Pinnacles Prep Charter School
Minutes
Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday August 21, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Location
Pinnacles Prep Maker Space
In Person: Pinnacles Prep Campus Makerspace (504 S. Chelan Ave, Wenatchee)
Online Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89300133347
Meeting ID: 893 0013 3347
Dial In: 1-719-359-4580
Board Members: Rick Wray, Karen Rutherford, Flora Fernandez, Bethany Sebastian, Tyler McGee, Josh Castro, Blake Baldwin
Contact: Karen Rutherford, Board Secretary
Email: karen@pinnaclesprep.org
Accessibility: This meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities. Special aids and services can be made available upon advance request. Advance requests for special aids and services must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting's start time.
Public Comment (In-Person): Members of the public wishing to comment in person should sign up using the provided sign-in sheet 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. You will be called on at the meeting. The Board may respond to public comment during the meeting. Members of the public wishing to provide hard copy written comments at the meeting must bring 8 copies. Ten minutes will be allocated for public comment, with the option of the Chair to allow more.
Public Comment (Virtual): Advance requests for virtual public comment or to provide written public comment electronically must be made no later than 48 hours in advance of the meeting's start time. To make this request or provide a written public comment, please email Karen Rutherford at karen@pinnaclesprep.org. If you would prefer to provide oral public comment, you will be called on at the meeting. The Board may respond to public comment during the meeting. A maximum of ten minutes will be allocated for public comment, with the option of the Chair to allow more.
Small School. Big Ideas.
Pinnacles Prep Mission: We exist to cultivate curious, confident, and self-directed
students who lead and succeed in college, their careers, and their communities.
BOARD MEETING NORMS
Procedural: Follow Through on all Agreements | Be Fully Present Physically and Mentally | Start and End on Time
Behavioral: Keep Students at the Center of Our Work | Be Bold and Optimistic | Advance Justice | Put Relationships First | Assume Positive Intent
Trustees Present
Bethany Sebastian, Blake Baldwin, Flora Fernandez (remote), Karen Rutherford, Rick Wray (remote), Tyler McGee
Trustees Absent
Josh Castro
Guests Present
Amanda Peaslee, Erin King-Luce, Halma Abubakar Washington State Charter Commission (remote), Jill Fineis, Oscar Licon Eusebio
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Welcome and Record Attendance
C.
Consent Agenda Approval
Jill discussed the new Policy and Procedures regarding telecommunications. Cell Phones will not be allowed during the school day, unless medically necessary and approved by the adminstration and parents/guardians.
II. Public Comment Period
A.
Open Floor for Public Comments
III. Critical Issue Discussion
A.
Final 24/25 Operating Budget
There is a strong possibility that we will go over our 23/24 budget by $200,000. We have fully funded the overage, but need to submit the overage to OSPI for approval.
Budget Approval Change:
Unable to approve 24/25 final budget until it has been published in the local paper for two weeks. But we are unable to fulfill the full two week obligation. Rick has called a specilal meeting on 8/29 for final budget adoption approval. We will be three days short of the public notice requirement. Charter Commission has been notified. This will be reflected in our annual organizational framework submitted to the Commission.
Our CFO Matt Paloni discussed the final draft of Pinnacles Preps Final 24/25 Operating Budget.
Final budget is included in the minutes documents below.
Budget includes 50% of the Levy Equalization funding from the State. Levy Equalization funding is not automatic, if it doesn't come through this year we will not be able to make our required cash on hand at the end of the 24/25 school year.
Major changes in enrollment, facility growth and additional staffing was discussed. Small school funding will be continued to be discussed as we add grades the next couple of years and we discover what our high school enrollment will be in the future.
Staffing in the Special Education Department is still low. We discussed how to support Instructional Aides for our 1 on 1 Special Education students.
B.
Enrollment Projections for 24/25
Discussion on status of the 24/25 enrollment: We will be reviewing the high school enrollment plan for future years and discussing the low enrollment in 6th grade.
Budgeted for 244, currently have 247 scholars
6th: 40
7th: 65
8th: 63
9th: 41
10: 38
C.
