Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday April 24, 2023 at 5:30 PM

Location

Gary Lighthouse College Prep Campus

725 Clark Rd

Gary, IN 46406

Directors Present

A. Payne, J. GEORGE, S. Caruthers

Directors Absent

M. Maldonado, M. Swope

Guests Present

A. Franz, A. Shaw, Alyse Nicholson, Andrea Thurston Brown, Angela Briggs, C. Jackson, Carley Luna (remote), D. Jones (remote), G. Adell, J. Beasley, J. Holmes, J. Tebeleff (remote), K. McGuire, L. Franklin, M. Platt, M. Segrest

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

A. Payne called a meeting of the board of directors of Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools to order on Monday Apr 24, 2023 at 5:31 PM.

C.

April 6th Minutes

II. Finance

A.

East Chicago

S. Caruthers made a motion to Approve the schedule of bills for EC.
A. Payne seconded the motion.

No Discussion

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Payne
Aye
M. Swope
Absent
M. Maldonado
Absent
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye

B.

Gary

S. Caruthers made a motion to To approve the schedule of bills for Gary.
A. Payne seconded the motion.

No Discussion

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. GEORGE
Aye
M. Maldonado
Absent
M. Swope
Absent
A. Payne
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye

C.

2023-2024 Budget

S. Caruthers made a motion to Motion to accept both EC and Gary budgets for 2023-2024.
A. Payne seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Payne
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
M. Swope
Absent
M. Maldonado
Absent
J. GEORGE
Aye

D.

Metal Detector Quote

S. Caruthers asked if after the four year lease, do the machines belong to us or do they return to Evolve?  L. Franklin stated they return and we can re-ip the lease if we choose.

 

S. Caruthers asked if we have checked into the purchase at all?

 

J. George asked if there is only one entrance being used?  L. Franklin stated, Yes, as is best practice.

 

J Beasley stated that the detectors are also portable to be able to be moved.

S. Caruthers made a motion to Accept the recommendation of the executive director and go ahead with the lease with Evolve for the metal detector systems.
A. Payne seconded the motion.

No Additional Discussion

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Maldonado
Absent
A. Payne
Aye
S. Caruthers
Aye
M. Swope
Absent
J. GEORGE
Aye

III. Governance

A.

New Board Members Vote

S. Caruthers made a motion to Moved to bring on Angela Briggs to the Board.
A. Payne seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Payne
Aye
M. Swope
Absent
J. GEORGE
Aye
M. Maldonado
Absent
S. Caruthers
Aye
S. Caruthers made a motion to Moved to bring on Andrea Thurston Brown to the Board.
A. Payne seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Caruthers
Aye
M. Maldonado
Absent
A. Payne
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
M. Swope
Absent
S. Caruthers made a motion to Moved to approve Alyse Nicholson to come onto the Board, pending the background check.
A. Payne seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Swope
Absent
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
M. Maldonado
Absent
A. Payne
Aye

B.

Update: Board Retreat and Board Trainings

IV. Committee Reports

A.

Academic Excellence Committee

A. Payne stated that as we are rounding out our board members, there are several committees that the board members could participate in, including the Governance Committee, Academic Excellence Committee, or Finance Committee.  As we are completing our Board, we will have new members going onto these committees and will begin to have reports for them.

V. NWILCS District Reports

A.

Regional and Building Level Reports

In regard to EC's academic report, A Payne asked how Ms. Shaw feels about the turn over at her position at EC is being handled by the staff.  Ms Shaw stated the pulse is good, she has been meeting with all staff to check-in and discuss expectations.  She stated 100% of her current staff wants to return.

 

A. Payne stated that if anything not listed on requested information on the monthly board report, that principals feel is beneficial information, please add to the report.

 

In regard to Primary's report, S. Caruthers asked about the internal interview for assistant Culture person, A. Franz replied a classroom assistant position.

S. Caruthers asked What does Career Day look like?  A. Franz replied that It is our first Career Day at Primary and we are planning to bring our kids around to different individuals in different rooms who may be interested in the different careers we are featuring.

 

In regard to Upper's Report, A. Payne asked where and when 8th grade graduation will be held?  C. Jackson stated 8th Grade graduation will be at Upper Campus Gym on June 1st.

 

In regard to CPC's report, A. Payne asked when is graduation?  Dr. Holmes stated June 4th, 5pm, at Railcats Stadium.

A. Payne asked What is the pulse around the Aviation Day?  Students have been prepped and are excited to have the exposure around what is out there for them.

 

In Regard to the Regional Director of Academics Report, A. Payne asked to unpack the acronyms when giving reports;  What is PLC and RISE?  J. Beasley stated PLC is Professional Learning Communities.  K. McGuire stated And RISE is the IDOE's  currently used evaluation of our teachers.

A. Payne asked what is NWEA used for?  K. McGuire stated We currently have been testing three times yearly through NWEA and also through IREADY.  A. Payne asked So why are we considering going away from NWEA? K. McGuire stated we are Testing too much.

S. Caruthers asked who will be going to Get Your Teach On?  K. McGuire stated 4-5 of leadership teams from each school in June.

 

 

B.

Operations Update

S. Caruthers asked about new protocol for visitors coming into the buildings?  M. Segrest stated this is in addition to current safety protocols, all visitors coming into the building will need to provide an ID and checked through the Raptor system to receive a visitors pass before entering.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Public Comments

B.

Executive Session

A. Payne made a motion to Move into Executive Session with the newly voted Board Members.
S. Caruthers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Caruthers
Aye
J. GEORGE
Aye
M. Maldonado
Absent
M. Swope
Absent
A. Payne
Aye

C.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Platt
Documents used during the meeting
  • 2023_04_06_board_meeting_minutes (1).pdf
  • East Chicago Financial Packet March 2023.pdf
  • EC Financial Packet February 2023.pdf
  • Monthly Balance Sheet - NWI March 2023.pdf
  • Monthly Balance Sheet - NWI Feb 2023.pdf
  • Gary Financial Packet February 2023.pdf
  • Gary Financial Packet March 2023.pdf
  • NWILCS FY24 Budget Presentation 4.19.23.docx
  • NWILCS FY24 Draft Budget 4.19.23.pdf
  • EC 22-23 April Board Report.docx.pdf
  • April 22-23 GLCS-Primary Campus Board Report April.docx.pdf
  • UPPER March_April 22-23 GLCS-UC Board Report.docx.pdf
  • 2022-2023 GLCPC_April_Board Report.docx.pdf
  • April Executive Director Report 22-23 (1).pdf
  • NWI Operations Board Report April 22-23.docx (1).pdf