City on a Hill Charter Public School
Minutes
May 2019 Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday May 23, 2019 at 5:00 PM
Location
City on a Hill - New Bedford, 384 Acushnet Ave, New Bedford, MA 02740
Trustees Present
Callie Slocum, Cara Stillings-Candal, Greg Vasey, Jeff Jablow, Lori Stevens (remote), Melisa Lemire
Trustees Absent
Alex Valdez, Karin Wall
Guests Present
Amber Donell, Elizabeth Dignan, Jordan Lopez
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Cara Stillings-Candal called a meeting of the board of trustees of City on a Hill Charter Public School to order on Thursday May 23, 2019 at 6:41 PM.
C.
Approve April 2019 Meeting #2 Minutes
Melisa Lemire made a motion to approve minutes from the April 2019 Board Meeting #2 on 04-23-19 April 2019 Board Meeting #2 on 04-23-19.
Jeff Jablow seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. General Public Comment
A.
General Public Comment
Cara Stillings-Candal, Chair, announced that the Board of Trustees would open the floor for General Public Comment. City on a Hill teachers and members of the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) made statements encouraging the Board of Trustees and City on a Hill Bargaining Team to increase the pace of bargaining to reach a final contract. Stillings-Candal and Jeff Jablow, Vice Chair, thanked the speakers for their comments and reiterated the Board's commitment to achieving a fair, fiscally responsible first contract with the BTU.
III. Consent Agenda
A.
Approve the SY20 City on a Hill Budget
Elizabeth Dignan, Senior Director of Finance, reviewed the enrollment challenges discussed at previous meetings. Dignan then walked the Board through current projected enrollment for school year 2019-20, its effect on budgeting calculations, and the recommendation to the Board to obtain a new line of credit to close the operating gap. Board members probed on reasons for differences in lottery conversion rates between the Boston schools and the timeline for repayment of the lines of credit.
Melisa Lemire made a motion to approve the SY20 City on a Hill Budget.
Jeff Jablow seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Vote to Approve the New School Line of Credit
Jeff Jablow made a motion to approve the Line of Credit and ratify the prior execution of any documents related thereto.
Greg Vasey seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Vote to Designate Authorized Signatories
Melisa Lemire made a motion to designate the following persons are each hereby designated as an “Authorized Signatory” (and collectively, as the “Authorized Signatories”): Greg Vasey, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair; Kevin Taylor, Chief Executive Officer; and Elizabeth Dignan, Senior Director of Finance.
Callie Slocum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Vote to Authorize Signatories to Act
Melisa Lemire made a motion to authorize the Authorized Signatories to sign, seal, make oath to, acknowledge, deliver and file any and all terms sheets, commitment letters, agreements, contracts, guaranties, security agreements, documents, certificates and other instruments of every nature, which may be necessary, appropriate or convenient to consummate the transactions authorized by the foregoing votes, or which may be required by the lender, in such form and containing such terms, provisions and conditions as any Authorized Signatory may deem necessary, appropriate or convenient in his or her sole discretion (including, without limitation, changes to any amounts described therein).
Callie Slocum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Vote to Affirm
Melisa Lemire made a motion to affirm that the signature of any Authorized Signatory shall be conclusive evidence of the approval of the form, of all of the terms, provisions, conditions, and of the signing, execution, ensealing and delivery thereof for and in the name of, and on behalf of, the School.
Lori Stevens seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. Committee Updates
A.
CEO Support Committee Update
Lori Stevens, CEO Support Committee Member, reminded Board members to complete the CEO Evaluation as the Committee will be meeting to evaluate Kevin Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, in the coming weeks.
B.
Development Committee Update
Callie Slocum, Development Chair, reminded the Board to sign up for City on a Hill Juries and announced that City on a Hill Gala 2020 planning had begun.
V. The COAH Effect
A.
The COAH Effect
Kevin Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, reintroduced the purpose of The COAH Effect to the Board and guests as a progress monitoring tool. Taylor walked through the dashboard and provided explanation of the status of each goal, and paused for brief questions from the Board.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cara Stillings-Candal