J. Korn asked that priority 2 is critical to ensure trustees are building up their own knowledge and educating themselves in order to make sure decisions are made with all the information. 

D. Prentiss said that he and G. Fortes will connect regarding priority 2 and how to proceed with Alma's DEI Consultant for the Board Retreat in January, and other training opportunities.

D. Prentiss said that all committees are asked to include the REDI Plan in the next meeting discussion to ensure that they are embedded in the committees' goals and efforts, both meaningfully and efficiently.

D. Prentiss asked about the enrollment number being below target, and T. DeLoach reported that the team is working to fill those spots with children off the waiting lists, prior to October 1. 

T. DeLoach highlighted the staff retention data and having all school leader positions filled early which allowed for robust training and onboarding over the summer. 

D. Prentiss asked about the priorities for each campus and the network, and whether they may be included consistently in the Executive Director reports this school year.

J. Korn reported that the AcEx committee has met twice this school year, and welcomed three new committee members. He reported that the committee has been reviewing academic data and comparing it to other schools across the state. New members will be coming to visit the schools soon.

T. DeLoach shared that the embargo on state MCAS data will be lifted on Tuesday, Sept. 24th, and the board will receive a more robust analysis after that release. She reviewed the series of interventions that have been put in place over the past two-plus years. She reported that academic performance levels are not yet where we had hoped. 

A few factors that we are considering:

- pandemic era gaps in learning

- significantly larger number of scholars taking MCAS

- introducing 50 new sixth graders each year = these scholars are coming to Alma from district elementary schools

- more novice teachers leading classrooms

Academic goals/metrics will be set after we obtain new baseline data from Q1 assessments and Alma will begin using Aimsweb for reading levels as a replacement for STEP, which is no longer available. 

C. Holley remarked that the approach to setting new metrics is motivating and the right approach for the organization based upon the most updated data. 

B. Kurie reported that we are looking for at least two new members for Development Committee, as well as trustee recruitment. 

D. Mello asked what the profile of an Alma donor includes, as well as what donor engagement activities are being done.

D. Prentiss noted that the strategic plan may help inform strategic decisions in relation to fundraising.

D. Prentiss reported that Governance Committee does have a few prospects for new trustees.

D. Prentiss shared that succession planning is critical including the appointment of a Vice Chair who would be able to be promoted to Chair next year. He asked all trustees to be reviewing succession planning and considering recruitment of members and their own involvement.

T. DeLoach shared an update on the strategic plan process with Bellwether. School leaders are within phase 0-1 information gathering, including a site visit earlier this month. Staff, scholar and family focus groups have been conducted as well as several senior leader one-on-one interviews. An email with the Board Focus Group scheduled meeting time and Zoom link will come out soon, so if trustees who didn't initially express interest in participating, but are able and willing to participate, may do so.