The Exploris School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday October 30, 2018 at 4:30 PM
Location
The Exploris School
Directors Present
B. Kingery, C. Hutchens (remote), C. Jones, E. Schollmeyer, G. Burnette, K. Byars-Nichols, K. Furr, K. Johnson, K. Von Weihe, L. Perry-Lawless
Directors Absent
J. Frawley, K. Harris, M. Mitchell-Neal, T. Kingsberry, T. Miller
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
C. Hutchens, G. Burnette, K. Johnson
Guests Present
M. Parkerson
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C. Jones called a meeting of the board of directors of The Exploris School to order on Tuesday Oct 30, 2018 at 4:33 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
B. Kingery made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 09-25-18 Board Meeting on 09-25-18.
K. Furr seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Public Comment Opportunity
No general public in attendance.
II. Strategic Plan Updates
A.
Presentation of Partnership Options
After researching several options, Ellie presented the board with information and several options.
K. Furr made a motion to approve Ellie to enter into a contract with the consultant firm of her choice to help us design a new strategic plan, not to exceed $3500.
K. Byars-Nichols seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Weighted Lottery Updates
A.
Policy Approval
Ellie reported that the revised weighted lottery policy was approved by CSAB on Monday 9/10/18 and on October 4 by the State Board of Education. An update to our lottery policy to reflect the priority weighted lottery as well as reflect changes in lottery procedure is being recommended, The Governance committee is recommending changes to the timing for families to accept their seat once school starts, defining the timing for registration materials, and clarifying that students are required to be present on the first day of school or risk losing their seat to the next candidate on the wait list.
K. Johnson arrived.
M. Parkerson arrived.
C. Hutchens arrived.
G. Burnette arrived.
K. Byars-Nichols made a motion to approve the policy revision as revised.
K. Furr seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Ellie noted that the leadership team is working closely with the Equity and Diversity subcommittee on the lottery and enrollment process. The team has also been working on the implementation systems and recruitment efforts. The application will be online utilizing School Mint for running our lottery and enrollment process in the upcoming year. Paper applications will also be available for families as an option, Spanish application will also be available, and several recruiting and information sessions are planned. The application period opens 11/5 and runs through 2/1.
B.
EEC Updates (Marketing and Research)
Keely let the group know that EEC has secured a facilitator for 12/6 Town Hall event, where we will address questions or concerns the Exploris Community has about the changes to the Lottery Policy and our efforts to increase diversity at and equity to Exploris.
IV. ED Report
A.
School Goal Updates
Ellie presented School Improvement Goals around Enrollment Planning/Equity, School Culture and Climate, Academic Growth, and Scaling Resources. Ellie set definitions and goals around each one, and will assess, present, and (if needed) revise these by May 2019.
When asked what the greatest challenge was, Ellie replied that it was finding resources. We discussed various supplemented funding options, specifically grants.
K. Furr made a motion to approve ED goals as presented.
G. Burnette seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Academic/ Personnel / Operations
Board approval is requested for the following positions:
- Austin Cole: Teaching Partner – funded with Special State Reserve EC funds for one on one
- Lori Mauro: School Counselor – funded by Grant for School Mental Health Counselor
- Tara Delgado: Social Worker – funded by grant Partnership with Wake County and Communities in School
- Koren Morgan: for Business Office Manager (budget approval granted last month)
- Part-Time Teaching Partner for EC (room in budget for this PT position)
Center for Innovation Consultant position is still open, interview process begins Friday.
K. Byars-Nichols made a motion to approve Ellie's beginning teacher support plan to present to DPI, as presented.
K. Furr seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Closed Session
The board moved to go in to closed session to discuss issues related to personnel. Kim made the motion, Kelly seconded and motion passed unanimously.
After discussion, Bob moved to come out of closed session, Kim seconded, and motion passed unanimously.
D.
Finance
The budget was adjusted for amendments approved at the last Board meeting and new positions approved. After reviewing the year to date expenditures and projecting future impacts we are projecting an end of year surplus of $13,807.13. The balance sheet and income statement along with the YTD budget are included in packet.
Board approval is requested for the following amendments to the school budget:
Board approval is requested for the following amendments to the school budget:
- Amend budget to account for transfer of $32,000 from reserve account to cover Legal Expenses
- Scholarships in the total amount of $4,200.
C. Jones made a motion to approve revisions to budget as stated above.
K. Furr seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Christine updated the board that she is working to update several procedures about how the Finance Committee operates.
V. Committee Updates
A.
Development Committee
Kim does not have an update, but says she will talk to Joyce about the future of the committee. Ellie added that a parent is working on fundraising and she hopes that she will lead us somewhere productive while we wait on groundbreaking, and new building news. Bob wondered if the Center for Innovation could also be an impetus for fundraising.
B.
Facility
Bob updated the board that he and Ellie met with SFL&A and Metcom and let the board know that they cannot move forward without their financing in place. Bob reported that they had all permits in hand. Bob, Theo, Tom, and Ellie reviewed all leasing contracts to see if anything can be renegotiated.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Closing and Commitments
NOVEMBER MEETING ITEMS
Development Committment
Financial Policy Update
Facilities Update
Strategic Plan
Development Committment
Financial Policy Update
Facilities Update
Strategic Plan
Next meeting 11/27
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:03 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
K. Byars-Nichols