E.L. Haynes Public Charter School

Minutes

May 2024 Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday May 14, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Location

E.L. Haynes Public Charter School

4501 Kansas Avenue, NW

High School - Think Tank

Washington, DC 20011

Trustees Present

F. Sutton, J. Hanna, K. Simpkins, L. Carlton Waller, L. Johnson-Law (remote), L. Robinson Mills, M. Hall, M. Kovner, N. Greene, R. Laine, R. Payes, T. Gibian (remote)

Trustees Absent

G. Navidi-Kasmai, J. Niles

Guests Present

A. Brooks, Basil Chawkat, Brittany Wagner Friel, Candace Cunningham, Christina Burke (remote), Christina Saunders (remote), DiAnté McGriff, Emily Hueber Stoetzer, Gwyn Prater (remote), H. Darilek, J. Callahan, Joel Brown (remote), K. Wynne, P. Rayamajhi, R. Hunt Taylor, Rob Murphy, Tashiyra Freeman (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

L. Carlton Waller called a meeting of the board of trustees of E.L. Haynes Public Charter School to order on Tuesday May 14, 2024 at 6:00 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

L. Carlton Waller made a motion to approve the minutes from April 2024 Board Meeting on 04-09-24.
R. Payes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Public Comment

There were no public comments.

II. CEO Update

A.

CEO Update

CEO Hilary Darilek provided high-level remarks to:

 

  • Recognize outgoing Trustees and E.L. Haynes leaders: Norm Greene, Gaberella Navidi-Kasmai, and Joe Callahan.
  • Review of progress made towards organizational strategic goals including academics, talent, and organizational development.
  • Give an update on the status of the DC Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF).
  • Share that the Public Charter School Board (PCSB) approved reconfiguring the 5th grade to be part of the elementary school.
  • Provide an update regarding enrollment for SY24-25.

III. School Performance Committee

A.

Reflections and Discussion on Q3 Academic Data

Chief Academic Officer Rikki Hunt Taylor provided an overview of current academic data and facilitated discussion in response to questions from Trustees regarding the following topics:

 

  • Math scores in certain middle school grades.
  • The impacts of block scheduling on learning, including how the middle school will adjust their schedules next year based on positive outcomes at the high school.
  • Post-graduation data to describe outcomes for E.L. Haynes graduates, specifically our college persistence rate.
  • Sense of belonging and attendance. 

IV. Governance Committee

A.

VOTE to re-appoint Richard Laine and Fonda Sutton to Board of Trustees (2nd Term)

R. Payes made a motion to re-appoint Richard Laine and Fonda Sutton to a second term on the Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2024.
M. Kovner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

VOTE to re-appoint Lisa Carlton Waller for a one-year extension

R. Payes made a motion to re-appoint Lisa Carlton Waller for a one-year extension, effective July 1, 2024.
M. Kovner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Discuss and VOTE on the officer slate for SY 2024-2025

R. Payes made a motion to approve the officer slate for SY 2024-2025, effective July 1, 2024.
R. Laine seconded the motion.

SY24-25 Officer Slate

  • Lisa Carlton Waller, Chair
  • Lenora Robinson-Mills, Vice Chair
  • Jaymes Hanna, Treasurer
  • Tom Gibian, Secretary
  • Fonda Sutton, Chair-Elect
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Review and discuss SY 2024-25 Board Meeting Calendar and Committee Assignments

  • Trustees were instructed to review the proposed SY24-25 Board Meeting Calendar and flag scheduling conflicts during the Board Retreat on June 7.
  • Trustees reviewed new committee assignments for select Trustees.

E.

SY 2024-25 Board Recruitment Update and Next Steps

  • Roshelle Payes shared an overview of the board's recruitment needs.

V. Audit, Finance, and Facilities

A.

Discuss and VOTE on proposed FY25 Budget

N. Greene made a motion to approve the FY25 Budget as presented by the Audit, Finance, and Facilities Committee.
R. Laine seconded the motion.

Richard Laine urged school leaders to allocate additional resources for additional interventions and learning supports during the summer / back-to-school season—potentially increasing expenses beyond those outlined in the proposed FY25 budget. The Board agreed that this is an important issue that school leaders should seek to swiftly address in a thoughtful way.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

VOTE on Board Signatory Resolution

L. Robinson Mills made a motion to remove Norm Greene as an E.L. Haynes Organizational Signatory and add Jaymes Hanna, effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
M. Kovner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Community Relations Committee

A.

Annual Fund Update

Fonda Sutton and Joe Callahan provided updates regarding the Annual Fund.

B.

FY25 Fundraising Goals

Fonda Sutton and Joe Callahan provided an overview of the organization's FY25 fundraising goals.

C.

Discuss E.L. Haynes 20th Anniversary Event

Fonda Sutton and Joe Callahan shared updates regarding planning for the 20th Anniversary Event.

D.

Upcoming Events at E.L. Haynes

Fonda Sutton shared an overview of upcoming cross-campus and campus-based events that Trustees may attend.

VII. Closed Session

A.

Discussion on Personnel Issues and Proprietary Information

L. Carlton Waller made a motion to Move to Closed Session.
J. Hanna seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VIII. 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 8:00 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Carlton Waller