Bridge Preparatory Charter School

Minutes

SPECIAL VIRTUAL BOARD MEETING

In Lieu of Previously Scheduled Exec.Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday November 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Location

THIS IS A VIRTUAL MEETING ~ AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPATION ONLY ON ZOOM!

 

Remote Viewing Locations:

  • 600 Commodore Court, Philadelphia, PA 19146
  • 735 Sheldon Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10312
  • 5 Partridge Court, Cranberry, NJ 08512
  • 16 Northport Lane, Staten Island, NY 10314
  • 18 Seth Court, Staten Island, NY 10301
  • 47 Highview Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82000439772?pwd=1WArZzfaOgrzAQKS6cjmOKNbpY53aN.1

 

Zoom Meeting ID: 820 0043 9772

Passcode: 415014

---

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,82000439772#,,,,*415014# US (New York)

+16469313860,,82000439772#,,,,*415014# US

This Special Board Meeting is being held IN ADDITION to 

the regularly scheduled November Board Meeting (November 13th at 7 PM).

Trustees Present

Amanda Wolkowitz (remote), Jennifer Sammartino-Mallen (remote), Mark Harmon-Vaught (remote), Nicole DeStefano (remote), Rebecca Peters (remote), Traci Frey (remote)

Trustees Absent

Tara Gore

Guests Present

Kathy Baldassano (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

As per Public Officers Law, Article 7, § 103-a (Videoconferencing by public bodies) although board members Amanda Wolkowitz, Jennifer Sammartino-Mallen, Mark Harmon-Vaught, Nicole DeStefano, Rebecca Peters and Traci Frey are not present in-person for this meeting, they are attending via videoconference from locations posted on the public meeting notice/agenda and open to the public; they are therefore considered to be in attendance for purposes of quorum and are permitted to vote. QUORUM IS MET FOR THIS MEETING.

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Mark Harmon-Vaught called a meeting of the board of trustees of Bridge Preparatory Charter School to order on Thursday Nov 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM.

II. CEO SEARCH STRATEGY

A.

CEO Search Firm Selection

M. Harmon-Vaught stated that our Board has begun reaching out to some CEO search firms, and we need to render a decision on the next steps tonight. And then we'll move into closed Executive Session for discussion of the CEO interim plan before we adjourn. T. Frey added that she wants to thank everyone for taking the time this evening to work on this. M. Harmon-Vaught added his thanks to those who conducted the search firms' reference calls, and entered their notes into the Google shared document for the Board to review.

The Board started with a list of 6 CEO Search firms to reach out for proposals: DSG Storbeck Consulting, On-Ramps, DRG, Axis Talent Partners, Edgility and K-12 Search Group. The list was condensed to 2 possible CEO search firms for further development: DSG Storbeck and Edgility. 

Trustees made reference calls to schools who worked with those two search firms in the past and each Board member gave a synopsis with their impressions and the results of those calls. After discussion regarding the references, costs and pros & cons of working with a large firm vs. a smaller firm, the final consensus was that DSG Storbeck would be the best choice for our school's CEO search. We worked with them before when searching for a principal for our school and were happy with them.

Mark Harmon-Vaught made a motion to engage DSG Storbeck Consulting to conduct the CEO search for Bridge Preparatory Charter School, in partnership with the Board of Trustees.
Nicole DeStefano seconded the motion.

Individual votes were recorded: 5 Aye; 1 Abstention. 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Amanda Wolkowitz
Aye
Jennifer Sammartino-Mallen
Aye
Traci Frey
Aye
Mark Harmon-Vaught
Abstain
Nicole DeStefano
Aye
Rebecca Peters
Aye
Tara Gore
Absent
Mark Harmon-Vaught made a motion to authorize the Co-Chairs of the Board of Trustees to negotiate, execute and deliver any related agreements or instruments necessary to effectuate this engagement.
Jennifer Sammartino-Mallen seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. PROPOSED CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION

A.

Vote to Enter into Closed Executive Session

Mark Harmon-Vaught made a motion to to enter into CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION as per as per Public Officers Law, Article 7, §105 (1)(f) to discuss the employment history of a particular person.
Traci Frey seconded the motion.

The Board entered into CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION at 7:30 PM.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Return to Open Public Session

The Board returned to public OPEN MEETING SESSION at 8:23 PM.

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 8:23 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kathy Baldassano