Young Scholars Charter School

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday March 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM

This meeting is being held in compliance with Open Meeting requirements of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act and is open to the public.  Notices were duly posted and the meeting was advertised in The Philadelphia Daily News. Formal action will be taken.

Trustees Present

A. Wang (remote), B. Harrison (remote), B. Young (remote), E. Kaplin (remote), J. Brown (remote), L. Umbrecht (remote), S. Piltch (remote), T. Rebar (remote), W. Churchill (remote), W. Weisman (remote), r. Halpern (remote)

Trustees Absent

E. Ashe, G. Singer, J. Wang

Guests Present

J. Amenda (remote), K. Corcoran (remote), K. Lamilla (remote), S. Smith (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

W. Churchill called a meeting of the board of trustees of Young Scholars Charter School to order on Tuesday Mar 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM.

II. Board Discussion Topics

A.

Dashboard/Trimester 3

John Amenda reviewed adjustments to the trimester 3 schedule and consolidation of sections to ensure quality instruction in all classrooms. Standard review of year-to-date performance was reviewed along with specific attention to increased attendance from newly implemented interventions. 

B.

Principal Search

C.

Needs-based Discussion: Teacher Recruitment

Members of the board reviewed talent information and discussed national trend of vacancies in education. The school team was tasked with developing a one-page overview of needs for circulation to Temple, St. Joes and UPenn leadership in search of stronger pipeline programming for open teaching roles. 

D.

Needs-based Discussion: Comprehensive Whole Child Approach; Insurance Access Pilot and School-based Mental Health Clinic Exploration

School Performance Committee Chair, Jim Brown, shared recent learnings from school team and committee engagement with experts from the Milton Hershey School. The board agreed to explore a pilot initiative in adding a Family Health Advocate to assist families with gaining access to medical assistance. Additionally, the committee set intentions to begin the process of exploring how to set up a school based mental health clinic at YSCS with a local provider. 

E.

2025-2026 Budget Preview

F.

Committee Updates Where Applicable

III. Approval of Minutes

A.

Resolved that the Board approve the Regular session minutes from the February 4, 2025 meeting.

W. Churchill made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 4, 2025 board meeting. Regular Board Meeting on 02-04-25.
r. Halpern seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. 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 5:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
W. Churchill