Kestrel Heights Public Charter School
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 9, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Location
Board meetings can be accessed virtual via the following link: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/91765050859
Password is KHCS
Directors Present
A. Davis (remote), B. Paris (remote), D. Wimberly (remote), J. Featherstone (remote), L. Lewis (remote), R. Clement (remote), S. Foy-Watson (remote), S. Goram (remote), S. McGarrah (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Hensler (remote), M. Callahan (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
J. Hensler (remote), M. Callahan (remote)
Guests Present
A. Touchette (remote), Alicia Tabiri (remote), Anthony Jorge (remote), B. Buckholz (remote), Desmond Cutler (remote), Dottie Heath (remote), Jennifer Lucas (remote), Jocelyn Atkins (remote), Laura Rivera Lang (remote), M. Tracy (remote), Ronald Hess (remote), S. Vargas (remote), S. Villegas (remote), Shannon Chestnut (remote), Stephon Bowens (remote), Zerlina Agbogbe (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
J. Featherstone called a meeting of the board of directors of Kestrel Heights Public Charter School to order on Tuesday Feb 9, 2021 at 6:30 PM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Approve January 2021 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
A. Davis made a motion to Approve January 12, 2021 Board minutes.
D. Wimberly seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
D.
Public Comment
Parents were invited to submit public comments through the chat, but there were none submitted.
II. Key Agenda Items & Presentations
A.
Approval of 2021-2022 School Year Calendar
Ms. Vargas reviewed the proposed 2021-22 school year calendar. She reviewed the Durham Public Schools calendar as well as others to try and align breaks since some Kestrel families have children in both systems. The administration and calendar committee reviewed drafts and changes were made. Ms. Vargas also answered questions from faculty and staff.
S. McGarrah made a motion to Approve 2021-22 school year calendar as presented.
R. Clement seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
B.
Title I State Audit Follow Up
Ms. Jackson presented on Kestrel Heights' first year as a Title 1 school. Ms. Jackson discussed the federal monitoring process and the findings and recommendations Kestrel received from this process. There were four areas where improvements are recommended: (1) Plan for the use of funds; (2) Collaboration with Local or State Welfare Agencies; (3) Approval, Evaluation and Content of Targeted Support & Improvement Plan; and (4) School Plan Implementation. Ms. Jackson asked for formal Board approval for previously-shared plans for the Parent & Family Engagement Plan, the School-Parent-Student Compact, and the TSI School Plan draft. Kestrel needs to have formal Board approval for these plans for the federal monitoring process.
A. Davis made a motion to Approve the Parent and Family Engagement Policy and the School-Parent-Student Compact.
S. McGarrah seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
A. Davis made a motion to Approve the TSI School Plan Draft as presented.
S. Foy-Watson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Marketing Update
Jennifer Lucas provided a marketing update. We have gotten 100 applications for Kestrel, which is an improvement, but still lower than our target. The first lottery is coming up in a few days, and there is a new system that has been created, which should make the process easier for the administration. Next, we plan to have two school videos created and will also continue to advertise for open enrollment.
The Board asked about second language for postcards, the website and social media. Ms. Lucas agreed to check on the postcards in Spanish, and she noted that the application and online media are either in Spanish or are available to be converted to another language.
D.
2020-21 Accreditation Process
Mr. Touchette presented that the accreditation committee is on-track to complete the accreditation process.
E.
Return to School Planning
Dr. Tracy presented on the Return to School Plan. Almost 20% of parents indicated that their children would return to school in-person on March 1, and 80% of parents would prefer to remain in virtual school. Dr. Tracy also indicated that the Durham County stayed in the orange level for the NC DHHS county alert system, which met the Board's criteria for a return to school. Greenlight provided Kestrel staff survey data, which indicated that 25% of staff will not or probably would not return to school with another 40% concerned about returning.
The Board asked questions about the data as presented as well as the NC Legislature bill (S37) that may require schools to offer in-person instruction. The Board asked about BOGs, and Kestrel administration noted that if we return to in-person instruction prior to March 12 that 3rd grade students will be required to take an in-person Beginning of Grade test.
D. Wimberly made a motion to begin to offer in-person instruction as outlined in return-to-school plan on April 27, 2021.
A. Davis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
Strategic Planning Proposal
Dr. Tracy discussed the need for a new strategic plan for Kestrel and the vendors that submitted proposals for the process. Dr. Tracy recommended that Kestrel Heights choose Ten Square as the vendor for the strategic planning process.
S. McGarrah made a motion to Contract with Ten Square for the Kestrel Heights School strategic plan as presented in their proposal.
S. Foy-Watson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
G.
Educational Model
Dr. Tracy presented the proposed new education model of blended learning that uses mind brain education teaching strategies to provide differentiated instruction to all scholars with a strong focus on small group instructional practices. He explained the concept and the need for a change from Paideia. The full presentation is available in the agenda. The timeline would involve the development of a subcommittee and an amendment to the school charter in May 2021 with the state certification of mind brain education during the 2021-22 school year.
S. McGarrah made a motion to change the Kestrel Heights School educational model from the Paideia model to a blended learning educational model that uses mind brain education teaching strategies to provide differentiated instruction to all scholars with a strong focus on small group instructional practices.
A. Davis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Academics
A.
Middle of the Year iReady Report
Dr. Tracy presented on the middle of the year iReady report and how staff uses it to plan and teach. Kestrel has seen some improvement in the outcomes from the beginning to the middle of the year in reading and math even in the virtual environment. The Board asked questions about the data and the impact of COVID on Kestrel and our staff, scholars and family.
IV. Operational Reports
A.
Executive Director Report
Dr. Tracy reviewed the Executive Director report with the Board.
B.
Monthly Epi Center Report
Dr. Tracy provided an update on the Monthly Epi Center report. The school remains on track.
V. Committee Reports
A.
Governance Sub-Committee
There was no update from the governance subcommittee.
B.
Monthly Budget Report
Dr. Tracy reviewed the monthly budget report. There was a slight drop in the end of year projection; Kestrel will likely have around $267,000 left at the end of the school year. Kestrel has completed around 60% of the school year and has about 67% of anticipated state revenues to date and around 50% of the anticipated local revenues to date.
C.
Facilities Sub-Committee
There was no update from the facilities subcommittee.
D.
Development Sub-Committee
There was no update from the development subcommittee.
E.
End of Year Spending Proposal
Dr. Tracy proposed some end of year spending with leftover funds from not operating in-person for most of the school year. The Board will consider these proposals and think them through to vote on at the next meeting.
VI. Closed Session
A.
Enter Closed Session
S. McGarrah made a motion to to Enter into closed session under NCGS ยง 143-318.11(a) (3), (5), and (6). (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.
S. Foy-Watson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
S. McGarrah made a motion to approve the hiring of an exceptional children teacher assistant as recommended by the administration.
L. Lewis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
S. McGarrah made a motion to approve the hiring of a second grade teacher as recommended by the administration.
L. Lewis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
S. Foy-Watson made a motion to return to open session.
A. Davis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VII. Closing Items
A.
Board Agenda for Next Month
The end of year spending will be discussed and voted on at the next regular Board meeting as well as subcommittee reports.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:52 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. McGarrah