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Alma del Mar

Alma del Mar Board of Trustees Meeting

Published on May 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM EDT

Date and Time

Monday May 19, 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 March 24, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Dave Prentiss 2 m
     
  E. Vote to Approve Alma del Mar Strategic Plan 2025-2029 Vote Dave Prentiss 15 m
  F. Vote to Approve Board Attendance Policy Vote Dave Prentiss 5 m
  G. Vote to Approve New Board Member Vote Dave Prentiss 2 m
   
  • Steve Furtado, Sr.
  
  H. Vote to approve 2025-2026 Alma del Mar School Year Calendar Vote Taylor DeLoach 2 m
II. Executive Director Report 10:59 AM
  A. Dashboard Discuss Taylor DeLoach 5 m
   
  • Monitoring out of school suspension rate at both campuses
  
  B. ED Report Discuss Taylor DeLoach 10 m
   
  • Discuss renewal application
    • July Board meeting options:
      • Tuesday July 29th, virtual, between 9am-4pm
      • Wednesday July 30th, virtual, between 9am-4pm
  
III. Academic Excellence 11:14 AM
  A. Q3 Academic Update Discuss Taylor DeLoach 5 m
   
  • During Q3, only K-8 math interims and K-2 literacy intermal assessments were given due to MCAS testing.
  
  B. Academic Excellence Update Discuss John Korn 10 m
IV. Development 11:29 AM
  A. April/May 2025 Report Discuss Becca Kurie 5 m
V. Finance 11:34 AM
  A. FY25 Q3 Financials Vote Charles Holley 5 m
   

Forecast updated for Q3 and operating contingency released at both campuses.

Projecting a $1,150,000 operating surplus.  

School spent an additional $100k on Douglass phone/intercom system and Chromebooks.  This leaves a surplus of $1,050,000 which is $380k more than the budgeted surplus.

 

Proposed Surplus Initiatives:

Staff Appreciation Bonus ($250,000)

Chromebook Order  

Textbook Purchase   

Contribution to R&R with any remaining surplus

 

Finance Committee recommends Board approve proposed surplus spending.

  
  B. FY2026 Final Budget Vote Charles Holley 15 m
   

Finance Committee recommends Board approve FY26 Budget.

 

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%
  
  C. Investment Account Vote Charles Holley 5 m
   

EFF has approved the School's request to transfer up to $4million to an investment account not covered by the DACA.  Committee reviewed FY25 cash flow and agreed that the School should move $4million to a treasury backed money market account.    Committee recommends Board approve opening account at Fidelity.

 

Committee also discussed engaging with a financial advisor/manager to assist with reporting and oversight of the investment account and future investments.   Committee will work with Foundation to further pursue this.

 

J. McDonough (absent) requested a plan for use of investment funds in future years.  T. DeLoach and C. Fisher will outline a plan for next finance committee meeting.

  
  D. Banking Vote Charles Holley 3 m
   

Finance Committee recommends Board approve Kristen Haley, Network Director of Operations as a signor on all school bank accounts

 

In addition, the committee discussed and approved for Taylor to be the only signatory regardless of amount until the Director of Network Operations is onboarded and added to bank signature cards.

 

Finance Committee also recommends the Board approve a change in the financial threshold that requires dual signatures on checks from $5k to $15k.

  
VI. Governance 12:02 PM
  A. REDI Plan Update Discuss Chauneen Wood 5 m
VII. Other Business 12:07 PM
  A. Executive Director EOY Evaluation FYI Dave Prentiss 5 m
  B. Charter Schools - State and Federal Landscape Discuss Taylor DeLoach 10 m
VIII. Closing Items 12:22 PM
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote