Explorations Charter School
Minutes
Governing Board Regular Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 21, 2023 at 5:30 PM
Location
Virtual
Directors Present
Ginni Block (remote), Hilary Paden (remote), Lori Noto (remote), Melony Brady-Shanley (remote), Robert Peterson (remote), Sarah Annis Haynes (remote)
Directors Absent
Bill Hallam
Guests Present
Jill Johnson (remote), Joe White (remote), Susan O'Rourke (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Committee Updates
A.
Finance Committee
B.
Financial Report
C.
Education Committee
Jill and Joe will be meeting with our Student Information System representative regarding how to proceed on the changing passing grades to 65 from the current 70.
D.
Policy Committee
Policy committee to meet next week to review policies that need to be updated or approved at the March's meeting.
III. School News
A.
Attendance/Chronic Absenteeism Update
Chronic Absentee rates for the month of January to February have gone down.
B.
General Update
Teachers participated in a Professional Development on 2/17.
Part of the day was spent discussing Education Modified (special education/504 online program).
The other half of the day, was a Sexual Harassment Training lead by an attorney.
The Grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation is wrapping up. This grant provided funding to build infrastructure for Manufacturing, Robotics and Computer Science Classes. Mathew Harris has created a Donor Choose to help raise additional funds to help his Manufacturing class for the rest of the year.
IV. Other Business
A.
Staffing
English Teacher, Nicole Doiron has put in her notice. Her last day will be March 3.
Emma will be returning from her maternity leave to fill in for Nicole's position for the rest of the school year.
Ed Advance has received a grant for school based mental health in the Northwest Corner. With this grant, the hope is for a 1/2 time school counselor to help students with transition. Hoping for the person to be in place by the end of the school year.
B.
Upcoming Events
- Tomorrow, February 22 is a Pizza Field Trip to reward students from 2nd quarter who attended school 90% or higher
- Friday, February 24 there will be a bonus skating trip for Juniors and Seniors
- March 1, Northwest Community College will be visiting with students during the day, and parents at night
- March 16, There will be a state visit. This time focusing on math curriculum. They will be meeting with Sarah Gubetta and Jordan Hagenow.
- Kings CPA to present audit at next Board Meeting.
C.
Board Members
Jill and Joe need to review the Charter regarding the make up of the Board and who has voting/non voting rights.
Jill to reach out to ask for student representatives.
Sarah Haynes, will ask David Haynes, student if he is interested in participating on the Board for the remainder of the school year.
V. Executive Session
A.
Enter Executive Session
None
B.
Leaving Executive Session and Return to Board Meeting
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Board Minutes 1-17-23.pdf
- Monthly Report January 2023.pdf
- BOY - 1-31-2023 - Data Reporting.pdf
We are 50% through the school year.
Waiting on bill from the transportation company.
Still waiting on grant money and money from the state.