Kestrel Heights Public Charter School

August Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday August 9, 2022 at 6:30 PM EDT

Agenda

      Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 6:30 PM
 
Opening Items
 
  A. Call the Meeting to Order   Adrienne Davis 1 m
   

The meeting will be called to order by the President of the Board of Directors.

 
  B. Public Comment Submission   Adrienne Davis 1 m
   

Please sign up for public comment, given the virtual setting, please enter your name in the comment section.  Please note the Public Comment expectations.  The Board will first record those in attendance and approve the minutes, after that process, the Board will listen to public comments.  

 

Public/employee comments and questions shall be:
1) Limited to two minutes (2 minutes).
2) Directed to the Board and not to individual members.
3) Presented in a professional demeanor and not in a threatening, profane, vulgar or abusive manner.
4) Topics that are relevant to the business matters of the Kestrel Board of Directors.
5) Recognized after speaker provides their name to the Board President prior to addressing the Board.

 

 
  C. Record Attendance and Guests   Stephanie McGarrah 1 m
   

Please note which Board Members are present and absent for the Secretary. 

 
  D. Approve July Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Stephanie McGarrah 5 m
     
  E. Public Comment   Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

At each regular and special meeting which are open to the public, members of the public and employees of Kestrel Heights shall be afforded time, subject to reasonable constraints, to comment to the board.

 

It shall be the decision of the Board if it is appropriate to respond to a question and which Board member will respond. The Board encourages all comments/questions to be submitted in writing to the board after the two minutes to ensure the entire message is heard by the board.

Out of respect of time, individuals who engage in repetitive comments/questions will be asked to refrain and/or yield the floor.

 
II. Key Agenda Items & Presentations 6:43 PM
 
The Board has prioritized the agenda to start the meeting with the most impactful agenda items to the school's mission and goals.  The Board has also strategically placed all presentations at the onset to allow staff and visitors the opportunity to present at the onset of the meeting. 

Presentations may be taken out of the larger Sections and thus may not be directly aligned or not provided when other Sections are discussed.
 
  A. Marketing and Enrollment Update FYI Suzanne Vargas 5 m
   

Ms. Vargas will provide a Marketing and Enrollment update.

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 2, Kestrel will leverage its new and innovative school model to achieve its full potential and set the school apart in Durham and the surrounding area, as measured by increased enrollment, retention, and parent satisfaction by developing and implementing a detailed plan, including the following key elements: 

 

Objective D.  A comprehensive marketing/branding plan, touting what makes Kestrel unique. 

 
  B. Facilities Sub Committee FYI Justin Matthews 15 m
   

The Facilities sub-committee (which is a sub-committee of the Finance Committee) will provide a monthly update to the Board.  

 

Project Schedule Update (Matthews)

BCCG Construction Progress (Matthews)

 

 

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 3: Kestrel will develop and implement a plan to ensure long-term financial and operational viability, as measured by attainment of annual enrollment targets, acquisition of loan/bond to finance facilities, and alignment of annual budget with school staffing and programming needs-

 
III. Curriculum & Assessment 7:03 PM
  A. Back to School - Lower School Edition FYI Andrew Touchette 5 m
   

Mr. Touchette will discuss the opening of school events, classroom arrangements, and carpool information for the Lower School.

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 1:  Kestrel will ensure students are academically prepared for success in high school and beyond, as evidenced by short and longer-term student learning gains.

 
  B. Back to School - Upper School Edition FYI Samantha Villegas 5 m
   

Mrs. Villegas will discuss the opening of school events, classroom arrangements, and carpool information for the Upper School.

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 1:  Kestrel will ensure students are academically prepared for success in high school and beyond, as evidenced by short and longer-term student learning gains.

 
  C. Camp Kestrel Summer Highlights 2022 FYI James Price 5 m
   

Mr. Price will share highlights from Camp Kestrel.

 
IV. Operational Reports 7:18 PM
 

The Administrative Team will provide monthly updates pertaining to the operation of the school.  

 
  A. Executive Director Report FYI Tonya Jackson 3 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will present the Executive Director's monthly report. 

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 4: Kestrel will expand upon its strong and positive school culture as evidenced by high attendance rates, low student discipline rates, improved parent satisfaction, and high student retention (re-enrollment) rates, high retention of effective staff, improvement to NCTWC Survey results -

 

 

 

 
  B. Monthly Budget Report FYI Tonya Jackson 5 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will review the monthly Budget Analysis Report.

