American Dream Charter School

Minutes

ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting

SY22-23

Date and Time

Monday June 12, 2023 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

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

Trustees Absent

T. Hernandez

Guests Present

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

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

R. Espinal called a meeting of the board of trustees of American Dream Charter School to order on Monday Jun 12, 2023 at 5:36 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

R. Espinal made a motion to approve the minutes from ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting on 05-15-23.
Z. Martinez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Educational Success

A.

BENCHMARK 1: Student Performance

M. Melkonian

  • 8th graders completed science exam. 
  • Wednesday we are starting Regents exams.
  • Regents data by end of June'23.
  • 8th grade data in Fall'23.

B.

BENCHMARK 2: Teaching and Learning

M. Melkonian

  • Last week of instruction.
  • 8th graders currently in June Minimester. Journaling and traveling.
  • Bilingual discussion for staff will speak about in the near future. 

C.

BENCHMARK 3: Culture, Climate, and Student and Family Engagement

M. Melkonian

  • Highlight EOY School Events/Ceremonies.
    • MS 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony - June 22nd
  • HS Graduation - June 23rd
    • Will be present:
      • Charter School Office Executive Director Dr. Lisa Long & Regent Amina Ferrera
      • Civic Builders and others
      • R. Espinal & L. Rojas with guests 
      • P. Simon & A. Cabrera unsure if attending

III. Organizational Soundness

A.

BENCHMARK 4: Financial Condition

N. Gallagher 

  • All account balances reviewed.


Accounting Solutions NY D. Bahl & A. Liu

  • Review Board Report with Board of Trustees this evening.

B.

BENCHMARK 5: Financial Management

C.

BENCHMARK 6: Board Oversight and Governance

  • M. Melkonian - RENEWAL
    • Annual Board Evaluation L. Rojas will meet with Board of Trustees to have an Executive Session to complete the evaluation for SY22-23.
    • Set to have our renewal application in for August 15, 2023.

 

N. Gallagher

  • Guidance and advised to continue a practice of Strategic Planning. 
  • N. Gallagher will create a tool with L. Rojas approval so this can be completed by the Board of Trustees. 
  • SY23-24 to gather the initial thoughts of planning for next year.

N. Gallagher 

  • Board Serve NY
    • 6 resumes
    • S. Espinal will make follow up calls to the 4 candidates to see if they're interested in ADCS to join the Board.
    • P. Simon asked to collect 5 - 6 resumes before July'23 Board Meeting.
      • Seeking 5 - 10 years of experience. 
      • Looked at $20M+ if they have $10M placed in the filter. 


Fiesta for Firsts (6/13/23)

  • L. Rojas - purchased tickets
  • R. Espinal & P. Simon will be in attendance.

 

D.

BENCHMARK 7: Organizational Capacity

IV. Faithfulness to Charter & Law

A.

BENCHMARK 8: Mission and Key Design Elements

M. Melkonian

  • Received $260k grant to run Summer Boost. 
  • Must submit a material revision. 
  • N. Gallagher will submit this in to NYSED.
  • This is a new requirement to run the program with charter revision.

B.

BENCHMARK 9: Enrollment, Recruitment, and Retention

C. Miranda 

Reviewed 6 - 12 grade School Mint enrollment numbers.

  • 6th Grade: 
    • Offered - 18
    • Accepted - 3
    • In Progress - 7
    • Completed - 75
  • 7th Grade: 
    • Offered - 2
    • In Progress - 2
  • 8th Grade:
    • In Progress - 1
  • 9th Grade: 
    • In Progress - 2
    • Completed - 11  

C.

BENCHMARK 10: Legal Compliance

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:57 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
R. Espinal