Board Meeting Minutes

February 28, 2020, 9:00-10:15 AM

Minutes Approved

Alma del Mar

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Friday February 28, 2020 at 9:00 AM

Location

Alma del Mar Charter School, 515 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746

This month's Board meeting was videotaped to be broadcast by New Bedford Cable Access.

Trustees Present

B. Cunningham (remote), C. Bator, D. Eckert (remote), G. Fortes, J. Baptist, L. Hicks, M. Kay, M. Rosario

Trustees Absent

C. Arnold, V. Brown

Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned

B. Cunningham

Guests Present

A. Teevens, Ann Marie Lopes, E. Darrow, W. Gardner

I. Opening Items

A. Record Attendance and Guests

B. Good and New

C. Review Mission Statement

D. Call the Meeting to Order

J. Baptist called a meeting of the board of trustees of Alma del Mar to order on Friday Feb 28, 2020 at 9:04 AM.

E. Approve Minutes

C. Bator made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 01-24-20.

L. Hicks seconded the motion.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Executive Director

A. Executive Director's Report

W. Gardner reviewed the Executive Director's Report, including updates to our demographic data and recent Scholar Led Conferences at the Ottiwell Campus.
D. Eckert inquired about the participation rate of the Scholar Led Conferences in older grade levels.
C. Bator inquired about parent attendance at Conferences.

B. Board Dashboard

The Board discussed updated wait list numbers. Following the lottery that was held this past Wednesday, there will be larger update on the wait list at the March meeting.
The Board discussed the progress towards hiring for the 20-21 school year. With renewal letters going out to staff in the coming weeks, there will be a larger update on hiring at the March meeting.

C. Q2 Staff Survey

W. Gardner reviewed highlights from the Q2 Staff Survey.

III. Development and Impact Campaign

A. Development Report

L. Hicks inquired about the annual fund and how it relates to the Impact Campaign.

IV. Frederick Douglass Facility Working Group

A. Update on Frederick Douglass Facilities Plan

W. Gardner reviewed the most recent site plans for the new Frederick Douglass Campus.
G. Fortes inquired about a welcoming space for families in the new building.
W. Gardner reports that Alma is currently in the process of selecting a general contractor.
L. Hicks asked about a presentation to the Board as site plans become more final.

B. Update on Temporary Facilities

W. Gardner reports that Alma is currently in the process of selecting a general contractor.
L. Hicks asked about a presentation to the Board as site plans become more final.

V. Academic Excellence

A. Scholar Spotlight: Frederick Douglass Public Speaking Winner

The Board welcomed Jamiel Tavares, an Alma 7th grader who won the Frederick Douglass Public Speaking contest held on February 14, 2020.

B. Mid-Year Academic Report

A. Teevens reviewed current academic data with the Board and projections for MCAS.

C. Long Term Secondary Schools Strategy

The Board voiced the need for a larger discussion around this topic in the future, both in upcoming meetings this spring and at next year's annual retreat.
D. Eckert and C. Bator voiced the importance of this strategic discussion to the Board.
M. Rosario voiced the importance of parent choice in this process and the importance of early childhood education.

VI. Finance

A. FY20 January Financials

B. Cunningham left.

D. Eckert reviewed the January Financial report.

VII. Other Business

A. Application for Charter Renewal 2020-2021

E. Darrow reviewed the Charter Renewal process. Alma will be applying for a renewal of our charter in 2020.

B. Public Health

C. Bator mentioned the importance of preparedness for any public health requirements related to coronavirus.

VIII. Closing Items

A. Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 10:14 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,

E. Darrow