Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
Minutes
MeANS' Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday October 17, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Directors Present
A. Perkins, D. Gram, G. Bazakas, K. Patnode, M. Callan, M. Harris (remote), R. Dodge, S. Beaulieu, W. King
Directors Absent
E. Brown
Guests Present
A. Boudreau, A. Hyde, E. Pariser, M. Newberg, P. Henyan
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Additions/Adjustments to the Agenda
D.
Public Comment
None.
E.
Staff/Student Presentations - Intensives
Presentation by: Rand Smith - 11/12 Science Teacher and Tucker Emery - MeANS' Senior
-Rand - Signature piece of our curriculum/Fortunate to have intensives here/they have become more robust over the years.
-We have built relationships/connections with area businesses/operations that ask us to come back year after year.
-Getting our students involved and to see local entrepreneurs doing things in agriculture, forestry, and the environment.
-Tucker - Talked about the different intensives that he has been a part of during his years at MeANS, and the meaning he took from each.
II. Consent Agenda (Action requested by Approval of Consent Agenda)
A.
Approve Minutes from 9.12.2024 Meeting
None.
B.
Head of School Report
C.
Committee Reports
III. Action Items
A.
Vote on New Board Member - Lee Karter
Father of 3 MeANS' graduates, one of whom works here./Will bring us to 11 on the board.
None.
B.
Approve Updated 3-Year Financial Plan
Matt - Ashley did an amended budget of the 10/1 budget.
Ashley - We will have a large surplus./Look at putting money in/replacing vehicles and/or busses.
Whitney - Ashley has proposed putting some surplus money onto next year's budget.
***Increase fundraising***
New Threshold Model - Two Leads - Solomon and Ana
-Solomon talked about his role/said it has gone good so far.
-Ana did the same/said it has gone good so far.
-Both mentioned a united team, support of campus staff, and discussed looking at enrollment for next year.
None.
C.
Exit Interview Request
Mary Callan
- Had request from a former staff member to do an exit interview, so we are in the process of drafting an Exit Interview policy.
-Would the board be OK with doing an exit interview before we have the policy in place?
*Board would like to draft the process before conducting the interview.
IV. Information Sharing
A.
Strategic Plan
Mary Callan
-Strategic Planning group met in September.
-Took drivers and key actions and developed a set of Smart Goals
-Group revised them, and we have a draft.
-Board will read through these carefully.
B.
Head of School Performance Framework
Mary Callan
-Updates - Tweaked the timeline for the evaluation - a little bit later in the year.
-Also changed some wording.
C.
By All MeANS Campaign (BAM)
Erin Brown
-Two Development Committee meetings done in September and October.
-Will be asking for small increases for donations from Board Members.
-Matt is working together with Evan to highlight what the BAM campaign has supported.
-Will be working on highlighting the intensives and Threshold programs.
-Working to develop a handful of grants for this year.
-Ask to the Board Members - Take a look at these organizations and see if you happen to know anyone to help broaden our interested parties.
D.
Charter Commission Luncheon - 12/09/2024
-Talk about Strategic Planning Goals in Augusta/Luncheon on 12/09/2024.
-Robert should be attending/put it out to the rest of the board if anyone is interested in attending.
E.
HOS Updates
Matt
-Threshold Leadership Model is going great.
-Enrollment Report - Campus opened at a 14% increase - altogether we had 8% less students than last year because of the Threshold program.
-The beginning of the year feel is very positive.
-Cellphone Policy is going well.
-Special Ed. - Bonnie has been able to figure out how to cover one of the Special Ed. needs in Threshold.
Mary Callan - Action Items