Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday May 18, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Location

Board & Staff: In person at school

Public: Zoom only 
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Meeting ID: 853 7106 8909
Passcode: 1Uzghf

Directors Present

A. Nelson, C. Billings, E. Hatch, J. Guerra, S. Zephirin, Y. Jones

Directors Absent

A. Kusaba

Ex Officio Members Present

C. Brodniak, M. Ston (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

C. Brodniak, M. Ston (remote)

Guests Present

J. Urdiales (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 May 18, 2023 at 6:01 PM.

C.

General Public Comment

No public comment

II. New Business

A.

Approve Meeting Minutes- April 20

S. Zephirin made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 04-20-23.
E. Hatch seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Committee Assignments

Finance Committee: Christa, Andrew

 

Governance Committee: Christa, Yessenia

 

Development Committee: Erin, Sarah, Josh

 

 

III. Executive Director

A.

Director's and Assistant Director's Report

Academic Excellence

  • OSAS (State Testing) is done!   (3-8 Literacy and Math, 5th & 8th science)  
  •  School specific testing is next: STAMP (Spanish Proficiency for 3-8),   Easy CBM (Literacy and Math (K-8)  Each of these will take less than an hour to complete for students. This data is specific to academic achievement/progress  during 22-23.

Staff Training and Retention

  • Employment Agreements for 2023-24 have been returned so we know what hiring needs we have for Fall.
    • Board to vote to approve agreements for next year.
  • Literacy Intervention Specialist filled by a local candidate
  • Still recruiting and interviewing for PE teacher and Spanish Homeroom teachers  
  • Will likely have another round of J1 visiting teachers for 2023-24.  4-5 qualified candidates. Still recruiting locally.
  • 2 day intensive math professional development (Singapore) scheduled for homeroom teachers during in-service week (August 24-25th).  In person training, workshop, first six weeks of math planning. (Cost: $6,350)

Community Engagement and Positive School Culture

  • Staff was very thankful for the incredible appreciations throughout last week  (Teacher Appreciation Week).   We are very lucky to have such supportive parents. 
  • Last Familias Unidas meeting 5/9  (Online Security- BPD presentation).  Good turn out, information very useful.  No more community meetings this year 
  • Roxana Laguna (Instructional Assistant) is a hero!  Responded quickly during lunch to save a choking child.

Financial Stability

  • Chris shared information on projected enrollment and class configurations for Fall
  • SIA funds, and state school fund, will likely increase based on latest state revenue funds.
  • Michelle gave SIA application update
Y. Jones made a motion to approve the 2023-2024 employment agreements, as presented.
S. Zephirin seconded the motion.

Contracts approved for:

  • Beach, Cynthia
  • Ramirez, Jennifer
  • Alonzo, Elda
  • Aparicio Marquez, Jennifer
  • Laguna, Roxana
  • Blenman-Cross, Hannah 
  • Noriega Adame, Rosalba
  • Ana Flores Castro
  • Bueno Pascual, Bárbara
  • Burch, Jasmine
  • Constantino, Concepcion
  • Anderson, Donna (including signing bonus)
  • Fagliano, Madelaine
  • Falcon, Lizirma
  • Humbird, Pamela
  • Martinez Vidal, Juan
  • Mulero Martinez, Alberto
  • Perez, Diana 
  • Prince, Britt
  • RIOJA, SOFÍA
  • Ruiz Torres, Deirdre 
  • Samayoa, Luis
  • Segador, Leticia
  • Sharma, Pratima
  • Tirado Villegas, Angeles
  • Viera Rodriguez, Ruth
  • Walter, Jacqueline
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Y. Jones
Aye
J. Guerra
Aye
A. Kusaba
Absent
E. Hatch
Aye
A. Nelson
Aye
C. Billings
Aye
S. Zephirin
Aye

IV. PTO

A.

PTO Report

  • Elections for next year will happen at the May 31st PTO meeting
  • Workgroups are filling up
  • Successful teacher appreciation week!

B.

Assign Board Member to attend next PTO meeting

Josh to attend the May 31st PTO meeting

V. Governance

A.

Governance Report

The following have expressed interest in board positions

  • President - Christa
  • Vice President - Yessenia
  • Treasurer - Andrew
  • Secretary - Sarah

Erin monitoring responses to the Parent Survey. We have 69 responses so far.  End date will be June 5th.

J. Guerra made a motion to approve Board officers for 23-24 school year: Christa as President, Yessenia as Vice President, Andrew as Treasurer, and Sarah as Secretary.
E. Hatch seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Guerra
Aye
A. Nelson
Aye
C. Billings
Aye
Y. Jones
Aye
E. Hatch
Aye
A. Kusaba
Absent
S. Zephirin
Aye

VI. Finance

A.

Treasurers Report

Treasurer's Report
▪ ADMw received for (Month):    $298,902.00
▪ Total income for (Month): $405,053.63
▪ Cash balance for (Month): $2,688,000.48
▪ Accts Receivable for (Month): $37,852.41
▪ Net gain/loss for (Month):   $69,478.40

VII. Development

A.

Development Report

  • Approved from the Marie Lanform Foundation grant for next year.  Helps pay for Michelle's position and some additional professional development.
  • Additional grant applications out there:  Lowe's, RACC Arts grant, NCTM Math grant
  • Committee continues to research potential grant opportunities
  • Erin exploring subscriptions that could help us with finding and submitting grants
S. Zephirin made a motion to approve the purchase of a one year Grant Hub subscription.
Y. Jones seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Playground Update

  • Board reviewed playground survey results.  Had 118 responses. 
  • Josh shared info on outdoor matting options
  • Board reviewed budget for entire project
  • Josh to share updated playground info at next PTO meeting
  • Idea shared to hold summer playdates at Arco once phase 1 is completed
S. Zephirin made a motion to approve spending up to $40,000 for playground phase 1 project.
A. Nelson seconded the motion.

Christa confirmed this purchase would not put us over our bond debt ratio

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Hatch
Aye
Y. Jones
Aye
J. Guerra
Aye
A. Kusaba
Absent
S. Zephirin
Aye
C. Billings
Aye
A. Nelson
Aye

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Action Items

  • Leslie is going to add Board committees to volunteer interest form
  • Christa send out message to parents about how to apply for a Board Committee
  • Christa and Erin to promote end date for Parent Survey
  • Josh to work with Christa on ordering for playground project
  • Josh to order samples of matting before determining which company to use
  • Erin to share info after 14 day trial of grant subscription

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:27 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
S. Zephirin