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Menlo Park Academy Governing Board

Minutes

Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday September 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Location

Menlo Park Academy

2149 West 53rd St.

Cleveland, OH 44102

This month's regular meeting of MPA’s governing board will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Menlo Park Academy, 2149 W. 53rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44102. Virtual observation will be made available, when possible, at the following link - https://meet.google.com/bqx-niry-mqu. Meeting dates and times are posted in several places in building as well as on our website. 

Directors Present

Jeffrey Sugalski, Sam Sherwood, Shruti Aring, Teri Harrison, Tiffany Randle

Directors Absent

Twana Rogers

Guests Present

Allison Lentz, Deborah Zeffren, Jacquelyn Lee-Ivey, Jessica Esway, Michael Crudder

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

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 Sep 19, 2024 at 6:04 PM.

II. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

No comments.

III. Minutes

A.

Approve meeting minutes

Tiffany Randle made a motion to approve the minutes Board Meeting on 08-22-24.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Tiffany Randle made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Working Session on 06-06-24.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to table the minutes from Board Working Session 09-05-2024.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IV. Sponsor Report

A.

Sponsor Update

A. Lenz presented some highlights of her August report. See Report online. 

V. Treasurer's Report

A.

Monthly Financial Report

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to accept financial report for August.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VI. Education Reports

A.

School Report

J. Esway presented her report.  See report online.

VII. Enrollment, Admissions, & Development

A.

Report

See report online. Marketing plan developed by Bloomwell Group will start in October.

 

 

VIII. Operations Report

A.

Operations Report

See report online. The gaga pit is being worked on.  Recommend backup internet service with Spectrum.

IX. Board Committees

A.

Audit & Finance

Committee met to re-establish cadence for mthly mtgs.  

B.

Development

Tiffany Randle made a motion to accept the Development Plan for 24-25 as presented.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Enrollment Task Force

Sam Sherwood made a motion to approve the MPA Growth & Outreach Plan as presented.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Program Excellence

No action or recommendations at this time.  A planning meeting has been scheduled.

X. Resolutions for Considerations: Operations

A.

Board Policy Review-Student Assessment and Academic Intervention Services

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to acknowledge the Board Policy Review as presented.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Backup Internet Contract

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to authorize Deborah Zeffren to execute a back up internet service agreement.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.

Service agreement is with Spectrum.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

2024-25 Parent-Student Handbook

Tiffany Randle made a motion to approve the Parent-Student Handbook as presented.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Insurance Benefits

No action until the Board makes a policy change and approves..

XI. Resolutions for Consideration: Enrollment & Advancement

A.

Testing Stipend

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to pay staff for testing stipends at $100 each.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.

Staff: K. Baughman and C. Gessner

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XII. Old Business

A.

2024-25 Objective & Key Results

Shruti Aring made a motion to approve this OKR document as present.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

2024-25 Board Officers

Teri Harrison made a motion to elect Tiffany Randle as the Board Chair.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.

T. Randle accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Tiffany Randle made a motion to accept Teri Harrison as Vice-Chair of the Board.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.

T. Harrison accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Teri Harrison made a motion to approve Jeff Sugalski as Board Treasurer.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.

J. Sugalski accepted

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Teri Harrison made a motion to elect Twana Rogers as Board Secretary.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.

Twana R accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

2024-25 Board Committees

Teri Harrison made a motion to elect Shruti Airing as the Chair of the Program Excellence Committee.
Jeffrey Sugalski seconded the motion.

S. Airing accepted.  

 

Note: The Health and Safety Committee was eliminated. It was created to address the school needs during COVID-19 and is no longer necessary.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Tiffany Randle made a motion to elect Teri Harrison as the Chair of the Development Committee.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.

T. Harrison accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Teri Harrison made a motion to elect Jeff Sugalski as the Chair of Audit & Finance Committee.
Sam Sherwood seconded the motion.

J. Sugalski accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Teri Harrison made a motion to elect Tiffany Randle as Chair of Executive Committee.
Shruti Aring seconded the motion.

T. Randle accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Teri Harrison made a motion to elect Twana Rogers as Chair of the School Culture Committee.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.

Twana R. accepted.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

XIII. New Business

A.

Property Environmental Assessment

Jeffrey Sugalski made a motion to authorize D. Zeffren to execute a contract for a phase 1 ESA with CRE.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

A flyer was circulated that students saw. There was a negative response that was divisive and inaccurate.  A response is forthcoming.  

Club costs and following up on costs.  We have a process of a payment plan to allow every student to be able to afford to participate.  Free and reduced lunch students qualify for adjusted fees.  Admin will check into scholarship opportunities from our vendors such as Mad Science and Progress with Chess.

XIV. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

Teri Harrison made a motion to move to executive session to discuss the performance of a public employee.
Tiffany Randle seconded the motion.

7:35pm.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Twana Rogers
Absent
Teri Harrison
Aye
Tiffany Randle
Aye
Sam Sherwood
Aye
Shruti Aring
Aye
Jeffrey Sugalski
Aye

Invitations were extended to A. Lenz, J. Esway and D. Zeffren

XV. 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 7:59 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jacquelyn Lee-Ivey

MISSION STATEMENT: Menlo Park Academy is a public school that develops the potential of gifted children through an exemplary program of rewarding experiences that nurtures the whole child.