Menlo Park Academy Governing Board
Minutes
Regular Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday May 18, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Location
Menlo Park Academy
2149 W. 53rd Street
Cleveland, OH 44102
The regular meeting of MPA’s governing board will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Menlo Park Academy, 2149 W. 53rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44102. Meeting dates and times are posted in several places in building as well as online. We will endeavor to enable virtual attendance, when possible, at this meeting link – https://meet.google.com/bqx-niry-mqu.
Directors Present
Geoffrey Belanger, Shruti Aring, Susan Dornan, Tiffany Randle, Twana Rogers
Directors Absent
Teri Harrison
Guests Present
Allison Lentz, Deborah Zeffren, Jennifer Ingraham, Jessica Esway, Joe Loyd, Kaitlyn Old, Kelly Fisher, Phyllis Robinson, Sarah O'Bryan (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Public Participation
A.
Public Comments
III. Approve Minutes
A.
Approve Minutes
IV. Sponsor's Report
A.
Sponsor's Report
Allison Lentz presented her report highlights
- Emergency drills good and in compliance
- Summer Professional Development Offering for Dyslexia
- She attended and it was a lot of good information
- At the May visit they are going to go over 11.6 in June
- She came to the 14th Annual Walk a Thon at Menlo and enjoyed it and said that everyone seemed to be having a great time.
- Monthly finances - no red flags
Curt from Lake Erie West spoke our Contract.
The contract for Menlo expires June 30, 2024
Renewal application becomes available on Sept 30
High stakes review and academics and he is not worried about our school
Internal and external reviewers that score applications
If the school doesn't get renewed, we will know by Jan 15
V. Treasurer's Report
A.
April Financial Report
B.
5 Year Forecast- FY24
VI. Education Report
A.
Principal's Report
Phyllis Robinson presented her report highlights.
- The SEL department will support our PBIS program and focus on the character trait of “Responsibility” (Good Citizenship) for the Month of April and May.
- Our Intervention team is currently servicing 23 IEP students, so we may need look at case load to see how we are meeting student needs
- The last Principal’s Fireside Chat was given the first week in May and will resume when school starts again in August.
Field Day 05/30/2023
8th Grade Graduation 06/01/2023
Kindergarten Ceremony 05/31/2023
8th Grade Picnic 05/31/2023
Staff/Board Picnic 06/06/2023
Susan Dornan mentioned that she does not like the Attendance Awards because we don't want students to come to school sick in order to get this award.
She also said that she heard great things about the NYC trip
B.
Program Report
Jessica Wilcox presented her report highlights
- New curricular materials - writing, grammar
- OST Done
- K Screening May 22 and 23
- RIP Update
- May 8 PD
- School Safety/Drills (PD Dept)
- Floors: Learning to put in grades and time to get things done/uploaded
- Get a team together for Dyslexia training
- Rachel Schlosser and Jessica went to School of Innovation
- Would like to further a partnership with
VII. Operations Report
A.
Monthly Report
Deborah Zeffren presented on her report highlights
- The K company fixed the Energy Recovery Ventilator on the roof.
- Suntrol installed the safety film on the windows.
- Internet and wifi went down
- DO conducted a safety and security PD at the 5/8/23 PD day. Local law enforcement participated in the PD. The staff was updated on safety initiatives. DO conducted active safety activities that involved the whole staff.
- March fire drill was conducted on 3/9/23. There are no issues to report. A follow up meeting took place to review the drill.
- Ltn said we are one of the safest schools and Cleveland
- Some staff are now CPR certified
VIII. Enrollment & Advancement Report
A.
Monthly Report
Jennifer Ingraham presented her report highlights
89% re-enrollment
Heavy tour season
Menlo Jr event June 24
Summer Fair Events
Walk a Thon - Raised $22,017
Launched Summer Reading Program
59% of Annual Appeal
Geoff Belanger asked why that is so low - Jennifer explained that it got out late
Scavenger Hunt June 17
Marketing -
Enrollhand working, Niche.com, WKYC commercials if approved
Attended Cleveland School Fair
Poor attendance
Tiffany Randle asked about what do we do with that contact information that we get from Crocker Park,etc.
