Harmony Public Schools
Minutes
August 26, 2023 HPS Board Meeting
Date and Time
Saturday August 26, 2023 at 8:30 AM
Location
9321 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S,
Houston, TX 77099
3rd Floor El Paso Meeting Room
**We will serve breakfast at 8:00 AM in the fourth floor meeting room.
Directors Present
H. Koc, H. Sherwood (remote), K. House, L. Gonzalez, M. Argin, O. Celepcikay, O. Kanlioglu
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
C. Lambert, E. Akyildiz, E. Altun, E. Cavusoglu, F. Ay, G. Gregory (remote), Guvanch Yazgeldi, Helen Miller, J. Hoffer (remote), M. Baca, N. Bayhan, U. Alpaslan
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
III. Consent Agenda
A.
Consider Approval of Previous Board Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2023
B.
Consider Approval of Previous Board Meeting Minutes of July 13, 2023
C.
Consider Approval/Ratification of the Minutes and of the Actions of the Finance Committee Meeting on August 11, 2023.
IV. Review of HPS Quarterly Investment Board Report of June 30, 2023
A.
Review of HPS Quarterly Investment Board Report of June 30, 2023
Mrs. Ebru Akyildiz, Chief Finance Officer HPS presents Review of HPS Quarterly Investment Board Report of June 30, 2023. Mrs. Akyildiz reviews the report with all board members that was also reviewed during the June 17th Finance Committee meeting. In quarter four there was 1.079M interest earned with an ending market value of approximately 132M of total investments.
V. Approval of PSP Grant Agreement to open a new Harmony campus in Midland, Texas
A.
Approval of PSP Grant Agreement to open a new Harmony campus in Midland, Texas
Ms. Gregory, Chief Development Officer HPS presents Approval of PSP Grant Agreement to open a new Harmony campus in Midland, Texas. Ms. Gregory reviews the agreement document that was shared with the board members and informs the board the Midland Harmony Campus has received a PSP (Permian Strategic Partnership) grant of $13,981,632.20. This funding will be utilized to construct portables, covering operational gaps and the overall development of the new Midland campus. The grant will be disbursed between 2023 and 2027.
Dr. Celepcikay asks if this was the same group that we had previously partnered with and discussed and Ms. Gregory states that this is the organization who also brought forward the piece of land that was discussed during the board meeting in June.
Mr. Ay informs the board that our board attorney Joseph Hoffer reviewed this as well and that any donations above 50K have to come to the board for approval.
Dr. Koc asks the total that will be granted and Ms. Gregory states with all funders it will be 15.6M for the Midland project and the Odessa project will come to the board next summer.
VI. Approval of the updates to the Student Handbook Supplement for Harmony Virtual Academy
A.
Approval of the updates to the Student Handbook Supplement for Harmony Virtual Academy
Dr. Bilgehan Yasar, Executive Director Virtual Education HPS presents Approval of the updates to the Student Handbook Supplement for Harmony Virtual Academy. Dr. Yasar reviews all updates with board members. He informs the board of the changes in attendance as Harmony Virtual Academy's application and waiver request to become a TxVSN (Texas Virtual School Network) campus is approved by TEA. Due to a difference in TxVSN attendance policy, some updates were needed on the attendance and student academic progress expectations in the Harmony Virtual Academy's handbook supplement. Dr. Yasar reviews these changes with the board members.
Dr. Koc asks in regards to course completion if we will keep track of daily attendance and Dr. Yasar states for internal purposes we will keep track of attendance.
Dr. Celepcikay stresses the aspect of communicating with parents to assure they are keeping up with coursework and Dr. Yasar states we are planning to monitor course work and communicate with parents in a timely manner to assure success.
Mr. Alpaslan informs the board almost all TxVSN schools in the state of Texas are asynchronous. He informs the board members that our model is the most synchronous of the models out there as we see the need for face to face interaction and direct instruction with the students.
Ms. House asks how the face to face meetings are held and Dr. Yasar states all students have TEAMS accounts and this is how the meet with the teachers and classes.
VII. Consider Approval of 2023-2024 HPS Employee Handbook.
A.
Consider Approval of 2023-2024 HPS Employee Handbook.
Ms. Helen Miller, Director of Employee Relations HPS presents Approval of 2023-2024 HPS Employee Handbook. Ms. Miller informs the board they have already received a copy of the handbook with the changes made and this has been reviewed by the legal team as well. Ms. Miller reviews all changes for the 2023-2024 HPS Employee Handbook which included Light Friday Workday Language, PTO Deduction for Non-Exempt Employees, Flex/Vacation Days for Exempt Employees, Unpaid Non-FMLA Leave for First-Year Employees, and Clarification on Employee Arrests.
VIII. Approval of a resolution to submit a non-expansion amendment
A.
Approval of a resolution to submit a non-expansion amendment to TEA to return the newly approved additional site under Harmony School of Excellence – Houston campus of Harmony Public Schools - Houston North Charter (CDN: 101-858)
Ms. Minh Baca, Chief Compliance Officer presents Approval of a resolution to submit a non-expansion amendment to TEA to return the newly approved additional site under Harmony School of Excellence – Houston campus of Harmony Public Schools - Houston North Charter (CDN: 101-858). Ms. Baca informs the board the need to submit a non-expansion amendment to return our expansion amendment request number 042-22/2. This amendment request was previously submitted to TEA to open an additional site under HSE-Houston, campus number 101858001 for August 1,2023 but due to some permitting issues; we need to return this request and submit a new one after resolving the permitting issues.
IX. Consider and take possible action to address HB3 Resolution.
A.
Consider and take possible action to address HB3 Resolution.
Dr. Celepcikay announces that the board members will be going into closed session as permitted by Texas Open Meetings Act Chapters 551.071 to consult with our attorney and 551.076 security.
Closed Session begins 9:41AM.
Dr. Celepcikay starts regular session at 10:40AM. Dr. Celepcikay states in closed session the board had discussion with our attorney and no action was taken.
X. Consideration of Parent Grievance Appeal from Harmony Science Academy – Beaumont
A.
Consideration of Parent Grievance Appeal from Harmony Science Academy – Beaumont
Dr. Celepcikay announces that the board members will be going into closed session as permitted by Texas Open Meetings Act Chapters 551.082 to consult with our attorney.
Closed Session begins 9:41AM.
Dr. Celepcikay starts regular session at 10:40AM. Dr. Celepcikay states in closed session the board had discussion with our attorney and no action was taken.
XI. Consideration of Parent Grievance Appeal from Harmony Science Academy – Pflugerville
A.
Consideration of Parent Grievance Appeal from Harmony Science Academy – Pflugerville
Dr. Celepcikay announces that the board members will be going into closed session as permitted by Texas Open Meetings Act Chapters 551.082 to consult with our attorney.
Closed Session begins 9:41AM.
Dr. Celepcikay starts regular session at 10:40AM. Dr. Celepcikay states in closed session the board had discussion with our attorney and no action was taken.
XII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Dr. Celepcikay announces we have a Memorial for our beloved long time serving board member Ms. Ellen MacDonald at 11:00am at the St. Presbyterian Church.
None.