Download minutes PDF Minutes Approved

Menlo Park Academy Governing Board

Minutes

Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday January 25, 2022 at 6:00 PM

Location

2149 W. 53rd Street
Cleveland, OH 

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

Dante Giancola, Melissa Picone, Susan Dornan, Suzanne McFarland, Teri Harrison, Tiffany Randle

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

Allison Lentz, Allison Noga, Beth Glorioso, Beth Turk, Brian Kessler, Carol Ryan, Catherine D'Cruz, Charlie Coddington (remote), Christa Rice, Daniel Pernod, Deb Kubat, Deb Vandrasik, James Beatty, Jeanette Louis, Jeff Crossman, Jeff Zaye (remote), Katie Theiss, Lilah Zautner, Marilyn Wright (remote), Mirjana Vidakovic, Missy Long, Natalie Briganti, Pam Ogilvy, Richard Hronek, Sang Kim, Sarah Grady, Sarah O'Bryan (remote), Sh'Annon Caldwell (remote), Shannon Jakubczak, Shanon Kneidel, Shuomei Hu, Staci Young

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

Teri Harrison called a meeting of the board of directors of Menlo Park Academy Governing Board to order on Tuesday Jan 25, 2022 at 6:03 PM.

B.

Record Attendance and Guests

C.

Certification of Notice of Meeting

Board Secretary Susan Dornan confirmed that the meeting was posted publicly as required. 

II. Public Participation

A.

Public Comments

Deb Vandrasik (MPA teacher) made a public comment expressing her concerns with the school not authorizing the petition to form a union. 

Jeff Crossman (state rep.) expressed his support of unions.

Pam Ogilvy read a letter written by her brother, Dan Ogilvy, expressing concern that the teachers aren't being treated well.

Sang Kim (MPA parent) shared his concern with the long-term sustainability of MPA if the efforts to form a union at Menlo are realized.

Lilah Zauntner (MPA parent) shared her concerns with the obvious division from the perspective a a parent new to Menlo. 

Unidentified (who did not sign in) general union supporter expressed his intent to disrupt school operations if we don't authorize the union requests.

Natalie Briganti (MPA teacher) asked about the tuition reimbursement process and when she will receive her increase in pay due to achieving her endorsement.

Beth Glorioso (MPA parent) shared her ongoing concern with the HS math program and the fact that her concerns have not been addressed.

Brian Kessler (member of Berea OFT) shared that while there was a nasty fight in the past, the union functions well in their district now. 

Catherine D'Cruz shared her ongoing concerns with the HS math program.

Sarah O'Grady shared her ongoing concerns with the HS math program.

III. Meeting Minutes

A.

Approve Minutes-12/14/2021 Regular Board Meeting

Dante Giancola made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 12-14-21.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Sponsor's Report

A.

Sponsor's Report

Allison Lentz gave the Sponsor's report. Recent visit went well and there are no red flags.

V. Treasurer's Report

A.

Treasurer's Report

Jeff Zaye provided the Treasurer's report. Current FTE is 595.55 (down 3 from November). 

B.

December Financials

Suzanne McFarland made a motion to acknowledge receipt of the December financial statements.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. School Director's Report

A.

School Director's Report

Dr. Hronek provided the School Director's report. Reviewed the progress on the HS math situation, including that students are in groups based on current progress, the syllabi are being updated, and they will have bi-weekly assessments. They are also having a virtual meeting with parents on Friday and will be providing targeted tutoring during the Intensives period and/or other times.

B.

Teacher Evaluation Framework

Dante Giancola made a motion to approve the teacher evaluation framework as presented.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Enrollment & Advancement Report

A.

Enrollment & Advancement Report

Carol Ryan provided the Enrollment & Advancement Report.

VIII. Operations Report

A.

Monthly Report

Charlie Coddington provided the monthly operations report.

B.

Monthly Enrollment Verification

Charlie Coddington provided the monthly enrollment verification report.

Melissa Picone made a motion to approve the December monthly verification report.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IX. Board Committee Reports

A.

Program Excellence

Suzanne provided Program Excellence updates. Will be rescheduling meeting.

B.

Finance & Audit

There were no additional updates.

C.

COVID-19 Task Force

Susan Dornan provided COVID task force updates.

D.

Advancement

Dante Giancola provided no additional updates to the report provided by Carol Ryan.

X. Resolutions for Consideration- Academic & Compliance

A.

Field Trips

Information no uploaded - Item skipped to be reviewed at the next board meeting.

B.

Annual Review of Policy 242. Student Assessment and Academic Intervention Services.

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve policies as presented.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Annual Review of Special Education Model Policies and Procedures

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve policies as presented.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Annual review of Policy 241. Compulsory School Age Requirements.

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve policies as presented.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Annual Review of Policy 251. #417 Specifications of Comprehensive Plan

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve policies as presented.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

F.

Annual Review of Policy 148.6, Credit Cards.

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve policies as presented.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XI. Resolutions for Consideration- Finance

A.

T1 Stipends

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve 1st Trimester stipend payments.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XII. Resolutions for Consideration- Talent

A.

New Hires

Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Aiyanna Wallace as a floor aide at $15/hour, effective 1/12/2022.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Ebony Phelps as a teacher at a salary of $41,000.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Betty Svoboda as a 1-on-1 aide at $15/hr.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Aniyah Martinez as a 1-on-1 aide at $15/hr.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Bob Hilliard as an office coordinator at $20/hr., effective 01/07/2022.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Doug Macgregor as a math tutor at a salary of $35,000, effective 1/24/22.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Kyle Green as a permanent PE teacher at a salary of $41,000.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Renee Dornan as a part-time volunteer coordinator at a salary of $19,500.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Susan Dornan made a motion to approve Jerry Kest as a part-time Development & Communications Coordinator at a salary of $23,000.
Melissa Picone seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Resignation

Dante Giancola made a motion to acknowledge receipt of Krista Nenadal's resignation effective 1/18/22.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

XIII. Old Business

A.

Strategic Planning Session

The board discussed the date of the upcoming strategic planning session. Updates will be published on the meeting portal.

XIV. New Business

A.

2022 Green Infrastructure Grant Program Agreement

Melissa Picone made a motion to authorize Teri Herrison to execute the Green Infrastructure Grant Program agreement as presented.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Board Meeting Procedures

Dante Giancola made a motion to approve the Board Meeting procedures as presented.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

XV. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

Teri Harrison made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss the performance of a public employee.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken: 

Allison Lentz invited into executive session

Entered into executive session at 8:10pm

Exited executive session at 8:56pm

 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Tiffany Randle
Aye
Suzanne McFarland
Aye
Teri Harrison
Aye
Melissa Picone
Aye
Susan Dornan
Aye
Dante Giancola
Aye

XVI. Resolution for Consideration-Operations

A.

Promotion

Melissa Picone made a motion to promote Charlie Coddington to Operations Director with an updated Job Description and annual salary of $75,000.
Dante Giancola seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

XVII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Dante Giancola made a motion to adjourn meeting.
Susan Dornan 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 8:58 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Dornan