Harmony Public Schools

Minutes

October 26, 2019 Board Meeting

Date and Time

Saturday October 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM

Location

9321 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S. Houston TX 77099

Directors Present

D. Morales, E. MacDonald, H. Koc, O. Celepcikay, O. Kanlioglu, O. Nal

Directors Absent

H. Stewart

Guests Present

C. Lambert, E. Altun, F. Ay, M. Baca, N. Bayhan, O. Ozer, U. Alpaslan

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

O. Celepcikay called a meeting of the board of directors of Harmony Public Schools to order on Saturday Oct 26, 2019 at 9:05 AM.

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

None.

III. Consent Agenda

A.

Consider Approval of Previous Board Meeting Minutes of September 21, 2019

D. Morales made a motion to approve minutes from the September 21, 2019 Board Meeting on 09-21-19 September 21, 2019 Board Meeting on 09-21-19.
H. Koc seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Consider Approval/Ratification of the Minutes and of the Actions of the Academic Committee Meeting

D. Morales made a motion to approve the Minutes and of the Actions of the Academic Committee Meeting on October 11, 2019.
H. Koc seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Consider Approval/Ratification of the Minutes and of the Actions of the Finance Committee Meeting

D. Morales made a motion to approve the Minutes and of the Actions of the Finance Committee Meeting on October 11, 2019.
H. Koc seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Consider Approval/Ratification of the Minutes and of the Actions of the Governance Committee Meeting

D. Morales made a motion to the Minutes and of the Actions of the Governance Committee Meeting on October 16, 2019 and October 24, 2019.
H. Koc seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approval of Resolution Waving Application of 19 Texas

D. Morales made a motion to approve the Resolution Waving Application of 19 Texas Administrative Code § 100.1015(b)(3)(G) and the Texas Charter School Performance Framework § 3m under 19 Texas Administrative Code § 100.1010(c).
H. Koc seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Consider Approval of Q2 FY’20 Budget Amendments

A.

Consider Approval of Q2 FY’20 Budget Amendments

Dr. Bayhan presents Q2 FY’20 Budget Amendments.  Dr. Bayhan reviews the report that was shared with all board members.  There are three sections to the report which include budget based on state funding, budget for all funding, and measure of actuals.  Dr. Bayhan states the initial budget regarding revenue was 321M in July and was amended to 352M and total expenditures were initially 7.9M and are amended to 9.2M.  He then informs the board that the proceeding pages show a summary based on our clusters.  In the second section of all funds our initial budget regarding total revenue was 372M in July and has been amended to 407M.  The initial budget for total expenditures was 364M in July and has been amended to 398M and overall change will be 9.2M.  Dr. Bayhan informs the board members that the following pages show the summary for all the clusters with the last page showing central office.  Dr. Bayhan states the payroll for 420 Funds FY'19 was 207M and the current budget for FY'20 is 238M.  The payroll for all funds FY'19 is 227M and current budget for FY'20 is 263M.

Dr. Celepcikay asks for Dr. Bayhan to repeat the new payroll numbers  and Dr. Bayhan states for state funds (420 Funds) it is 238M and from all funds it is 263M.  Dr. Bayhan states as you may remember we just increased the salaries which is why you see the jump in numbers and that we are in good shape regarding all of our clusters.

Dr. Celepcikay asks if we have received any feedback from the teachers regarding the pay increases and Mr. Ay states we have heard positive reviews from our teachers and they are happy.

Dr. Koc asks if they went through these numbers during the finance committee meeting and Dr. Bayhan states that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the numbers this past Tuesday and we were unable to do so because of this.

Dr. Kanlioglu asks if the numbers and percentages are correct and if they will change and Dr. Bayhan states at the beginning of the school year we are spending more than what TEA shows we are receiving but once TEA then releases the funds we are in good shape.

Dr. Celepcikay believes HPS did a great job at informing the teachers regarding the raises that would come due to HB3 prior to contracts being signed and prior to TEA releasing the actual amounts.

