American Dream Charter School
Minutes
ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting
SY24-25
Date and Time
Monday July 22, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Location
403 Concord Avenue
Bronx, NY 10454
Trustees Present
A. Cabrera (remote), L. Rojas (remote), P. Simon (remote), R. Espinal (remote), Z. Martinez (remote)
Trustees Absent
None
Guests Present
M. Melkonian (remote), N. Gallagher (remote), S. Espinal (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 Jul 22, 2024 at 5:35 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
L. Rojas made a motion to approve the minutes from ADCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting on 06-17-24.
R. Espinal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Executive Session - HR Matters
II. Educational Success
A.
BENCHMARK 1: Student Performance
B.
BENCHMARK 2: Teaching and Learning
- Summer Boost Update
- 2nd week is finished, and we are in week 3. The kids are going on trips.
- Summer boost students are going to Six Flags on Friday and having a carnival next week.
- The director, Felix Sanchez, is doing a good job.We are looking into what instructional support staff need.
- DR. Jose Medina Will join us in August to support staff.
- DR. Jose Medina Will join us in August to support staff.
- Regents Prep Update
- Preparing students for best outcomes.
C.
BENCHMARK 3: Culture, Climate, and Student and Family Engagement
III. Organizational Soundness
A.
BENCHMARK 4: Financial Condition
- Account balances
- Updates given by N. Gallagher.
B.
BENCHMARK 5: Financial Management
C.
BENCHMARK 6: Board Oversight and Governance:
- ADS Workplace Violence Prevention Policy Statement
- A new law that went into effect this year. This training will be part of regular yearly programming.
- The policy has to be approved by the board.
- N. Gallagher will notify staff on August 23. Notices will be posted in the main office and around the building.
- P. Simon suggests that this be included in the staff handbook, and N. Gallagher will add it.
- District and School Safety Plans - Public Meeting to receive feedback (Wednesday 8/14)
- The safety plan has not been edited. N. Gallagher will make edits after all stakeholders are involved in mid-August and will be brought to the board at the following meeting.
- Annual Report Update
- Financial Disclosure Doc sent via Docusign
- N. Gallagher sent this to board members via email to personal emails.
- Board Self Assessment (via BoardOnTrack)
- To be completed
- N. Gallagher sent the link for this assessment on 7/22/2024
- Strategic Planning: Extend goal identified in the last strategic plan survey which were: Fundraising, Succession plan, Board recruitment and expansion, School visits throughout the year
- More frequent School visits
- fundraising
- Strategic planning
- Board Recruitment
- Financial Disclosure Doc sent via Docusign
L. Rojas made a motion to Approve ADS Workplace Violence Prevention Policy Statement.
P. Simon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
BENCHMARK 7: Organizational Capacity
Staffing update
- Open Positions
- MS Spanish
- 2 HS Math
- HS Chemistry/Earth Science
- 12 positions filled
- 2 returning staff members re-assigned new roles
IV. Faithfulness to Charter & Law
A.
BENCHMARK 8: Mission and Key Design Elements
B.
BENCHMARK 9: Enrollment, Recruitment, and Retention
Projected Enrollment update for SY24-25
- 6th grade - 84
- 7th grade - 86
- 8th grade - 86
- 9th grade - 87
- 10th grade - 97
- 11th grade - 85
- 12th grade - 70
Total projected enrollment: 595 students
L. Rojas- Has the number of special education students increased?
N. Gallagher will have an update for the August meeting.
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 6:09 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
L. Rojas