American Dream Charter School

Minutes

ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting

SY22-23

Date and Time

Monday October 17, 2022 at 5:30 PM

Location

American Dream Charter School

403 Concord Ave, Bronx, NY 10454, USA, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3880187236

Hybrid Virtual 

Trustees Present

L. Rojas (remote), P. Simon (remote), R. Espinal (remote), Z. Martinez (remote)

Trustees Absent

A. Cabrera, T. Hernandez

Guests Present

C. Miranda, M. Melkonian (remote), N. Gallagher (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

L. Rojas called a meeting of the board of trustees of American Dream Charter School to order on Monday Oct 17, 2022 at 5:36 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

L. Rojas made a motion to approve the attached minutes from September 2022 ADCS Board of Trustee Meeting.
R. Espinal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Finance

A.

Account Balance Review

N. Gallagher

  • Per pupil funding 
  • July final approval for invoicing from last SY
  • Received money back from NYS 

B.

N. Gallagher - Reviewed Finances

All account balances reviewed.

III. Executive

A.

School-Wide Updates

M.Melkonian-

  • 1st Hispanic World Fair Day (Friday, October 14, 2022)
    •  Media Coverage - shared video coverage with BoT Members. 
    • Students want to plan more monthly events.
    • Huge success. 
  • One of the strongest years we've had to date. Momentum is there. Staff morale is high.

B.

SY21-22 Audit

N. Gallagher

  • Received ESSER funds due to COVID. 
  • We will be having a 2nd audit for these funds.
  • Currently in the process with the audit. On track to complete for the deadline on Nov. 1st.

IV. Governance

A.

Re-Approve Board Bylaws

N. Gallagher - 

M. Melkonian Director of School language needs to be removed 

Deletion of the 1-liner. Director of school shall be a non-voting member of the school.

 

Motion to re-approve our bylaws to remove 

2nd roselin

unanimously approved 5:49pm

L. Rojas made a motion to reapprove ADCS bylaws to remove the 1-liner including the Director of school shall be a non-voting member of the school.
R. Espinal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Adopt District Wide Safety Plan

N. Gallagher 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/626c124886867e5389c09d17/t/633e104fb80b745e992cb60a/1665011793182/District+Wide+Safety+Plan+SY2223.pdf

 

Elements tailored to our school. 

Very typical language about ADS District Wide Safety Plan. 

Posted on website, submitted to NYS, usually happens annually in July.

 

Motion to adopt ADCS SY22-23 District Wide Safety Plan.

 

P. Simon - how many times do we do the drills? 

N. Gallagher - 12 drills including lockdowns are conducted annually. 8 drills (60%) happen before January 1st.

 

L. Rojas - What's nearby for students to go to in case of an emergency?

This is public - specificity is in our school safety plan which is kept private.

ADS Middle School, South Bronx Charter School for Children, Randall's Island.

 

Motion to adopt ADCS SY22-23 District Wide Safety Plan can be completed by Friday for all staff.
NG will send out via email. 

 

 

C.

Adopt Open Meetings Law (OML)

N. Gallagher

Paul - Videoconferencing OML 103A

Board Resolution needed.

Circulate via docusign for all BoT to approve and sign.

N. Gallagher read the docusign document. This is so ADCS is in alignment with NYS standards. This is a separate law which we have to adopt. Can continue to have the meetings as is. Candace Miranda will be on campus with the location listed.

Guidance offered for privacy of BoT members private space. 
Everyone must be on camera during the meeting.

-L. Rojas 

Congratulations to Melissa Melkonian for being a Blue Ribbon Member. 

 

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

R. espinal seconded by 

unanimously approved 

6:02pm

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:02 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Rojas