Paramount Schools of Excellence

Minutes

July Board of Directors

Date and Time

Tuesday July 14, 2020 at 5:30 PM

Location

Public Meeting Notice of Paramount Schools of Excellence Board of Directors

Board of Directors Meeting
July 14, 2020
5:30-6:15 PM

Executive Session as needed
6:30 PM

Topic: July PSOE Board Meeting
Time: July 14, 2020 05:30 PM Indiana (East)

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Meeting ID: 702 256 528

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Meeting ID: 702 256 528
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Directors Present

A. Bekele (remote), B. Eldridge (remote), C. Park (remote), J. Amu (remote), J. Hazzard, Jr. (remote), L. Smith (remote), M. Bishop (remote), T. Rude (remote)

Directors Absent

P. Blackard

Ex Officio Members Present

T. Reddicks (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

T. Reddicks (remote)

Guests Present

A. Wong (remote), B. Richardson (remote), Chris Larson, Dexter Taylor, E. Mendez (remote), H. Okerson (remote), J. Monk (remote), Justin Braun, Kyle Beauchamp, Lindsay Omlar, Nicole Guess, T. Gustin (remote), T. Palacios (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

T. Rude called a meeting of the board of directors of Paramount Schools of Excellence to order on Tuesday Jul 14, 2020 at 5:32 PM.

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

Lindsay Omlor from Trine spoke about their process for an intent to apply and more about the organization.
-Board members asked clarifying questions to learn more about the process and the organization's operating model.
Elsa Mendez introduced herself to the group.  She is interested in learning more about Paramount with the possibility of joining the Board.

III. Consent Agenda Review and Approval

A.

Review and approve minutes.

T. Rude made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors on 06-09-20.
J. Amu seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
P. Blackard
Absent
J. Hazzard, Jr.
Aye
A. Bekele
Absent
C. Park
Aye
M. Bishop
Aye
B. Eldridge
Aye
L. Smith
Aye
J. Amu
Aye
T. Rude
Aye

B.

Voucher Approval

T. Rude made a motion to Approve vouchers as distributed.
J. Amu seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Bishop
Aye
P. Blackard
Absent
C. Park
Aye
B. Eldridge
Aye
J. Amu
Aye
J. Hazzard, Jr.
Abstain
L. Smith
Aye
T. Rude
Aye
A. Bekele
Absent

IV. New Business

A.

Vote to approve B-10 OEI Incident Reporting Policy

T. Rude made a motion to approve the Incident Reporting Policy as distributed.
C. Park seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Rude
Aye
C. Park
Aye
J. Hazzard, Jr.
Aye
P. Blackard
Absent
A. Bekele
Absent
B. Eldridge
Aye
L. Smith
Aye
M. Bishop
Aye
J. Amu
Aye

B.

Virtual School Application Vote

J. Hazzard, Jr. made a motion to submit an intent to apply for a virtual charter through Trine.
B. Eldridge seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Bishop
Aye
L. Smith
Aye
J. Hazzard, Jr.
Aye
T. Rude
Aye
B. Eldridge
Aye
A. Bekele
Absent
P. Blackard
Absent
J. Amu
Aye
C. Park
Aye

C.

New Conflict of Interest Forms

Conflict of Interest forms were distributed with the board packet, and are due back to Jess by 7/31.

D.

Update on PCH and PEN Progress

All outstanding items listed below are scheduled to be completed prior to 7/23 unless otherwise noted.

Outstanding items for Cottage Home include:
  • Playground installation
  • Cores
  • Roller shade install
  • External signage
  • Internet (7/28)
  • Furniture Placement (last minor delivery 8/6)
  • Coffee Shop Install 
  • Ceiling Baffle/sound cloud installation
  • Art Walk installation
  • Punch list items 
  • elevator install (7/26)

Outstanding items for Englewood include:
  • Internet (7/28)
  • Furniture Placement (last minor delivery 8/15)
  • Coffee Shop Install 

OEI's walkthrough is 7/23. Both locations passed all city inspections.
 
Staffing includes dual pathways for brick and mortar and virtual.  About 20-23% of families have chosen the virtual option, which led to the creation of a 10 person virtual team to run a high-quality virtual program.  Paramount's version of synchronous learning is all grade level teachers (regardless of location or virtual) will follow the same curriculum map, assignments, and assessments.  This program was developed in collaboration with teachers, leaders, and parents.

E.

School Preparedness for Re-Entry

Parents are able to choose between brick and mortar and virtual, with the option to re-enter the building on the first of every month.  Specific teaching staff will oversee grade level virtual instruction, which will allow virtual students to get more personalized feedback and instruction from a licensed teacher.  This also allows in-person teachers to focus on the students in their classrooms.

Building safety plans have been established and school leaders have been trained in implementing the plans.  Additional supplies have been ordered and placed in schools to carry out these plans.

Lesson plans are due every Thursday (instead of the previous Friday due date) to allow for virtual teachers to have all plans and materials in place for the next week.  All virtual staff will be involved in building-level professional development, data meetings, and other meetings.

Virtual staff will office out of open classrooms in Cottage Home and Englewood (grade dependent).  Parent workshops will be run every Wednesday to provide support for parents with technology, reading instruction, and other areas of need related to virtual learning.
 

F.

Opportunity Committee

T. Rude shared the schools have formed an Opportunity Committee to address and close existing gaps related to race and ethnicity.  This includes gaps in student groups and gaps in staff groups.  This committee is made up of leaders within the school with the goal to identify gaps caused by systematic racism.

V. Operations Report

A.

Operations Report

Work completed to get all three schools prepared for the school year was shared by the Navigation Team.
 

B.

Principal Report Discussion

Principals shared work underway to get ready for the school year.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Next Meeting

August 11th
5:30 PM
Location TBD

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:59 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
T. Rude
Documents used during the meeting
  • 05-2020 Consolidated Financial Statements - PASCOF.xlsx
  • 06-2020 AP Voucher Register - PCH.pdf
  • 05-2020 Financial Statements - PBR.xlsx
  • 06-2020 Grant Reports - PEN.xlsx
  • 05-2020 Financial Statements - PEN.xlsx
  • 06-2020 AP Voucher Register - PBR.pdf
  • 05-2020 Financial Statements - PCH.xlsx
  • 06-2020 Grant Reports - PCH.xlsx
  • 06-2020 Grant Reports - PBR.xlsx
  • B-10 OEI Incident Reporting PolicyTRv2.docx
  • Conflict of Interest Form.docx
  • Blank OEI COI.pdf
  • PSOE Navigation Operations Report July 2020.pdf
  • PCH Ops June.pdf
  • July 2020- Paramount Brookside School Operations Report.pdf
  • PEN Ops July2020.pdf