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Living School

Living School Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday November 19, 2019 at 7:15 PM CST

Location

Living School, 6003 Bullard Ave., New Orleans, LA 70128
All are welcome at Living School Board Meetings.  Translation is available with 24 hours notice.  Public comment is welcome on any item on the agenda.  Members of the public wishing to comment, may raise their hand and be recognized by the Board Chair to speak for up to 2 minutes per person, per agenda item.  On any matter up for a vote, public comment must be heard prior to taking the Board's vote.  For members of the public wishing to address the Board for longer than 2 minutes on any given agenda item, please give the Board Chair at least 24 hours notice to be added to the agenda.

Agenda

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 7:15 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Rosland Brown
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Mark Lister
  C. Approve Minutes from previous Board Meeting Approve Minutes Mark Lister 5 m
    Approve minutes for Board Meeting on September 17, 2019  
II. CEO Support & Evaluation Committee 7:20 PM
  A. Committee FY20 Goals FYI Mark Lister 5 m
   

GOAL 1: Conduct a comprehensive & effective end-of-the-year CEO evaluation
- Task 1.1: Conduct baseline CEO evaluation (8/30/19).
- Task 1.2: Develop a way to incorporate student & family feedback into the CEO evaluation (4/1/20).
- Task 1.3: Conduct Year 1 CEO evaluation (6/30/20).

GOAL 2: Steward effective climate & culture
- Task 2.1: Establish a system for collating and distributing the data and information from each committee (9/30/19).

  
  B. CEO Report Discuss Stefin Pasternak 15 m
   
Refer to CEO Report
 
III. Finance & Facilities Committee 7:40 PM
  A. Committee FY20 Goals FYI Danneka Tassin Mitchell 5 m
   

GOAL 1: Monitor Organizational Sustainability
- Task 1.1: Develop protocol for using monthly dashboard (8/31/19).
- Task 1.2: Conduct annual audit (6/30/20).
- Task 1.3: Monitor FY20 Budget and revise as needed (6/30/20).

GOAL 2: Plan for expansion
- Task 2.1: Build variations in our financial model for different future circumstances.
- Task 2.2: Build facilities plans and decision making timeline for future circumstances.

GOAL 3: Approve CIPA Policy

  
  B. Finance Dashboard & Report Discuss Joe Daschbach 10 m
  C. Q1 Financial Statements Discuss Joe Daschbach 10 m
  D. Student Fee Schedule & Policy Discuss Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   

The Louisiana Legislature passed RS 17:406.9 in the most recent legislative session requiring schools to adopt & post a Fee Policy & Schedule including the following by 12/1/19:

  • A description of each student fee
  • The dollar amount of each fee
  • The collection method of each fee
  • The deadline by which each student fee is due and desired method of payment
  • A description of how economic hardships will be accommodated


Based on a recommendation from the School Leader Forum, we proposed to the Family Council that Living School adopt a year-long comprehensive fee that covers all expenses for the year.  We will allow any family that requests partial or full relief from the fee be granted said relief without question or proof furnished.  The Family Council has approved this plan and we will publish it by the end of the month.

  
IV. Academic & Culture Committee 8:10 PM
  A. Committee FY20 Goals FYI Mandi Lehnherr 5 m
   
GOAL 1: Support the hiring & training of a strong founding team.
- Task 1.1: Review Staff Odyssey calendar to make sure it's comprehensive & appropriate (6/15/19).
- Task 1.2: Complete 1st quarter pop-in observations and debriefs (9/30/19).

GOAL 2: Develop annual evaluation tools, processes, and metrics for academics & culture
- Task 2.1: Develop Academic & Culture dashboard to track data at monthly meetings (8/31/19).
- Task 2.2: Align Graduate Profile, Staff Development Rubric, & Academic/Culture dashboard to the mission (10/31/19).
 
  B. Approve Updated 2019-20 Calendar Vote Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   

The following changes to our School Calendar were approved by our Staff Council on 9/18/19 to be presented to the Board:

  • Take Memorial Day (5/25/20) off to be made up by extra instructional minutes on Exhibition Weeks.
  • Move Staff Odyssey to 4/6/20 - 4/10/20 (currently 3/23/20 - 3/27-20)
  • Eliminate Spring Break (currently 3/30/20 - 4/3/20)
  • Rename break from 5/4/20 - 5/8/20 Spring Break (currently Sowing Break)
  • End school 1 week earlier on 6/5/20 (currently 6/12/20)
  
V. Development & Recruitment Committee 8:20 PM
  A. Committee FY20 Goals FYI Richard Ashmore 5 m
   
Goal 1: Recruit 80 students for each class 
- Task 1.1: Recruit 80 students for Class of 2023 (10/1/19)
- Task 1.2: Recruit 80 students for Class of 2024 (6/30/20)

Goal 2: Raise $150K (+$10K for every student under 80 that we enroll).
 
VI. Governance Committee 8:25 PM
  A. Committee FY20 Goals FYI India King-Robins 5 m
   

Goal 1: Clarify Board recruitment & composition strategy
- Task 1.1: Meet with Richard about donor cultivation events.
- Task 1.2: Create list of Board needs.
- Task 1.3: Create list of community members to cultivate.
- Task 1.4: Host board cultivation events.

Goal 2: Implement & improve Board development plan
- Task 2.1: Improve Board participation, effectiveness, independence, & consistency.
- Task 2.2: Raise funds for Board development & refreshments.

Goal 3: Improve communications
- Task 3.1: Utilize Board Members with large social media followings to increase communication across lines of difference.
- Task 3.2: Create an emergency communication plan.

  
  B. Vote Britany Holmes-Nick onto the Board Vote Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   
She is the elected Chair of the Family Council
 
  C. Vote Nakeshia Kyle onto the Board Vote Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   

She is the elected Parent Board Member

  
  D. Introduce Traci Simon FYI India King-Robins 5 m
   

Prospective Treasurer.  Will join as an Advisory Board Member until February when we will elect her onto the Board as Treasurer pending positive performance.

  
VII. Board Business 8:45 PM
  A. Committee Structure Discuss Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   

Do 5 committees feel important to serve the organization or does it make sense to consolidate expertise into 3 committees:

- Academics, Culture, & CEO Evaluation
- Finance, Facilities, Development, & Recruitment
- Governance

  
VIII. Closing Items 8:50 PM
  A. Review Upcoming Dates FYI Stefin Pasternak 1 m
   
Refer to Board Calendar
- Tue 10/1 - Semi-annual reporting deadline
- Tue 10/8 - Overcoming Racism Training
- Tue 10/15 - Committee & Board Meetings
 
  B. Adjourn Meeting Vote Mark Lister