F.W. Parker Charter Essential School

Minutes

April Gov Com

Date and Time

Tuesday March 31, 2026 at 7:30 AM

Location

https://parker.school/governancecommittee/

Committee Members Present

B. Harrigan, F. Fernau (remote), J. Fredericksen (remote), K. Tedstone (remote), L. Hayner (remote), N. Odekirk Hatlevig (remote), P. Gordon (remote)

Committee Members Absent

None

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

N. Odekirk Hatlevig called a meeting of the Governance Committee of F.W. Parker Charter Essential School to order on Tuesday Mar 31, 2026 at 7:30 AM.

C.

Approve Minutes

J. Fredericksen made a motion to approve the minutes from March Gov Com on 03-03-26.
B. Harrigan seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Hayner
Abstain
F. Fernau
Aye
K. Tedstone
Aye
B. Harrigan
Aye
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Abstain
P. Gordon
Aye
J. Fredericksen
Aye

II. Governance

A.

By-law/Compliance update

Pam Gordon updated that we still have not heard from DESE about our by-law updates. She will follow up.

 

Brian Harrigan explained he is doing work at the foundation board level that may affect the Parker Board of Trustees operations - specifically in regards to facilities and development. He will continue to update the committee on his work and if the committee will need to revisit some sub-committee roles and responsibilities in the by-laws. 

B.

Exec Director Evaluation Tool Update

Pam explained that she and Stefanie Reinhorn of the Evaluation Committee have been working on building a new tool for the Board of Trustees to evaluate the performance of the Executive Director. They have been reviewing different tools including some from MASC, and are incorporating them into a tool that will better fit with Parker's particular needs. 

 

Pam and Brian will meet to go over the roll-out timeline of the new tool to the Board of Trustees. 

C.

Goals Review

L. Hayner made a motion to move the changes and additions to the Parker Board of Trustee Norms to the Board of Trustees for approval at the April 9, 2026 meeting.
B. Harrigan seconded the motion.

The committee reviewed the Parker Board of Trustees norms and edited a pre-work norm and added a remote participation norm to meeting behaviors. 

 

The new norms to be presented to the Board of Trustees at the next meeting will be

Pre Work Edit

The administration and members presenting on a topic will comply with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and distribute relevant information in a timely manner. Administration and members will strive to have materials available at least three days prior to a meeting.

Behaviors in Meetings Addition

Remote participation accommodations will be made available. Members should attend meetings in person as possible.

The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
P. Gordon
Aye
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Aye
L. Hayner
Aye
J. Fredericksen
Aye
F. Fernau
Aye
B. Harrigan
Aye
K. Tedstone
Aye

D.

Recruiting Update

Various candidates were discussed in regards to various sub-committee involvement. 

 

The committee concluded that our May meeting should be at Parker in person to help to better identify candidates and start a timeline/goals for 26/27 recruitment. Brian will survey the committee for availability. Nicole Odekirk will update the committee on the time of the meeting.

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

J. Fredericksen made a motion to adjourn the April Governance Meeting.
L. Hayner seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Fredericksen
Aye
F. Fernau
Aye
K. Tedstone
Aye
B. Harrigan
Aye
L. Hayner
Aye
P. Gordon
Aye
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Aye
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
N. Odekirk Hatlevig