M. Manlove pointed out a discrepancy in the meeting minutes, stating that it is not the charter application that is due on June 30th but rather the letter of intent, under section 4A, is due to OEI on July 30, 2019.

A. Levander provided an update on the Interdisciplinary Committee activities. She advised that the IPS properties that have been looked at have not met the needs of Hope Academy; either the square footage is too large or the necessary repairs that it would take to make the property meet our needs were too substantial.

They met with The Mind Trust, who currently works with approximately 20 schools. We had thought they would have someone to help with the writing of the charter and provide support, but that is not the case. Discussion was held about hiring a consultant to work through the charter process with us because it is so time intensive. It was agreed that this is a good idea to have someone  stay on top of the process and help us meet the deadlines. Everyone felt that it was important to make a decision on the funding cap for a consultant at this meeting because the Board doesn't meet again until April. 

After going through the financials the Board discussed the matter again of hiring a consultant and the amount of $50,000 was agreed upon.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

        RESOLVED, that the Board approves the hiring of a consultant to assist in getting us through to the letter of intent phase for the charter and set the cap for the consultant fees at $50,000.

The Alternative Peer group which is called The GPS program is moving along with getting started.  Rachel Beehler has been hired to be the APG Coordinator.  She is an alumni of Hope Academy and got her Master in Social Work from the University of Michigan.  Rachel, Rachelle and Mary have been working to promote the APG.  Marketing is working on a flyer and the logo for the GPS program.  We have submitted all the paperwork to the state and signed the state contract.We are focused on the referrals coming from juvenile justice, other treatment providers, schools and  DCS,
 

Linda shared that the current enrollment is at 43 students. We have returning students and Mary Giesel has brought several students to us.

Embassy Suites of Noblesville has selected Hope Academy as their Making a Difference (MAD) partner for this year. Our SProm and graduation events are going to be held there.

Students worked as volunteers at the Taste of Hope event and that went very well.

Rachelle Gardner reported that a lot of her time has been working with the Interdisciplinary Committee and activities surrounding the new charter. Additionally, she has been working on the summer programs.

She discussed the various meetings and speaking engagements she's attended and that she follows through with e-mails that contain various types of information regarding addictions.

Barb Elliott went through the Fairbanks' KPI handout noting that Fairbanks continues to struggle with inpatient volume but the outpatient volume has been fine. She did point out however, that Fairbanks is starting to see the inpatient volume move back up and our initiatives are paying off.

She acknowledge that there is fierce competition out there with both not-for-profits and for-profits. Reimbursement is an issue with Medicaid and the nursing shortages over the last 3 - 6 months have been filled with contract work.

Marissa Manlove shared that the Marketing Committee reviewed the current spending plan during their recent meeting and agreed that the current spending on relationship building is paying off.

Board members were encouraged to look at the new website, noting that it's more user friendly.

The Committee put together a list of key people who could endorse Hope Academy; Amy Levander stated she would offer up names of key Democrats that could be added to the list. These contacts will be shared with the Interdisciplinary Committee. It hasn't been  determined if these will be video testimonies, or letters and we want to cross check the list of those that attended Taste of Hope to the current list of people that will endorse Hope Academy.

Thanks was given to Colleen Kenney for a successful Taste of Hope. The goal was $75,000 and we are currently at $70,000. It was expressed that Rafael Sanchez did a great job of emceeing the event, and there were approximately 300 people in attendance. Sarah Platt was our student speaker, sharing that she was celebrating one year of sobriety. There are a lot of good takeaways from this event.

The Marketing Committee is now looking for a key person to take on the next event, which will be a breakfast at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville in September.

The status on Hope Academy grants was discussed, noting that Hedges has been successful with the larger grant requests, and the smaller grant requests have been completed by Leigh Ann Erickson and her team, Yvonne and Marianne.

The Academics Committee spent time going over the Evaluation of the Indianapolis Mayor Sponsored Charter Schools Hope Academy Ten Year Charter Review, focusing on core question 4.: Is the school providing the appropriate conditions for success?

The Finance Committee also spent a good deal of their meeting discussing the Interdisciplinary Committee activities.

The board surveys were reviewed and it was noted that the board members would like to better understand our financials, particularly they need help understanding the 990 form.
 

Janine Shopp reviewed the balance sheet with the Board and walked the group through the various grants and monies spent. Revenue is below budget by about $81,000 in spite of expenses being lower than budget year to date.

She did acknowledge that as we start to recognize the revenue from the grants that Hope has received the variance will lower.

 

Janine Shopp shared that the budget variance is made up of the contributions and grants that have yet to be recognized.

It was noted that Hope has not drawn on the notes payable from Fairbanks at this point.

 

The Governance Committee were given an update on the activities of the Interdisciplinary Disciplinary Committee, the KPIs, and the current student count.