1. To review the academic performance of Parker students

2. To advance the work of the committees

1. Please RVSP through Board on Track

2. Please complete the Head of School assessment

3. Read this agenda and the packet

Deb Merriam delivered the annual academic update as required by DESE.

Deb presented MCAS performance using disaggregated 2022 data for all students and reportable subgroups: high needs, low income, and students with disabilities.  Deb said comparatively, Parker 7th and 8th grade students are doing better than the overall State numbers in both ELA and math.

Deb said MCAS is slowly raising the standards for passing. Deb presented MCAS data for Parker 10th grade students.  Deb showed that in 2022 there were slightly more students not meeting standards - due partially to increase in the rise in standards and paritially due to Covid learning loss. Deb said there is no cause for worry that students will not be diploma eligible, some students may need to retake the test to meet standards.

Steph Reinhorn commented that the Parker approach of going deep on some subjects can feel like a disadvantage when approaching the MCAS science exam but that Parker students are well prepared in other ways.

Deb said MCAS is one data point used to assess student performance and Parker's assessment system is another.  Deb reviewed Parker's assessment tools.  

• projects - rubrics for each project (summative) 
• weekly RYG (red yellow green)  a quick snapshot of student performance from each teacher
• quarterly reports
• course end reports
• transcript

Brian Harrigan thanked everyone who helped with senior exhibitions and he highlighted a few projects.

Brian shared key dates between now and the end of the school year.

Brian said that at the DEI Committee meeting had discussed an unfortunate recent event - a swastika was carved into a car in the junior lot.  Brian said this is not Parker property and the investigation is being handled by State Police.   Brian said that an optional lunch time meeting to discuss ideas for how to address this in the community was attended by 40 students.  Brian said that this negative event has fostered conversation and student voices being heard.

Brian Harrigan said the Strategic Plan RFP was issued on April 18th.  Brian said it was sent to 40 organizations and there have been conversations and expressed interest by potential vendors.  Mara Edgar said Parker is a fascinating, complex problem to some of these firms because it is not a run-of-the-mill educational institution.  Mara said Parker would be an interesting case study for the right thought partner, . 

Glenn asked the Board if the current Strategic Plan timeline and the plan for evaluating vendors was agreeable to Board members.

Board members discussed the proposed timeline and what can be learned through the process of exploring options.

Mara said there is inherent value in Board members seeing final vendor presentations and being part of vendor selection.

Stef Reinhorn discussed the process for the Head of School Evaluation including Brian's self evaluation and internal and community surveys.  Stef reminded Board members to complete their evaluative survey by the end of the week.

Stef said she, Glenn, and Pam would synthesize all the data and present at the next Board meeting.  

Christina shared that the Board survey did not feel entirely applicable to Brian's first year.

Glenn said it is possible to modify the survey.  Stef said that results are synthesized and questions can be more/less applicable depending on who is completing it.

Matt Lindsey said that the Governance Committee will meet next week and will finalize the slate for new Trustees.  

Matt said the Governance Committee is hoping other committees will have welcome materials ready to welcome new members in the fall.

Martin Turnbull said there was nothing to report from the Facilities Committee.

Sonia Razzetti said the DEI Committee is considering different proposals to provide transportation for underrepresented communities.

Brian Harrigan said he had shared with the DEI committee about the interest in student allyship following the swastika incident.

Katrina Tedstone said that there is a current families matching challenge of $20K.  She said 70 families had participated when she wrote her Development report and there are currently over 90 gifts.

Katrina presented monthly giving trends.  Graphics are in the meeting packet.

Katrina said an effort to reach out to past donors had had a 45% return rate.

Katrina said an alumni social was held this past weekend.  The event was in Hudson at Clover Road Brewery which is owned by four Parker graduates.  Attendance was estimated at 65-70 people.

Christina Soderman reviewed the third quarter Financial Dashboard Report included in the meeting packet.

Christina said that operating expenses are more than budgeted due to the continuation of the universal free lunch program.  Stef Reinhorn asked about losses due to the program.  Michelle McKenna clarified that both revenue and expenses were up due to the lunch program.

Christina said that needed revisions were made to Parker's Fiscal Policy and Procedure and Federal Grants Policy.  She said the Finance Committee recommends and endorses the changes.  Michelle McKenna said most of the changes are to statutory language or are dollar threshold changes.

Glenn Penna said the first read would be tonight and the second read and vote would be at the June meeting.

Christina said a new member, Richard Madamba, was voted onto the Finance Committee.

There were no comments from the public.

This vote was suspended to allow for a second read and will be voted on at the June meeting.

This vote was suspended to allow for a second read and will be voted on at the June meeting.