No public comment

Christa reviewed current info on enrollment applications for next year. At this time, we do not have as many kindergarten applications as we did at this time last year.  Board asked questions about current proposal from Grow Schools to support with marketing efforts.  

Jesus made request that the Board reimburses up to $5000 for staff members to renew their Visas so they can return to teach at Arco next year.   Approval will require Board approval. Money would be returned if staff do not continue their contract commitment to Arco.

Jillian provided the following updates on PTO:

•  Working to prepare for Friendship parties next month
• Third art lit project in progress. 
• Restaurant night on Jan 22nd at Red Robin. 
• Plan to have a second round of spirit wear orders.  Board confirmed that parents are purchasing directly from the store, no Arco budget money required for this.
• Mike Ryan interested in running sock fundraiser again this year. Board hesitant to approve another fundraiser near the Auction.  In years past, it has brought in more than a restaurant night.  Decision tabled for next Finance Committee meeting
• Starting to plan silent dance party for week before Spring Break, which was a school wide reward earned from the Move-a-thon.  During PE classes. Working on quotes so they can present to the Finance Committee in February
• Adding more log ins for Vic Net accounts.  Account sharing becoming a challenge for the volunteer coordinator team.  Would like two more log ins, at $10 per month.
• Struggling this year to find volunteers for events. Board provided some feedback on what has worked in the past. 

February: Adreana

March: Yessenia 

April: Erin Hatch

May: Andrew

Academic Excellence

1. January 17th - SDW focus:
   • Our upcoming training will be an internal one guided by our team of educators. The training is based on professional development the team received through NWRESD. The focus will be around best practices for small group instruction. 
   • Team guiding this professional development day: Tamara Gomez, Laura Lagarde, Kathy McKenna, Mario Orozco, Marta Torralba
   • We will also be providing additional time and support to review data used to support students in small groups. This is to ensure we are meeting with students who need the most support (Tier 2).
   • In each classroom, on average, we see the following number of students during Workshop (Interventions):
     • Teachers meet with 3-6 students on each of their 15-minute rotations since our Workshop time is 30 minutes long. 
     • Some educators have larger numbers based on data (6), some have less (3), as some of our students need more 1:1 direct support.
     • On average, we are seeing 4 students per rotation.  
2. Grading Day is January 27th
   • Team will be sharing students’ growth with families via report cards.

Team Training and Retention

• Current team and hiring efforts for SY 25-26
  1. Update: We had one resignation during the break due to personal reasons.
     • We have had our internal substitute filling that position.  Our internal substitute will continue providing students and families support until the end of the school year, as it is not in the best interest of students, nor best practices to have students go through a third transition. We are very happy with M. Jordi’s work (our in-house substitute), and we will continue to provide support to his class until the end of the school year. Families have been informed regarding this matter.
     • Posting for a temporary in house substitute for remainder of the school year.  Also have back up plan for utilizing ESS subs.
• 1:1 check-ins with all team members continue to occur throughout the year. These check-ins continue to ground our work on our school commitments for the year, and to hear the team’s feedback.

Community Engagement and Positive School Culture

1. Current and upcoming events: 
   • Total fundraising efforts to date. Including Move-A-Thon in October and AFG November campaign: $148,730.42
   • Coffee and Cafe con el Director:
     • We had a Family Equity series during our January events. These opportunities are very similar to what Familias Unidas started in 2019-20.
       • The event occurred in partnership with WE Empower (DEI Consulting)
         • January Themes: Allyship and Bias Awareness
       • We will have a second session in March around Cultural Awareness and Creating Safe Spaces.
     • Something that is important to note here is that Arco Iris recently secured a $50,000 partnership with Community Design Partners (CDP), through a free opportunity offered by ODE.  This partnership with CDP and ODE will enable us to learn best practices regarding fostering a sense of inclusion, equity and belonging for all, which we can then transmit in more intentional ways to our students and community.
       • Statement from CDP: “CDP excels in delivering coaching and professional learning experiences that lead participants through transformative, deeper learning processes. We guide school leaders, educators, and families in exploring culturally sustaining, equitable community and family engagement strategies. Our approach integrates the use of design levers for belonging to help participants critically reflect on and improve current practices, ensuring they foster a deeper sense of inclusion, equity, and belonging for all. For example, we are designing and facilitating community engagement design sprints that are based on Oregon's Community Engagement Toolkit, empowering schools to co-create equitable engagement strategies with communities and families. This work, initiated in Multnomah County ESD schools, has equipped participants to take actionable steps toward authentic, equitable engagement.”
2. We will be holding feedback sessions during our February Coffee/Cafe con el Director to gather input around these Equity sessions; and, also around our SIA grant, as we will be re-applying for these funding opportunities during the month of March.

Financial Responsibility

• Grants - updates 
  1. Internal funding opportunities through ODE
     • We intend to apply again for these Internal funding opportunities: 
       • SIA grant and EL grant.
       • Combined grant opportunities around $500k.
  2. External partnerships:
     • Arco Iris partnered with FundEd and applied for Charter School Growth Fund for school expansion.  Awards can be up to $250,000.
  3. We (internally) applied for New Schools Grant during the break, which can also be up to $250,000 in additional funding for expansion.  Board acknowledged Jesus' efforts during Winter Break to get that grant in by the deadline!
  4. We are exploring additional grants and the Development Committee is supporting these efforts.  (Thank you!)
• Enrollment for 24-25
  1. Total enrollment for the year and current projections:
     • 2024-25: 414 
       • 4 families unenrolled during break.  Reason: driving, distance.
       • We still have 2 families who mentioned they will be coming back in January/February. 1 is coming back as soon as next week, which will bring our numbers up to 415.
  2. Open enrollment:
     • January 6 - February 28
       • Added information to our website.
       • Perla looking into social media posts. This can now be picked up by Grow Schools contract.
     • We have 114 families who have submitted an application (up to date).  Last year, at this point we had 122 applications with the support of Grow Schools - so, 8 more applications.
     • Total of 210 applications by the time we ran the 2024 lottery.
  3. Lottery Date: March 17, 2025

No report

No updates this month.

Treasurer's Report
▪ ADMw received for (Month):    $344,348.00
▪ Total income for (Month): $502,719.45
▪ Cash balance for (Month): $3,660,520.64
▪ Accts Receivable for (Month): $3,654.44
▪ Net gain/loss for (Month):   $71,829.48

 $558,000 net positive year to date.  We do see lots of expenses toward the end of the school. 

By utilizing the CDs, we have earned $15,000 per month!

• Christa heading up the auction and sent request for volunteers last week
• Several grants application in process. Committee focusing on smaller awards.  Working with Jesus to prioritize needs.

• 4 Jesus and 3 Board members attending upcoming Chamber of Commerce luncheon

No updates

No updates

• Add Sock Fundraiser and Silent Dance party budget to Finance Committee meeting agenda in February