Read into record by Director K McDonald

Welcome to Gordon Mosher from Douglas County School District Choice Program DIrector

and PPA actors 

• Schools for Choice Programming Director - liaison between the Douglas County School Board and the Board of Directors of the charter schools
• introduction and wanting to be around for brainstorming and collaboration with the charter schools. 
• open the floor for questions from the director
  • District thoughts on changes in leadership in state government?
    • strongest charter school legislation in the nation - spelled out charter school regulations and expectations
    • lots of loud and strong voices advocating for the charter schools
  • How do Douglas County charter schools compare to other districts in CO?
    • see more of choice for preference in aspects of education and less about the lack of performance in the local/neighborhood school   
  • Role of Charter Schools in the Future of Douglas County
    • the superintendent is a huge propon0ent of choice, 
    • highest performing schools in the Denver metro area
    • there are pockets of serious decline with fewer children, changing demographics, and other areas of serious growth
    • looking at under-enrolled schools and schools that have no more room. 
  • The bond will be back on the ballot next cycle
  • What are the biggest pitfalls you see in charter schools and how can they be avoided
    • conflict of interest with staff and funds mismanagement
  • How can the board stand out in the district
    • put policies in place and hire a great leader to implement the policies effectively 
    • make sure parents and community members know that they can come to the board and the leadership of the school is there to work with them to address concerns 
  • Perception of exclusivity in charter schools?
    • clarifying that the schools are free and open to the community for enrollment and oppertunities

Carolyn Jordan - middle school theater teacher presents with students

• Advanced Theater production ensemble class - students will put on a 75-minute full production with all working/rehearsal on the programming in school.
• Emma - the musical is this semester's selection.
• student-driven theater production to produce the production tech through performance. 
  • students perform clips of the songs to be performed in the production in about a month.

Update presented by P Molfino 

• Charter laws in Colorado - legislative changes are being proposed at the state level
• The end of the year will end strong in finances 
  • lots of projects lined up for the summer 
    • adding a second art room and rearranging some of the rooms 
    • the parking lot will be worked on again
  • technology all projects have been upgraded and are ready to be set up for the school 
  • purchase service agreement can not exceed 5% of the budget
    • adding another staff member to the Choice office
      • Charter Alliance in Douglas County pushing back on the staffing and decisions that are being made with minimal the schools' input, 
    • how schools are funded in the state of Colorado is being updated - the formula being used is being looked at
      • lead by urban education as there is a lot more population and power/influence
      • hyperlink in the update to look at the proposed bill
  • Refinancing horizon - school year 24/25 good place to start the year - looking good to strengthen things
    • 25/26 - final increase of the mortgage and look to start getting tight
      • end of year eligible to go to market for a new bond 
        • potential rate cuts might play in favor for refinance 
• Academics - CMAS next week!
• RPD plan and things for 
  • math growth number elementary and middle focus
  • more outside professional development
  • math development
  • evidence outcomes
• April 19th no school prep for next year
• The Arts
  • Acts of Piracy opens next week - looking for help with ticket sales
• Marketing is out in the world, blogs and video also at Park Meadows mall
• Course registration complete for middle school
• Visit from a reopening school in Indiana 

Contract renewal is started and underway

• full compensation package included in their offer for a fuller picture for the staff
• hiring is going well - should be down to 1 position by end of the week
• Spring dance was a successful evening 
• The book fair got cut short by 2 days due to the blizzard
• Staff survey went out to staff
• Parent survey went out and is now closed

Presented by T Maestas 

• March Finance meeting - pushed back due to spring break
  • Review Feb 
  • approved 24/25 budget needs to be into the district by May 30th 
  • Staffing and enrollment will be the largest source of fluctuations 
  • 626 registered with 26 pending enrollment

Bump to working meeting due to time limitations

Director C Erickson

• The majority of marketing is done by the company hired earlier this year
• advert word of mouth is encouraged

Director S Cooke

• Swirls 16th of April (frozen yogurt) off Mainstreet 
• May 3rd Fun Run
• Boondocks and Skate City - annual events?
  • potentially for end of year event

Director JT Adamson 

• Strong financials
  • Interest will start to accumulate in the time savings account
• 150k in spending coming up - already accounted for in the budget and trending ahead still
• Looking about 2 years out due to potential changes in funding laws and refinance and charter renewal all hitting around the same time

Director K McDonald 

SAC

• Sent out parent survey now closed and compiling data.
  • differentiated between elementary school and middle school into 3 groups
  • might affect data comparison
• Staff survey went out 

Grant 

• submitted with Doug Co Community Association 
  • 4k grant - proposing to buy social/emotional items on teachers' wish lists - mental health and suicide prevention focused
    • May decision for d
  • FSPC - 2-year grant application in progress

Director V Olivas Smith

• Election material sent out, inquiry for interest in serving on the PCA board
• events have been smoothly run
• Interest in potentially attending the meetings
• Questions on the Board of Directors' open positins

Director 

• next meeting - annual review with executive session April 16th 
  • virtual meeting
  • survey will go out next year
• Summer calendars for the annual strategy meeting  looking at the beginning of June