City on a Hill Charter Public School
Minutes
May 2021 Governance Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday May 12, 2021 at 4:00 PM
This meeting took place remotely pursuant to the March 12, 2020 Baker-Polito Administration announcement of an emergency order temporarily modifying the state’s open meeting law.
Committee Members Present
Jessica Yang (remote), Melisa Lemire (remote)
Committee Members Absent
Andres Tejeda Soto
Guests Present
Jordan Lopez (remote), Maddie Collins (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Melisa Lemire called a meeting of the Governance Committee of City on a Hill Charter Public School to order on Wednesday May 12, 2021 at 4:09 PM.
C.
Approve February 2021 Meeting Minutes
Melisa Lemire made a motion to approve the minutes from February 2021 Governance Committee Meeting on 02-10-21.
Jessica Yang seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Jessica Yang |
Aye
|
| Melisa Lemire |
Aye
|
| Andres Tejeda Soto |
Absent
|
II. Leadership Transition Finalization Discussion
A.
Leadership Transition Finalization Discussion
III. Compliance Update
A.
Compliance Update
Jordan Pina, Chief of Staff, shared a compliance update with the Committee based on City on a Hill's current progress meeting probationary conditions. Pina shared that the final deliverable to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be the submitting of Kevin T. Taylor's, CEO evaluation form.
Taylor, shared that the final component of City on a Hill's Academic Action Plan relates to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Taylor shared that the Commissioner has shared that MCAS will be administered to students this school year for diagnostic purposes only. Taylor shared that the Commissioner’s order is more applicable to traditional districts as charter schools have a different accountability measure.
Taylor shared that City on a Hill could have additional hurdles to satisfying the conditions of City on a Hill's probationary measures as they relate to MCAS. Taylor also reminded the Committee that City on a Hill has, with the Charter School Office’s blessing, been administering the NWEA MAP test to collect growth data throughout the year. This will allow for City on a Hill to submit growth data to DESE to provide data measures for City on a Hill's Academic Action Plan.
Taylor shared that other Charter partners across the Commonwealth are wrestling with the ways that the absence of MCAS will impact their academic conditions. In partnership with the MCPSA Communications team, Taylor has drafted a letter to the Commissioner asking the Department to agree to a set of objective and meaningful measures to help schools demonstrate academic progress in the absence of MCAS data.
The Committee discussed other Charter partners current positions as it relates to MCAS and Academic Action Plans. The discussion concluded with the Committee reviewing the letter and providing feedback and agreeing to submit it on behalf of the full Board.
Taylor, shared that the final component of City on a Hill's Academic Action Plan relates to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Taylor shared that the Commissioner has shared that MCAS will be administered to students this school year for diagnostic purposes only. Taylor shared that the Commissioner’s order is more applicable to traditional districts as charter schools have a different accountability measure.
Taylor shared that City on a Hill could have additional hurdles to satisfying the conditions of City on a Hill's probationary measures as they relate to MCAS. Taylor also reminded the Committee that City on a Hill has, with the Charter School Office’s blessing, been administering the NWEA MAP test to collect growth data throughout the year. This will allow for City on a Hill to submit growth data to DESE to provide data measures for City on a Hill's Academic Action Plan.
Taylor shared that other Charter partners across the Commonwealth are wrestling with the ways that the absence of MCAS will impact their academic conditions. In partnership with the MCPSA Communications team, Taylor has drafted a letter to the Commissioner asking the Department to agree to a set of objective and meaningful measures to help schools demonstrate academic progress in the absence of MCAS data.
The Committee discussed other Charter partners current positions as it relates to MCAS and Academic Action Plans. The discussion concluded with the Committee reviewing the letter and providing feedback and agreeing to submit it on behalf of the full Board.
IV. 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 4:43 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melisa Lemire
The Committee did not have any further questions regarding the finalization of the leadership transition.