Helix Network of Educational Choices
Minutes
Board Meeting
Helix Mentorship Steam Academy
Date and Time
Thursday November 18, 2021 at 8:00 AM
Certification of Meeting Conducted Pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17.1
In accordance with La. R.S. 42:17.1 this notice shall serve as certification of Helix Network of Educational Choices’ (the “School Board”) inability to otherwise operate in accordance with the Louisiana Open Meetings Law due to such a meeting being detrimental to the health, safety, and/or welfare of the public as a result of the public health emergency, as declared by the Governor of the State of Louisiana due to the threat posed to public safety by the COVID-19 outbreak on March 11, 2020, via Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020, as amended, renewed and extended (collectively the “Public Health Emergency Proclamations”).
The School Board will provide for attendance at its essential government meeting on November 18, 2021 via video or telephone conference. It is essential that the School Board continue to operate to conduct essential business of the school. Due to the underlying health concerns of several members of the School Board, which could be negatively affected by COVID-19, the School Board will not be able to obtain a quorum of the members of the School Board and will otherwise be unable to operate due to quorum requirements. Further, the agenda of the meeting is limited to one or more of the following:
- matters that are directly related to the charter school’s response to the COVID-19 emergency and are critical to the health, safety, or welfare of the public.
- matters that if they are delayed will cause curtailment of public education services.
- matters that are critical to continuation of the business of the charter school and that are not able to be postponed to a meeting held in accordance with the other provisions of the Open Meeting law due to a legal requirement or other deadline that cannot be postponed or delayed by the charter school.
Considering the foregoing, and in accordance with La. R.S. 42:17:1 and the Public Health Emergency Proclamations, the School Board’s meeting on November 18, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. will be held via video or telephone conference and in a manner that will allow for observation and input by members of the public, as set forth below:
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 874 4015 4590
Passcode: 076263
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Meeting ID: 874 4015 4590
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Find your local number: https://helixcommunityschools-org.zoom.us/u/kdW3gfh3j8
The meeting may be assessed by live stream and virtual comment portal. Information on submission of comments and attendance at the meeting is posted on the school website: https:\\www.helixmentorshipacademy.org. All public comments will be properly identified and acknowledged during the meeting.
Certified this ____ day of November, 2021.
Signature: _________________________
Printed Name: _________________________
Title: _________________________
School: _________________________
The Mentorship STEAM Academy or its committees reserve the right to enter into Executive Session, if needed. In accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance at a public meeting of Mentorship STEAM Academy, please contact the Ne'Shira Millender at 225.427.8003 or email at neshira.millender@helixcommunityschools.org, describing the assistance that is necessary.
Directors Present
A. Cooper (remote), L. Young (remote), M. Victorian (remote), R. Chatelain (remote), W. Berthelot (remote)
Directors Absent
C. Cornett, V. Sizer
Guests Present
M. Dunn (remote), M. Grand (remote), N. Millender (remote), P. Castille, Jr. (remote), R. Webb (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
A. Cooper called a meeting of the board of directors of Helix Network of Educational Choices to order on Thursday Nov 18, 2021 at 8:04 AM.
C.
Approve Agenda
W. Berthelot made a motion to approve the agenda.
L. Young seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
D.
Approve Minutes
W. Berthelot made a motion to approve the minutes from Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy on 09-30-21.
M. Victorian seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Finance & Operations Committee Report - Chad Cornett, Committee Chair
A.
Finance Report
Mike Dunn presented the finance report. Highlights included:
- Key budget revisions include the addition of pandemic relief, ESSER II, and ESSER III grants and shared facility costs between Mentorship and Legal.
- Aviation and Legal budgets showing slight deficits for which funds need to be raised.
- To date, close to one million dollars have been raised through grant funding.
B.
Audit Questionnaire
R. Chatelain made a motion to approve audit questionnaire.
W. Berthelot seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
C.
Major Renovation Projects: Plumbing, Elevators & Weight Room Construction
Lisa Thrower provided renovations update for Mentorship. Highlights included:
- Most school renovations are complete.
- Designs for the construction of the weight room have been prepared and will begin at the beginning of the year.
Ne'Shira Millender provided an operations report. Highlights included:
- Marketing campaign underway with the launch of the radio and digital advertising campaign.
- Recent fundraising efforts include the submission of proposals to the EDA Build Back Better Grant and preparation of proposals for the Reimagine Schools grant.
D.
Recruitment & Enrollment Update
Robert Webb provided recruitment and enrollment update regarding Helix Legal and Helix Aviation Academy. Highlights included:
- Aviation's enrollment goal is to retain all current students students and add 16 seventh graders and 80 sixth graders.
- Legal's enrollment goal is to retain all current students and add 31 seventh graders and 50 sixth graders.
Preston Castille provided recruitment and enrollment update regarding Mentorship STEAM Academy. Highlights included:
- Mentorship's enrollment goal is to retain all current students and add 40 tenth through twelfth graders and 130 incoming ninth graders.
III. Academics Committee Report - Dr. Luria Young, Committee Chair
A.
Academic Report
Angela Domingue presented the Academics report. Highlights included:
- Review of NWEA MAP testing for Helix Aviation, Helix Mentorship and Helix Legal.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
W. Berthelot made a motion to adjourn meeting.
R. Chatelain seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
N. Millender