F.W. Parker Charter Essential School

Minutes

Finance Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday March 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Location

remote 

http://parker.school/financecommittee

http://parker.school/financecommittee

Committee Members Present

B. Harrigan (remote), E. Sturgis (remote), J. Appleton (remote), M. McKenna (remote), N. Odekirk Hatlevig (remote), R. Egan (remote)

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

Fletcher Fernau (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Introductions if needed

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

E. Sturgis called a meeting of the Finance Committee of F.W. Parker Charter Essential School to order on Thursday Mar 5, 2026 at 6:32 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

R. Egan made a motion to approve the minutes from Finance Committee Meeting on 02-02-26.
E. Sturgis seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Appleton
Aye
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Aye
M. McKenna
Aye
B. Harrigan
Aye
E. Sturgis
Aye
R. Egan
Aye

II. Finance

A.

FY27 Budget Review

E. Sturgis made a motion to instruct the Board that the Finance Committee recommends approval of this budget as presented.
J. Appleton seconded the motion.

Michelle presented the draft Budget as developed by she and Brian through meetings with staff since December. Once Fincomm reviews, we can either recommend tonight or meet again to review before taking to Board for first read.  The slides are a required attachment to these minutes. In summary, Michelle walked us through

  • FY27 choices
  • Assumptions & Background
  • Reserve Fund Balances with both FY26 & propose FY27 draws
  • Application statistics chart 2017-2026
  • FY27 Tuition stats and assumptions
  • Revenue proposed against both actual and projected FY24-26
  • Notated detailed expenses
  • Strategic Plan updated: planned vs proposed draws FY26-FY29
  • Salary comparison regarding “closing the gap” goals
  • Capital Budget/refinancing FY26-27
  • Five year Projections operating statement through FY32

Discussion:

  • Noted that unlike previous years, we’re not budgeting any addition to reserves
  • Enrollment appears to have returned to preCovid “normal”
  • Withdrawals dropped by half this year , from 52 to 23
  • Annual Fund exceeded expectations this year; using #s from Fundraising plan at this point for FY27
  • Health insurance: don’t know new rate until May, but we had several staff join our plan this year, causing significant increase in cost
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Aye
M. McKenna
Aye
J. Appleton
Aye
E. Sturgis
Aye
B. Harrigan
Aye
R. Egan
Aye

B.

Meeting reminders

next meeting is April 27 6-7 remote to discuss Q3 results, annual policy review, and the audit

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

E. Sturgis made a motion to adjourn.
J. Appleton seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Appleton
Aye
E. Sturgis
Aye
R. Egan
Aye
B. Harrigan
Aye
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Aye
M. McKenna
Aye
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. McKenna
Documents used during the meeting
None