F.W. Parker Charter Essential School

Minutes

Board of Trustees Meeting

Date and Time

Friday September 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Location

Community Room at First Parish Church, 353 Great Rd, Stow, MA 01775

Trustees Present

B. Harrigan, C. Beasley, E. Sturgis, F. Fernau, J. Fredericksen, J. St. Laurent, L. Hayner, M. Beam, N. Odekirk Hatlevig, P. Gordon

Trustees Absent

E. Moura, K. Kintzing, K. Williams, R. Egan, S. Reinhorn, T. Testa

Guests Present

K. Tedstone, M. Beganski

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

P. Gordon called a meeting of the board of trustees of F.W. Parker Charter Essential School to order on Friday Sep 18, 2026 at 2:08 PM.

Meeting slides:

BOT Meeting 9.18.26.pdf

C.

Approve Minutes

E. Sturgis made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting on 06-11-26.
M. Beam seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Harrigan
Aye
E. Moura
Absent
E. Sturgis
Aye
T. Testa
Absent
K. Williams
Absent
L. Hayner
Aye
F. Fernau
Aye
J. Fredericksen
Aye
S. Reinhorn
Absent
N. Odekirk Hatlevig
Aye
M. Beam
Aye
C. Beasley
Aye
P. Gordon
Aye
J. St. Laurent
Abstain
K. Kintzing
Absent
R. Egan
Absent

II. Executive Director's Report

A.

Executive Director's Report

  • This is year 3 of strategic plan
  • It's been a successful start to the school year and Back to School night was successful
  • Enrollment is currently at 395, budget is for 396, there are 100 names on our waitlist

III. DEI Kickoff and Training

A.

DEI Kickoff and Training

DEI - Leading for Equity Presentation, Caroline

This will be a learning series for the Trustees this year over three sessions

Three priorities chosen by Trustees to explore:

  1. Identify systemic barriers
  2. Recognizing implicit bias
  3. Family and community engagement

The Trustees broke out into small breakout groups to discuss "Seeing the System"

IV. Strategic Plan

A.

Strategic Plan

The trustees worked in smaller breakout groups to discuss what we have done well the past two years and reaffirm what's priority in next steps.

B.

Break

V. Development Plan for 2026-2027

A.

Development Plan for 2026-2027

  • Katrina and Julie summarized FY26 fundraising activity and explored why stewardship is important
  • Katrina will be sending out our 'thank you' call list in the next few days

VI. Executive Director Evaluation and Goal Setting

A.

Executive Director Evaluation and Goal Setting

Trustee Evaluation Cycle, Pam

Stefanie, Rick, and Pam are this year's Executive Director Evaluation Committee

Executive Director 5 goals for the school year:

  1. Identify 5 high quality partnerships
  2. Further professional development
  3. Launch the diverse teacher pipeline
  4. Identify key student outcomes and systematize data collection
  5. Build and leverage marketing capability

VII. Updates

A.

Updates

  • Brian shared where the trustees can find board resources and sharing committee work and folders.
  • New and revised handbook policies have been vetted by our lawyers and include updates on restraint and seclusion, health information policies, interscholastic heat modifications, medication administration, PROTECT Act immigration enforcement.

VIII. Other Business

A.

Comments from the public

B.

Vote - Proposed changes to Handbook Policy

M. Beam made a motion to approve the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School Community Handbook for 2026-2027.
N. Odekirk Hatlevig seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Vote - School Calendar

N. Odekirk Hatlevig made a motion to approve the 2026-2027 School Calendar, including Noon dismissal on March 24, 2027 for Looking at Student Work.
L. Hayner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IX. 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 5:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
P. Gordon
Documents used during the meeting
  • 2026 September Executive Director Report.pdf
  • Parker_Development_Plan_FY27.pdf
  • Parker_BOT_Overview_2page.pdf
  • ED Goals, Actions, Metrics - 2026-2027.pdf
  • Handbook Update for BOT.pdf