None.

Ms. Celina Cereceres, Auditor for Whitley Penn presents Review and approval of 2021-2022 Annual Financial and Compliance Report (AFR) as submitted and presented by the Independent Auditor, Whitley Penn.  Ms. Cereceres states that she reviewed this with the Finance Committee on November 4th and she will share the final numbers today.  The purpose of a financial statement audit is to provide users of financial statements with reasonable assurance that they can rely upon those financial statements to make informed decisions.  Harmony Public Schools earned an Unmodified opinion on compliance over each major federal program, no internal control findings related to each major program, and no compliance  findings related to each major program.  The following federal grants were audited as major programs: Title I, Part A, COVID-19 School Health Support Grant, ESSER II, ESSER III, and ESSER III TCLAS.  Total general fund revenues total 395.7 million and 97% of this was State Aid (Per Capita and Foundation School Program).  Ms. Cereceres breaks reviews the general fund expenditures breakdown with the board members with the bulk (52%) coming from payroll for instruction and related services.  Total assets for Harmony Public Schools is 922.6 million, liabilities 778.5 million and Total Net Assets or Net worth is 143.1 million.  Total revenues for the 2021 versus 2022 fiscal year jumped from 436.6M to 502.1M with the biggest jump coming from Federal Grants specifically ESSER funds.  Total expenditures from 2021 to 2022 fiscal year went from 405.9M to 484.2M with the biggest jump coming from payroll costs.  
 

Dr. Celepcikay asks if our investment funds are part of the review and Ms. Cereceres states this will be included into the local income.  He thanks Ms. Cereceres for her hard work as well as the finance team for this clean opinion as it is a big achievement.

 

Mrs. Ebru Akyildiz, Chief Finance Officer for Harmony Public Schools presents Review of HPS Quarterly Investment Board Report of September 30, 2022.  She informs the board that this was also presented during the November 4, 2022 Finance Committee meeting.  There is $411,877 interest earned in Quarter 1 with an ending market value of approx. $118 million of total investments.  We are in the process of looking for better opportunities for reinvestments to increase rates and you will see this at the end of the next quarter.  

Mrs. Ebru Akyildiz, Chief Finance Officer for Harmony Public Schools presents Review and Approval of the 1st Budget Amendment of 2022-2023 Fiscal Year.  She informs the board the report is for the consideration and approval of revenue and expenditure budget amendment as of September 30, 2022. There is no significant increase or decrease in revenue and expenditures.   

Dr. Kanlioglu asks when the fiscal year starts and Mrs. Akyildiz states that is from July 1, 2022 and this report is from that time until September 30, 2022.

Mr. Umit Alpaslan, Deputy Superintendent informs the board members this is an annual update for our policies and our team has been working with our legal team to assure all policies are up to date.  He informs the board there are not many major updates to our policies but language has been changed by our legal team.  

Emre Altun, Chief Human Resource Officer for Harmony Public Schools presents personnel policy updates for the agenda item Approval of revisions and legal updates to the Governance, Student, Instruction, and Personnel, Board Policy sets.  Mr. Altun reviews the major updates to personnel policies with the board.  

Dr. Celepcikay asks board attorney Joseph Hoffer the reason behind the updates and Mr. Hoffer states changes are based on legal updates to the statutes or legislative changes or with courts.  There is nothing significant baring your practices and if so we have worked with your management team to make sure everything aligns.  

Ms. Sherwood states that there are seven policies groups missing from the shared documents and requests these to be presented at the next board meeting.

Amine El Hiyat, HPS Construction Manager presents Approval of Board Resolution for the purchase of a tract of land in Fresno, Texas for a future school to be opened under Harmony Public Schools- Houston South District.  He informs the board this was discussed and approved during the November 4, 2022 Finance Committee Meeting.  The tract of land is 29 acres in Fresno Texas and projected school opening will be 2025-2026 school year.  

Ms. Serena Jackson, Area Superintendent - North Texas Elementary HPS presents Approval of Targeted Improvement Plan for Harmony Science Academy – Waco Campus (CD# 161-807-001) under Harmony Public Schools – North Texas District (CD# 161-807).  She informs the board HSA-Waco had an F rating in the 2018-2019 school year and due to Covid we did not have ratings for 2 years.  This past year we had a B rating and should only have one more year of the targeted improvement plan.  The purpose of the Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) is meant to guide the campus in improving leadership and overall education provided for its students, creates a connection with Region 12 in the district and is used to provide guidance and directives according to focus areas.  She informs the board that the campus will need to receive a C or higher for two consecutive years to be removed from the targeted improvement plan.  Ms. Jackson reviews the 2019-2022 accountability results and goals with the board members.  Assessment checkpoints and essential actions are reviewed with the board members.  

Mr. Stewart asks Ms. Jackson of the greatest challenge at this point and Ms. Jackson states student movement at the campus with enrollment regarding students coming in from surrounding campuses that are rated F and D.  Thus, when we get new students there are many instructional gaps.

Dr. Celepcikay applauds Ms. Jackson and her team for the jump in ratings and for sharing the new goals with the board members.  

Dr. Koc asks the ratings for the surrounding ISD campuses and Ms. Jackson states when we go to Region 12 all of the surrounding ISD's are in the same process and we have the highest ratings out of all the surrounding districts.  

Ms. Minh Baca, Chief Compliance Officer HPS presents Approval of Resolution to authorize the Superintendent to submit waivers to the TEA for all HPS Charters related to Remote Homebound Services.  She informs the board the Programs Department needs to submit this waiver to TEA to place our students in remote homebound education in lieu of the regular in-person education setting. Remote homebound education is for students who cannot attend school due to medical reasons.  

Ms. Minh Baca, Chief Compliance Officer HPS presents Approval of Resolution to authorize the Superintendent to submit a Missed Day waiver to TEA for Harmony Science Academy – Pflugerville campus (CD# 227-816-002) under Harmony Public Schools - Central Texas District (CD# 227-816).  She informs the board Harmony Science Academy - Pfugerville campus in Austin had to close the school on October 25th due to a power outage in the area.  We would like to submit a Missed Day waiver to TEA to request funding for the missed day.  

Ms. Minh Baca, Chief Compliance Officer HPS presents Review and Approve the 2022-23 updated Academic Calendar for the Harmony Science Academy- Laredo, Harmony School of Innovation - Laredo, and the Harmony School of Excellence-Laredo campuses under Harmony Public Schools - South Texas District (015-828).  She informs the board United ISD and Laredo ISD amended their calendar in which their winter break would start on December 19th and end on January 3rd, so our Laredo campuses are requesting to amend their calendars to align with those ISDs calendars.  Their original winter break was scheduled for December 26th through January 10th.

Dr. Argin asks if this will affect other schools in the HPS District and Ms. Baca states that this typically does not affect as it is a remote campus regarding the area.  Mr. Ay states with this being a satellite campus they tend to follow the local district calendar and thus will not affect the other campuses.  

Dr. Celepcikay wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!