Kestrel Heights Public Charter School
Minutes
August Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday August 9, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Directors Present
A. Davis (remote), B. Paris (remote), D. Powe (remote), D. Wimberly (remote), S. Goram (remote), S. McGarrah (remote)
Directors Absent
R. Clement
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Price (remote), T. Jackson (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
J. Price (remote), T. Jackson (remote)
Guests Present
A. Touchette (remote), Justin Matthews (remote), M. Gordon (remote), S. Vargas (remote), S. Villegas (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Public Comment Submission
C.
Record Attendance and Guests
D.
Approve July Meeting Minutes
E.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
II. Key Agenda Items & Presentations
A.
Marketing and Enrollment Update
Ms. Vargas provided an update on marketing and enrollment. Enrollment is presently at 488 students. Some families have declined that attended last year, and Ms. Vargas is sending them an exit survey to determine reasons to address them if possible. Transportation has been one of the biggest issues.
B.
Facilities Sub Committee
Mr. Matthews provided a facilities update. Panels still haven't been raised; it will likely happen around the start of school. The project manager for BCCG has resigned (David Dare), and they have filled the position. The team will discuss in further detail at the committee's Thursday meeting with BCCG.
III. Curriculum & Assessment
A.
Back to School - Lower School Edition
Mr. Touchette and Ms. Villegas presented on the 2022-23 school year opening. First, there will be a descriptive change for the name of our school to upper school (physical location of grades 4-8) and lower school (physical location of grades K-3). Open House, orientations for new families and grades K and 6 will take place in August 2022 with the first day of school taking place on August 24, 2022.
B.
Back to School - Upper School Edition
Ms. Villegas shared information on the family meeting that took place. She shared that families and staff are excited and morale is high. The staff have moved all of the materials and have answered questions about the building and logistics.
C.
Camp Kestrel Summer Highlights 2022
Mr. Price shared highlights of Camp Kestrel, which was the second year of the camp. The camp was free of charge, included free breakfast and lunch, and was open to K-8 students. 140 students participated. The camp activities included iReady diagnostics as well as daily STEM, ELA and science enrichment activities. There were also arts and crafts and an on-site field trip. Mr. Powe provided information on the financial literacy and coding on-site field trip.
IV. Operational Reports
A.
Executive Director Report
Mrs. Jackson provided the Executive Director report overview. She thanked the Board for their work and participation. The schools' projected ADM is 515 students, but we are at 488 students enrolled at this time. She talked about the school preparation activities, including the discussions around the new building and logistics with staff and families. There is no EPI Center report at this time.
B.
Monthly Budget Report
Mrs. Jackson shared the closing report for the 2021-22 year budget. There was a surplus of $365,000 of cash for the past school year. For 2022-23 school year, there is only one month to report. Ms. Jackson recommends that the school submit a budget revision for this school year based on revised information.
C.
FY23 Budget by Line Item
Mrs. Jackson reviewed the FY 2022-23 budget by line item. The Board's finance committee reviewed this document with Mrs. Jackson last week. The budget projection is that the school will have around $200,000 left at the end of the year.
D.
Organizational Chart and Staffing Structure 2022-2023
Mrs. Jackson reviewed the KHS staffing plan and organization chart for FY 2022-23.
E.
Plan for Use of Consolidated Grant Funds
Mrs. Jackson shared the plan for the use of consolidated grant funds using the school's data. Next Tuesday at 6:30 pm is a Parent and Family Engagement Session if Board members want to attend.
F.
Elementary Update
Ms. Gordon shared that we have moved out of the elementary school. The school has completed all of the requirements and repairs to the building. The River Church has been very welcoming, and the teachers are almost ready to set up their classrooms.
V. Committee Reports
A.
Academic Sub-Committee
Mr. Powe shared the Academic subcommittee report in the Camp Kestrel section.
B.
Governance Sub-Committee
Mrs. Jackson shared that there were materials in the folder to review.
C.
Board Membership
Mrs. Davis shared that the Board needs to start recruiting new board members so that the Board has enough members and continuity. Discussions included using LinkedIn paired with direct outreach to people they may know. The Board can also use Board on Track to assess skills of current Board members and skill sets that may be needed.
D.
Kestrel Heights Mask Policy
VI. Closed Session
A.
Enter Closed Session
B.
Staffing Recommendations
VII. Closing Items
A.
Report out from Closed Session
Ms. McGarrah shared that the Board discussed hiring, adding a kindergarten class, and a pending change for one of the Board members in the closed session.
Ms. Davis invited people to submit public comments online.