It goes into Mailchimp and they get email blasts
IX. Board Committee Reports
A.
Advancement
Twana Rogers presented her report
- Jenn reached out and they are going to have a meeting next Tuesday and discussing fundraising, events and starting a committee. The delay was that they didn't know where we needed the help and they are organized now and will reach out
B.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Tiffany Randle presented her report
- Asian American Pacific Islander Month
- Ariana Miller put together a list of ideas, information, activities for morning meetings/advisories
- 4th floor enjoys content
- 3rd floor did project specific to it
- Will talk to PEC over the summer
- Twana shouted out Ms D'Amico did a heritage project that was amazing and her child enjoyed
- Kelly Fisher chimed in and said the way she communicated to families was thoughtful and amazing
- Ariana Miller put together a list of ideas, information, activities for morning meetings/advisories
C.
Finance & Audit
Tiffany Randle presented on her report
- First meeting a few weeks ago
- Tiffany Randle and Deborah Zeffren met with them and talked about charter school funding
- Schedule upcoming meeting in 2 weeks and hopefully Sarah O'Bryan can attend
- They would like to look deeper into 5 year forecast during this meeting
- Where money comes from, how enrollment ties into and the need for fundraising
- They would like to look deeper into 5 year forecast during this meeting
- She stated that it is nice to have the parents there and they have financial experts and ideas
D.
Health & Safety
Susan Dornan presented her report
- Thank you to everyone who has helped with the safety and health this year
- Student Illness and Communicable Disease Information for Parents/Guardians and Return to School Requirements
- Susan sent to Phyllis, Deborah and Jenn to use for guidelines
Resource Officer Information:
Susan received a quote, but Dewine might put one in all schools
Ohio School Safety Summit July 25 and 26 and having leadership and teachers attend
Moving forward with active shooter response training
CLE PD recommended program through Red Cross
COVID Safe Return Plan
- 2022-2023 SY
- Public health emergency is over
- What to do with our plan
- Take COVID and put it in with other procedures (influenza, step, pink eye) and report it and treat it as is
- Monitor conditions / outbreak would
- Not be reporting every covid case / unless outbreak to community and notify health department
- Not writing plan for next year - no vote no plan
E.
Program Excellence
Shruti Aring presented her report
- Addition of Fundations for phonics for the 1st floor
- Remove materials - not using phonics in motion (committee recommendation)
- STEM options
Fundations - not being used this year but wants to bring it back
X. Resolutions for Consideration - Academic
A.
Field Trip - Lake Erie Islands
What is the motorcoach cancellation? Phyllis will look into this
Nowak Tours needs to update our address
B.
Student Services - Purchasing Agreement
XI. Resolutions for Consideration- Operations
A.
Student Illness and Communicable Disease Information for Parents
B.
Employee Referral
C.
Safety Items
This is coming out of the grant money. The total package is less money for more items
D.
Safety Film
E.
Worker's Compensation Administration
The retro quote is more beneficial for Menlo
F.
Health Benefit Approval
G.
The Ohio Chamber Health Benefit Program Participation Agreement
H.
Green Infrastructure Grant
I.
Tuition Reimbursement Contract Update
Deborah Zeffren was told the maximum would be raised if board approves and is working on it
XII. Resolutions for Consideration- Talent
A.
New Hires
B.
Resignations
XIII. Resolutions for Consideration-Marketing, Enrollment, & Development
A.
Marketing Agreement - Television Advertisement
B.
Marketing Agreement - Social Media Advertisement
C.
Marketing Agreement - Radio & Streaming Advertisement
XIV. Executive Session
A.
Executive Session
None
None