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Living School

Living School Board & Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday January 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM CST

Location

Maroon, 1205 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA

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.  At the end of each agenda item, there will be a time for public comment.  Members of the public wishing to comment on any agenda item, may raise their hand at this designated time and be recognized by the 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 Chair at least 24 hours notice to be added to the agenda.  We will strive to accommodate longer items but cannot guarantee room on a given meeting's agenda.

Agenda

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 6:00 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Record Attendance and Guests   Stefin Pasternak
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Kieta Mutepfa 10 m
   

Acknowledge the upcoming resignation of Board Chair Kieta Mutepfa

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Acknowledging the final Board Meeting for Vice Chair Mandi Lehnherr (2 Terms) of service to the Board of Directors.

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Welcome prospective Board Members Dr. Gail Thomas-Batiste & Blake Bertuccelli-Booth

  
  C. Approve Board Meeting Agenda Vote Kieta Mutepfa 3 m
   

To approve the agenda for this meeting as posted.

  
  D. Approve Board Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Kieta Mutepfa 3 m
   

It is the expectation that Board Members have reviewed the previous meeting's minutes prior to today's meeting.

  
    Approve minutes for Living School Board & Committee Meeting on November 15, 2023  
  E. Elect new Board Officers Vote Kieta Mutepfa 10 m
   

For 1-year terms:

 

  
II. Committee Meetings 6:26 PM
  A. Finance & Development Committee Meeting Discuss David Armstead 20 m
   
  1. Review Final Audit Reports for FY23 and Audit Engagement Letters for FY24
  2. Review October, November, & December 2023 Financials (from Mike Dunn, attached)
  3. Review Proposed Staff Retention Stipend Plan (see below, to come from revised FY24 Budget approved last meeting)
  4. Discuss plan to open new account and ask private donors for permission to move funds

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PROPOSAL: LSNO Staff Retention Stipends for Spring 2024
 

To honor our staff's hard work during this challenging year and incentivize the retention of all members of our team through the end of the year, we propose using about 1/3 of our cash reserves to offer stipends to staff who complete their contract with us this year.

 

We propose offering $4,000 to each staff member who completes their current contract through 6/30/24.  We propose paying this out as follows:

 

  1. 1st Installment of $1,000 with 3/31/24 payroll after completing the 3rd Quarter.
  2. 2nd Installment of $4,000 with 6/30/24 payroll after completing the year.

We have 35 staff members, so the proposed cost will be $140,000 if we offer this as before-tax stipends or about $168,000 if we offer these as after-tax stipends.

  
  B. Academic & Culture Committee Meeting Discuss 20 m
   
  1. Review Data Dashboard with Ashona Winzy
  2. Continue to work on CEO Evaluation & Succession process with metrics
  3. Discuss Committee Leadership Succession
  
III. CEO Board Report 7:06 PM
  A. CEO Report Discuss Stefin Pasternak 10 m
   

Refer to CEO Report

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Next Chapter Planning

1. Public-Facing Info Doc

2. Internal Planning Doc

  
IV. Voting Items 7:16 PM
  A. Approved Staff Retention Stipend Proposal Vote Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   

PROPOSAL: LSNO Staff Retention Stipends for Spring 2024
 

To honor our staff's hard work during this challenging year and incentivize the retention of all members of our team through the end of the year, we propose using about 1/3 of our cash reserves to offer stipends to staff who complete their contract with us this year.

 

We propose offering $4,000 to each staff member who completes their current contract through 6/30/24.  We propose paying this out as follows:

 

  1. 1st Installment of $1,000 with 3/31/24 payroll after completing the 3rd Quarter.
  2. 2nd Installment of $4,000 with 6/30/24 payroll after completing the year.

We have 35 staff members, so the proposed cost will be $140,000 if we offer this as before-tax stipends or about $168,000 if we offer these as after-tax stipends.

  
  B. Approve authorization to open new Bank Account Vote Stefin Pasternak 5 m
   

Whereas, Living School's charter contract with the Orleans Parish School Board will end on 6/30/24 requiring the return of all unused public funds to NOLA Public School;

 

Whereas, Living School's public and private funds are currently commingled in our accounts with OnPath Federal Credit Union;


Therefore be it resolved, that the Board of Directors of Living School, hereby acknowledge and approve that the CEO establish a new checking and savings account with a new bank or credit union to maintain separate control over our private funds.

  
V. Discussion Items 7:26 PM
  A. Committee Reports FYI Kieta Mutepfa 10 m
   

Finance & Development Committee report from _______

Academic & Culture Committee report from _____

  
VI. Closing Items 7:36 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting FYI Kieta Mutepfa
   

Next meeting: Tue 3/12/24 @ 6 - 8 PM @ Living School