Staffing Updates and New Org Chart 24/25 School Year
Principal Jill Fineis discussed the New Staffing Organizational Chart. Gretchen Weare, our new Dean of School Culture, will be overseeing the Humanities teachers, along with student affairs. Family and Community Engagement Coordinator will be under the leadership of the Community Connections Director. These changes will help to reduce the time load of the Director of Operations and CEO/Principal.
All staffing positions have been filled, except the need for more staff with Special Education. Discussions regarding funding two new Instructional aides will continue with other possible funding sources: state and non profit organizations.
D.
School Leader SMART Performance Goals for 24/25
Jill discussed the new SMARTIE Goals for the 24/25 School year. The rallying cry this year is 100%! Our goal is that all students will meet 100% of their grade level competencies, determined by our staff.
100% Full Enrollment with at least a 10% waitlist for all grades is another SMARTIE Goal for this year.
SMARTIE Goal 2 is 100% of scholars will meet grade-level reading and math competencies (with accommodations or modifications.)
This is 3-5 year goal.
This is a draft that will be completed this fall.
CEO/Principal Jill Fineis presented the new SMARTIE Goals for the 24/25 School year.
Our rallying cry this year is 100%!
SMARTIE Goal 1: 100% of scholars will meet grade-level competencies (with accommodations or modifications.)
SMARTIE Goal 2: 100% Full Enrollment with at least a 10% waitlist for all grades.
The SMARTIE goals are still draft form. They will be completed this fall.
IV. Know Our Programs, Know Our People
A.
Amanda Peaslee - School Nurse and Wellness Committee Member
Amanda Peaslee, Pinnacles Prep nurse and Wellness Committee lead, presented our 24/25 Wellness Plan.
The State Healthy Youth Survey results were discussed with the board.
Amanda Peaslee and Erin King presented a presentation on the Wellness Committe goals for the 24/25 year.
We will be receiving 100% reimbursement from the state and federal for all scholars breakfast, lunch and afterschool snacks for programs.
CVCH will be offering free dental screening for the 24/25 school year.
Pinnacles Prep has nine mobile health clinics scheduled for this school year.
V. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Tyler McGee, board treasurer, reviewed our monthly financial dashboard. All categories are in the green.
B.
Academic Excellence
We will be voting on CEO/principal Jill Fineis personal goals for the 24/25 school year in September or October.
Rick Wray presented the Academic Excellence Committee work on our principals/
Rick Wray discussed the status of our facility updates:
Two new portables have been installed.
One will be the new Makerspace and house STEM classes and High School electives.
One will be shared with High School Math and Spanish.
The old Makerspace has been converted into two classrooms: High School Science and Middle School and High School Art.
Several family and staff work party's have taken place this summer.
C.
Governance
Vashali Bhide will not be joining the board at this time, due to family health issues. Hopefully she will be able to join in the future.
We are also looking to establish a Vice Chair position this year.
Tyler Mc Gee will be remaining on the board.
Tyler McGee gave a review of our Washington State Charter Contract.
VI. Additional Business
A.
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
August 29: Pinnacles Prep Special Board Meeting
12pm-12:30pm
Zoom
VII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- 2024_07_17_board_meeting_minutes.pdf
- 2. Pinnacles Prep PnL 24 07.pdf
- 3. Pinnacles Prep Balance Sheet 24 07.pdf
- 4. Pinnacles BvA 24 07.pdf
- 5. Pinnacles Prep Payroll and AP Certification 24 07.pdf
- 6. Pinnacles Prep AP Register 24 07.pdf
- 6a. Pinnacles Prep Non-AP Cash Disbursement Register 24 07.pdf
- 7. Pinnacles Prep Payroll Summary 24 07.pdf
- Principal Reports 2024-2025.pdf
- Jill Fineis - Pinnacles Prep Administrative Employee Contract SY24-25.pdf
- 8.21.24 Board Development Report.pdf
- 3245-Students and Telecommunication Devices.pdf
- 3245P-Procedure Students and Telecommunication Devices.pdf
- 24-25 Pinnacles Draft Budget Presentation.pdf
- 24-25 Pinnacles Budget Detail.pdf
- 1. Pinnacles Prep Finance Dashboard 24 07.pdf
- Budget Extension Resolution - Pinnacles 23-24.pdf
- Board_Staff_Financial_Contract.pdf
No Public Comment was requested.