Ms. Morales asks regarding the requirement of schools to have a pre-K available to kids that are 4 years old and qualify and Dr. Bayhan states that a percentage has been allocated for this and other HB3 requirements.  Ms. Morales asks if we currently have elementary schools who do not have pre-K programs that we will have to add and Mr. Ay states yes we do but the bill states we have to accommodate within 2 years and states if there is space we are obligated.  Mr. Ay states we will have to change the way we set up grade sections to accommodate the pre-K requirement.  Dr. Bayhan states that currently they are giving only half day funds for pre-K but again we have 2 years to meet this requirement.  Ms. Morales states she wants to make sure Harmony is ready for this and there will be a lot of advocacy regarding this topic.  Mr. Ay states that we are excited about early education but we have already had our lotteries in March and have decided on the numbers already and this will be something we will look into for sure.  Dr. Celepcikay states that we are piloting many pre-K's and Mr. Ay states yes we have them in Dallas, Austin, etc.  Ms. Morales states there are studies that show the importance of pre-K and how it lowers the chance of people going to prison through having pre-K programs.

 
D. Morales made a motion to approve Q2 FY’20 Budget Amendments.
E. MacDonald seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Consideration of Payments to Employees in Beaumont for School Days Lost Due to Inclement Weather

A.

Consideration of Payments to Employees in Beaumont

Mr. Altun presents Consideration of Payments to Employees in Beaumont for School Days Lost Due to Inclement Weather.  He informs the board that Harmony Science Academy Beaumont would like to approve the payments to non-exempt employees due to the tropical storm Imelda.  Mr. Altun states that they had to close the school for five days and are requesting those employees to be paid for those days.  

Ms. Morales states that they were in really bad shape due to these storms and this is understandable.
D. Morales made a motion to approve Payments to Employees in Beaumont for School Days Lost Due to Inclement Weather.
H. Koc seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. New Board Member Election for HPS Board

A.

New Board Member Election for HPS Board

Dr. Celepcikay presents the New Board Member Election for HPS Board.  Dr. Celepcikay states there were 3 candidates that the governance committee members were going to meet with and interview.  He states that one of the candidates was unable to make-it due to scheduling conflict so they hosted 2 potential candidates.  Mr. Ay, Mrs. MacDonald, and myself met with Helen Sherwood and she has an amazing story and amazing experience with Harmony.  She has done a lot of advocacy work for Harmony as well as for her church and in the past boy scouts as well.  Dr. Celepcikay states that when we started developing the board there were several key skill sets including college, finance, business and the fourth being advocacy which she will fit perfectly for this.  Dr. Celepcikay states that the Governance Committee is strongly recommending her as a board member.  If approved Ms. Sherwood would become a board member effective November 1, 2019 as Ellen's resignation is effective October 31, 2019.

Mrs. MacDonald states how impressed she was with Helen Sherwood regarding her experience and advocacy for HPS.  She believes with her experience and commitment she will be a great asset to the HPS Board.
E. MacDonald made a motion to nominate Ellen Sherwood to the HPS Board effective November 1, 2019.
O. Celepcikay seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Board Member Committee Assignment

A.

Board Member Committee Assignment

Dr. Celepcikay presents Board Member Committee Assignment.  Dr. Celepcikay recommends to appoint:
-Dr. Koc to be chair for the Academic Committee
-Mrs. Sherwood as a member of the Academic Committee
-Mr. Stewart as a member of the Governance Committee and will leave the Academic Committee
-Dr. Nal join the Finance Committee


 
O. Celepcikay made a motion to Appoint Dr. Koc to be chair for the Academic Committee, Mrs. Sherwood as a member of the Academic Committee, Mr. Stewart as a member of the Governance Committee, and Dr. Nal as a member of the Finance Committee.
O. Kanlioglu seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Mrs. MacDonald mentions the importance of the Board Committees and how they help support our parents, students and staff.  

Dr. Kanlioglu thanks Ellen for her service on the board and what she has done for Harmony.  Dr. Celepcikay states that words are not enough to show how much Ellen MacDonald is appreciated.  Ms. Morales thanks Ellen and is thankful for Ellen when she joined the board because of the support she showed.  Ms. Morales states that although she did not have the warmest welcoming she has stayed because the students and she knows how much Harmony is doing for them.  Dr. Celepcikay thanks Ms. Morales for her service and states she joined during a painful and critical time and appreciates all she does for the board.
H. Koc made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
E. MacDonald seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:41 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Lambert