Jennifer Eve, Registrar from Harmony School of Advancement presents her concern regarding an equal opportunity for registrars to advance in Harmony Public Schools.  Ms. Eve compares the duties and salary of SRC's (Student Recruitment Coordinators) and registrars and believes registrars do just as much work but are not compensated as SRC's.  Ms. Eve also believes registrars should be given a better opportunity to advance to an SRC position.

Mrs. Ebru Akyildiz, Chief Finance Officer for Harmony Public Schools presents Harmony Public Schools’ 2021-22 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) Public Hearing on Annual Financial Management Report.  Mrs. Akyildiz informs the public per Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 109.1001 the board is required to hold a public hearing within 60 days after receiving a final financial accountability rating, which came out the beginning of November.  All seven Harmony Public Schools Districts received A‐Superior Achievement rating in 2021‐22 Charter   FIRST rating year based on 2020‐21 financial and operational data.  Ms. Akyildiz reviews the past two years scores for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 for Harmony Public School's seven districts.  Mrs. Akyildiz reviews a copy of reimbursements by the Superintendent and Board Members as well as gifts received by executive officers and board members.  Finally, Mrs. Akyildiz reviews a copy of the Superintendents contract and salary information.

Mr. Amine El Hiyat, HPS Construction Manager presents Approval of Board Resolution for the purchase two tracts of land in Pearland, Texas in Houston South District and one tract of land in San Antonio for a future school in the South Texas District.  Mr. El Hiyat informs the board this was previously discussed during the December 2, 2022 Finance Committee meeting for a tract of land in Pearland, Texas for a future school as well as tract of land in San Antonio for future elementary school South Texas District.  Mr. Amine reviews the resolution with the board.

Dr. Celepcikay states in the Finance Committee meeting minutes you will be able to see slides regarding analysis, feasibility, and due-diligence analysis on whether there is a need for harmony that helps drive the decision.

Mr. Emre Altun, Chief Human Resource Officer for Harmony Public Schools presents Approval of Revisions and Legal Updates.  Mr. Altun states that policy updates were brought to the board during the December 10th board meeting and the seven policies listed here were asked to be brought back to the board with supporting documentation.  Mr. Altun reviews the policies with the board.

Dr. Celepcikay asks if there are any new policies out of these seven and Mr. Altun states these are all updates that were provided by our legal team with minor changes.  The changes made came from our legal team which was due to legislative changes but majority of the changes are minor changes such as the school name.

Ms. Minh Baca, Chief Compliance Officer for Harmony Public Schools presents Approval of Resolution to submit a non-expansion amendment to TEA to postpone the opening date for the new campus Harmony Science Academy - Leander of Harmony Public Schools - HPS Central Texas Charter (CDN: 227-816).  Due to city permitting issues, HPS will need to postpone the opening date for Harmony Science Academy-Leander to the 2024-2025 school year.  

Dr. Argin asks if this postponement has any financial or personnel implications due to the delay and Mr. Ay states that this will not have any implications to personnel nor finances.

Ms. Baca presents Approval of Resolution to submit a non-expansion amendment to TEA to request an update to the campus number for the new site for Harmony Public Schools - North Texas (CDN: 161-807).  She informs the board we would like to submit a non-expansion amendment to update the campus number of a previously approved additional site be moved to be under campus number 161-807-007, located at 5651 Westcreek Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76133 which is within 25 miles of the previously approved site under campus number 161-807-011 to be located at 8100 S Hulen Street, Fort Worth, TX 76123 effective August 1, 2023.   Thus, the campus was scheduled to be under Harmony School of Innovation Fort Worth but will now be under Harmony Science Academy Fort Worth campus number.

Ms. Baca presents Review and Approve the closure of Harmony School of Science - Houston for the Harmony Public Schools - Houston South Charter (101-846).  She informs the board we would like to retire the campus number for Harmony School of Science Houston which was previously placed on dormancy status for this current 2022-2023 year.  The students from this campus were previously moved to the surrounding Harmony campuses and this site was used for the virtual campus.

Dr. Celepcikay announces that board members will be going into closed session as permitted by Texas Open Meeting Act Chapters 551.071 and 551.074. 

Closed Session begins 8:57AM 

Dr. Celepcikay starts regular session at 9:24AM.  Dr. Celepcikay states in closed session there was no action was taken.

Dr. Celepcikay states this is the last meeting for our beloved board member, vice chair, finance committee chair Homer Stewart.  Even though it is sad to see Homer leave the board we know he will stay a very close friend to Harmony as well as close friend of mine and yours as well.  Throughout Homer's service for the last ten years we were lucky to have Homer's guidance, due diligence and always doing the right thing for students, staff and Harmony.  Personally as the chair for HPS it would not have been possible to accomplish what we have without the presence of Homer.  I have known Homer as a board member for Harmony but also as a really good friend and a man of integrity, faith and wisdom.  It is sad to see Homer leave but on behalf of the board and Harmony I want to sincerely and from the bottom of my heart thank him for his service, leadership and contribution to Harmony.  

Mr. Stewart informs the board that he will miss them and he has no doubt that Harmony is left in great hands and I'm always a friend of Harmony.  Thank you all so much.

Mr. Ay states this is one last announcement and introduces Dr. Bayhan, Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Business for Harmony Public Schools.  Dr. Bayhan states out of the seven districts to receive this award, we our the only charter school to receive the Financial Practices award from TASBO (Texas Association of School Business Officials).  Dr. Celepcikay states we have done our best to remain financially sound and transparent and this is one of the biggest awards you can receive and Harmony is the first charter to receive.  He congratulates Harmony for this award and recognizes Mr. Stewart as our finance committee chair and his leadership in this committee.