Springfield Prep
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday July 29, 2020 at 5:30 PM
This meeting of the Springfield Prep Charter School Board will be held via Zoom video conference on 7/29/2020 at 5:30 pm. The meeting will be held virtually due to the COVID-19-related school closure during this time. Meeting notice was posted on the school's website (www.springfieldprep.org) on 7/24/20 at 4:15 PM.
Trustees Present
A. Malone (remote), D. Morrin (remote), J. Pistorius (remote), J. Rosewell (remote), K. Molina (remote), R. Leonard (remote), S. Balogun (remote), S. Fuller (remote), T. Walker (remote)
Trustees Absent
A. Grant
Trustees who arrived after the meeting opened
K. Molina, S. Balogun
Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned
T. Walker
Ex Officio Members Present
B. Spirer (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
B. Spirer (remote)
Guests Present
J. Yiannos (remote), M. Wagner (remote), N. Abramowitz (remote), W. Soref (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
R. Leonard called a meeting of the board of trustees of Springfield Prep to order on Wednesday Jul 29, 2020 at 5:33 PM.
C.
Public Comment, If Any
No members of the public were present.
II. Consent Agenda
A.
Approve June Board Meeting Minutes
T. Walker made a motion to approve the minutes from Board meeting on 06-24-20.
S. Fuller seconded the motion.
Voted via the Consent Agenda vote.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Monthly Financials
C.
Vote to approve additional annual contracts
T. Walker made a motion to Approve the additional annual contracts as presented in the memo (via Consent Agenda vote).
S. Fuller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Vote to approve COVID-19-related Personnel Policies
T. Walker made a motion to Approve the COVID-19-related personnel polices as presented. (via Consent Agenda vote).
S. Fuller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
General Notices (if any)
F.
Vote to Approve Consent Agenda items
T. Walker made a motion to Approve all votes on the Consent Agenda: June Meeting Minutes, Additional Annual Contracts, and COVID-19-related personnel policies.
S. Fuller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. DESE Required Reporting
A.
Vote to approve submission of Annual Report to DESE
Bill presented the Annual Report that the school will submit to DESE. The report is substantially similar to prior years in terms of content and results, except for items that were impacted by the COVID-19-related school closure.The Board discussed to ensure that none of the outcomes were unexpected and noted one typographical error to be corrected before submitting to DESE.
S. Fuller made a motion to Approve the submission of the 2019-2020 Annual Report to DESE.
T. Walker seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
S. Balogun arrived.
K. Molina arrived.
B.
Vote to approve submission of the Student Opportunity Act application
Jess and Wendy joined at this time.
Nancy provided an overview of the Student Opportunity Act and the school's plan as presented in the SOA plan document. The Board asked questions to better understand the financial impact as well as the actions & measurements described in this plan.
Nancy provided an overview of the Student Opportunity Act and the school's plan as presented in the SOA plan document. The Board asked questions to better understand the financial impact as well as the actions & measurements described in this plan.
S. Fuller made a motion to approve the submission of the SOA plan to DESE as presented.
J. Pistorius seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. General School Items
A.
School Reopening Plans
Bill, Jess, Meghan, and Wendy reviewed the draft reopening plan as presented in the slides. They discussed that while this is not the final document to be submitted to DESE for approval, it is the plan it recommends at this point and will use to draft the DESE School Reopening Plan, barring any changes in the health situation, updated DESE requirements, and/or signficant new trends in staff and family input. The Board will review and vote on the final plan document in a special meeting on 8/5.
The Board discussed with the team the feasibility and challenges of the plan in light of the unknown health circumstances and potential changes in student, staff, and family health or preferences. They also discussed and clarified their governing role in any potential changes to these plans.
Jess and Wendy left the meeting at this point.
The Board discussed with the team the feasibility and challenges of the plan in light of the unknown health circumstances and potential changes in student, staff, and family health or preferences. They also discussed and clarified their governing role in any potential changes to these plans.
Jess and Wendy left the meeting at this point.
B.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Anti-Racism Work at Springfield Prep
Doug introduced a discussion about how the Board can and should be involved in the school's efforts towards being an actively anti-racist institution and their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work overall. The Board discussed several models for involvement as well as several action steps that they might consider. The Board may create a working group, potentially including other stakeholders, to continue the development of a short- and long-term plan for this work.
T. Walker left.
V. Finance and Building Project
A.
Building Project Status Update
Meghan and Bill reviewed the building project update memo and noted that the project is currently on-track and on-schedule.
B.
Vote on Building Project Loan Term and Interest Rate
As presented in the Status Update Memo, the Board discussed two possible loan terms and interest rates for financing the building project with Boston Private Bank. The Finance Committee and school leadership recommended the 10-year term option.
S. Fuller made a motion to approve the 10-year term option for Bond Financing with Boston Private Bank.
A. Malone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Vote to approve request to DESE for approval to guaranty debt
Bill discussed the request to DESE to allow the school to guaranty debt beyond its charter term, as described in the SPCS DESE waiver request document.
S. Balogun made a motion to approve the votes as presented in the proposed vote (VOTE Springfield Prep debt term approval request - Bond & suburdinate debt guaranty - revised).
K. Molina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
FY21 Budget Update
Meghan discussed potential impacts to the school because the State budget has not yet been approved. She also discussed additional sources of funding that the school has received or is applying for, including various COVID-19 relief funds.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Next Board Meeting
The next scheduled board meeting is on Wednesday, 9/2/20 at 5:45 PM. There will be a special board meeting on Wednesday, 8/5/20 at 6:30 PM to approve a final school reopening plan.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
N. Abramowitz
Documents used during the meeting
- 3. SPCS FY20 June Friends.pdf
- 4. SPCS FY20 June SNP.pdf
- 6. SPCS FY20 June Grants.pdf
- 5. SPCS FY20 Cash Flow.pdf
- 2. SPCS FY20 June Summary.pdf
- _MEMO._FY21_Vendor_Contract_Summary_July.pdf
- Springfield Prep Charter School_Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act Policy.docx
- Springfield Prep Charter School_Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Policy.docx
- Springfield Prep DESE Annual Report 2019-2020 v6 as of 7.28.2020.docx
- SPCS SOA Plan 2021-2023.docx.pdf
- SPCS 2020-21 Calendar - Proposed - 178 days revised.pdf
- SPCS Reopening Plans - Board presentation. 7.25.20 revised 7.29.20.pdf
- Springfield Prep Charter School Mail - Update on DEI and anti-racism work.pdf
- Overview of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Work.pdf
- SPCS project update 7-24-20 revised.pdf
- SPCS DESE waiver request 7.29.2020 final revised.docx
- VOTE Springfield Prep debt term approval request - Bond & suburdinate debt guaranty - revised.docx
- Memo to Board re_ Department of Revenue Impact on Cash Flow.pdf