Anonymous - It seems that Amie Whiteley is making it very difficult for department chairs to work effectively on the grid. She is reluctant to work with the department chairs and seems to make her own choices without the approval of department chairs.

Marie Arce of Charter Impact

Presenting the differences between the June budget and the new one. Primarily based on confirmation of hold harmless funding from the state. Also to incorporate interest income from Lausd. 
 

student support discretionary block grant - recognition of this revenue was reduced by $502k 

$10.79 million in hold harmless funds. Is being allocated across 3 years since we do not know if we will receive any additional funds after this year. 
Based on 30% of the full 24-25 enrollment and allocation of $36 million. 

Ed questioned the percentages and how this is calculated and why it does not get to 100%. Marie explains that the state will not give 100% of the funding we would have had. They just give us a percentage bump to help bridge the gap but they won’t freeze our funding to the whole level we used to have beyond the first year post fire. 
Maggie asked about the student support discretionary block grant and why this was taken away. Marie says budget and finance requested this change. once the school receives the funds, they will defer the revenue until next year when the expenses are recognized. They are only recognizing enough of it now to cover the insurance. 
Dr Magee says we don’t have a plan in place to use those funds so we don’t want to recognize it yet. The funds are discretionary but restricted. 
Marie - mchanges to expenses were limited. Biggest change is insurance expense.  If we sign the new Sole Occupancy Agreement, our insurance obligation will go up by another $200k still. 
Reflects staffing changes in June as well - 2 departures and 1 new position 

Ed - asks why no changes in salaries reflected. Marie says they didn’t have new enrollment numbers that would result in changes to salaries 

Maggie asks about bargaining and salaries. Would we have to reconvene to approve a new budget? Marie says we have to do things now based on current information. We will have to incorporate changes in the budget. Jane says the board should vote on it at that time. Marie says charter doesn’t require board vote but they will change the forecasting To show that certain areas will be over budget. 

negeen - how do we manage the process at that time so we don’t end up with a huge deficit? Marie says that will happen via the interim Financials that the board reviews and approves. we cannot have a deficit projection or going into reserves when we come up for charter renewal. Reserves are only for emergencies like right after the fire. We have to show sustainable financials and be projecting a surplus for 5 years when we come up for charter renewal.  

Ed - concerned about our teachers being double digits behind lausd salaries in this bargaining negotiation. 

Marie - big challenge with that is enrollment. We don’t know how long it will take for the school to recover in enrollment and the local population to recover, so we can’t forecast for years out right now and take on financial obligations with confidence. We have to be cautious in enrollment forecasts so we don’t end up in a deficit or using our reserve fund balance. 
Dr Magee - we have to make decisions based on what Pali can do. It’s a completely separate situation that lausd and we can’t compare. It’s not appropriate to be discussing bargaining in this meeting 

Maggie - we have to remember that we as board members have to wear a different hat than we wear as teachers and employees 

The reserve fund balance is higher in the revised budget based on the hold harmless 

Marie - we did not add back operational expenses that were cut for the June budget. The requests were denied.

Marie - 

no changes to fundraising revenue. Timing of the revenue transfer to replenish fund balance is also same. 

Regular board meeting is August 25