark Trowbridge, representatives of American Express, bookstore owner Mitchell Kaplan and other area business owners and residents attending. A documentary film crew also was on hand to capture the event.
“I think anything that gives prominence to Coral Gables and the uniqueness of the city is good for us,” Mayor Cason said. “We’re a city that’s unique in terms of the structure of business here. Almost everything except Merrick Park is small businesses — we have thousands and thousands.
“One of the reasons we go and cut ribbons is to show support for small businesses. We need them in the city; it helps create the quality of life and draws people downtown and that helps with the tax base.”
Cason also cited the ongoing street scape program and improvements to the downtown area, making it even more attractive for businesses and foot traffic. He said that the city now has 166 restaurants, a growing number.
“We’re cutting more and more ribbons for small businesses that reflect discretionary income of people, so obviously the business owners feel that things are turning around and they want to be in the Gables,” Cason said. “They’re risking their money and they’re putting their effort into it, so we’ve got to help them.”
Mitchell Kaplan, owner of Books & Books, which hosted the ceremony, was excited about the significance of the project and those participating.
“Bookstores around the world have been fighting the fight for small businesses for so many years,” Kaplan said. “To see a corporate entity like American Express acknowledge and get behind the mission of small businesses is very heartening. It’s about community and supporting community. That’s what small businesses do best.”
Other activities included a demonstration with Chef Mike in the Breezeway between Cibo and Tarpon Bend at noon, a Sloane Square & Shoppe “Manscaping” event with Montica Jewelry at 2 p.m., a Rene Ruiz champagne event presenting Ruiz’s Spring/Summer Collection at 3:30 p.m. and a Happy Hour event in the Village of Merrick Park at 5 p.m.
Rene Ruiz, a fashion designer in Coral Gables and one of the event participants, also was impressed.
“An event like this means a lot to a small business like me,” Ruiz said. “It helps create a sense of community, which is very important, especially the way the economy is today. I employ about 36 people and everything that I design is all made here in Coral Gables. The fact that a huge corporation like American Express remembers that we are the backbone of American society is great.”
Created in 2010 as a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods, the nationwide event has grown in just a year’s time with an estimated 89 million consumers deciding to “shop small” on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to Doria Camaraza of American Express.
“One of the restaurants that we spoke with had three times the amount of sales on that Saturday in 2010 versus in 2009,” Camaraza said. “A photo shop had a 21 percent increase in sales over that same Saturday in 2009. So we’re really seeing this take off very quickly after one year. It really is amazing.
“At the root of it, people really want to support small business in their community. The small businesses are one of the largest job providers, and the profits that they make stay right in the community.”
American Express offered special deals to their registered card members to encourage them to “Shop Small” and put an interactive map on the “Small Business Saturday” Facebook page to help people find small businesses in their area.
Camaraza said that they are looking forward to continuing the program next year and beyond.
Town officials, park staff and residents join to cut the four-and-a-half-mile long ribbon.
The Town of Cutler Bay opened its newest recreational facility, the Lakes by the Bay Park, on Saturday, Dec. 3, with the enthusiastic help of a few thousand residents.
Not only is the park a huge facility covering 25 acres, the opening event featured a remarkable ribbon-cutting ceremony using a four-anda- half-mile long red ribbon held by about 750 volunteers in an effort to earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Formal verification may not come from Guinness officials until early January, but by all accounts, Cutler Bay succeeded in setting a new record.
Besides a Guinness representative being on hand to oversee the attempt, a helicopter flew overhead taking aerial photos of the massive effort. It took time to get all the volunteers in place as a golf cart moved up and down the lines with a park staffer in the back holding a huge spool of ribbon, unreeling it into their waiting hands.
Alan Ricke, the director of Parks and Recreation, was overseeing the big event and said he was happy to be there coordinating it all, although it was a lot of hard work.
“It kind of gives me goose bumps that we finally got to this point,” Ricke said. “This park has been thought about for more than 20 years. We acquired the property about a year and a half ago and here we are opening day, so we moved really fast. He gave a lot of credit to the contractor, Skanska.
