By Bari Auerbach

Ever since Sunny Isles Beach incorporated in 1997, every year the city has celebrated an especially happy New Year as progress and prosperity have been a sign of the times – now anticipated to continue in 2010 and beyond. 

‘Hot Property’

“Bucking the trend” could be the city’s slogan as evidenced by this recent posting by TransWorld News with the headline: Sunny Isles Beach Listing Prices Trend 10.2 Percent Higher; December Average Listing Prices Up $74,904…Average listing prices in Sunny Isles Beach trended 10.2 percent higher from the beginning of Dec. 2009 to the end of Dec. 2009. The average listing price for a home in Sunny Isles Beach was $806,801-  or $74,904 higher ending Dec. 30 compared to the first week of Dec. 2009.

‘Education Celebration’

In 2010, the city’s dedication to education will also continue on an even higher “learning curve.” At the end of ’09, addressing boundary changes to alleviate overcrowding was in the news – but just recently a “celebration of education” took center stage as Sunny Isles Beach Community School sixth grade mathematics teacher Randee Baron was honored as one of “Florida’s Greatest Teachers.”

“Ms. Baron was one of only 81 teachers recognized out of a pool of 181,000 eligible teachers,” explained Dr. Annette Weissman, principal of the Sunny Isles Beach Community School. “On December 5, 2009 in Orlando, Ms. Baron was presented with a prestigious award by the Foundation for Excellence in Education – an organization founded by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in 2008 to foster excellence in education. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of education in American classrooms by sponsoring innovative, reform-based programs.

“The Foundation divides the awards into seven categories and Ms. Baron was a winner in two categories. She was the recipient of the Math Excel Award for Teachers Achieving the Greatest Gains with High Achieving Students and for Teachers Achieving the Greatest Gains with Students in Families with Low Income. 

“The Foundation rewards teachers whose students made the most progress in reading or math from one year to the next according to annual standardized tests.  Students of these exceptional educators learned at least 1.5 times, or 50 percent, more than the average student based on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores for the last three consecutive years.”

Sunny Isles Beach was also recently the center of attention when the Sunny Isles Beach Community School earned an “A Grade” after being open for just one term. Students earned the “A Grade” based on state comprehensive assessment tests (86% of students met high standards in English; 87% met high standards in math; and 97% met high standards in writing).

“The new year presents new challenges and new opportunities for all of our students and staff,” Weissman said. “First and foremost we must work just as diligently to maintain our ‘A’ grade. This requires that special dedication our staff is already known for; it requires the continued community support that Sunny Isles Beach is already known for; it requires the ongoing involvement of our parents which our PTSA is already known for; and, of course, it requires the active engagement of all our children who have already proven that they are up to the task. I have every confidence that this winning team will continue to raise the bar and set higher standards to strive for and meet.”

‘That’s Entertainment!’

For 2010, the Sunny Isles Beach Cultural and Human Services Department has an exciting schedule of activities planned for residents of all ages to enjoy. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events and visit the city’s website www.sibfl.net for more information…

Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.; Four Seasons Concert Series; University of Miami Jazz Band, Sunny Isles Beach Community School auditorium

Jan. 22, 7 p.m., The Golden Section, Program II, Miami City Ballet, Broward Center for the Performing Arts; Jan. 24, 11 a.m., Come Blow Your Horn, Stage Door Theatre, Coral Springs; Jan. 28, 5:45 p.m., Other Than My Health, I Have Nothing! Broward Center for the Performing Arts (Tickets for Cultural Event Trips are available at Pelican Community Park and the Visitor Center at Sunny Isles Beach Government Center)

Feb. 6 & March 6, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Family Movie Night at Town Center Park

Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Sunny Serenade Concert at Samson Oceanfront Park

March 10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; Russian Opera in partnership with FIU, Sunny Isles Beach Community School

July 21, pianist Damira Feldman, time and location TBA

‘State of the City’

The next issue of the Sunny Isles Beach Sun will feature the annual State of the City address by Mayor Norman S. Edelcup – and if tradition continues, he will be happy to report that the state of the city’s financial condition is secure and strong while reiterating this happy New Year message:
“My fellow citizens, as we enter the New Year 2010, on behalf of your City Commission, Police Department, city staff and myself, we pledge our continued loyalty and dedication to the citizens of Sunny Isles Beach. By working together, we will continue to raise the quality of life for the residents in our community and to make our city known throughout the world as Sunny Isles Beach – Florida’s Riviera…We wish everyone in our community a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.”