Attendance

So far this year, the school-wide attendance rate has averaged 81%. Since October, the School has instituted improvements which have led to a 90% attendance rate as of March 17th. Specifically:

1. Teachers have been calling daily and logging calls. Research shows that if a teacher invested in a child calls if absent, the student is more likely to improve their attendance.
2. Automated calls go out daily at 10:30am to all unexcused scholars.
3. Attendance has been incentivized through public tracking and celebrations.
4. Social workers are tracking attendance rates, identifying key barriers for families, and crafting action plans to implement with specific scholars who struggle with attendance.
5. If other interventions are not working, we have resources through the Prosecutor's Office and the state to try and support families to get their children to school.

Staten reported for the committee.

The committee met this week to shift the metrics through which data will be presented to the board. Monthly meetings on the Tuesdays prior to the Thursday board meetings will occur. During the meetings, the committee will discuss the latest assessment data to be reported out to the board. Reading and math scores will be most detailed.

In addition to assessment data, the committee will share out attendance, enrollment, retention, and discipline data when applicable as well. Attendance, discipline, and enrollment will be included in monthly reports to the board. Retention data updates will occur in September, February, and May. Those months are due to the count days in September/February and then an analysis of Intent to Return totals for May.

A calendar will be shared each month to guide the Academic Committee meeting agendas, the timing of various sets of data, and when the committee will report out particular data.

These shifts better reflect the goals of the board within the strategic plan. 

Kainrath updated that the Finance Committee reviewed the fee structure from CIES. The committee asked the school leaders on potential other options as maintaining existing services would result in a significant increase of cost. The school leadership team will explore other options through a review and report back to the committee. The Finance Committee will then review the options and make a final decision to present to the full board for vote.

For key question #2 for OEI, describing the financial health of the organization, the School received the following responses from the Authorizer:

- short term financial health - exceeds standard

- long-term financial health - exceeds standard

- For the organization's ability to demonstrate clear procedures for finance, the School earned the highest evaluation of "Meets"

Burcope discussed the update in board recruitment. Last night, members of the committee were present at a board recruiting event hosted by OEI and 8 candidates were interested in Adelante Schools. 6 of the 8 were people of color. 4 of the 8 are southside community members. Further connections to other local charter boards are being pursued.

Burcope is following up with further southside community members referrals.

In May, the Committee will host the comp review, including the Executive Director review.

The DEI workbook, in collaboration with Education Board Partners through inquiry-based processes, will likely be presented by the Committee to the next board meeting.

Kainrath reported from the Strategic Retreat on Friday. With the number of members of the board as six, a shift in committees is required. Finance and Development will be merged. Governance and Diversity will be merged. 

A vote for the board structure is necessary to move forward.

At least 1/3 of the current board members must be in-person. For quorum, at least 4 have to be in-person with at least 2 being in-person to be in-line with Indiana's Open Door Law. As the board grows to 7, 4 required for quorum, but 3 would need to be in-person.

On April 1st, the Board has to submit proof of enrollment to the Department Education, the quarterly report, and the approved February minutes.