Edison School of the Arts
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 25, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Location
Edison School of the Arts
Edison School of the Arts mission is to continue to be an educational and artful resource for all students, parents, community, and staff members by consistent and focused professional development, invitational practices by all, utilizing quarterly and annual reviews. We will continue to develop our educational and arts aesthetic by expanding our arts experiences, exposure, and partnerships
Directors Present
E. Disney-Britton, G. Wallis, K. Feeney-Caito, T. Givens, T. Overdorf
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
N. Tuttle
Non Voting Members Present
N. Tuttle
Guests Present
A. Berns, C. Jones, Samuel Jones, Sheena Roach
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
E. Disney-Britton called a meeting of the board of directors of Edison School of the Arts to order on Tuesday Feb 25, 2020 at 5:31 PM.
B.
Record Attendance and Guests
C.
Adoption of the Agenda
E. Disney-Britton made a motion to adopt the agenda.
K. Feeney-Caito seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Opening Comments
A.
Board Member Comments (2-min each)
There weren't any opening board member comments.
B.
Public Comment (3-min each)
There weren't any opening public comments.
III. Minutes
A.
January Minutes
E. Disney-Britton made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 01-21-20.
K. Feeney-Caito seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
IV. Board Chair Report
A.
Board Meeting Dates
A. Berns recommended that the board accept the 2020-2021 option A school board calendar proposal. E. Disney-Britton stated that this model is inspired by the Indianapolis Public Schools board calendar where they alternate between Work Session and an Action Session.
E. Disney-Britton made a motion to accept the 2020-2021 option A school board calendar. .
G. Wallis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
B.
Board Policy Book Update
The Board is making great progress on completing the board policies. The policies once approved will be uploaded to the public portal. The goal is to complete all policies by June 2020. T. Stuart -Overdorf will create a preamble for board policies that states if a subject arises it will be addressed through Board policies or the board will refer to Indianapolis Public Schools policies.
C.
Board Retreat
E. Disney-Britton proposed that the board retreat be held at the Arts Council of Indianapolis on June 20th or June 27th. Staff will send a Doodle poll to allow Board members and staff to select the date that works best for the most people. The board will meet to discuss the long-range planning and exploration of another school in partnership with The Mind Trust. One of the requirements for the school expansion is to complete the policy handbook. Once Edison School of the Arts finishes the policy handbook, then the board will be ready to start strategic planning.
V. Academic Excellence Committee
A.
Dashboard Report
A. Berns presented the academic excellence committee report. T. Givens requested that an average suspension be included on the academic dashboard. N. Tuttle stated that in the school improvement plan requires 20% less suspension in comparison to the previous school year.
B.
Update on Policy Book Section #2000 Program
A. Berns provided an overview of the Section #2000 Program Policies. The board will have until the March meeting to review them and take action.
C.
Indianapolis Public Schools Board Policy Code 5517.02
A. Berns provided an overview of the proposed Student Policy #5517.02 for board discussion on creating an inclusive learning environment for transgendered and non-conforming student. G. Wallis asked if Edison needs to report related instances to Indianapolis Public Schools' Office? T. Stuart-Overdorf if there are any litigations in regards to this policy that the board can review? A. Berns will follow-up on the questions, and board members will have until March to review the proposed policy.
VI. Finance Committee
A.
January 2020 Financial Statements
January 2020 Financial Statements
Budget v. Actuals
The January SBA additional revenue was received. This incremental amount was a correction on SBA fund allocation by Indianapolis Public Schools district. Edison has received $224,000 that will be used for salary adjustments and $15,000 of Title II funds received in January. Edison is $244,000 favorable in terms of revenue. Indianapolis Public Schools made a $67,000 "in kind" IT contribution that includes hardware expenses. Salaries/wages/benefits is $109,000 unfavorable based on the three payrolls in January but the budget timing will leave Edison favorable at the end of the fiscal year. T. Givens recommended that Edison increase the substitute teacher budget for the 2020-2021 school year. The finance committee will review budget line item classifications. The accountants will reclassify marketing and advertisement by combining the line items. N. Tuttle will review the following categorization of line items then report to the finance committee: Title funds, insurance, other instructional service and professional development. G. Wallis recommends that N. Tuttle and A. Berns create a professional development schedule that shows Edison's invest in its staff. The schedule will include sources of funds, revenue, expense and estimate to complete the school year.
