G. Fortes shared the story of local Black educator Martha Briggs in honor of Women's History Month. She encouraged trustees to learn more about the Martha Briggs Educational Club in New Bedford: https://www.facebook.com/MarthaBriggsClub/

T. DeLoach reported that in school suspensions have increased significantly over the past few months. She is working with the Principals and Deans of Culture to identify causes and put plans into place to decrease situations leading to suspensions.

T. DeLoach reported that we have provided a robust approach to compensation for staff. All staff received a mid-year raise this month, retroactive to the beginning of the school year. All returning staff will receive a 4% increase for next year. 

T. DeLoach also announced that the Douglass Campus principal will depart at the end of the school year. Senior Leaders have already begun work with a recruiter, and that position will be posted soon. 

MCAS testing begins April 1 with ELA, then Math, Civics and Science in May.

All trustees are strongly encouraged to attend the Civics Fair on April 10th at the Douglass Campus.

Fundraising remains on track to reach our goal. 

We ask all trustees to help introduce three new folks to Alma by inviting them to
attend an event or tour the school. Again, this is about cultivating new connections, not soliciting donations. Ideal visitors include, but are not limited to:
a. Local community leaders or activists
b. Folks passionate about education and/or New Bedford youth
c. Anyone interested in new volunteer opportunities

As you identify a potential visitor, you may contact the Director of Development for support and to share information about the person. The Director of Development schedules and facilitates the visit. Visits are led by a prepared middle school scholar who will also give the visitor a sense of what a day at Alma looks and feels like for them personally.

C. Holley presented the draft budget for fiscal year 2025, along with the financial highlights section including:

Revenue - Has changed since last report due to the tuition rate change (conservative projections)

Personnel - 4% increase in staff pay increases

Other fixed charges - Insurance line - projecting significant increase in health care

D. Prentiss shared the proposal that board meetings be shifted to five per year, timed with academic quarterly updates as well as the annual meeting. 

J. Korn suggested the meetings shift to being in person to support the relationship building. He also asked about an attendance policy/requirement for trustees. Other trustees agreed that attendance must be prioritized and expected for all trustees, especially if meetings are held less frequently.

G. Fortes presented the current priority for the board to work on, with a focus on making decisions through an equity lens. 

M. Bride asked when the board was last surveyed on how trustees feel the Board and school is doing on equity priority work. C. Holley reported that the board was polled again in January. 

G. Fortes shared that this work takes time and the more the committees and the board practice decision making through an equity lens, the more natural it will come. Committees must be practicing this as well.

Prentiss said that the REDI plan calls for the Board to adopt the practice of using a consent agenda and that will be implemented soon

G. Fortes asked that committees should include the organization's anti-racism statement and the equity lens summary at the top of each meeting agenda to serve as a reminder. 

C. Bator provided an overview of Open Meeting Law as a reminder to all trustees.

T. DeLoach shared briefly how the DESE Core Site Visit went at the schools last week. A full report will be shared out in a few months. Thank you to the trustees who participated in the focus group with DESE!

T. DeLoach asked for trustees to consider providing a gift basket or gift card to use for a special raffle activity to be held during Teacher (and Staff) Appreciation Week from May 6-10th.