Explorations Charter School
Minutes
Governing Board Regular Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday January 23, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Location
Virtual
Directors Present
Ginni Block (remote), Hilary Paden (remote), Kristin Peterson (remote), Lori Noto (remote), Robert Peterson (remote), Sarah Annis Haynes (remote)
Directors Absent
Bill Hallam, Melony Brady-Shanley
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 - 12/19/2023 Regular Board Meeting
II. Financial
A.
Monthly Report
III. Committee Updates
A.
Finance Committee
B.
Director Evaluation Committee
Lori and Ginni met. They contacted Leo from Board on Track.
They will use Board on Track to disseminate the evaluation to the staff.
They will use a Google Form through the use of Plus Portals for parents and students.
C.
Personnel Committee
Bill and Sarah are hoping to have it ready for the Personnel Handbook ready for the February meeting.
IV. School News
A.
Attendance/Chronic Absenteeism
December:
CA (ytd) = 38.0% (was 50.6% last year)
Avg Daily Attendance = 89.09% (up from 86% last year)
Avg. Daily Attendance / CA
9th - 85.00% - 40%
10th - 92.71% - 33%
11th - 87.96% - 41%
12th - 90.05% - 38%
Discussion held:
Second round of meetings with staff and parents are starting.
Ed Advance created "Attendance Packets" that will be available. Slogan "School is better with you here."
Are there any studies on "What is the family psyche for Chronic Absenteeism?" That we can look at?
Would a testimony from another student help? One that messed up but then got back on track?
Joe and Beth spend easily half of their day dealing with attendance issues.
B.
General Updates
1. Enrollment
6 students have been accepted making the enrollment a total of 85 students.
Bill has been working with the Enrollment Committee. They are working on things like Rejuvenating Adventure Ed. An example would be to hike the Appalachian Trail in CT in the 4 years that you attend. Becomes hiking with a purpose.
2. New Teacher Representative for the Board
Two teachers have volunteered to be the Teacher Representative. Will look into the possibility that one would be the regular the other an alternate?
3. Need a parent of a current student.
Jill and Joe to meet on this.
V. Other Business
A.
CCA Meeting with Sue Lubomski (EdAdvance)
New program to start next year in Torrington. Dual enrollment in school and the other half would be in things like manufacturing. Transportation would be covered.
B.
Flooding Emergency Update
Hoping to see first check in 2 - 3 weeks from Insurance.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- December 23 Financial Report.pdf
In February or March we will have the Financial Audit Report.
Waiting to hear back from Health Insurance Collective.