“They worked really hard out here to make sure this got done.”
He said the town owns a little over 49 acres with about 25 acres developed right now. There is space at the backside of the park that is passive for some picnic areas.
“That will come later on when we’re able to pull together a little more funding,” Ricke added. “We have grant applications in to try to get that part of the park developed. It’s a little way down the road.”
The Road Kings Band and several school bands and choirs provided music during the roughly five-hour event. There were family-oriented games and activities and the ribbon-cutting ceremony were followed by a free cookout. Lakes by the Bay Park has three baseball/softball fields, two lighted football/soccer fields, restrooms, a concession stand, exercise trail and parking area.
Bill Hurst, president of the Perrine Baseball and Softball League in Cutler Bay, was supervising three softball games and three baseball games that day at the park and couldn’t say enough good things about it.
“We are thrilled and excited that Cutler Bay has given us the opportunity to expand our baseball and softball programs,” Hurst said. “We’ve been over at Franjo Park since the early ’70s and it’s a great facility, but it gets a little tight, and because of the tightness and the number of members that we have, our girls have been playing over at Palmetto Bay Park, and this one now allows us to bring our girls back home to Cutler Bay.
“All of us are extremely excited about that. We can’t begin to thank Cutler Bay enough, and I know Dade County had a lot to do with it, and Katy Sorenson cannot be forgotten.”
There also were teams of youngsters from the Palmetto Raiders Football and Cutler Bay Soccer using the new fields.
Mayor Ed MacDougall clearly was excited that the day of the park dedication had arrived, and about the impact the new park would have on the community.
“What it means to me is precisely what I believe it means to all the people of Cutler Bay, in that we waited for 20-plus years to be able to have a park like this,” the Mayor said. “To see 2,000 people out here on this day enjoying the park is not only a milestone for us, it’s a breath of success for the people of Cutler Bay.
“I couldn’t be happier. It took a lot of goings-on to get it done, and my hat’s off to the council members and all the people who had a part in getting this done. Congratulations to the people of Cutler Bay.”
The park is located at 8551 SW 216 St., next to Whigham Elementary School.
Students explore and discuss the differences between sinkholes and solution holes and how they are related to the aquifer. Pictured (l-r) are Riley Recchia, Kimberly Castro, Layaly Messarina and Ansley Gregis.
In a time of significant budget cuts and financial setbacks, the historic Deering Estate at Cutler remains a leader in creating innovative programs to protect and preserve our environment. The key to success lies in numerous community collaborations for funding and resources, reaching out to both the public and private sectors.
The latest endeavor of the Deering Estate Foundation and the estate’s educational and interpretative staff, is a partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools that pairs Nature-Center-to-School for hands-on learning and educational enrichment.
NESTT (Nurturing Environmental Stewards of Today and Tomorrow) is an extension of the estate’s award-winning Living Classroom/Eco-Academy, and is designed to improve a child’s academic achievement, enhance critical thinking, and develop decision-making skills through participation in highly interactive, relevant and stimulating science activities.
Sixty students in grades 2-5 at Perrine Elementary School are participating in NESTT’s inaugural 30-week curriculum, spending one day at the estate with onsite experiments and lab time.
“I am very excited to be part of this groundbreaking program which has the potential to revolutionize the way we teach science,” said Maileen Ferre, principal at Perrine Elementary. “We are bringing science to life by providing students with inquiry-based and highly stimulating activities where theory and application collide,” she said. “These experiences have allowed students to think critically and have reignited their love for science and a higher respect for the environment around them.”
During their visits to the estate, participants have the opportunity to enjoy the natural resources using their five senses, while they explore and learn about the environment. Some of these science experiences have included holding a scorpion, examining an African Spurs Tortoise, and feeding a four-foot long White Throat Monitor. The students have gone on hikes, studied the behavior of native animals, and documented their findings through illustrations and writings in their nature journals.
