Menlo Park Academy Governing Board
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday August 25, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Location
MPA
OUR MISSION: Menlo Park Academy is a public school that develops the potential of gifted learners through an exemplary program of rewarding experiences that nurtures the whole child.
Directors Present
Cathy Aldrich, Dan O'Malia, Kelly Nelson, Suzanne McFarland, Teri Harrison
Directors Absent
Fraser Hamilton Sr
Directors who left before the meeting adjourned
Dan O'Malia
Guests Present
Amber Oxley, Beverley Veccia, Carrie Ryan, Jeff Jaroscak, Jeremiah Tangen, Jim Kennedy, Kelly Fortune-Somerville, Kristina Johns, Latha Srinivasan, Melissa Vlasak, Nick Zambo, Paul O'Neill
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Teri Harrison called a meeting of the board of directors of Menlo Park Academy Governing Board to order on Thursday Aug 25, 2016 at 6:00 PM.
II. School Director Action Items
A.
New Hires for 16-17
Dan O'Malia made a motion to hire Jessica Herron as the Volunteer Coordinator for an annual salary of $33,000 pending a forthcoming job description.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dan O'Malia |
Aye
|
| Teri Harrison |
No
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
No
|
| Cathy Aldrich |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
Dan O'Malia made a motion to hire Emily Carter for an Instructional Aide position for an annual salary of $24,000.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Kelly Nelson made a motion to hire Jeanette Thevenin for a substitute teacher position for the 2016-17 school year.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Kelly Nelson made a motion to hire Shannon Jakubczak as the Edison Club Coordinator (additional role) for an annual salary of $7,500. A job description is forthcoming.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Dan O'Malia made a motion to hire Trevor Rockey for the Technology teacher position at an annual salary of $25,000.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The motion did not carry.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Kelly Nelson |
No
|
| Teri Harrison |
No
|
| Cathy Aldrich |
No
|
| Dan O'Malia |
No
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
No
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to hire Katie Anderson as an Instructional Assistant at an annual salary of $23,000.
Kelly Nelson seconded the motion.
The motion did not carry.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Cathy Aldrich |
Aye
|
| Dan O'Malia |
No
|
| Teri Harrison |
No
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
| Kelly Nelson |
Aye
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
No
|
III. Institutional Advancement Action Items
A.
SY16-17 Development Plan
Dan O'Malia left.
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to approve the SY16-17 Development Plan as presented.
Kelly Nelson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Cathy Aldrich |
Aye
|
| Kelly Nelson |
Aye
|
| Teri Harrison |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
Aye
|
| Dan O'Malia |
Absent
|
B.
Development Consultants
No motion made.
Amber Oxley recommended not moving forward with any consultants at this time due to further clarification of MPA's needs. She suggested that the topic be revisited when the needs are determined.
C.
School Insurance
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to approve hiring Althans Insurance Agency as MPA's insurance broker and selecting a multiple policy coverage option for a maximum of $18,000/year.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. Executive
A.
Personnel Policy Update
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to approve the Personnel Policy updates as presented, including Administrative Holidays/School Closing days, per presented policy addressing partial credit for mid-year hires.
Suzanne McFarland seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Beverley Veccia voiced concern over language of each director’s role in hiring process. Amber Oxley voiced concern over the language addressing mid-year hires and calculating their years of service and how this would affect PTO. The board clarified that additional days earned for years of service are awarded when those years are completed.
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to grandfather the amended Personnel Policy's PTO days policy for the current administrative staff members until July 1, 2017.
Suzanne McFarland seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Committee Chairs & Members
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to authorize the creation of an ad-hoc Capital Campaign Committee and approve the committee charter as presented.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to elect Kelly Nelson to Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee.
Suzanne McFarland seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Committee Charter Revisions
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to approve changes to the Facilities Expansion Committee charter as presented.
Suzanne McFarland seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
V. Governance Committee
A.
2016-2017 KRAs
Cathy Aldrich made a motion to table the approval of KRAs pending further committee work.
Kelly Nelson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VI. Executive Session
A.
Executive Session
Teri Harrison made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation at 9:49pm. A roll call vote was taken. Jeff Jaroscak was invited to join the Executive Session.
Suzanne McFarland seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Cathy Aldrich |
Aye
|
| Kelly Nelson |
Aye
|
| Dan O'Malia |
Absent
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
| Teri Harrison |
Aye
|
The Board exited Executive Session at 10:16 pm.
Teri Harrison made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss the performance of a public employee at 10:05pm. A roll call vote was taken. Jeff Jaroscak was invited to join the Executive Session.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Cathy Aldrich |
Aye
|
| Kelly Nelson |
Aye
|
| Teri Harrison |
Aye
|
| Dan O'Malia |
Absent
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
The Board exited Executive Session at 10:30 pm.
B.
Instructional Position
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to require the Reading Intervention Specialist who is providing reading services to students (at a minimum those in grades K-3) to hold a reading specialist license.
Cathy Aldrich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Teri Harrison |
Aye
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
| Cathy Aldrich |
Aye
|
| Dan O'Malia |
Absent
|
VII. 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 10:35 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Teri Harrison