A. Greene:  Provided perspective around the positive attributes to intersession programming, including its importance during summer 2023. Interested in following up on whether Intersession will continue and how funding will allow for upcoming summer intersession programming.  Mr. Greene also expressed gratitude for the recent bonus for staff. 

Hilary Darilek provided a brief update on our strategic plan and an update on our current organizational priorities for 2023-2024 School Year. 

Strategic Plan:  3 Pillars- Academics, Talent, Organizational Development

• Academics:  Focusing on Tier 1 Academic Experiences
  • Every campus had instructional rounds
  • HD spent the day in HS English Language Arts classrooms, and saw connections between priorities and shifts in classroom showing real transitions addressing priorities
• Talent:  Rethinking benefits, particuslarly healthcare benefits
  • One benefit offer will end; A. Brooks to offer staff to share their experience with benefits offerings
  • First THRIVE Award pilot; special way to honor staff and their contributions
• Operations Model: Ensuring financial model is the right one to lead to capital campaign
  • Losing significant amount of federal resources; thinking about how to compensate for this loss in funding
  • OSSE Charter Teacher Pay:  Returning Teachers and staff received $5000 stipend, new staff $1000 

Enrollment: We finalized enrollment: 1173 students (more to be discussed during Audit Finance and Facilities Committee update)

Roshelle Payes presented LaJoy Johnson-Law for candidacy for the Board of Trustees.

R. Payes provided a brief update on our current board recruitment work and requested that board members continue to think about potential candidates for recruitment and election. 

M. Hall and M. Kovner provided additional context to LaJoy Johnson-Law's candidacy as members of the governance committee.

$823,422.18 raised for FY23. We have currently raised approximately $500,000 for FY24, which J. Callahan says is on track to reach our goal of $805,000. K. Simpkins asked why our FY24 goals was less than FY23 raised. J. Callahan explained that the goal for FY23 and FY24 are the same. We exceeded our goal in FY23, and that we are planning conservatively for FY24 given recent trends in giving, as well as relaunching our special event in Fall 2023. This could impact EOY giving. 

Additionally the current driver for funding performance is based on arrival and timing of grants.  J. Callahan explained how we decide to expense certain government grants (that are reimbursed) could impact how / when they show up in annual fund reporting.  J. Callahan remains optimistic that we are on track to hit our top-line annual goals.

J. Callahan provided a brief update on Homecoming and how it performed. 

• $93, 770 raised from Homecoming fundraiser- little shy of $100K goal
• More than 200 guests
• Begun initial planning phase and identifying date for 20th Anniversary Event
• Date for 20th Anniversary event will be November 14, 2024
• Calendar hold to come

J. Callahan presented information on our EOY Giving Campaign. 

• Goal is to raise $75K in total giving; in line with historical EOY giving campaigns
• G. Navidi Kasmai, asked why do we send so many fundraising emails to staff? 
• Response from J. Callahan:  The staff are historically on our distribution list. Not because we expect them to give money, though we appreciate it when they do, but because the emails often feature things that are happening in classrooms and we tend to share them with all staff. We can always send fewer emails to staff/ teachers; but strategy to resume following fundraising best practices.
• J. Callahan explained that a key support from board: Continue to ask friends and colleagues for EOY Giving support.

J. Callahan shared the calendar of events with Board and highlighted the upcoming all staff holiday party. J. Callahan will share a calendar invite with the board.

R. Hunt Taylor provided updates on the MSA reaccreditation process.

• We are in the midst of our self-study period
  • Board discussion and committee discussion will be necessary as part of review process, and we will bring appropriate information and topics for discussion to each of the committees as appropriate

R. Hunt Taylor provided the board with information regarding our BOY Assessments:

• ES Reading scores increase from 46% GL to 52% on GL
• BOY ES/ MS scores saw 3% point increase from students reaching target for most subgroups
• ES K-2 scores on track to hit EOY Achievement Goals; assuming similar growth from SY 22-23
• Q1 interim assessment scores see improvement from last year: 16% of students reached target during this time last year to 26% reaching the target in ES
• ELA increase 10%
• 8th Grade ELA at highest since 2020
• Math:
• 22% of ES students reaching target
• HS: %% of students reaching target to 28%
• MS:  Algebra 1 is largest bright spot with 33% students reaching target
• BOY math scores see 3% point improvement of students at target

Attendance:

• All schools on track to meet in seat attendance goals
• 90% gap from average is reducing for IEP and at- risk students

Challenges still facing:

• Improvements still trail our EOY goal of 5% reduction of gap 
• HS BOY reading scores fall; largest drop for IEP, MLL, and at risk students; scores at lowest proficiency increase; HS quarterly interim assessment in reading drop of 4% points (39%- 35%)
• MS ELA BOY shoe students 3 grade levels behind or more increase; pushing overall students 3- grade levels behind to over 50%
• Students w/ IEPs and MLL students continue to score far below their peers in ELA and Math

Achievement Outlook:

• Making gains in ES reading, want to make sure students reaching grade level
• Continue thinking deeply about math instructions across all campuses
• Must continue to use tech available to provide personalized learning pathways for students

Data Takeaways: 

• Incorporating small groups for ES ELA, better supports for struggling readers (50% of students read 3 grade levels or more behind);  using data to drive instruction in small groups in Math, prioritizing professional development for all teachers, utilizing blended learning programs and other avenues for personalized learning and provide students time to explore them
• K. Simpkins: Shared a reminder that moving students 3 grade levels requires whole community effort and should not just be responsibility of teachers.  R. Hunt Taylor agreed, reminding the board that growth is a priority metric organizationally. 

J. Rydstrom provided an updated on Q1 financials. 

• Projecting stronger budgeted financial picture as we close Q1
• Expected to end year with 134 days of cash (6 more budgeted)
• Will receive $1.1m additional in per-pupil revenue due to increased enrollment 
• Currently planning for FY25 and the $2.2m reduction in federal revenue from the sunsetting ESSER funding

J. Rydstrom provided a brief update on the audit. It is in process and wrapping up. We will present the final audit in an upcoming meeting.

J. Rydstrom provided a brief update on where we are in our facilities planning timeline, and the next steps in finance projections that will come to the board at a later date.