Once a week the estate’s educators travel to the Perrine campus, loaded with specimens, artifacts, arts and crafts, and a Power Point presentation, to work alongside the school’s classroom science teachers.
Megan O’Neill Gonzalez, a third grade teacher at Perrine Elementary, attests to the positive results from hands-on learning.
“My students can answer questions and give amazing details of their experiences and newly acquired knowledge in a heartbeat… and deliver them with a smile. They truly consider themselves to be scientists in the making.
“By year’s end the students will have had experiences in the fields of environmental sciences, marine biology, zoology, ecology, archeology, general sciences, natural sciences, endangered species and conservation,” O’Neill Gonzalez said.
She enumerated how the students have created their own biomes, became geologists and formed an aquifer, and were archaeologists and collected artifacts for scientific research.
“I see my students learning to understand and appreciate the world around them and, as a teacher, it makes my heart sing.”
Mary Pettit, Deering Estate Foundation executive director, described the NESTT program as, “another example of the amazing synergy that continues to thrive on the estate. It is very exciting to be a part of this initiative where the passion and focus of the staff, community leaders and partnering organizations cultivate and utilize the Estate’s rich cultural and educational resources, with the goal of creating a Nature-Center-to-School science program that can be replicated by other organizations regionally and nationally.”
As the philanthropic arm of the Deering Estate at Cutler, the Foundation has committed to fund the NESTT program in partnership with Perrine Elementary, for the first three years.
“The encouraging feedback from the teachers, parents, students and the estate’s educators continues to inspire individuals and corporations alike to join with us to meet the funding requirements of the program,” Pettit said. “You’ve gotta love this community and we couldn’t be more grateful!”
To learn more about the NESTT program and funding opportunities, contact Mary Pettit at the Deering Estate Foundation, at 305-235-1668, ext. 266, or at <mpettit@deeringestate.org>. To inquire about enrolling in the NESTT program, contact Maileen Ferre, principal, Perrine Elementary School at 305-235-2442.
Participants are pictured returning to the park at the end of their ride.
Nearly 100 bicycle enthusiasts participated in the Town of Cutler Bay’s fifth annual “Hometown Harvest Ride” on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Town Council member Peggy Bell, a champion of the yearly event since it started, was pleased with the turnout given there were other events that day.
“I absolutely think that we will continue it next year,” Bell said. “We had a really good turnout this year. I’m getting a lot of responses from people who say they didn’t know about it until they found a flyer in one of the stores and it wasn’t enough time to let their neighbors know, but they’ll know next year.
“I’m hoping that we have on Old Cutler Road an electric sign, which is something that I’m working for when they do the work on Old Cutler, a programmable sign similar to what they have in Key Biscayne to let the residents know about upcoming events, council meetings and other important information they need to know about because I think that’s our biggest challenge, informing the public.”
The ride began at the new Lakes by the Bay Park at 9 a.m., after registration at 8 and a Bike Safety Rodeo at 8:30. The event was a scenic 10-mile police-escorted ride through Black Point Marina and Cutler Bay, with refreshments at Saga Bay Park, returning to the Lakes by the Bay Park where it began by about 10:30 a.m.
“We may look into combining the bike ride with one from another city in the future,” Bell said. “We’ve talked about that with Palmetto Bay people. We gave out 200 free helmets. If some chose not to ride that’s okay, as long as they use their helmets the safety is what it’s all about.
“I’m really enthusiastic that people are excited about using their helmets. I get a state grant for that every year. As the bicycle paths are more fully developed in the town, I’m hoping that we get more people on their bicycles.”
Teacher Doug Miller works with a student during a session at Homework Done Right.
By Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld….
Teacher Doug Miller works with a student during a session at Homework Done Right.
Sometimes parents feel like homework is a punishment on them because they have to battle their children to get the homework done each night. For those parents, the start of school is less than a happy occasion.
But Homework Done Right offers a solution to homework stress. It offers kids homework coaching, tutoring in tough subjects and college preparatory courses.
