Board of Trustees: Sally Bachofer, Cara Stillings Candal, Jeff Jablow, Jeff Jacobs, Ginger Parker, Michael Rosen, Lori Stevens, Alex Valdez (by phone), Greg Vasey (after minutes votes), Karin Wall, Johanna Ward, and Kim Wechtenhiser

City on a Hill Foundation Board of Directors: Michael Grossman

Board on Track:  Marci Cornell-Feist, Mike Mizzoni

Staff: Nadine Abraham, Caleb Evanter, Paul Hays, Katie Kline, Sam Larkan, Diana Mastrocola, Wanda Nascimento, Cristin Berry Pizzimenti, DeOtis Williams (at the start)

Chief Academic Officer Paul Hays introduced DeOtis Williams, the new Principal of City on a Hill Charter Public School Circuit Street.  Mr. Williams introduced himself and welcomed the Board of Trustees to the Circuit Street campus.

Johanna Ward discussed the audit.  There was a clean opinion on the audit.  There were no significant audit adjustments.  Ms. Ward will file it with DESE.  

The finance discussion continued, and Ms. Ward raised possible topics for the Finance Committee to pursue and bring to the full Board for consideration and action.  Some topics presented were a direct result of recommendations raised during the exit meeting with the Auditors, including appropriate amount of operating expense versus cash on hand at each school; and the possibility moving forward of building more robust reserve funds at each school. 

Ms. Ward shared the finance committee's vision statement: Every dollar spent by CoaH advances the academic excellence and continued financial viability of the schools and their programs. 

Discussion about monthly reporting, flexible budgeting based on per-pupil amounts, best practices and benchmarks.

Ms. Candal shared the committee's new vision statement: Graduates of City on a Hill will be prepared to thrive at four year competitive colleges.  The academic experience we provide will produce critical thinkers engaged in their own education who have found the joy in lifelong learning.  We will position students to lead self-directed lives and contribute in a meaningful way to their communities. 

Discussion about MCAS proficiency as a floor, not a ceiling.  Discussion about goals regarding reducing attrition.  Discussion regarding Board member involvement at the schools versus the Board's role in governance.

Mr. Rosen introduced the CEO support and evaluation committee which was formerly the Human Resources committee.

Mr. Jablow shared that the Development Committee's primary responsibility is to raise non-grant funds to support City on a Hill’s mission.

The annual fundraising Gala will be on Wednesday, March 28th at the Boston Public Library.

Ms. Wechtenhiser presented the vision statement for the Governance Committee: To recruit new board members, to orient and train current board members and to conduct a board evaluation based on best practices about charter school governance.

Ms. Parker called the meeting to executive session at 7:21 pm to discuss personnel matters. Roll call vote of all Trustees in attendance.