Helix Network of Educational Choices

Minutes

Board Meeting

Helix Mentorship STEAM Academy

Date and Time

Thursday January 27, 2022 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 January 27, 2022 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:

 

  1. 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.
  2. matters that if they are delayed will cause curtailment of public education services.
  3.  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 January 27, 2022 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
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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 January, 2022.

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, R. Chatelain (remote), V. Sizer (remote), W. Berthelot (remote)

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

A. Domingue (remote), D. Ford (remote), L. Thrower (remote), M. Dunn (remote), M. Grand (remote), N. Millender (remote), P. Castille, Jr. (remote), P. McMurray (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 Jan 27, 2022 at 8:03 AM.

C.

Approve Agenda

R. Chatelain made a motion to amend agenda to add the appointment of a new board member.
W. Berthelot seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
R. Chatelain made a motion to approve the amended agenda.
W. Berthelot seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Board Member Appointment

L. Young made a motion to appoint Tim Burbach as a board member.
W. Berthelot seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Approve Minutes

W. Berthelot made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 11-18-21.
R. Chatelain seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Finance & Operations Committee Report

A.

Finance Report

Mike Dunn presented the financial report and review of financial statements for Helix Mentorship, Helix Legal, and Helix Aviation.

B.

Major Renovation Projects: Plumbing, Elevators & Weight Room Construction

Ne'Shira Millender presented updates regarding the planned renovation projects for the weight room construction, plumbing, and elevators at Mentorship.

 

C.

Operations Report

Ne'Shira Millender presented the operations report. Highlights included:

  • Updates regarding transportation, food services, and IT.
  • Updates regarding grant and funding opportunities.
  • Updates regarding network-wide marketing activities.

III. Academics Committee Report - Dr. Luria Young, Committee Chair

A.

Academic Report

Dr. Angela Domingue presented the Academic Report. Highlights included:

  • Review of results of School Review Surveys performed by New Schools for Baton Rouge.
  • Discussion of areas for strength, growth, and development for network schools.

IV. HCS President's Report

A.

Fundraising/Development Activities

Preston Castille presented the HCS President's Report. Highlights included:

  • Updates regarding staff changes at key funding organizations, including Baton Rouge Area Foundation, New Schools for Baton Rouge, New Schools for New Orleans.
  • Updates regarding new charter schools opening in the Baton Rouge area.
  • Review of long-term opportunities for the network.

B.

Other Business

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

W. Berthelot made a motion to adjourn meeting.
M. Victorian 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 8:47 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
N. Millender