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Alma del Mar

Board of Trustees Meeting (VIRTUAL)

Published on March 26, 2024 at 4:34 PM EDT

Date and Time

Friday March 29, 2024 at 9:00 AM EDT

Anti-Racism Statement: Alma del Mar strives to be an anti-racist institution. We seek to dismantle racist and white supremacist structures in pursuit of justice and racial equity. We will fight against racism when we encounter it both within and outside of our school community. We will actively work to ensure that all of our community members, including scholars, families, and staff, feel included, celebrated and empowered. By resisting racism and white supremacy, we will lay the foundation to challenge all forms of oppression.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 9:00 AM
  A. Record Attendance   Dave Prentiss 1 m
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Dave Prentiss 1 m
  C. Equity Moment Discuss Gail Fortes 5 m
  D. Approve February Board Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Maria Rosario 2 m
     
II. Executive Director Report 9:09 AM
  A. Dashboard FYI Taylor DeLoach 5 m
  B. Executive Director Report FYI Taylor DeLoach 5 m
III. Academic Excellence 9:19 AM
  A. 8th Grade Civics Project FYI John Korn 2 m
   

Our 8th graders have been engaging in the required student-led civics project. According to Chapter 296, An Act to promote and enhance civic engagement, passed in 2018, all Massachusetts students are required to be provided a non-partisan, student-led civics project in Grade 8 and again during high school. These projects are rooted in action civics—a process of applying civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions to identify, research, and address community issues. 

 

Through the six-stage project process, students complete the real work of engaged, informed participants in a democracy by identifying issues and advocating for change in their communities. During Stage 5: Taking Action, students will engage in outreach to key decision makers in an effort to bring about their desired goals.

 

For those advocating for state-level change, scholars may be reaching out to state legislators as one of their identified key decision makers for their research. Additionally, we have invited state and local elected officials to join us for our Civic Action Night on Wednesday, April 10, from 5:00-6:30 pm at our Frederick Douglass Campus at 767 Church Street. 

  
IV. Development 9:21 AM
  A. Fundraising Updates Discuss Becca Kurie 5 m
  B. Board Development Plan for 2023-24 Discuss Becca Kurie 5 m
V. Finance 9:31 AM
  A. DRAFT-FY25 Budget FYI Charles Holley 5 m
VI. Governance 9:36 AM
  A. Board Meeting Time & Format Vote Dave Prentiss 20 m
   
  • Review proposals based on Trustee feedback
  
  B. REDI Plan Work Time Discuss Dave Prentiss 20 m
   

Priority 1: Ensuring that Board Governance, Policies, and Procedures are Grounded in REDI

  • Goal B: Ensure that all board decisions are made with a racial equity lens.

 

Strategy 1: Establish an equity-based decision-making framework to ensure that Board votes and actions align with the REDI goals. This involves actively monitoring and assessing each board decision to ensure that they align with the principles of racial equity.

 

Strategy 2: Establish a consent agenda for 90 minute Board meetings. 

 

Progress Indicators for these Strategies:
 

  1. Establish an equity-based decision-making framework/tool to evaluate impact of Board decisions on equity and to identify any areas that require improvement or adjustment by June 2024.
  2. Implement new consent agendas by August 2024.
  
  C. Open Meeting Law Discuss Christopher Bator 10 m
   

NOTE: This item will move to the April Board meeting if needed.

  
VII. Other Business 10:26 AM
  A. DESE Site Visit FYI Taylor DeLoach 2 m
   
  • Thank you for your participation!
  • DESE's inital findings at the end of the March 21 Site Visit is that Alma is meeting expectations in most areas. Full report to come in about 8 weeks.
  
  B. Teacher (and Staff) Appreciation Week: May 6th-May 10th FYI Taylor DeLoach 2 m
   
  • Monday 5/6: Coffee and donuts on behalf of the Board (annual)
  • Please consider donating a gift card or gift basket ($25-50 value) for the teacher raffle - drop off to either campus or Fisher College by EOD Friday May 3rd. Let Taylor or Becca know if you plan to donate a gift. Suggested list from last year:
    • Cisco gift card
    • The Baker gift card
    • Amazon gift card
    • Dunkin Donuts gift card
    • Target gift card
    • School supplies basket (ex: papermate flair pens, stickers, colorful dry erase markers, a teacher mug, etc)
    • Savory snack basket (ex: different flavored chips, popcorn, crackers, pretzels, etc)
    • Spa night basket (ex: face mask, tea, bubble bath, lotion, candle, etc)
    • Chocolate basket (ex: godiva chocolate, lindt chocolate, ghirardelli brownies, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, etc)
    • Cozy gift basket (ex: hot chocolate + marshmallows, throw blanket, fuzzy socks, mug, candle, etc)
  
VIII. Closing Items 10:30 AM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote
  B. For Reference- Board Calendar of Monthly Activities FYI
  C. For Reference- Updated Calendar of Meetings for AY23-24 FYI