Research Triangle High School

Minutes

Monthly Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday May 20, 2020 at 5:30 PM

Location

RTHS Board Room
Due to the statewide COVID-19 restrictions, this meeting will be held as a Zoom video teleconference.

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Directors Present

A. Quigley (remote), C. Mugge (remote), C. Rao (remote), E. Cunningham (remote), G. Rodgers (remote), M. Johnson (remote), S. Mcmullan (remote), S. Rivers-Kobler (remote), V. Vojnovich (remote)

Directors Absent

T. Medhin

Guests Present

E. Grunden (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

G. Rodgers called a meeting of the board of directors of Research Triangle High School to order on Wednesday May 20, 2020 at 5:32 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes from last Board Meeting

G. Rodgers made a motion to approve the minutes from Monthly Board Meeting on 04-15-20.
C. Mugge seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Johnson
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
G. Rodgers
Aye
C. Mugge
Aye
V. Vojnovich
Aye
S. Mcmullan
Aye
A. Quigley
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Absent
C. Rao
Aye
T. Medhin
Absent

D.

Monthly Finance Report

- Budget update: nothing too significant on current spending; saving money;
- some surplus (current budget); solid cash flow
- looked at 5% and 10% funding cut: 2 options
 

E.

Vote to accept Consent Agenda above

C. Rao made a motion to accept cosnent agenda.
G. Rodgers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Medhin
Absent
S. Rivers-Kobler
Absent
C. Rao
Aye
G. Rodgers
Aye
M. Johnson
Aye
C. Mugge
Aye
E. Cunningham
Absent
A. Quigley
Aye
S. Mcmullan
Aye
V. Vojnovich
Aye

II. CEO ACTIONS

A.

CSO REPORT

- Drive up Graduation ceremony; live streaming on the campus; 
- Enrolment is going on fine
- Opening in Fall: Waiting for official guidance from state
- Couple of teacher resignations; Interviewing potential candidates; Hiring to be complete before the next school year
V. Vojnovich made a motion to approve the school calendar, school closing and teacher resignations.
M. Johnson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Mugge
Aye
C. Rao
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
T. Medhin
Absent
S. Mcmullan
Aye
V. Vojnovich
Aye
A. Quigley
Aye
G. Rodgers
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Absent
M. Johnson
Aye

III. Finance

A.

Review Progress on FY19-20 Budget

B.

FY 2020-2021 Draft Budget

- Worst case scenario due to Covid situation: 15% cut in the Charter school world; or could be 0%
- Have the capacity to go with 10% at RTHS; have the resources; puts us in strong fiscal position
- Will be able to meet the bond coverage requirements
- Limited discretionary options for budget cuts
- first 20 days of school attendance determines school funding; looking at enrolment of about 600 students. Target is to have at least 574 students.
A. Quigley made a motion to authorize to distribute the bonus for this year out of the projected surplus.
V. Vojnovich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Mcmullan
Aye
C. Mugge
Aye
C. Rao
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
G. Rodgers
Aye
A. Quigley
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
V. Vojnovich
Aye
T. Medhin
Absent
M. Johnson
Aye
A. Quigley made a motion to approve next year budget for FY 2020 - 2021 at 10% reduction.
S. Mcmullan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Quigley
Aye
G. Rodgers
Aye
V. Vojnovich
Aye
T. Medhin
Absent
M. Johnson
Aye
C. Mugge
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye
S. Mcmullan
Aye
C. Rao
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye

IV. Academic Excellence

A.

Materials from Committee Meeting

B.

Remote Learning

- ACT/SAT data typically presented at this time is delayed; 
- Considering lowering eligibility requirements so that more services can be extended to students (free and reduced lunch participation; providing supplies etc)
- Trying to sustain this service through the current school year and into Fall (based on how budget looks then)
- Teacher attrition much lower than previous years; 
- 3 parents/student surveys were conducted since the school close; will plan for next year based on the feedback; what was learned - harder to manage for students as the duration of stay at home progressively increased; not much control over the environment for teachers;
- Mentoring is one option to help students to get through; different perspective and objectivity

V. Development

A.

Progress on 2019-20 Development Committee Goals

- Initiatives for this year overtaken by COVID
- Corporate Outreach/Fundraising for Gym: Moved to backburner 
- Bloomerang: Adding additional contacts
- Outlook for next year: depends on level of normalcy; first half of the year - help families in need
- Later version of pitchbook: now ready and available

VI. Governance

A.

Minutes from Committee Meeting

B.

Board Recruitment Process and Discussion

- Recent graduate of RTHS interested in joining the Board; Points to consider: confidentiality, conflicts, experience etc
- Recommendation for potential volunteers to serve a Committee first
- Prepare best practices to follow in recruiting volunteers for Committee/Board
- Ex-IBM executive is interested in joining the Board next school year
- Good resource for Board to read is "Guidebook for Directors of Nonprofit Corporations." See link here: https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/214005/

C.

Board Orientation Documents / Board Expectations

- Prepare Onboarding materials to have ready before next school year
- Reach out to Committee Chair for materials regarding their Committee to add to Onboarding material 

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 6:57 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
G. Rodgers
C. Rao made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
V. Vojnovich seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Quigley
Aye
S. Mcmullan
Aye
C. Rao
Aye
M. Johnson
Aye
C. Mugge
Aye
S. Rivers-Kobler
Aye
V. Vojnovich
Aye
T. Medhin
Absent
G. Rodgers
Aye
E. Cunningham
Aye