BOT Meeting 1.8.26.pdf

Bex Wilusz, Parker Principal, reflected on her entry into Parker as our new principal and looked ahead through the end of the school year. 

Upon notice of her hire, Bex spent May and June reengaging with Parker and meeting with staff and students.

As the new principal Bex spent July through December continuing to build relationships with staff, students, and families. In addition, she familiarized herself with the charter renewal process, NEASC accreditation and the upcoming NEASC visit in March, and the Parker strategic plan. Her three instructional goals for the school year are:

1. Shape DEI work to reflect Parker's core values

2. Sustain Parker's culture of decency and respect

3. Coach students in ways that shape learning

Bex plans on spending more time in classrooms January through June, focusing on her three instructional goals, and paying particular attention to Tier 2 academic and behavioral/SEL supports.

Brian Harrigan asked for a definition of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 students. Bex explained that Tier 1 is all students receiving regular classroom instruction. Tier 2 students are 20 - 30% of the student body who need extra support inside the classroom. Tier 3 students are students who need specialized support both inside and outside the classroom or have educational and/or behavioral plans that require special accommodations. Ellen asked if academic and behavioral/SEL are separate and Bex replied she doesn't think of them as separate as challenges and supports can overlap.

Nicole Odekirk asked if Parker has an AI policy. Bex explained while there is not an official policy regarding AI, there are consistent conversations about using AI as a teaching tool or when it is appropriate to restrict it. There are also conversations about how AI may make teachers jobs more efficient. 

Stefanie Reinhorn noted that DESE is a resource for teachers researching AI and that they have a task force that leads online courses for educators. 

Tiffany Testa responded as a staff member that Parker is uniquely suited to meet the challenges and opportunities with AI given that knowing each student fully is one of Parker's core values. 

Fletcher asked what the disciplinary procedure is. Bex explained that discipline policies are the same as any problem was handled before Ai and that the Parker phone policy helps a great deal with limiting the use of AI during the school day. 

Luciana Hayner asked Bex how the Board of Trustees can support her and her instructional goals. Bex responded that money for staff - especially counselors is always needed and acknowledged that the administration prioritizes these asks. Bex added that additional support staff for multi-language learners would be helpful. There is an open SPED position that Parker has been trying to fill with a qualified applicant and once that is filled, it will help. 

Caroline Beasley asked if there is a place at Parker for High Quality Instructional Material (HQIM) when talking about DEI. Bex explained HQIMs take a lot of time and work for teachers to digest but sees through her research that it can help close achievement gaps. Until the time variable changes with HQIMs, nothing will change the bell curve in student achievement, however. That doesn't mean that Parker does not implement some ideas when appropriate.  

Brian Harrigan presented the Executive Director report that included a wrap-up of the alumni of the last decade event, current enrollment numbers, and the upcoming marketing tasks that will take place before the March 1st deadline for student applications for the 2026-27 school year. Important upcoming dates include Finance 101 on January 22nd open to all board members but required for new this year Trustees.

Katrina Tedstone presented the development department's year to date progress noting that while the number of donors appears to be going down, gifts are larger. This is a trend across a lot of non-profits.

Stefanie Reinhorn, Development Co-Chair, noted that Parker did not focus on Giving Tuesday this year in order to put a bigger push on March when the development office can coincide asks with the anniversary of Parker's charter approval. Stefanie invited members of the board to be a part of a match program for the March push. 

Katrina and Brian Harrigan talked about meeting with the Massachusetts Charter Association and how the association is using Parker as an example of parent and community advocacy. The association was most impressed that Parker supports the entire public charter sector even when pending legislation won't affect us directly. The association is also going to host a 'Fair Funding' week in February where facilities challenges for charter schools will be highlighted. The members of the Board will get emails from the association to sign-up and participate in advocacy efforts.

Brian and Monique Beganski explained that DESE is currently asking that our minutes be more detailed. In addition, sub-committee minutes need to include all documents that are referenced in the agenda. 

Brian Harrigan presented the plans for a Diverse Teacher Pipeline Taskforce that has been fleshed out by the Strategic Planning Committee. 

The taskforce will be comprised of 10 - 15 people and 2 co-chairs. Members of the task force will include Parker staff and board members, friends of Parker, and community members with experience and skills in recruitment and/or license procurement for teachers. 

The taskforce will be responsible for 9 to 10 months of research that will result in a white paper presentation to the board in Fall of 2026. The paper should include the landscape of teacher preparation now and in the future, vulnerabilities and opportunities for Parker in the teacher hiring space, and potential partners for Parker in the work of attracting and training a high-quality, diverse staff. 

The next steps for forming the taskforce are to further define the scope and objectives of the committee, draft a job description for the co-chairs, update the board on the staffing and operating expenses, and continue to recruit members for the taskforce. 

Julie Fredericksen and Stefanie Reinhorn asked about approaching higher-education and other charter schools about their resources and what they use for recruitment. 

Caroline Beasley asked if candidates will also be prepared for teaching outside of Parker. Brian explained that Parker's focus will be on how we make sure our own candidate pool is strong and diverse. Luciana Hayner shared that community fit will be paramount when recruiting diverse staff and how Parker engages and is appealing to candidates. 

Stefanie and Fletcher Fernau asked for clarification on if the taskforce is charged with creating a pipeline or is it more how new staff are inducted into Parker.