Board Meeting Minutes

September 1, 2021, 5:45-7:30 PM

Minutes Approved

Springfield Prep

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday September 1, 2021 at 5:45 PM

Location

This meeting willl be held on Zoom.

This meeting of the Springfield Prep Charter School Board will be held via Zoom video conference on 8/25/2021 at 5:45 pm. Meeting notice was posted on the school's website (www.springfieldprep.org) on 8/20/21 at 3:00 pm.

Trustees Present

A. Grant (remote), A. Malone (remote), D. Morrin (remote), J. Rosewell (remote), K. Molina (remote), R. Leonard (remote), S. Balogun (remote), S. Fuller (remote), S. Monson (remote)

Trustees Absent

A. Piela, T. Walker

Ex Officio Members Present

B. Spirer (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

B. Spirer (remote)

Guests Present

M. Wagner (remote), N. Abramowitz (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 Sep 1, 2021 at 5:48 PM.

C. Public Comment, If Any

II. Consent Agenda

A. Approve July 28 Board Meeting Minutes

S. Fuller made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 07-28-21.

K. Molina seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

Roll Call
R. Leonard	Aye
S. Fuller	Aye
A. Grant	Aye
K. Molina	Aye
T. Walker	Absent
J. Rosewell	Aye
D. Morrin	Aye
S. Monson	Aye
S. Balogun	Aye
A. Malone	Aye
A. Piela	Absent

B. Approve August 2 meeting minutes

S. Fuller made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Meeting - Monday 8/2/21 on 08-02-21.

K. Molina seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
A. Malone	Aye
J. Rosewell	Aye
R. Leonard	Aye
S. Fuller	Aye
D. Morrin	Aye
T. Walker	Absent
S. Balogun	Aye
K. Molina	Aye
S. Monson	Aye
A. Grant	Aye
A. Piela	Absent

C. July Financials

S. Fuller made a motion to Approve the consent agenda, including July financials.

K. Molina seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
S. Fuller	Aye
S. Balogun	Aye
D. Morrin	Aye
K. Molina	Aye
R. Leonard	Aye
T. Walker	Absent
A. Grant	Aye
J. Rosewell	Aye
A. Malone	Aye
S. Monson	Aye
A. Piela	Absent

D. Vote to approve consent agenda items

S. Fuller made a motion to Approve the consent agenda items.

K. Molina seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
T. Walker	Absent
S. Monson	Aye
S. Balogun	Aye
A. Malone	Aye
J. Rosewell	Aye
A. Piela	Absent
K. Molina	Aye
R. Leonard	Aye
D. Morrin	Aye
A. Grant	Aye
S. Fuller	Aye

III. Executive Director's Report

A. Executive Director Report

Bill discussed the opening of the school and that things were going very well so far, both from the building perspective and from students, families, and staff’s perspective. Bill shared that the school met with representatives from Big Y (neighbor to the school) and that he and Meghan are meeting with the CEO next week. He also shared that Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito will attend the ribbon cutting on September 23rd.
He also discussed how COVID has been a major challenge but that we’ve made several changes prior to the start of the school year to make the school even safer, including lunch in classrooms to minimize transitions & limit close contacts, and additional distancing where possible. He noted that when kids are home, students are doing packets & platform work, though we are investigating how best to serve students who are on an extended absence.
Bill and Meghan discussed the updated extracurricular/tutoring plan for the year.

IV. Governance

A. Executive Director Evaluation

Alex discussed potential changes for this year’s ED evaluation given that the Board will have the report regarding the 360 evaluation from his coach. The Governance Committee proposed having the Board follow its typical process, review the 360 report, and also seek input from a few teachers/staff who were not included in the 360 report. Alex will then synthesize, and the goal is to present to the Board at end of October. The Board was in agreement with this proposal.

B. Remote meeting plan

Alex discussed that we have the discretion to return to in-person meetings, stay fully remote, or do hybrid meetings through the winter. The Board discussed the pros and cons of remaining remote and agreed that the virtual meetings are the best option at this time due to the Delta variant and other factors, including the supply chain delay of the installation of videoconferencing capabilities at the school. They will reconsider in several months.

V. COVID Mitigation & Reopening Planning

A. COVID Mitigation Plan, Masking Policy and Testing Program

Bill shared the updated mask policy based on a recommendation from the MCPSA. This policy matches current policy, but just formalizes it. It grants accommodations when needed (e.g., disability or medical), but notes that there are limited reasons for complete exemptions from masking requirements.

A. Malone made a motion to approve the updated mask requirement policy as presented.

S. Balogun seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
D. Morrin	Aye
J. Rosewell	Aye
S. Fuller	Aye
S. Balogun	Aye
A. Piela	Absent
K. Molina	Aye
T. Walker	Absent
A. Malone	Aye
A. Grant	Aye
S. Monson	Aye
R. Leonard	Aye

B. Testing Program Options Review

Samantha Turner, school nurse leader, joined.

Nancy provided an overview of the state-provided COVID-19 testing program, administered by CIC.
The School began the testing program immediately to ensure a safe start to the school year. The program includes students and staff.

Sam reviewed 3 different indications for needing a test:
- Test and Stay, new this year. Students are tested daily if they are identified as having a close contact using a point-of-care rapid test with results in 15 minutes.
- Student experiences symptoms as school. School administers rapid test
- Routine COVID Safety checks - similar to the surveillance testing that we were doing last year. This year it will be a pooled test initially and then a rapid test of pool members if positive.

The school is currently seeing higher rates of participation when compared to those opting in last school year, and that will continue to climb as we reach out directly to families and staff to enroll more.

S. Fuller made a motion to approve the school to enact the COVID-19 testing program offered by DESE as presented.

A. Malone seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
D. Morrin	Aye
S. Fuller	Aye
A. Malone	Aye
K. Molina	Aye
R. Leonard	Aye
S. Balogun	Aye
A. Piela	Absent
J. Rosewell	Aye
T. Walker	Absent
A. Grant	Aye
S. Monson	Aye

VI. Building Project

A. Building Project Status Update

Meghan discussed what is remaining in the contract before the project is fully closed out, including the gym, interior signage, striping in the parking lot, and some landscaping. She is expecting the final Certificate of Occupancy on 9/24. The budget remaining should be sufficient to finish the project.

VII. Closing Items

A. Next Board Meeting

The next scheduled board meeting is on Wednesday, 9/29/21 at 5:45 PM.

B. Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

N. Abramowitz

Documents used during the meeting

4 FY22 July SNP.pdf
2. SPCS FY22 July Summary.pdf
3. Friends FY22 July Summary.pdf
5. SPCS FY22 July Cash Flow.pdf
ED Report - 8.25.21.pdf
MassLive_ Springfield Prep Charter School open house.pdf
Board Memo - COVID Testing 8.19.2021.pdf
_COVID-19 Protocols 2021-22.pdf
COVID-19 Mandatory Face Covering - Masking Policy.pdf
Construction Budget update 8-20-21.pdf
Building Dashboard - 8-20-21.pdf