Download minutes PDF Minutes Approved

River Valley Charter School

Minutes

Executive Committee Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday April 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Location

River Valley Charter School

Middle School Great Room

River Valley Charter School welcomes your participation at Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Trustees (“Board”) is to conduct the affairs of the organization in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our school and assists the Board in making the best decisions for our school. To assist you in the ease of speaking/participating in our meetings, guidelines are provided at the bottom of this agenda. All materials for all board and committee meetings, are available on our Board on track public portal found at rivervalleycharter.org.

Committee Members Present

C. Getz, C. Whitford, J. Nickerson, T. Murdy

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

K. Kuse

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

T. Murdy called a meeting of the Executive Committee Committee of River Valley Charter School to order on Wednesday Apr 8, 2026 at 7:04 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

C. Getz made a motion to approve the minutes from Executive Committee Committee Meeting on 03-04-26.
C. Whitford seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Director Update

A.

Director Update

A. School Calendar

  • Administration proposed Tuesday, September 1, 2026 as the first day of school.
  • Discussion occurred regarding the proposed last day of school and alignment with Newburyport Public Schools.
  • It was clarified that bylaws require Board approval of the school calendar, with flexibility regarding first and last day approvals.

B. Enrollment Update

  • Current enrollment stands at 287 students, reflecting one recent withdrawal.
  • Due to statutory limits, the seat cannot be filled after the February cutoff.
  • Enrollment projections for 2026–2027 indicate the school will be fully enrolled at 288 students with a total waitlist of 187 students across grades.
  • Administration reported strong demand across all grade levels. 

C. Assessment and Program Updates

  • MCAS testing is underway; ELA testing completed with remaining assessments scheduled after a break.
  • Administration announced the return of the Maritime Mixer at the Custom House Museum on May 7, 2026, to support community connection for incoming families. 

D. Place-Based Education (PBE) Discussion

  • The committee discussed the distinction between Montessori “going out” experiences and Place-Based Education (PBE).
  • Administration proposed forming a diverse focus group (parents, staff, and potentially students) to reflect varied perspectives and reimagine the PBE program in a sustainable way.
  • No formal action was taken; discussion to continue. 

E. Grounds and Facilities Update

  • An update was provided on the playground project, including inspection timelines.
  • Administration confirmed the playground will not be used prior to passing inspection.
  • Target inspection dates are April 22, 2026, with May 6, 2026 as a contingency date.
  • Progress on easement approvals continues; approval would trigger release of CPA funds.
C. Getz made a motion to To approve Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as the first day of school.
C. Whitford seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

III. Executive Committee

A.

Executive Committee

Finance Committee Update

  • January financials show the school tracking favorably to budget.
  • Budget planning for FY27 is underway, with conservative assumptions pending DESE updates.
  • Salary planning focuses on equity and sustainability, with across-the-board increases projected between 3%–3.5%.

Governance and Board Operations

  • Ongoing work discussed related to: 
    • Executive Director evaluation framework
    • Succession planning
    • Bylaws and policy consolidation
  • Trustees confirmed adoption of school-issued email accounts to support Open Meeting Law compliance and public records requirements.

IV. 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 7:56 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
T. Murdy

THE ORDER OF BUSINESS MAY BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the order of consideration of matters on this agenda may be changed without prior notice.

REASONABLE LIMITATIONS MAY BE PLACED ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY The Board Chair reserves the right to impose reasonable time limits on public testimony to ensure that the agenda is completed.