There were no requests to speak at the meeting today. 

Matt Yezukevich updated the board that we have drafted a new "Privilege of the Floor Policy," and it is making its way through the Governance Committee before coming to the board for a vote.

Ramona Royal Explained the format of the interview: The Board will be asking a set of questions to each candidate.  They are the same for all candidates.  

• Susanna Girard welcomed Heidi Berkowitz to the meeting and asked her to introduce herself.
  • Feels strongly this position will be more consequential than the Executive Director selected for FY24
  • 20 years with the school
  • Seen growth along the way going from 500 students to today ~1700 students and 200 staff.  Some things, like spirit days, have stayed the same, while other things have changed over the years. Including social media.
  • Career has changed with increasing responsibilities over the years with the needs of the school: 
    • Admission
    • Outreach and Development
    • State Reporting 
• Anissia Vixamar -Could you please provide us with some clear examples of how you would you ensure your visibility in our School?
  • Visibility is key to this position
  • Creates opportunity for accessibility and trust
  • Weekly emails
  • Walk buildings to create opportunities 
  • Be seen in the cafeteria and drop off
  • Heidi attended recent school-wide activities and grade-level activities like the one Mike Cournoyer brought together, where he showed the www.youtube.com video on the woman's basketball couch where she spoke of things being hard, and we can "do hard well."  Heidi felt it was a great lesson for the students on resilience.  That she has taken to heart.  She appreciated the chance to be present and see the student's reactions.
• Anissia Vixamar -Could you please explain the methods you will use to tune into potential school problems and to stay attuned to them?
  • Being out and about
  • listening to different stakeholders/people
  • Getting to the core issues and dealing with facts so you can solve the real issue
  • Problem-solving.  Always choose the best option
• Anissia Vixamar -What do you consider to be your major strengths as an administrator? What are your areas of opportunity for professional improvement?
  • Creative Problem solving
  • Need to move forward, so we don't just stick with this way only will work
  • Not always the traditional path is the right one
  • Staying Calm
  • Thoughtful & Purposeful
• Todd Tetreault -Please provide some specific ways of how you would judge your own effectiveness as an Interim Executive Director and how the Board should evaluate your work and effectiveness.
  • Working closely with the Interim Executive-Director to partner on the education side 
  • Great exposure for her
  • Working with Ryan Knight on the data and presentation
    • learning about the information/driven and its impact on the curriculum
    • Impact on the principals, staff & students
    • Support and partnering
    • Listening sessions this summer are a baseline
    • Doing mid-year survey/listening sessions
    • Check to see if we are moving forward?
    • Ensure all voices are heard
    • We could see if staff is feeling it through attendance.  You show up to work when you are happy.
    • How does the building feel? Warm and welcoming?
    • 360 feedback with different stakeholders
    • Measurement of productivity
• Todd Tetreault -Please tell us how you would build consensus and develop teamwork among those individuals and groups that you would serve.
  • By creating a common goal
  • Bring people face to face
  • Bring the right people together
  • Zoom with video on is better than with it off
  • This is a tricky fine line to balance
  • Make decisions together
  • Build a team of collaboration
• Badawi Dweik - Please be specific as to why you want to serve as our Interim Executive Director at this time in your professional career.
  • This is a critical eight months for the school district
  • There is not enough time for people to come in and learn/listen 
  • Wants to see the momentum created continue
  • The Elementary school is still grieving the loss of their principal
  • The community wants to be heard
  • We need to stabilize the schools
• Badawi Dweik-Is there any additional information that you would like to share with us?
  • I will be here though this phase and when we bring in the new Executive Director in July
  • The schools can't handle much more change
  • Need to feel safe & secure
  • Need continuity
• Susanna Girard -What questions do you have for the board?
  • What is the timeline?
    • We plan to finish this week and make a decision quickly
• Susanna Girard-Please give us your closing statement.
  • Passionate about the work
  • Committed to staying to ensure the stability that she brings to the community
  • Wants to set the stage for the next 25 years

Tabled