Budget v. Actuals
The January SBA additional revenue was received. This incremental amount was a correction on SBA fund allocation by Indianapolis Public Schools district. Edison has received $224,000 that will be used for salary adjustments and $15,000 of Title II funds received in January. Edison is $244,000 favorable in terms of revenue. Indianapolis Public Schools made a $67,000 "in kind" IT contribution that includes hardware expenses. Salaries/wages/benefits is $109,000 unfavorable based on the three payrolls in January but the budget timing will leave Edison favorable at the end of the fiscal year. T. Givens recommended that Edison increase the substitute teacher budget for the 2020-2021 school year. The finance committee will review budget line item classifications. The accountants will reclassify marketing and advertisement by combining the line items. N. Tuttle will review the following categorization of line items then report to the finance committee: Title funds, insurance, other instructional service and professional development. G. Wallis recommends that N. Tuttle and A. Berns create a professional development schedule that shows Edison's invest in its staff. The schedule will include sources of funds, revenue, expense and estimate to complete the school year.
G. Wallis made a motion to approve the January 2020 financial statements.
T. Overdorf seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
B.
Update on Policy Book Section #6000 FINANCES
G. Wallis will give an update to the board next month about the financial policies.
C.
Propose Referendum Salary Increase
N. Tuttle presented the referendum salary increase proposal. G. Wallis and N. Tuttle met with Indianapolis Public Schools’ Chief Financial Officer to discuss the miscalculation of Edison’s original SBA funding. The objective of the proposal is to decide how the referendum funds will be allocated. N. Tuttle recommends that the funds be used to enhance the pay rate for the certified and classified staff members. The SBA formula was reviewed and the proposed salary increase is sustainable for the 2020-2021 school year. G. Wallis recommends investing the funds into the staff. E. Disney-Britton discussed that the referendum was a collective bargaining proposal developed by previous Superintendent Dr. Ferebee.
Next school year Edison will move to a year of professional experience and performance-based salary scale.
Next school year Edison will move to a year of professional experience and performance-based salary scale.
D.
Executive Session
The board executive session was held from 6:32-6:45 pm.
G. Wallis made a motion to Accept the salary proposal as written.
T. Givens seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VII. Advancement Committee
A.
Advancement Committee Report
K. Feeney-Caito presented the advancement committee report.
The student enrollment is currently 608. At the request of The Mind Trust, P. Guthrie recruited 11 parents, students and staff to speak on behalf of Edison School of the Arts at the February 25th IPS board meeting. The committee submitted policy codes to the board for review:
The student enrollment is currently 608. At the request of The Mind Trust, P. Guthrie recruited 11 parents, students and staff to speak on behalf of Edison School of the Arts at the February 25th IPS board meeting. The committee submitted policy codes to the board for review:
- 9111 (Telephone assistance)
- 9120 (Public Information - non-partisan)
VIII. Facilities & Safety Committee
A.
Update on Policy Book Section #7000 Property
The policies have been submitted to the committee chair for review. T. Givens will have an update on the policies at the March board meeting.
B.
IPS Referendum Impact on Facilities
T. Givens will contact Indianapolis Public Schools and Core Planning Strategies about the camera installation at door 8. This is in reference to the IPS referendum a building upgrades that are scheduled to be completed.
IX. Executive Director Report
A.
Progress Report
N. Tuttle presented the Executive Director Report.
Any Given Child Conference
N. Tuttle and Amber Price, Fine Arts Coordinator, attended the Any Given Child conference in Washington, DC. They will meet with Superintendent Johnson to reignite the Any Given Child initiative in Indianapolis Public Schools.
School Expansion
Edison is the highest performing innovation school in the Local Education Agency (LEA). Edison will meet with Joe White, Senior Vice President of The Mind Trust, on March 5th to present a mock budget exercise. They will discuss the paid fellowship for a building leader during the 2021-2022 school year. They will also discuss The Mind Trust providing additional funding for a Principal and Assistant Principal.
Any Given Child Conference
N. Tuttle and Amber Price, Fine Arts Coordinator, attended the Any Given Child conference in Washington, DC. They will meet with Superintendent Johnson to reignite the Any Given Child initiative in Indianapolis Public Schools.
School Expansion
Edison is the highest performing innovation school in the Local Education Agency (LEA). Edison will meet with Joe White, Senior Vice President of The Mind Trust, on March 5th to present a mock budget exercise. They will discuss the paid fellowship for a building leader during the 2021-2022 school year. They will also discuss The Mind Trust providing additional funding for a Principal and Assistant Principal.
B.
Update on Policy Book Sections: #3000 Certified Staff; #4000 Classified Staff; and #5000 Students
N. Tuttle will work with Human Capital Concepts and A. Berns to prepare the policies.
X. Closing Items
A.
New Business
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
E. Disney-Britton