The Exploris School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday September 25, 2018 at 4:30 PM
Location
The Exploris School
Directors Present
E. Schollmeyer, G. Burnette, J. Frawley, K. Byars-Nichols, K. Furr, K. Harris, K. Johnson, K. Von Weihe, L. Perry-Lawless, M. Mitchell-Neal, T. Kingsberry, T. Miller
Directors Absent
B. Kingery, C. Hutchens, C. Jones
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
K. Byars-Nichols, M. Mitchell-Neal
Guests Present
M. Gargan, M. Parkerson
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
T. Miller called a meeting of the board of directors of The Exploris School to order on Tuesday Sep 25, 2018 at 4:32 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
T. Kingsberry made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 08-28-18 Board Meeting on 08-28-18.
T. Miller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Public Comment Opportunity
Our two staff members in attendance introduced themselves: Michelle and Maggie.
M. Mitchell-Neal arrived.
K. Byars-Nichols arrived.
II. ED Report
A.
Strategic Vision Updates
K. Byars-Nichols arrived.
Ellie updated the board on plans to revise the strategic plan, and possibly use an outside firm. She presented draft goals and plans, as developed by herself and Kaizen.
She also led us in an activity to identify goals, roadblocks and solutions. She let us know that by the end of October we will have a clearer plan and timeline for strategic plan update.
She also led us in an activity to identify goals, roadblocks and solutions. She let us know that by the end of October we will have a clearer plan and timeline for strategic plan update.
Ellie also provided an update on the facility after she and Tom met with the the developers on 9/11. We are now looking at a January 2021 move in date, pending possible other tenant contracts. The board discussed pursuing the possibility of a backup facilities plan.
She also stated that the Capital Campaign, which is now being spearheaded by parent Kristin Pettibone. We are going to hold off on any letters or requests until we have a groundbreaking date.
Ellie next updated us on the Center for Innovation. The Foundation Board approved $26,000 for a position for someone to lead the development of the Center's work.
Weighted Lottery: Approved by the CSAB (Moving to State Board of Education for final approval).
She also stated that the Capital Campaign, which is now being spearheaded by parent Kristin Pettibone. We are going to hold off on any letters or requests until we have a groundbreaking date.
Ellie next updated us on the Center for Innovation. The Foundation Board approved $26,000 for a position for someone to lead the development of the Center's work.
Weighted Lottery: Approved by the CSAB (Moving to State Board of Education for final approval).
B.
Academic/ Personnel / Operations
Ellie reminded the board that she shared information with us in the packet about MAP testing, and school report card results.
Ellie has selected a candidate for the additional school candidate (funded through a grant), who she hopes will accept the offer. We were also awarded the school safety grant to help with student success.
K. Byars-Nichols made a motion to approval for list of substitute teachers.
K. Furr seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
K. Furr made a motion to approve the hiring of an Office/Business and Finance Manager (title pending approval by Ellie) position.
K. Byars-Nichols seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Second due process claim the school has received will move to mediation by mid-October.
C.
Finance
Ellie reviewed with us the Monthly Budget Report, amended to show:
- Increase in state revenue due to the changes in the per pupil allotment
- Amend the budget to account for the $36,000 IT Consulting Service in lieu of tech position
- Amend the budget to show transfer of $36,000 from the reserve account for Computer Hardware
- Amend the budget to show transfer from Reserve for $20,000 Legal expenditure
- Amend the budget to account for the School Counselor position and grant of $60,928
K. Byars-Nichols made a motion to approve revised budget, as presented.
T. Kingsberry seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Committee Updates
A.
Development Committee
The Development Committee's goal is to schedule a meeting once we have more information about new school. Tom wondered if we could start the meetings again before we know anything new about the building development and timeline.
B.
Education Excellence Committee
The committee met on 9/11 at 4pm at the Elementary School. The committee decided to meet again in November, with the following agenda items:
- Plan Board training on issues around 1) standardized testing (Amanda and Michelle) and 2) academic excellence and diversity/equity (E&D Subcommittee) for the Spring.
- Revisit whether the staff has any suggested revisions to measurement framework (rigor, relevance, relationships).
- In monthly meetings over the 2017-2018 school year, we discussed and developed shared norms and values and visions for this work.
- Facilitated 2 meet-up play dates over the Summer months
- Secured Melany Paden as facilitator for the fall town hall meeting on October 25
- Met with new PTO president, Kimberly Harris to facilitate work between PTO and committee; Amy has volunteered to be the E&D liaison with the PTO to keep communication open and to offer support
- Developed suggestions about making it clearer online and in handbook that there is financial assistance available for those who qualify, and how the new application process will work
- Researched and secured a new lunch program for ES to better serve FRL qualifying students
- Researched, drafted and developed Priority Lottery policy. On 9/10/18, the CSAB voted to recommend the lottery policy for approval to the SBE with one recommended change.
Michelle Parkerson shared with the subcommittee the following developments within the school that will further our mission of access and equity (update provided August 2018):
- Exploris was awarded a grant for another counselor to help with our support efforts.
- Fletcher Academy is providing us with reading intervention support for ES.
- Michelle D., Amanda, and Michelle P. picked up about $250.00 worth of donated school supplies to pass along to children with needs. This was a joint effort from SECU and Communities in Schools.
- We provided free lunches for students that we knew had a need starting on day 1. (Not all forms are returned so we anticipate more in the future.) Spicy Green went back to Durham Day 1 to get more food to ensure needs were met at ES. Jersey Mike's went back and made extra sandwiches for MS on Wednesday, A Place at the Table provided emergency lunches on Thursday, by Friday My Hot Lunch Box was set up to provide donated lunches.
- Communities in Schools is working on a grant. We will be named as one of the schools to receive a graduation coach if they are awarded the funds.
- We are working with Communities in Schools and Interfaith Food Shuttle to offer a cooking class in Chavis for one of our evening recruiting events in Nov/Dec.
- We are working with Interfaith Food Shuttle to help provide Backpack Buddies (ES) and Food Pantry (MS) for our students. In return, our students would serve as volunteer to help pack items for other schools.
- We are confirmed to offer professional learning form Teaching Tolerance for all staff on Feb. 18th.
- We offered an alternate teacher certification session for Exploris teachers. Cori and Adrian reached out to folks in their networks in an effort to increase diversity in our teacher pipeline. Four non-Exploris (non-white) teachers joined us. Some of our visitors said they would be interested in working at Exploris in the future.
- 7th and 8th grade are going one-to-one for electronic devices. We will be able to offer 24/7 computer check-out for students that cannot provide their own device.
C.
Governance Committee
Kelly updated the group on current work to house all policies only in two places (website and BoT), and update any that have not been visited lately. She also let us know that as various policies need revising, she may tap us if it relates to our areas of expertise.
D.
Facility
No further update, after Ellie included it in her report.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Closing and Commitments
Reminders
Add board members to Monthly Newsletter.
Board member school tours: 10/3.
Next Month:
PTO Report
EEC Lottery Update - New application process
Add board members to Monthly Newsletter.
Board member school tours: 10/3.
Next Month:
PTO Report
EEC Lottery Update - New application process
B.
Adjourn Meeting
G. Burnette made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
K. Johnson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:13 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
K. Byars-Nichols