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Pullman Community Montessori

Board Meeting--Special

Date and Time

Monday November 29, 2021 at 5:45 PM PST

Location

PCM Board of Trustees meetings are held in the Gladish Community and Cultural Center room 100.  To increase accessibility we offer a virtual option for attendance.  The Zoom link can be found below.  If you attend in person please wear a mask upon entry into the building. Thank you for understanding and complying with these safety mitigation measures!

 

All board meetings are open to the public. Regular monthly board meetings begin at 5:00 PM PST the fourth (4th) Tuesday of each month. Public comment is a standing agenda item at each regular monthly meeting.  If you would like to make public comment please attend the regularly scheduled board meeting in December. Items will be addressed by the board according to the Meeting Agenda posted 48 hours prior to each meeting.
PCM's Mission: to prepare all students to reach their full potential for future success in high school, college, career, and life, using the rich resources of our community.

PCM's Vision: to serve as an instrument of change, helping to progress our education system to better meet the needs of students, families, and educators. We nurture students to be self-empowered lifelong learners, global citizens, environmental stewards, and compassionate and collaborative leaders, bringing positive changes to their communities and the world!

Agenda

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 5:45 PM
  A. Record Attendance   John Cassleman 1 m
  B. Call the Meeting to Order Discuss John Cassleman 1 m
   
Take a moment before the meeting to review our operating norms (linked in the footer). 
  
II. Other Business 5:47 PM
 

 

  
  A. Proposed Admin/Ops Support Contract with SIA Vote Laylah Sullivan 20 m
   
The HOS is requesting the PCM Board of Trustees allow her the latitude to negotiate and accept a 2021-22 Admin/Ops Support Contract with SIA in lue of hiring another admin (Montessori Coach - Director of Academic Programs) in the middle of a school year that is supported by both WA Charters and Joule Growth Partners.

 

For full transparency, linked HERE is the DRAFT contact proposed by SIA to assume non-model specific admin/ops and compliance duties.

 

Background:
As has been shared previously, Tami O'Kinsella our Montessori Coach - Director of Academic Programs, is leaving her position with PCM and returning to the classroom.  She is now providing remote support but will be fully transitioned off of PCM payroll by the end of December.  Covering all admin and ops duties as well as covering academic oversight and coaching duties is not feasible with one person.  Hiring this late into the school year could result in no applicants, small pool, or undesirable prospects and is time consuming and costly.  WA Charters and NCMPS have opted to provide model specific support coaching support (WA Charters over the month of December and NCPMS for the remainder of the school year).  SIA has proposed to act as a charter specialized ESD 101 and assume a substantial portion of the non-model specific admin and ops duties for PCM so that the HOS can lean into the ensuring the model specific components are fully supported.  

 

WA Charters is in support of this plan as well and will look at what financial gaps may be covered to support this joint venture and pioneer a potential option that may benefit other charters as well and covered PCM's gaps for the 2021-22 school year.  

 

Pros:
  • PCM could not hire a person that is specialized and has deep experience in all the areas that SIA can cover.  The option is likely more cost effective and efficient than hiring an individual person (hence the role of an ESD for a small school).
  • Support could start immediately (some in December).
  • Hiring processes can focus on finding candidate for the 2022-23 school year.
  • Allows us to re-envision the admin structure in our small school and test the proposed solution.  If successful this could be a long term prospect.
  • The HOS will be able to fill the role needed for a strong school that is mission aligned.
Cons:
  • We would be the pilot program for SIA.  As with any pilot there will be hurdles to overcome and course corrections/refinements.
  • The proposal and timeline requires the board to put more decision making ability with the HOS.  The board should have a plan to follow-up with WA Charters and Joule (through the Finance committee, HOS updates, and Chair-WA Charters meetings) to ensure the plan is sound and progressing as needed.
  
  B. Daylength Conversation Discuss Laylah Sullivan 10 m
   
Discuss potential daylength conversation brought about by staff vote.
  
III. Closing Items 6:17 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote John Cassleman 1 m