IMSA Governing Board
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Saturday October 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Location
7435 N. Keystone Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46240
Room 107
THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD IN PERSON AT
7435 N. Keystone Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46240
Directors Present
B. Valentine-Watts, D. Pierson, J. Sparks, N. Coleman, T. Miller (remote)
Directors Absent
C. Frazier, F. Abamislimova
Ex Officio Members Present
B. Garrett, E. Kersey, H. Dulgeroglu (remote), J. Brown, M. Arslan, M. Atlihan, R. Hurrle
Non Voting Members Present
B. Garrett, E. Kersey, H. Dulgeroglu (remote), J. Brown, M. Arslan, M. Atlihan, R. Hurrle
Guests Present
M. Office
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
D.
Adopt the Agenda
II. Approval of Minutes
A.
Approval of September 16, 2023 Board Meeting Minutes
III. Finance Committee
A.
IMSA North September 2023 Financials
IMSA North Financial Overview:
- H. Dulgeroglu reports IMSA North's revenue at approximately 20%, with expenditures around 18%.
- No major issues were noted.
October Expenses:
- Several large expenses were incurred during October.
BVW Purchases:
- Clarification sought on BVW purchases over $5,000 being one-time expenses.
- Response from HD: Affirmed as one-time expenditures.
Vouchers - Finance Committee:
- Payments to the sub-company discussed.
- Covered substitute teachers for absenteeism and professional development.
International Teachers and Sub Expenses (August):
- Paid for substitutes for 3 international teachers in August.
- Savings in the general fund; insurance and benefits covered by the sub-company.
Decision on Small Bus Purchase:
- Board's decision to replace rental vans with another small bus.
- Details are to be provided by Mr. Johnson.
Van Acquisition Process:
- Utilizing a company to find a certified activity bus.
- Budget allocated: $50,000.
B.
IMSA West September 2023 Financials
H. Dulgeroglu's Financial Overview:
- IMSA West received approximately 18% in revenue with expenditures at approximately 20%.
- No major items requiring attention were identified.
- Noted several large expenses in October, including Smart Boards.
B. Valentine-Watts' Inquiry:
- Asked if purchases over $5,000 were one-time expenses.
H. Dulgeroglu's Response:
- Confirmed that purchases over $5,000 are one-time expenditures.
C.
Travel Reimbursement Policy Update Discussion
Travel Policy Updates - H. Dulgeroglu:
- Acknowledged outdated staff payment rates.
- Proposed change: Use the IRS mileage rate of 65.5 cents per mile (up from 50 cents).
- Annual review on July 1 for IRS mileage rate adjustments.
- Hotel rate adjustment: $120 to $130 per night.
- Proposal for staff to submit purchase requests for hotel bookings for cost efficiency.
- Proposed meal rate increase from $40 to $60 per day.
- Exception process: Approval is needed from the School Principal.
Discussion - N. Coleman:
- Inquiry about contacting the Principal before exceeding the $60 meal limit.
- Questioned if post-approval by the Principal is possible when pre-approval is not feasible.
Committee Insights - J. Sparks:
- Emphasized the committee's focus on feasibility for staff.
- Proposed feedback section on reimbursement form for staff input.
Clarification - B. Valentine-Watts:
- Sought confirmation on the mileage increase from 50 to 65.5 cents.
- Clarification: Annual review of IRS mileage rates.
Vote - H. Dulgeroglu:
- Called for a vote on proposed travel policy changes.
D.
Board Members Training - Income Categories/Understanding the ADM
J. Sparks
- Requested a run-through of the first slide for board member training.
- Emphasized the importance of continuous learning for board members.
H. Dulgerolu's Funding Overview:
- Discussed receiving several grants, highlighting the Basic Education Grant and the State Tuition Rate.
M. Arslan's Explanation:
- Linked funding to the ADM (Average Daily Membership) process.
- Explained the certification process for claimed students, emphasizing the connection between ADM and funding.
J. Sparks' Commentary:
- Highlighted the agreement with Concept as managers and its value, showcasing an example of benefits derived from the agreement.
E.
IMSA North & West Revised Budgets
H. Dulgeroglu's Report:
- Presented the initial budget for IMSA West.
- Explained the need to transfer construction funds originally allocated for the 22-23 school year to the current year.
- Assured the board that the minus sign in the budget is not a cause for concern.
Question by B. Valentine-Watts:
- Inquired about the nature of the "Other Items" line item.
- Examples provided: Nursing items, copier costs, and auditors.
Suggestion by M. Arslan:
- Proposed breaking down and listing components of "Other Items" separately.
Response by H. Dulgeroglu:
- Confirmed the willingness to break down and list the components separately.
Deficit Explanation by H. Dulgeroglu:
- Noted that part of the deficit expenses is related to construction.
BVW's Inquiry:
- Questioned the increase in cleaning costs compared to the previous amount.
Response by RH:
- Explained the addition of a 2nd floor.
- Disclosed ongoing negotiations with the company regarding the matter.
IV. Academic Excellence Committee
A.
Academic Excellence Committee Report
B. Valentine-Watts' Overview:
- Commended the committee's efforts in addressing various standards and grade levels.
- Expressed concern about potential teacher overwhelm due to multiple initiatives like STEM, 5Star, Science Fair, Rocketry, and Jr. Achievement.
- Highlighted the discussion on the Literacy Cadre, with a desire to assess progress in the coming months.
N. Coleman's Input:
- Impressed with the initiatives, noting teachers seeking coaching and real-time collaboration using an RTI form.
- Expressed overall satisfaction with the committee's work.
D. Pierson's Contribution:
- Discussed topics such as volunteer needs for the Science Fair.
