Lowcountry Montessori School
Minutes
October Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday October 26, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Location
Lowcountry Montessori School
Directors Present
A. Moody, C. Blumenstein, D. Fent, D. Pickett, I. Deysach, M. Altice, P. Chester, S. Wiggins
Directors Absent
C. Lucas, K. Wiley, S. Lemstrom
Guests Present
A. Horn, C. Heyward, M. Zappia, S. Fox
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
P. Chester called a meeting of the board of directors of Lowcountry Montessori School to order on Thursday Oct 26, 2017 at 6:33 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
S. Wiggins made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 09-28-17 Board Meeting on 09-28-17.
D. Fent seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Director's Report
A.
October update
A. Horn provided general school update. Working on updates to charter to be submitted to SCPCSD by end of year. Test score discussion continued in Academic Excellence committee report.
III. Committee Reports
A.
Governance
Has not yet met and will meet next week or two.
Possible new board appointment – has International Montessori experience.
Possible new board appointment – has International Montessori experience.
B.
Academic Excellence
- Scores provided on state dept of education site – scores are not good, comparative schools had a decrease as well when going to electronic testing by about 4%, but we were approximately 10%. Have applied for paper testing this year.
- Doing test prep with children.
- Utilizing MobiMax and other programs to work with kids to adapt to the testing and prepare kids for testing.
- Implementing the DRA2 assessment to better identify quantifiable data for kids as well as identify individual needs
C.
Finance
Review of September 2017 financial reports.
45-day count down, but not as far as expected. Budget may need adjusting due to loss
45-day count down, but not as far as expected. Budget may need adjusting due to loss
I. Deysach made a motion to approve financial reports.
M. Altice seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Facilities
- Discussion of schedule for Q&A meeting.
- Playground: $15-285,000 expenditure estimate exploring all possibilities and still researching.
- New structure: $150,000 phase 1 Concrete Pad, Phase 2 pad and steel frame pavilion approximately total $250,000.
- Careful how it is marketed so that it is properly permitted.
- Traffic Study: we are still within the initial traffic study and impact assessment.
E.
Fundraising
Raise the Roof and capital campaign – creating a package so that we can prospect and have available and visible.
IV. General Board Business
A.
Welcome and seating of new members
Officially welcomed and seated Carolyn Blumenstein.
B.
Discussion on appointment of new board member
Tabled until next meeting; governance has not met and board members have not reviewed the latest application.
C.
Nominations for new officers
President - Alex
Vice President - Dwayne
Secretary - Sarhi
Treasurer - Patrick
Vice President - Dwayne
Secretary - Sarhi
Treasurer - Patrick
The new slate of officers was voted on and approved unanimously.
D.
New Business
C. Blumenstein noted PCSASC conference in Charleston week of 11/13
A. Horn noted that board members can receive e-mail newsletters from PCSASC
A. Horn noted that board members can receive e-mail newsletters from PCSASC
E.
Old Business
No old business to discuss.
V. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
No public comments at this meeting.
VI. Executive Session (Closed to Public)
A.
Discussion of Confidential Personnel and Student-Related Matters
M. Altice made a motion to enter executive session at 7:40 p.m.
D. Pickett seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
M. Altice made a motion to leave executive session at 8:15 p.m.
D. Fent seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
No votes taken on matters discussed in executive session.
VII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
M. Altice made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
D. Pickett seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Wiggins