Washington Latin
Minutes
April Board of Governors Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday April 8, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Location
Directors Present
A. Graham (remote), B. Caldwell (remote), B. Williams-Kief (remote), C. McFadgion (remote), C. Wilkinson (remote), H. Rawlings (remote), K. Merritt (remote), L. Ballenger (remote), L. Rucker (remote), P. Mara (remote), R. Dalal (remote), T. Morgan (remote)
Directors Absent
C. McGurn, K. Osagie, N. McCoy
Guests Present
D. Smith (remote), Glenn Kautt (remote), J. Kelly (remote), K. Cromwell (remote), M. Fleming (remote), P. Anderson (remote), T. Porter (remote), Y. Tse (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C. Wilkinson called a meeting of the board of directors of Washington Latin to order on Thursday Apr 8, 2021 at 6:05 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
C. Wilkinson made a motion to approve the minutes from March Board of Governors Meeting on 03-04-21.
L. Ballenger seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. Caldwell |
Aye
|
| K. Merritt |
Aye
|
| N. McCoy |
Absent
|
| P. Mara |
Aye
|
| K. Osagie |
Absent
|
| A. Graham |
Aye
|
| L. Rucker |
Aye
|
| B. Williams-Kief |
Aye
|
| L. Ballenger |
Aye
|
| C. McFadgion |
Aye
|
| C. McGurn |
Absent
|
| T. Morgan |
Aye
|
| C. Wilkinson |
Aye
|
| R. Dalal |
Aye
|
| H. Rawlings |
Aye
|
II. HOS Report and School Update
A.
Update on what is happening at the school right now
- Opening for Hybrid Learning on Monday 4/12 with 250+ students in grades 5-9; students will be on campus two full days/week
- Many new COVID-related policies/resources in place including around quarantines, mask-wearing (and mask breaks), COVID testing (symptomatic and asymptomatic), one-way traffic flow inside and outside building, social/emotional support for students and faculty, etc.
B.
Q&A on written HOS report
- Mayor has issued new guidance on graduation; Latin plans to return to Bengie's which should meet all protocols/requirements
- Mayor personally met with LEA leaders to mandate that all schools open in-person 5 days/week in the fall; also announced a proposed UPSFF increase of 3.6% as well as an increase in monies allocated for serving for At-Risk and ELL students
- DC has been approved for a PARCC waiver
III. At-Risk Preference
A.
PCSB Policy Under Consideration
- PCSB is working how schools will apply to use the newly-available At-Risk preference.
- Guidelines for applying are scheduled to be released June 1 and applications will be due July 15.
- Specifics of the policy as of now include a requirement that schools who elect the preference must implement within two years and keep it in place for five years, and can then renew for a five-year period. Schools can apply to discontinue after two years.
IV. Charter Renewal
A.
Revised Bylaws
PCSB requested revised bylaws as a condition of charter renewal. Kearney Shanahan is reviewing the proposed changes which include:
- changing the legal name of the school to drop the "The Corporation of" formulation
- staggered terms for Board Members to allow for continuity;
- specific language about notice of board meetings and sharing of minutes (per OMA);
- adding that governors cannot be relieved of their liability; specify each office shall be held by a different person
B.
Revised Mission-specific goal
- PCSB did not accept our proposed language on charter goals, where we said we will use the PMF as currently written as our goals (as we have for many years) but would not automatically accept any changes PCSB makes to the PMF as our goals.
- PCSB offered alternative language regarding Out of School Suspension and we are reviewing thier proposed definition.
V. Development
A.
Donor Proposal
- A donor has brought to the Board a proposal to create a 501(c)(3) foundation to support Latin. The Foundation would have a separate board and the school could then apply to the foundation for funding.
- Purpose would be to set aside money to meet long-term goals and plan for the future and to influence longer term fiscal policy for the organization and build investment expertise.
- Kearney Shanahan to review language defining the relationship between the Latin Board and the Foundation Board and how control would work between the two organizations.
VI. Growth Dashboard
A.
Leadership/Talent Pipeline
We have hired an assistant director for the Middle School and the Upper School and have opened up applications for assistant principal at Latin B with much interest both from within the US and worldwide.
B.
Fundraising
Conversation was tabled in the interest of time.
VII. Executive Session
A.
Latest on Facilities
The board went into executive session at 7:12 pm to discuss current contract negotiations regarding facilities. This is in accordance with the Open Meetings Act §2-575(b) subsection (3) To discuss, establish, or instruct the public body’s staff or negotiating agents concerning the position to be taken in negotiating incentives relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses or business activities in the District.
Item A: Update on continuing negotiations for potential space for a second campus.
The board returned from Executive Session at 7:45 pm
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
B. Caldwell made a motion to Adjourn the Meeting.
P. Mara seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. Caldwell |
Aye
|
| C. McGurn |
Absent
|
| A. Graham |
Aye
|
| H. Rawlings |
Aye
|
| C. McFadgion |
Aye
|
| T. Morgan |
Aye
|
| L. Ballenger |
Aye
|
| C. Wilkinson |
Aye
|
| P. Mara |
Aye
|
| R. Dalal |
Aye
|
| L. Rucker |
Aye
|
| N. McCoy |
Absent
|
| K. Merritt |
Aye
|
| K. Osagie |
Absent
|
| B. Williams-Kief |
Aye
|
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
M. Fleming