“The biggest thing that we do is we make sure the homework is complete and checked by a certified teacher,” said owner Michael Husson. “We offer continuity in learning and help the children complete their lesson. All of our staff is certified. The children will not only sharpen their skill but that portion of their grade will improve because the homework is completed and completed properly.”
Homework Done Right is a Pinecrest-based business located at 8505 SW 136 St. behind the Office Max.
“We all live and work in the area,” Husson said. “We even have a private bus service from all the Pinecrest/Palmetto Bay area schools.”
When a new client comes through the door, the folks at Homework Done Right sit down with the student and help them establish goals. They also help organize the child’s backpack so that the backpack becomes a useful tool and is no longer a black hole where important papers disappear.
The teachers identify the child’s strengths and weaknesses and build on their strengths while helping them overcome the weaknesses.
If a child needs more than homework help, they offer private tutoring in challenging subjects.
“The whole theory is elevating the student to the next level,” he said. “We want them to understand it and have confidence. We talk to the kids; if you want to build bridges, you have to be great at math and science. If you don’t get a good grade in geometry, you can’t get into Algebra 2. And then you can’t become a veterinarian.”
In doing this, not only is the child gaining confidence, which leads to better performance in school, but the family is helped because the pressure to get homework done after dinner is reduced or eliminated.
It leads to better grades, a happier student, happier parents and happier teacher or teachers.
“Students sometimes get lost in the shuffle,” Husson said. “The parents are too busy or not qualified, or simply not able to help. We offer an affordable alternative for them on a weekly basis.”
Homework Made Simple has a variety of plans, starting at two days a week and going up to four days a week.
“Our facility is very friendly. We have a student lounge. When they are done, they can enjoy a movie on the big TV,” he said. “The kids like coming here. We have a room full of beanbags. They can crash on those when they are finished studying.”
Homework Made Simple has appointments all day long — generally from 3 to 8 p.m. However, arrangements can be made for anyone whose needs don’t fall into those hours.
Parents of college-bound students can get help as well. Husson said they will be teaching parents and students all about the process of applying for college.
Homework Done Right has approximately 15 certified teachers on staff who rotate depending on need and subject matter. Husson said many have multiple certifications and some have PhD’s.
Ought to be a Law essay contest winner from Coral Park High Ian Escalante.
By Lee Stephens….
Ought to be a Law essay contest winner from Coral Park High Ian Escalante.
Miami Republican state representatives Michael Bileca, Jose Felix Diaz and Carlos Trujillo recently hosted a “There Ought to be a Law” contest at South Miami Senior High School.
The contest was open to high school students residing in the lawmakers’ districts and, out of 150 entries, 18 finalists were chosen to present their essays. With their essays, the students proposed laws ranging from increasing the difficulty in public school curriculum to banning texting while driving.
“I was very impressed with the quality of the ideas and, more importantly, with the presentations the students prepared,”” said Rep. Diaz.
The purpose of the contest was to give students insight into the state lawmaking process. Three winners were chosen at the end of the contest, one from each member’s district, and awarded with the opportunity to become a floor messenger during the 2012 legislative session. The messenger program has been in place for many years and gives 14-17 year old students the opportunity to work in the state capitol for a week. Messengers are sponsored by members of the legislature and there is only one position available per lawmaker.
“This is a great opportunity for these winners to experience firsthand how the legislative process actually works,” said Rep. Bileca.
The contest winners were Coral Park High’s Ian Escalante, South Miami High’s Mercedes Ortiz and Nicolas Suarez from Belen Jesuit Prep. Escalante’s winning essay proposed a law requiring welfare recipients to perform community service hours along with their required job search; Ortiz proposed a bill that would force restaurants to post the calorie count of all food items on every menu; and Suarez suggested a law to create a fixed property tax for seniors on a fixed income, one that would apply only to seniors residing in their home for a specific number of years and available only on homestead property.
“We were happy to facilitate this learning experience and see the enthusiasm of these students, their teachers and schools in getting a deeper understanding of how ideas can become laws,” said Rep. Trujillo.
