Menlo Park Academy Governing Board
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday August 15, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Location
2149 W. 53rd Street, Cleveland, Ohio
OUR MISSION: Menlo Park Academy is a public school that nurtures gifted children through an exemplary program and rewarding experiences which develop the whole child.
Directors Present
Cindy Wang, Dante Giancola, Richard Hronek, Susan Dornan, Suzanne McFarland, Teri Harrison
Directors Absent
Fraser Hamilton Sr
Guests Present
Barbee Thomas, Dave Massa, Jeremiah Tangen, Karen Uthe, Leslie Gillen, Melissa McCarthy, Nicole Shedden, Shruti Aring, Tara Schmitt
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 15, 2019 at 6:06 PM.
II. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
III. Board Meeting Minutes Approval
A.
Meeting Minutes - 6/20/19
Richard Hronek made a motion to approve minutes from the Regular Board Meeting on 06-20-19 Regular Board Meeting on 06-20-19.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Meeting Minutes - 7/18/19
Richard Hronek made a motion to approve minutes from the Regular Board Meeting on 07-18-19 Regular Board Meeting on 07-18-19.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Meeting Minutes 7/27/19
Richard Hronek made a motion to approve minutes from the Annual Board Retreat on 07-27-19 Annual Board Retreat on 07-27-19.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Meeting Minutes - 8/1/19
Richard Hronek made a motion to approve minutes from the Working Session on 08-01-19 Working Session on 08-01-19.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. Sponsor Update
A.
Sponsor Update
The Sponsor Newsletter was uploaded. Rich Hronek and Tara Schmitt attended the sponsor's annual meeting today.
V. Treasurer Report
A.
Monthly Financials
July financials were discussed.
VI. School Operations Reports
A.
Head of School Report
Tara Schmitt discussed the progess being made in school preparations.
B.
2019-20 Program Guide Draft
Richard Hronek made a motion to table the vote on the 19-20 Program Guide Draft.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Admin. Staff Compensation
Agenda item moved to after Executive Session
D.
Communications Update
Karen Uthe spoke on the new advertising campaign, retention activities, and flat wizard sightings.
E.
Special Education Model Policies and Procedures
Richard Hronek made a motion to adopt the Ohio Special Education Model Policies and Procedures as presented.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
The Special Education Model Policies and Procedures were reviewed.
F.
Designation of EMIS representative
Richard Hronek made a motion to approve Wall 2 Wall as the EMIS representative for Menlo Park Academy.
Suzanne McFarland seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VII. New Hires
A.
New Hire
Teri Harrison made a motion to authorize Suzanne McFarland to enter into negotation to hire Liz Murray as a teacher for a salary of no more than $35,000 per year.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to hire Marcy Dickason as a teacher for a salary not to exceed $34,500 per year.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to hire Samantha Snyder as a teacher for a salary not to exceed $34,500 per year.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to hire Ashley Mullen as a teacher for a salary not to exceed $39,500 per year.
Susan Dornan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to hire Kristin Barns as a teacher for a salary not to exceed $38,500 per year.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
VIII. Executive Session
A.
Executive Session
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to Enter into executive session at 7:34pm to discuss the performance of a public employee. Invited in: Tara Schmitt, Barbee Thomas, Dave Massa, Leslie Gillen, Karen Uthe.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dante Giancola |
Aye
|
| Susan Dornan |
Aye
|
| Cindy Wang |
Aye
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
| Teri Harrison |
Aye
|
| Richard Hronek |
Aye
|
Richard Hronek made a motion to adjourn executive session at 8:04pm.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Dante Giancola |
Aye
|
| Susan Dornan |
Aye
|
| Fraser Hamilton Sr |
Absent
|
| Richard Hronek |
Aye
|
| Suzanne McFarland |
Aye
|
| Cindy Wang |
Aye
|
IX. Admin Staff Compensation
A.
Admin Staff Compensation
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to increase salary of Melissa McCarthy to $17.00 per hour.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to Increase salary of Nereida Juarez to $15.60 per hour.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to Increase salary of Jennifer Polasko to $12.39 per hr.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to Increase salary of Janie Zell to $15.20 per hr.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to Increase salary of David Pannell to $46,125 per year.
Richard Hronek seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
X. Student Aide Hire
A.
Student Aide Hire from Renhill Group
Dante Giancola made a motion to hire Robert (Doug) Macgregor as a one-to-one aide up to 13.50/hour based on resume and credentials.
Susan Dornan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
XI. Teacher Termination of Contract Prior to Termination of Annual Session
A.
Teacher termination of contract prior to termination of annual session
Richard Hronek made a motion to file a complaint with ODE for Termination of Contract Prior To Termination of Annual Session for Jeanette Thevenin and JoAnna Timura.
Cindy Wang seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
The following letter to be sent to Ms. Timura and Ms. Thevenin notifying them of the complaint:
Dear <Employee Name>:
Please be advised that your resignation from your current position at <School Name>, dated <Date>, has been received. However, this date falls after the July 10th deadline for termination of your contract, per Ohio Revised Code 3314.103.· 3314.103 Termination of contract prior to termination of annual session.
No community school teacher shall terminate the teacher's contract after the tenth day of July of any school year or during the school year, prior to the termination of the annual session, without the consent of the community school's governing authority or operator, and such teacher may terminate the teacher's contract at any other time by giving five days' written notice to the employing governing authority or operator. Upon complaint by the employing governing authority or operator to the state board of education and after investigation by it, the license of a teacher terminating the teacher's contract in any other manner than provided in this section may be suspended for not more than one year.
As used in this section, "teacher" has the same meaning as in section 3319.09 of the Revised Code.
Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 113, §1, eff. 9/14/2016.
Please note that your intent to resign was submitted by you without the consent of the school’s governing authority or operator. Therefore a complaint is being filed with the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Professional Conduct in accordance with the ORC referenced above.
Yours in Education,
Dear <Employee Name>:
Please be advised that your resignation from your current position at <School Name>, dated <Date>, has been received. However, this date falls after the July 10th deadline for termination of your contract, per Ohio Revised Code 3314.103.· 3314.103 Termination of contract prior to termination of annual session.
No community school teacher shall terminate the teacher's contract after the tenth day of July of any school year or during the school year, prior to the termination of the annual session, without the consent of the community school's governing authority or operator, and such teacher may terminate the teacher's contract at any other time by giving five days' written notice to the employing governing authority or operator. Upon complaint by the employing governing authority or operator to the state board of education and after investigation by it, the license of a teacher terminating the teacher's contract in any other manner than provided in this section may be suspended for not more than one year.
As used in this section, "teacher" has the same meaning as in section 3319.09 of the Revised Code.
Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 113, §1, eff. 9/14/2016.
Please note that your intent to resign was submitted by you without the consent of the school’s governing authority or operator. Therefore a complaint is being filed with the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Professional Conduct in accordance with the ORC referenced above.
Yours in Education,
XII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Richard Hronek made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:53 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Dornan