Lowcountry Montessori School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 23, 2020 at 5:30 PM

Location

meet.google.com/ojp-hamt-tgr
‪+1 240-776-5768‬ PIN: ‪391 768 337‬#
The mission of Lowcountry Montessori School is to provide an authentic Montessori education building a foundation for lifelong learning.

Directors Present

A. Moody (remote), C. Lucas (remote), J. Dameworth (remote), K. Recchia (remote), P. Chester (remote), S. Lemstrom (remote), T. Vande Burgt (remote)

Directors Absent

D. Fent, G. Alexander

Guests Present

A. Horn (remote), Michael Bell, Michael Kirby, S. Fox (remote), Taylor Lloyd

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

S. Lemstrom called a meeting of the board of directors of Lowcountry Montessori School to order on Thursday Apr 23, 2020 at 5:32 PM.

C.

Reading of the Mission Statement

D.

Approval of Agenda

T. Vande Burgt made a motion to re-order agenda for USDA to speak before public comment section.
P. Chester seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
J. Dameworth made a motion to approve agenda as re-ordered.
C. Lucas seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Statement of Compliance with FOIA

F.

Approve Minutes from Previous Meeting

A. Moody made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 03-26-20.
T. Vande Burgt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

G.

Approve Minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting

A. Moody made a motion to approve the minutes from Finance Committee Meeting on 04-20-20.
T. Vande Burgt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

H.

Approve minutes from the Governance Committee Meeting

A. Moody made a motion to approve the minutes from Governance Committee Meeting on 04-21-20.
T. Vande Burgt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

I.

Approve minutes of Special Board Meeting

A. Moody made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board Meeting on 04-06-20.
T. Vande Burgt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

J.

Discuss Contractual Arrangement

K.

Facilities

Michael Kirby (Raymond James) presented that the USDA would not loan the total amount needed for the loan.  There is a difference of around $384,000 between appraised value and cost to close.  He began discussing three options to account for the short fall.

Clay Lucas made a point of order that this discussion was being had outside of executive session as the agenda called for it to be an executive summary discussion.  No ruling on the point of order was received and the discussion continued.

One option is to get an updated appraisal to see if more value exists. Another option is to acquire a loan using FF&E has colateral.  

Kim asked what data exists to suggest a 5% increase in property value.  Michael Kirby advised that the factor was time.  

Clay Lucas asked about the rule of order.  Sara overrulled.  Clay Lucas asked Amy about congressional input on the process.  Clay Lucas asked Michael Kirby about the three options and to clarify them.  He listed that the third option is for the school to provide cash to the project. Amy reported that she has not reached out to congressional support, doesn't see the point and believes that we are on verge of resolving this.

Patrick Chester advised to not under estimate congressional support.

Sara Lemstrom asked if there was precedence of USDA accepting FF&E. 

Tom Vandeburgt reported that he had sent an opinion from a family member that LMS was not likely to get a better loan deal.  

II. Public Comment

A.

Public comment period, limited to 3 minutes per person.

None

III. Director's Report

A.

April Update

Some students striving and some struggling with virtual learning.  Accommodations have been made for some families.  Michael Bell provided a disciplinary report.  CD with $35,929.93, facilities account $27,170.44 and security deposit of $50,000..  Admin staff working on draft procedures.  Ms. Rose would like board to stop by Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8-10am to have board pictures taken.    

IV. Committee Reports

A.

Governance

T. Vande Burgt made a motion to postpone the election until school is back in session and have elections within six weeks from that date.
A. Moody seconded the motion.
Governance committee did meet.  Discussed options to get ballots out.  Two options: mail-in/mail-out and postpone elections.  
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Governance committee recommends that the board vote to extend the terms of the existing board members with terms expiring in May.  
Governance committee recommends that the board vote to extend the terms of the existing board members with terms expiring in May.  
K. Recchia made a motion to extend the terms expiring in May until the completion of the election.
A. Moody seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Fent
Absent
J. Dameworth
Aye
C. Lucas
Abstain
T. Vande Burgt
Abstain
A. Moody
Aye
G. Alexander
Absent
K. Recchia
Aye
P. Chester
Aye
Had discussion on board officer elections in May. 

B.

Academic Excellence

Discussed upcoming virtual work days topic.  

C.

Finance

Looking at 25% being the goal at this point.  Unemployment is showing over budget but the school will be getting a refund due to errors earlier in the year.  Operations and Maintenance is showing about 30%.  LP looks pretty good.  Charter Side: not expecting local/pupil revenues.  New PPP loan came in today.  Final pupil count (135 day count).  Expense side: some services may not be utilized and some training shows overage but will likely be trued up with Tier II funds.  25% of PPP can be used for rent.  Clay Lucas asked to confirm that Taylor was projecting shortfalls in pupil activities revenues.  Alex Moody asked about the school safety line item. 

Taylor reviewed FY21 budget draft.  Teacher salary increases and based on 345 students, based on anticipated mortgage and short term loan.  PPP funds will not be in the FY21 budget.   
T. Vande Burgt made a motion to approve March financials.
A. Moody seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
P. Chester made a motion to table engagement of Prestige School Solutions.
T. Vande Burgt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Amy discussed Pre-K fees for next year.  Tom asked about the cost to run the classroom, Amy reported that it costs $300,000 covered by kindergarten student fees.  Alex asked about public funding for 4 year olds, Nothing is known yet.  Sara voiced her concern about the financial aspects and the charter coming up for renewal in 2024.  Clay asked about the compliance with non-required volunteer hours per family.  Amy reported that it is a small percentage.  Kim asked about survey results, Patrick reported that it was about 50/50.  

D.

Fundraising

No report

V. New Business

A.

Charter Amendment: Virtual Make Up Days

P. Chester made a motion to move to governance committee for review.
T. Vande Burgt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VI. Old Business

A.

COVID-19 Response

Matt reported no new changes in reference to technology.  Staff make efforts to reach out.  Meeting with each level, teachers are doing really well.  Clay Lucas asked about reporting one staff out reaches,etc.  Patrick asked about the value of that information.  Discussion ensued.  
T. Vande Burgt made a motion to refer the data collection requests as it relates to the COVID-19 response to the academic excellence committee.
S. Lemstrom seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

FY21 School Calendar

Will be voted on at the next meeting.  

VII. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

No motion made. 

VIII. Other Business

A.

Vote on matters from Executive Session, if required

No executive session.

IX. 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 7:57 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Lucas