Washington Latin

Minutes

Monthly Board of Governors Meeting

April Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 7, 2022 at 5:30 PM

Directors Present

A. Graham (remote), B. Caldwell (remote), B. Williams-Kief (remote), C. McFadgion (remote), C. McGurn, C. Wilkinson (remote), H. Rawlings (remote), L. Rucker (remote), P. Mara (remote), T. Morgan (remote)

Directors Absent

K. Merritt, K. Osagie, L. Ballenger, N. McCoy

Guests Present

C. Gifford (remote), J. Kelly (remote), P. Anderson (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 7, 2022 at 6:04 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

C. McGurn made a motion to approve the minutes from Monthly Board of Governors Meeting on 03-03-22.
L. Rucker seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Rucker
Aye
B. Caldwell
Aye
K. Osagie
Absent
K. Merritt
Absent
C. McFadgion
Aye
A. Graham
Aye
C. Wilkinson
Aye
C. McGurn
Aye
H. Rawlings
Aye
N. McCoy
Absent
P. Mara
Aye
B. Williams-Kief
Aye
T. Morgan
Aye
L. Ballenger
Absent

D.

Approve Minutes

C. McGurn made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board of Governors Meeting on 03-22-22.
A. Graham seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Graham
Aye
C. Wilkinson
Aye
N. McCoy
Absent
P. Mara
Aye
K. Merritt
Absent
C. McFadgion
Aye
K. Osagie
Absent
B. Caldwell
Aye
C. McGurn
Aye
L. Rucker
Aye
T. Morgan
Aye
H. Rawlings
Aye
L. Ballenger
Absent
B. Williams-Kief
Aye

II. HOS Report and School Update

A.

Update on what is happening at the school right now

Lottery Update

  • Equitable access preference update
    • 2nd Street 
      • Offered (5th grade): 15
      • Matched 15 (100%)
      • Offered (other grades): 0
    • Cooper Campus
      • Offered (5th grade): 12
      • Matched: 3 (25%)
      • Offered (6th grade): 22
      • Matched: 18 (82%)

 

 

B.

Q&A on written HOS report

III. Growth Dashboard

A.

Updates

Updated the Board on the growth project plan 

  • On track in almost all areas for growth including facilities, communications, governance
  • Need to pick up our efforts to engage stakeholders, particularly our neighbors on Edgewood Street; renew our efforts to attend ANC meetings
    • Bringing ANC representative to Cooper Campus for a tour before we bring families 
  • Open houses/tours for new families occurring in the second and third week of April

B.

Areas of Concern

IV. Development

A.

Sweet 16

  • Latin's Sweet Sixteen Gala is happening on Thursday, May 19th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm 
  • Goal is to raise $100,000 and we are 36% of the way there as of now
  • Encouragement to invite networks as well as to sponsor a table at the gala 
  • Note from the Director of Development will be forthcoming on ways that Board members can be involved and support 
  • Most of the information is on the Events webpage 

Advocacy

  • Proposed rules from the Biden administration would make access to funding for charter schools harder
  • There is a push for people to express their opposition to this rule change
  • Charter school community is working to organize opposition 

V. Finance

A.

Latin Reserve Fund policy

  • Release current funds in the debt repayment reserve for use towards a permanent Cooper facilities
  • Lower the capital repair/replacement reserve to 200k to align with the remaining projects outlined by the DGS Facilities Condition Assessment
  • Lower the operating reserve target to a minimum of 60 days of operating expenses until FY 29-30
T. Morgan made a motion to approve proposed changes.
H. Rawlings seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Rucker
Aye
P. Mara
Aye
H. Rawlings
Aye
L. Ballenger
Absent
A. Graham
Aye
N. McCoy
Absent
B. Williams-Kief
Aye
C. McFadgion
Aye
K. Merritt
Absent
T. Morgan
Aye
C. Wilkinson
Aye
K. Osagie
Absent
B. Caldwell
Aye
C. McGurn
Aye

VI. Governance

A.

Q&A with board candidates

Questions for Elizabeth Pollitt Paisner, potential new Board member

  • Daughter is in 5th grade 
  • Works for real estate development firm in financial analysis 
  • Excited about joining the Board and has been interested in charter schools generally 
T. Morgan made a motion to Go into Executive Session.
A. Graham seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Caldwell
Aye
K. Osagie
Absent
T. Morgan
Aye
A. Graham
Aye
C. McGurn
Aye
L. Ballenger
Absent
B. Williams-Kief
Aye
H. Rawlings
Aye
K. Merritt
Absent
C. Wilkinson
Aye
L. Rucker
Aye
P. Mara
Aye
C. McFadgion
Aye
N. McCoy
Absent

VII. Executive Session

A.

Latest on Facilities

The Board discussed ongoing real estate negotiations for a long-term facility for the Cooper Campus.

B. Caldwell made a motion to end executive session.
A. Graham seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. McFadgion
Aye
N. McCoy
Absent
B. Caldwell
Aye
H. Rawlings
Aye
P. Mara
Aye
C. McGurn
Aye
B. Williams-Kief
Aye
K. Osagie
Absent
L. Rucker
Aye
A. Graham
Aye
C. Wilkinson
Aye
L. Ballenger
Absent
K. Merritt
Absent
T. Morgan
Aye
L. Rucker made a motion to approve Elizabeth Pollitt Paisner as a member of the Board.
B. Caldwell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Graham
Aye
L. Ballenger
Absent
K. Osagie
Absent
H. Rawlings
Aye
N. McCoy
Absent
T. Morgan
Aye
L. Rucker
Aye
B. Caldwell
Aye
B. Williams-Kief
Aye
C. Wilkinson
Aye
C. McGurn
Aye
C. McFadgion
Aye
P. Mara
Aye
K. Merritt
Absent

VIII. Closing Items

A.

End of year activites/future in-person meetings

Discussion of potential in-person event before the end of the school year. 

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Wilkinson