Nancy Goodstein: I've learned that some Pali students avoid certain science courses due to their aversion to the required cat dissection. I then learned that local shelters euthanize animals unnecessarily as they are paid money for the animals sold for this kind of scientific experimentation. Basic research shows that Pali would not only save money by purchasing reusable simulated models for dissection practice, which many consider to be more effective in teaching biology, and also avoid what I fear is a teaching of a lack of empathy by the method employed currently. I am happy to do a well-researched comparison report on viable options if this something which would be considered.

Kyle Finch: Kindness, tolerance, and respect for other sis one of the most important things we can teach our students. As it pertains to vaccine mandates that were pushed on so many of us. It was a miserable failure on part of the school to force a medical treatment on young people. We have come so far that we don't have to look back. Children's lives were really impacted by this. There are kids that never made it back to Pali because you forced them out because you mandated it. Those kids have many mental health issues and I hope that you take time over the break to evaluate your COVID vaccine mandate.

Monica Batts-King: Senior parents are a little confused that there were not yard signs and the senior advisor said there were many left over from last year and there was not interest. Parents are also upset that students cannot take their backpack to the restroom. Pali also needs to to look at a black graduation, where black students have their own ceremony, which many other schools in the area do. I think this is something that TVN or some leader needs to look into. Ticket limitations for graduation are an issue and this is something else the school sneeds to figure out so every family members and friends can attend. We had a scholarship ceremony last week and only students are notified, but not parents. Some students got an award and parents were not even aware of the event.

Sara Margiotta: We went through what is in the budget yesterday and are making recommendations to the board for contract renewals. Budget and Finance Committee minutes are available in the board materials. 

Sarah Crompton: One board meeting we discussed the increase in bus fare and the scholarship money for families. The increase in the bus fare ended up being lower than what was expected. What happens to that money?

Sara Margiotta: We adjust everything to the CPI and we can look at any cost savings, which ended up saving every rider money.

Grade Appeal Committee: One where we upheld the teacher's grade and one still in process and will report out at the next meeting.

Juan Pablo Herrera presented the CharterSAFE Insurance renewal proposal, which can be found in the board materials.

Sarah Crompton: Why did we have less enrollment for students?

Juan Pablo Herrera: Every student that we have enrolled, which affects our insurance rate. We have lower students than what was projected, so that lower number adjusted the insurance rate.

Juan Pablo Herrera presented the 2023-2024 American Transportation System renewal proposal.

Juan Pablo Herrera presented the Director of Discipline, Activities, and Security Contract.

Juan Pablo Herrera presented the APEX/Acellus and the recommendation is to stick with Acellus.

Juan Pablo Herrera presented the 1:1 Device Program proposal.

Maggie Nance: We are going to spend almost a million dollars on the computers, but you are only asking for what?

Juan Pablo Herrera: I am asking to use the ESSER money to cover the cost.

Sara Margiotta: $903,712 is money that was allocated for technology that we have not used.

Sarah Crompton: Why is it only $1,650 computers?

Juan Pablo Herrera: We bought about $1,500 student devices previously from learning loss money. 

Sarah Crompton: Are those Chromebooks or Lenovos?

Jeff Roepel: They are yoga computers from Lenovo.

Peter Garff: The $1,500 bought in 2022 are the same as the $1,650 we are buying now?

Jeff Roepel: Yes, they are the same, just slightly newer.

Peter Garff: After the few initial years that we are taking money out of this grant, will the money then from from the general funds?

Juan Pablo Herrera: Yes, we have set about $300,000 for expected costs in the future. We have a plan to ease into the recurring costs as they begin.

Sara Margiotta: One of the things we did in our proposal was to make sure this is a sustained cost and we included language so that this would be covered for 2024-2025.

Sarah Crompton: The minutes from the budget committee say that we want 1:1 for next year, but are we also voting on the new language that is included in the proposal?

Sara Margiotta: Those minutes are not up yet and will be soon.

Sarah Crompton: The committee states that the school needs to find cost saving measures elsewhere to maintain the program. That is confusing.

Sara Margiotta: If this is a priority, we have looked in the past at other costs of the school in order to cover high priority costs to maintain the program.

Karen Ellis: We already have about half of what we need, but we are going to replace older computers as they age out?

Sara Margiotta: The plan is that on year 2 we will take the best half of what we have to get us through year 2 and replenish 25% each year after.

Peter Garff: I think there are a lot of concerns on this issue with students and ASB has been researching and discussing the benefits and the cost of this initiative and find that the benefits outweigh the cost. We have recently received a lot of clarity and student leaders in ASB are in support.

Maggie Nance: That is very different from what I am hearing from other student leaders. It is difficult to get a feel on how the students and faculty feel about this when we have not truly run a poll. People are really torn on this and I think kids really don't want this, as well as some parents that want all of the devices connected. This is a ton of money that could be spend elsewhere.

Sara Margiotta: The evaluation committee will be meeting with Dr. Magee to review the self-evaluation and all stakeholders are able to contribute through stakeholder trustees. If you are a stakeholder representative that is not on the evaluation committee, please share that with a committee member.

At the end of the evaluation process, if the review is satisfactory or better, the contract renewal will be voted on at the June 20th meeting. We are working on creating a new evaluation process that will do a better job collecting input from stakeholders.

The date of the next board meeting is Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 5 p.m. in Gilbert Hall.