B. Valentine-Watts' Observation:
- Recognized positive trends and tracking within the committee's activities.
J. Sparks' Comment:
- Expressed the need to ensure the committee is heading in the right direction.
- Acknowledged the challenge of making up ground and the uncertainty of the timeline.
V. Governance Committee
A.
OEI 2022 - 2023 Core Question 3 Accountability Report Review
J. Sparks' Overview:
- Addressed the board's desire for a clearer understanding of board and partner responsibilities.
- Confirmed the committee's initiation of the process to create a charter.
- Expressed hope for the charter to serve as a template for future committees.
M. Arslan's Update:
- Discussed the draft created by the governance committee.
- Emphasized the committee's role in providing reference documents for other committees.
- Shared Mayor's office accountability indicators with positive results.
- Committed to continuous improvement through ongoing reviews.
J. Sparks' Input:
- Described the committee's brainstorming process aligned with Core Question 3.
E. Kersey's Highlight:
- Explained gray areas in the document resulting from item consolidation.
- Invited questions and clarification on the document.
- Announced the upcoming Board recruiting event in April, tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2023, 5-7 pm.
- Described logistics and efforts to pre-match candidates with schools
VI. New Business
A.
Major Incident Communication Plan
JS's Introduction:
- Discussed the Major Incident Communication Plan (MICP) and proposed approval.
MA's Update:
- Added additional information since the last meeting.
- Suggested approval at this time.
JS's Comment:
- Emphasized the document as a living one for future adjustments.
Discussion Points:
- DP confirmed the changes and added lines for form submission.
- JB suggested the person submitting the document sign on the provided line.
- BVW appreciated the communication form, suggested a blanket statement, and liked the 24-hour response timeline.
- NC inquired about the timeline after submission to the Regional Office.
- MA explained it depends on the situation, with possible escalation.
JS's Proposal:
- Raised the question of readiness to vote or suggested holding off.
- ™ asked about the inclusion of the crisis communication plan.
MA's Response:
- Confirmed crisis communication begins upon form receipt.
- Agreed to include crisis processes in the document.
BVW's Inquiry:
- Asked about future document adjustments.
MA's Confirmation:
- Agreed to bring back an updated version at the next board meeting.
- Assured the board they have started using the form and will provide the final version.
JS's Decision:
- Proposed holding off approval until the next meeting.
B.
P-31 Performance-Based Compensation (Existing policy) - Change
M. Arslan's Proposal:
- Presented a change request to shift from performance-based to appreciation-based bonuses for a healthier working environment.
- Eligibility for those staff/teachers returning to school the following year.
- Proposed bonus amounts: $1,000 for teachers, and $500 for support staff.
- Bonus payout timing: December payroll.
N. Coleman's Inquiry:
- Explored the possibility of providing extra incentives for high performers.
R. Hurrle's Clarification:
- Noted the current wording allows for adjustments.
- Emphasized recognition for excellent teachers, leaving room to reward high performers.
N. Coleman's Concern:
- Expressed the importance of recognizing and motivating high-performing teachers.
R. Hurrle's Response:
- Clarified the intentional decision to leave the wording open during discussions the previous week.
N. Coleman's Motivation Point:
- Advocated for motivating teachers with bonuses to retain them and address disparities in recognition.
VII. Board Dashboard Review
A.
Monthly Dashboard
M. Arslan's Update:
- Presented the updated version of the Monthly Dashboard, with finance items covered by Halil.
- North enrollment at 659, 96.95% of the target (680) but deemed manageable.
- Compared current enrollment to the previous year's 1st ADM number of 637.
- Noted attendance at 92.1%, slightly below the 93-95% goal.
- Expressed uncertainty about the accuracy of the IREAD assessment for Iread scores.
- Absence of graduation and FAFSA data.
- Highlighted upcoming parent engagement events: Back to School night and conferences.
- Mentioned CYSP's parent breakfast.
IMSA West Update:
- Reported enrollment exceeded the goal at 551 against a target of 545.
- Highlighted academic-related data in yellow.
- Attendance is in the 93-95% range, an improvement from the previous month.
- Financial data covered by Halil.
- Green highlights indicated school-specific goals reported to the mayor's office.
M. Atlihan's Input:
- Provided insight into the tardy rate, suggesting the possibility of achieving the goal.
VIII. School Updates
A.
Principal's Corner
M. Atlihan's Social Media Update:
- Introduced the new Social Media person, Mrs. Melrose, who posts regularly on Facebook.
- Highlighted recent events, including the Pumpkin Patch field trip in Danville.
- Upcoming Kings Island trip for students who passed their ELA & Math ILEARN.
- Noted the presence of Pre-K kids for about 6 years, currently totaling 21.
- Mentioned the CYSP breakfast with around 100 student participants.
- Shared details of a recent staff outing at the Back Nine golf club and a group photo in the new gym.
- Announced the addition of a new ELL assistant with proficiency in Haitian Creole and another staff member fluent in Yoruba.
- Reported on Data Dive Day, staff changes, and successful recruitment efforts, including a teacher from New Jersey.
W. Watson's CYSP Update:
- Noted 168 students signed up for CYSP this year.
- Upcoming Science Fair event.
B. Garrett's Literacy Nights:
- Zack organized two successful literacy nights with significant attendance.
W. Watson's Achievements:
- Celebrated the soccer team's first-time participation in the championships.
- Highlighted Mrs. Stephens' class Starbucks reading day.
R. Hurrle's Introduction:
- Introduced Jennifer Rhinehart, our new Assistant Principal of School Culture. She will start this position on Nov. 1. She was formerly one of our high school English teachers.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.