Kestrel Heights Public Charter School

July Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday July 11, 2023 at 6:30 PM EDT

Location

4700 S. Alston Avenue

Durham, NC 27710

 

1st Floor Classroom in the Middle School Building.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details 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 June Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Stephanie McGarrah 5 m
     
  E. Approve June Special Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Stephanie McGarrah 5 m
     
  F. 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 6:48 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. Employee Benefits Renewal Vote Jerod Cohen 10 m
   

Jerod Cohen, VP of Employee Benefits with Snipes Insurance, will propose Kestrel's 2023-2024 Benefits Package.

 
  B. Marketing and Enrollment Update FYI Suzanne Vargas 5 m
   

Ms. Vargas will discuss Kestrel's Marketing strategies and provide an 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. 

 
  C. Facilities Sub Committee FYI Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

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

 

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 7:08 PM
  A. School Culture Report FYI James Price 10 m
   

Mr. Price will provide an update about Kestrel's summer learning opportunities:  Read to Achieve Camp and Camp Kestrel.

 

READ TO ACHIEVE CAMP

Concluded on 6/30/2023

 

CAMP KESTREL

Camp Dates:  7/10/2023 - 7/28/2023

 

 

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, by: 

  • Conducting in-depth academic data analysis to identify specific areas of growth, strengths, and learning needs for all students; 
  • Identifying key levers to drive immediate and longer term achievement gains and student growth; 
  • Leveraging Mind Brain Education to accelerate progress towards learning goals. 
 
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 10 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will discuss 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. Operations Report FYI Maureen Gordon & Kimathi Thompson 5 m
   

Mrs. Gordon and Mr. KT will provide a facilities and maintenance update.

 

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.

 

 

 
  D. RFP Process - Caterer Recommendation Vote Maureen Gordon 5 m
   

Mrs. Gordon will present catering vendor information for Board review and approval of services for the 2023-2024 school year.

 
V. Committee Reports 7:43 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 5 m
   

Mr. Powe will provide an update from the Academic Sub-Committee.

 
  B. Governance Committee Discuss Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

Mrs. Davis will discuss:

  • Board Membership and Recruitment.
  • Request for board support to plan the Ribbon Cutting for the new building.
 
  C. Executive Committee Nominations Vote Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

The Board of Directors will receive nominations for officers for the Executive Committee.

 
  D. Vote to Extend Board Membership Vote Adrienne Davis 5 m
   

The Board of Directors will vote to extend Board Membership tenure for an identified Board member.

 
VI. Closed Session 8:03 PM
  A. Enter Closed Session Discuss Adrienne Davis 10 m
   

ยง 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. Personnel Recommendations Vote Tonya Jackson 10 m
   

Mrs. Jackson will make the following Personnel Recommendations for the 2023-2024 school year:

 

 

 
  C. Construction Discussion Vote Adrienne Davis 20 m
   

The Board of Directors will discuss matters related to the construction project.

 
  D. Board Meeting Agenda Items FYI Adrienne Davis
   

This Board Meeting Agenda includes the month-by-month listing of topics that the Board of Directors plans to cover during the year.

 
VII. Closing Items 8:43 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