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Research Triangle High School

Minutes

Annual Board Retreat

Date and Time

Friday October 13, 2023 at 9:00 AM

Location

600 Park Offices Dr, Durham, NC 27709

 

As you enter the building lobby area, go left down the long hallway and the conference room will be at the end of the hall on the left

  • What’s worked, what hasn’t 
  • Key challenges                                          
  • Goals – 1 year and longer

 

Directors Present

A. Tobien, C. Coia, D. Requena, E. Cunningham, G. Rodgers, J. Corn, M. Babb, M. Walden, S. Hunter

Directors Absent

S. Rivers-Kobler

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

D. Requena, M. Walden

Guests Present

A. Griffin, Bryan Setser

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

C. Coia called a meeting of the board of directors of Research Triangle High School to order on Friday Oct 13, 2023 at 9:07 AM.

II. Public Comment (If Needed)

A.

Comment (as needed)

None

D. Requena arrived.
M. Walden arrived.

III. Executive Session

A.

Personnel Discussions

E. Cunningham made a motion to go into executive session due to personnel matters.
A. Tobien seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
A. Tobien made a motion to exit executive session.
S. Hunter seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Personnel Contract Approvals

A.

Approval of Latest Personnel Contracts

G. Rodgers made a motion to approve of latest personnel contracts.
M. Babb seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Cunningham
Aye
D. Requena
Aye
C. Coia
Aye
J. Corn
Aye
M. Walden
Abstain
S. Rivers-Kobler
Absent
G. Rodgers
Aye
S. Hunter
Aye
A. Tobien
Aye
M. Babb
Aye

V. Transition Update

A.

School leadership support/evaluation and searches

A. Griffin provided an update on school staff and budget.

 

 

B.

School Improvement Plan

Bryan Setser from Setser Group presented on School Improvement Plan (SIP):

  • in NC for charter schools is encouraged not mandatory
  • SIT (school improvement team) - can provide the work summary come to the board committee and the board for oversight
  • PTO = PTSO for RTHS

Board reviewed the draft of SIP and SIT (school improvement team) documents

C.

State budget and 2023 legislation update

State Budget:

  • State budget was made law midnight Oct 3rd.
  • Still awaiting final budget increases from the state.

Legislative Update - Additional state guidance

  • SB 49 Parents’ Bill of Rights (more guidance to come)
  • HB 574 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act (more guidance to come)
  • HB 219 Charter School Omnibus
  • HB 618 Charter School Review Board
  • Parental leave policy (for Board approval on 18Oct23)

 

D.

Parent & Caregiver Task Force Recommendations Response

Board appreciated the report from Parent Task Force.   The Parent Task Force 5 key recommendations were reviewed at board retreat:

  • Waiting for other task group to present
  • Inclusion statement - waiting for other task groups to present
  • Dean of culture -  position hired
  • Clubs - recommendations may go to the SIT
  • Marketing and Communication position - at this point there is no budget for this position.  This recommendation may go to the SIT for discussion.

E.

CSO Support and Evaluation

The Board discussed:

  • Interim evaluation from school staff on leadership and culture target to send out next week
  • Additional support to school administration

VI. Committee Updates

A.

Governance Update

G. Rodgers provided an update on governance for:

  • bylaws updates
  • board member membership, terms and recruitment
  • open meeting and closed session reminders

B.

Academic Excellence Update

S. Hunter presented an update on the academic excellence committee.

 

Goals

  • Alignment of Academics Excellence with Setser Group 5 Key Priorities
  • Ensure Equal Opportunity for All Students
  • Expand AP Courses
  • Determine Consistent Set of Data Sources and Metrics

External RTHS Data Available:

  • 2022 School Report Card
  • 2022 Recovery Dashboard
  • 2022 Teacher Working Conditions Survey
  • 2023 School Level Accountability Dashboard
  • 2023 School Level Cohort Graduation Dashboard
  • Niche rankings are based on analysis of data and reviews (A recent ranking example)

C.

Finance Update

M. Babb presented on the finance committee.

  • 2023-24 School year ADM 562
  • Adjusted budget for reduced revenues
  • DSCR = 1.20, as required for Bond

 

Finance Committee Annual Goals:

  • Bi-Monthly Financial Learning Sessions
  • Annual Budget
  • Interest Earning Account
  • On-boarding

D.

Development Update

D. Requena provided an update on development committee.

 

  • Re-start the development committee
  • Trust is key for a culture of giving
  • Development committee should recruit new members from all communities at RTHS
  • Centralized fundraising mechanism
  • Revisit James Gray proposal

VII. Work Session

A.

Develop Unified Set of Actions

Main board goals focus for the school year:

  • SIP
  • School leadership
  • DEIB assessment response and progress
  • School financials
  • Re-engage on development committee

B.

Review Action Item List

Gary - Mid-Oct evaluation

Carolyn - Next level Review of SIP

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

M. Walden made a motion to adjourn the retreat meeting.
M. Babb 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 1:34 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Tobien