MOT Charter School

Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday January 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Location

High School Campus

1275 Cedar Lane Road

Middletown, DE 19709

Directors Present

A. Bigesby, B. Pace, B. Reiling, C. Dallas, C. Slater, D. Mower-Wade, D. Whitaker, K. Swab, M. Ali Khan, M. Hewitt, S. Doan, S. Sullivan

Directors Absent

K. Gaines

Ex Officio Members Present

N. Southworth

Non Voting Members Present

N. Southworth

Guests Present

J. Camponelli, Kelly Green, R. Dallas

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

K. Swab called a meeting of the board of directors of MOT Charter School to order on Wednesday Jan 21, 2026 at 7:17 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

M. Ali Khan made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 11-19-25.
D. Whitaker seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment

No public comment was received

III. Governance Committee

A.

Committee Report

Kelly Swab reported on the Governance Committee.  Meeting schedule in the next month

 

Main focus currently

  • Term limits for Board Member

IV. Staff Experience Committee

A.

Committee Report

Don Whitaker reported 

  • Food trucks are on hold until March
  • Coffee trucks are on campus during staff meetings
  • The Hall of Fame committee is looking for sites to hang this recognition at K-8 and the HS
  • Stem room has been renamed the Terry Howard room

V. Student Experience Committee

A.

Committee Report

Bernadette reported this committee has not met.

VI. Capital Improvement Committee

A.

Committee Report

Steve Doan reported that there is a meeting on 2/3/2026 to include staff to determine needs at the K-8 and the HS campuses.  Smartboards need to be purchased to upgrade.

 

Meeting scheduled for 3/11/2026 to prioritize needs of the campuses

VII. Finance & Operations Committee

A.

Committee Report

Steve Doan reported that the meeting was held tonight and financials were reviewed. Appoquinimik and Colonial school districts have not provided their funds at this time.  Cafeteria payments were reveiwed.  Don Whitaker was able to ascertain history of the previous reserves. Paid Family Medical Leave was reviewed. 

VIII. Head of School Report

A.

Head of School Monthly Report

Ned Southworth reviewed the Head of School report

 

Open enrollment ended on 1/14/2026

  • 2,387 total applications, exact same as last year
    • Increased 5% from the year before last
    • Increased 15% from 3 yr ago
    • 458 applications for Kindergarten
    • 448 for HS grade.  Increase 7% since last year
    • 187 for 9th grade.  Increase 7% since last year.
  • Attendance was reviewed
  • Daily conduct referrals

IX. Other Business

A.

Paid Family Medical Leave Policy

Rachael Dallas discussed the current MOT Paid Family Medical Leave Policy.  She discussed the components of the policy. 

M. Ali Khan made a motion to approve the current version of the Paid Family Medical Leave Policy.
D. Whitaker seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

2425 Annual Report

Ned Southworth reviewed this report

 

The DOE provides the framework that the school generates this report 

 

  • All areas are meet expectations
    • Exception is the students proficiency who have English as a second language
C. Dallas made a motion to approve the report.
M. Ali Khan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

X. 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 8:33 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
S. Sullivan