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Alma del Mar

Alma del Mar Board of Trustees Meeting

Published on March 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM EDT
Amended on March 21, 2025 at 1:27 PM EDT

Date and Time

Monday March 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM EDT

Location

VIRTUAL, on Zoom

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. Please read the Equity Lens Guidelines in the Opening Items below before the meeting.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter Time
I. Opening Items 10:30 AM
  A. Equity Lens Guidelines   Dave Prentiss 1 m
   

Please read the attached Guidelines before every Alma board and committee meeting.

  
  B. Record Attendance   Dave Prentiss 1 m
  C. Call the Meeting to Order   Dave Prentiss 1 m
  D. Approve December 2, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Dave Prentiss 2 m
   

Approval of Minutes

  
     
  E. Approve December 16, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Dave Prentiss 2 m
     
  F. Approve February 3, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Dave Prentiss 5 m
     
  G. Approve Policy Updates Vote Taylor DeLoach 15 m
   

Access to Education, Student Privacy, and Immigration Enforcement Policy

 

  • Based on recommendations from the MA Attorney General and the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, Alma has followed guidance to create a policy clarifying Alma's approach when responding to ICE activity or related requests for access to students and families. This policy has been reviewed by Alma's legal counsel.

Revisions to Student Discipline Policy and Special Education Policies

 

  • As a part of our regular Integrated Monitoring Review cycle with DESE, we received feedback about the following policies which have been corrected and are presented for the Board's feedback and approval. Changes to policies are highlighted and yellow and include specific language provided to us by DESE or legal counsel.
    • Alternatives to Suspension- describes how the school explores alternatives to suspension to keep scholars engaged in the learning environment.
    • K-3 suspensions - clarifies that Principals must communicate to the Executive Director about all out of school suspensions for scholars in Kindergarten-3rd grade. Language was added to the policy after feedback from DESE to include the specific language highlighted in yellow.
    • Additional Due Process Rights - clarifies that students with a suspected disability are given the same protections as students with a confirmed disability.

 

Institutional Self-Evaluation 2023-2024

 

  • As a part of our regular Integrated Monitoring Review cycle with DESE, we received feedback that in addition to our annual report, we must annually conduct an Institutional Self-Evaluation of all aspects of the school program to ensure that all students, regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, limited English proficiency, sexual orientation, disability, or housing status, have equal access to all programs, including athletics and other extracurricular activities. The district makes such changes as are indicated by the evaluation. The description of what must be included in the self-evaluation is below and was provided by DESE. 
    • The self-evaluation is presented for the Board's feedback and approval.
    • Non-discrimination policy - has been updated to include language about the self-evaluation.
  
II. Executive Director Report 10:57 AM
  A. Dashboard Discuss Taylor DeLoach 5 m
   
  • Monitoring increase in out of school suspensions at the Ottiwell Campus
  • Monitoring teacher retention and adult culture at Douglass Campus
  
  B. Strategic Plan Initiatives Discuss Taylor DeLoach 15 m
   
  • Review the 12 initiatives (4 per priority)
  • Make connections between the 2023-2024 Institutional Self-Review and the initiatives
  • Highlight the initiatives that are already moving forward as a part of our regular yearly planning cycle
  • Our goal is to present the full strategic plan to be approved by the Board at the May Board meeting.
  
III. Academic Excellence 11:17 AM
  A. Academic Excellence Update Discuss John Korn 10 m
IV. Development 11:27 AM
  A. March 2025 Report Discuss Becca Kurie 5 m
V. Finance 11:32 AM
  A. FY2026 Draft Budget Discuss Charles Holley 15 m
   

Budget Highlights:

  • Tuition - 6.7% increase (projected rates more stable/predictable post ESSER years)
  • Fundraising - Assumes no private funding however fundraising will still be a priority for specific programs/initiatives 
  • Salaries - No additional FTE's, 4% increase
  • Fringe - Benefit renewal process started, will be going out to bid, rates expected end of April
  • SPED Contr Ser - Increase based on FY25 spending and need for a contracted SLP 
  • Operations - Increase in utilities, overall increase in service provider rates and maintenance for 765 Church Street
  • Contingency - remains at 2%
  
VI. Governance 11:47 AM
  A. Committee Goals 24-25 Vote Gail Fortes 5 m
  B. Board Logistics Discuss Dave Prentiss 5 m
   
  • Meeting Schedule (including regulations for virtual meetings)
  • Attendance
  • RSVP System
  
  C. REDI Plan Update Discuss Chauneen Wood 10 m
VII. Other Business
VIII. Closing Items
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote