Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday January 20, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Location
Board & Staff: Zoom
Public: Zoom only
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Public: Zoom only
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Meeting ID: 853 7106 8909
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Directors Present
C. Billings (remote), E. Hatch (remote), S. Stevens (remote), S. Trivedi (remote), S. Zephirin (remote), T. McCoy (remote)
Directors Absent
C. Staudenraus
Ex Officio Members Present
C. Brodniak (remote), M. Ston (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
C. Brodniak (remote), M. Ston (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C. Billings called a meeting of the board of directors of Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School to order on Thursday Jan 20, 2022 at 6:01 PM.
II. New Buisness
A.
General Public Comment
No public comment
B.
Approve Minutes
S. Zephirin made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 12-16-21.
E. Hatch seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Staudenraus |
Absent
|
| T. McCoy |
Absent
|
| S. Stevens |
Absent
|
| E. Hatch |
Aye
|
| C. Billings |
Aye
|
| S. Trivedi |
Abstain
|
| S. Zephirin |
Aye
|
III. Executive Director
A.
Directors Report
Student Achievement
- EasyCBM winter testing in process. We will complete as much testing as possible remotely during the shift to distance learning.
- Report cards will be sent week of Feb. 7
Climate and Culture
- Far West Recycling grant- $3500 arts grant approved. To be used for a K-5 performance and middle school arts residency. Both in Spanish.
- The Equity Advisory Council is helping to support family “show and tell” presentations during our monthly Familias Unidas meetings. This is a nice way to create connections among our families since we cannot host in-person events.
- Chris shared improvements being made to outdoor spaces. Phase 1 (mid February) fixes our drainage problem. Phase 2 (March/April) beautifies the space.
Professional Development
- Reviewed training topics from January 14th PD day.
- Some staff members attended the virtual OABE (Oregon Association of Bilingual Educators) workshop on Jan. 8.
Hot Topics
- Reviewed the updated quarantine guidelines for K-12 schools. Link shared to document. These updates should help us keep more kids in school.
- Decision will be made on January 21st if we can return to in-person learning on 1/24.
- Teacher resignation in 2nd grade effective mid February. Our new J-1 hire will fill that role. Continuing to search for a teacher for the 4th grade.
Decision needed:
- Parent provided letter to school board regarding their family's extended absence, which led to the student being 10 day dropped. Michelle asked for Board approval to re-enroll this student as a waitlist spot had not yet been offered.
- Michelle will check with OSBA on the legality of offering the spot back and Board will make a final decision on Monday's meeting when we have that information.
- Second semester plan for 2 families who are only accessing instruction via google classroom (see vote below)
- New enrollment in grades 6 & 7 for this year if the MS program is discontinued. We have two enrollment request
- Board agrees to offer those slots, but make sure to inform families of recent decision on the middle school program
5th grade Updates
- 21 students said they plan to return for 6th grade and 5 said they did not. We know this number is high because families want to hold their place at Arco while they explore other options.
- BSD will offer Arco students a middle school dual language pathway for in-district families, and out-of-district families are encouraged to apply. Out of district students have to be released from their home district before they could enroll in a BSD school.
- BSD will reserve the right to choose the middle school placement (either Whitford or Meadow Park) in order to balance their numbers.
- We sent BSD enrollment forms to 5th grade families, and the decision deadline is Feb. 2. Families will not be able to find out which middle school their students would attend before they make their decision.
- Transportation might be possible depending on where families live.
- BSD will offer a second informational meeting on Jan. 25 for families who are interested in a BSD DL middle school.
- The intention is for this pathway to be offered yearly moving forward
S. Stevens made a motion to discontinue all online learning platforms (proximity, home instruction via google classroom) for second semester. This does not include school wide emergency return to CDL.
S. Zephirin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| T. McCoy |
Aye
|
| C. Billings |
Aye
|
| S. Trivedi |
Aye
|
| S. Zephirin |
Aye
|
| S. Stevens |
Aye
|
| C. Staudenraus |
Absent
|
| E. Hatch |
Aye
|
IV. PTO
A.
PTO Report
Restaurant night next week at MOD pizza. Yessenia working to organize a charades or bingo night. Working to post video on Directora Michelle becoming a human sundae.
V. Finance
A.
Treasurers Report
Shagun reviewed the finance report. No major concerns with budget to actuals.
ADMw received for (Month): $ 250,362
§ Total income for (Month): $ 331,000
§ Cash balance for (Month): $ 1,902,984
§ Accts Receivable for (Month): $ 463,165
§ Net gain/loss for (Month): $ 10,647
VI. Development
A.
Development Report
Development committee purchased a visual thermometer to display for parents where we are at toward our fundraising goals. Also working on a grant application thru the Trailblazers, due Feb 13th.
VII. Governance
A.
Middle School
The board discussed the following considerations regarding the future of the middle school program.
1. Reviewed historical enrollment data
2. Staffing needs/challenges
3. Curriculum, technology, and supplies
4. Fundraising data
5. New BSD pathway for continued bilingual education in middle school
6. Financial impacts
7. Pandemic challenges
8. Information shared by Michelle and Chris in past Board meetings
S. Zephirin made a motion to end the middle school program beginning in 2022-2023. Current 6th and 7th grade students will be served through their 8th grade year.
S. Trivedi seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| E. Hatch |
No
|
| C. Staudenraus |
Absent
|
| T. McCoy |
Aye
|
| C. Billings |
Aye
|
| S. Trivedi |
Aye
|
| S. Stevens |
Aye
|
| S. Zephirin |
Aye
|
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Action Items
-Michelle and Chris to draft communication to families about the decision of the middle school program
-Michelle to consult with OSBA on our family who was 10 day dropped but wants to reenroll
-Michelle to communicate decision to the two families re: distance learning for the 2nd semester.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Zephirin