 

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 3: Kestrel will develop and implement a plan to ensure long-term financial and operational viability, as measured by attainment of annual enrollment targets, acquisition of loan/bond to finance facilities, and alignment of the annual budget with school staffing and programming needs-
 

 
  C. FY23 Budget by Line Item Vote Tonya Jackson 5 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will present the FY23 line-by-line budget for Board approval.

 

 

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 3: Kestrel will develop and implement a plan to ensure long-term financial and operational viability, as measured by attainment of annual enrollment targets, acquisition of loan/bond to finance facilities, and alignment of the annual budget with school staffing and programming needs-

 
  D. Organizational Chart and Staffing Structure 2022-2023 FYI Tonya Jackson 5 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will review the updated Organizational Chart and Staffing Plan for 2022-2023.

 
  E. Plan for Use of Consolidated Grant Funds Vote Tonya Jackson 5 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will discuss the plan for Title I and Title II funds for the 2022-2023 school year.

 
  F. Elementary Update FYI Maureen Gordon 5 m
   

Mrs. Gordon will provide an update on the status of the transition from the current elementary location.

  • Finalizing utilities
  • Transitioning technology
  • Needs and next steps

This presentation aligns with Strategic Plan Goal 3: Kestrel will develop and implement a plan to ensure long-term financial and operational viability, as measured by attainment of annual enrollment targets, acquisition of loan/bond to finance facilities, and alignment of the annual budget with school staffing and programming needs-

 
V. Committee Reports 7:46 PM
 
The Board of Directors has developed four Sub-Committees to help meet the goals established by the Board and to ensure our school is living up to our mission.   Each sub-committee will provide a monthly update on the progress that has been made since the last meeting.  
 
  A. Academic Sub-Committee FYI Derek Powe 3 m
   

Mr. Powe will discuss the progress of the Academic Sub-Committee.

 
  B. Governance Sub-Committee FYI Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

Mrs. Davis will facilitate a discussion about updates to the Leave Policy.

 
  C. Board Membership FYI Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

Mrs. Davis will share information about membership on the Kestrel Heights' Board of Directors.

 
  D. Kestrel Heights Mask Policy Vote Maureen Gordon 3 m
   

Per Senate Bill 654, All public school units must adopt a policy regarding the use of face coverings by employees and students. School boards must vote once a month on this policy and if it should be modified.

Key point: The charter school’s Board of Directors must have a board-approved face-covering policy and must revisit and vote on this policy at least once a month.

 

For Reference:

Durham COVID Report as of 4/30/2022

COVID Dashboard

Covid-19 North Carolina Dashboard

 
VI. Closed Session 8:02 PM
  A. Enter Closed Session Discuss Adrienne Davis 10 m
   

§ 143-318.11.  Closed sessions.

(a)        Permitted Purposes. - It is the policy of this State that closed sessions shall be held only when required to permit a public body to act in the public interest as permitted in this section. A public body may hold a closed session and exclude the public only when a closed session is required:

 

1) To prevent the disclosure of information that is privileged or confidential pursuant to the law of this State or of the United States, or not considered a public record within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.

 

(3) To consult with an attorney employed or retained by the public body in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege between the attorney and the public body, which privilege is hereby acknowledged. General policy matters may not be discussed in a closed session and nothing herein shall be construed to permit a public body to close a meeting that otherwise would be open merely because an attorney employed or retained by the public body is a participant. The public body may consider and give instructions to an attorney concerning the handling or settlement of a claim, judicial action, mediation, arbitration, or administrative procedure. If the public body has approved or considered a settlement, other than a malpractice settlement by or on behalf of a hospital, in closed session, the terms of that settlement shall be reported to the public body and entered into its minutes as soon as possible within a reasonable time after the settlement is concluded.

 

(6) To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee. General personnel policy issues may not be considered in a closed session. A public body may not consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment, or removal of a member of the public body or another body and may not consider or fill a vacancy among its own membership except in an open meeting. Final action making an appointment or discharge or removal by a public body having final authority for the appointment or discharge or removal shall be taken in an open meeting.

 
  B. Staffing Recommendations Vote Tonya Jackson 10 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will discuss staffing transitions and present staffing recommendations for the positions:

1.  Proposing the addition of a 3rd kindergarten class due to projected numbers

2.  2nd Grade Teacher

3.  Kindergarten TA

**Staffing Changes & Transitions:  Kindergarten, TA, Instructional Assistant, 2nd Grade, Kindergarten Teacher

 
VII. Closing Items 8:22 PM
  A. Report out from Closed Session FYI Stephanie McGarrah 5 m
   
Report out on closed session
 
  B. Adjourn Meeting Vote Adrienne Davis 3 m