Melisa Lemire, Committee Chair, shared an update around conversations happening with four Board candidates. These candidates have spoken with Jordan Pina, Chief of Staff, and a member of the Governance Committee. Lemire shared each of these candidates have had great conversations with the Committee, and have a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences including, but not limited to, nursing, higher-education and charter schools.

She shared that each of these candidates will now speak with Sonya Pratt, Executive Director, and attend the August Board Retreat on August 10 to shadow a meeting before being voted on as candidates. The Committee directed management to schedule these conversations to occur before the August Board Retreat. 

The Committee discussed continuing to access their networks to find new candidates for the City on a Hill Board pipeline next school year. The Committee agreed that after voting on the current Board candidates in August, they will move forward in planning to reach the goal of having fifteen Board Members at the September Governance Committee meeting. 

Sonya Pratt, Executive Director, shared that proposed changes to City on a Hill's Academic Action Plan, a plan that addresses the subjects of academics, school climate and culture, and faithfulness to the Charter. 

Pratt shared with the Committee that City on a Hill's current leadership team went through each goal of the CoaH Academic Action Plan and revised goals for the coming school year. These revisions included, but were not limited to, revisions to current special education (SPED) goals, migrating from using MCAS data as an academic measure to also using NWEA MAP monthly data and assessments, removing goals related to hiring a Director of Culture and Climate, as it is an established role at City on a Hill.

The Committee asked management specifically about the cadence of administering the NWEA MAP test, a nationally normed growth based assessment. Pratt shared that the growth assessment will be proctored three times next school year and the data will be used to monitor student growth throughout the school year. 

Pratt also shared that an Academic Action Plan goal includes the launch of City on a Hill's peer mentor program, which allows upperclassmen to mentor and meet with underclassmen throughout the school year to promote school community and support new students at City on a Hill. 

The Committee discussed the purpose of the Academic Action Plan, which has acted as an aligning document that outlines the goals and measurable data towards those goals throughout the school year. The Committee asked management specifically about social distancing and mask policies for next school year regarding the COVID-19 global pandemic. Pratt shared that School Year 2021-2022 is currently being planned to occur all in person, with mask policies still in place. Pratt also shared that City on a Hill continues to follow CDC and DESE guidelines to plan for social distancing measures next school year. 
 

Jordan Pina, Chief of Staff, shared an update about the response to the letter the Governance Committee and management sent to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regarding City on a Hill's probationary status.

Pina shared that the Department will review a variety of academic data outside of MCAS to assess growth and progress to City on a Hill's probationary conditions, and that the Department plans to review City on a Hill's probationary status in school year 2023-2024, as stated in our conditions.

The Committee discussed NWEA MAP and data outcomes. Pratt shared that the CoaH leadership team will undergo trainings to look at MAP data more thoroughly and pull reports in a way to apply to student growth throughout the school year. Pratt also shared that grade level teachers will be trained on how to look at NWEA MAP data as well for each individual student. 

The Committee sought clarity about analyzing MAP data against national and local norms as an indicator for student growth. Pratt shared that there is a report through NWEA that will use this comparison, and that proctoring dates for MAP, training updates and MAP data will be shared with the Board throughout the school year.