Cold Spring School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 21, 2018 at 5:30 PM
Directors Present
B. Albano
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
C. Bruns
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
B. Albano called a meeting of the board of directors of Cold Spring School to order on Wednesday Feb 21, 2018 at 5:38 PM.
A regular meeting of the Cold Spring School (CSS) Board was held on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 in the conference room at the school. Presiding officer was Mr. Bob Albano, Board Chair.
Members present were: Bob Albano, Cheryl Hertzer, Janice Hicks-Slaughter, JR Renbarger, and Tonya Tudor (until 6:53pm)
Members Steve Downing, Chris Gerrity, and Kelly Payne were absent.
Chief Operating Officer Mrs. Carrie Bruns; Interim Principal Mr. Thomas Hakim; and Elementary Dean Mr. AJ Barcome also attended, along with Mr. Brian Anderson from Options in Education Foundation.
No community members signed in to provide input or attended the meeting.
C.
Approve Minutes
The April Board meeting will be on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 rather than on a Wednesday. This day and date were corrected in the minutes from the January 17, 2018 meeting.
Motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 01-17-18.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. OLD BUSINESS
A.
2018-2019 Calendar Options
Motion to approve the 2018-2019 calendar as presented.
The motion passed with 5 ayes and no nays.
B.
Retirement Policy Proposal
Motion to approve the policy.
The motion passed with 5 ayes and no nays.
C.
Board Document Housing Options
D.
Outdoor Recess Policy
Mr. Hakim discussed the Outdoor Recess policy with board. A phrase was added to include other adverse conditions to the circumstances which prevent outdoor recess.
Motion to approve the outdoor recess policy.
The motion was approved with 5 ayes and no nays.
E.
Merit Pay Policy
The Teacher Merit Pay proposal was discussed by the board. A statement was added to ensure that a teacher who voluntarily retires will still maintain eligibility for all applicable merit pay.
Motion to approve the Teacher Merit Pay proposal for 2017-2018.
The motion passed with 5 ayes and no nays.
Motion to approve the Teacher Merit Pay proposal for 2017-2018.
The motion passed with 5 ayes and no nays.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A.
Financial Report
Mr. Brian Anderson presented the financial report to the board. Because the amount of money allotted to CSS for educating each student is frequently changed, it is challenging to plan ahead, but a 5 year financial plan for the school must be developed.
Motion to approve the financial report.
The motion passed with 5 ayes.
Mr. Anderson left the meeting after the financial report was approved.
Ms. Tonya Tudor excused herself from the meeting at 6:53pm.
B.
Chief Operating Officer Report
Mrs. Bruns gave the Chief Operating Officer Report to the board.
- Walton Grant Update- the Walton Grant was submitted. The budget items listed in the grant include the following: Technology Upgrade, Instructional Leadership Initiatives, Outdoor Learning Classroom/Structures, Saturday Stars, MakerSpace.
- Innovation School Fellowship Update- Full application was submitted for our PreK, 7th and 8th grade expansion. Mr. Hakim and Carrie attended the interview and should know in a couple of weeks whether or not we have been granted the fellowship
- SBA- CSS follows the districts SBA guidelines and process per our innovation contract. The SBA formula is set by IPS and can change each year. For the 2018-2019 school year the allocation that CSS is set to receive is $299,165 less, due to projected changes in the SBA formula. Part of the funding formula provides a transitional adjustment for Cold Spring of $407,011 in transitional dollars we are set to receive will not come through. Brian and I had a call with members of the IPS finance team in January and I had a follow up meeting with them at the beginning February. We have concerns over our ability to long term plan financially when the district is inconsistent financially from year to year.
- Innovation Network Teacher Leadership Advisory- Select classroom teachers at Innovation schools will be nominated by administrative teams and chosen to reflect on teachers leadership culture and climate in their school through focus groups storytelling and data. The teachers will use their collective narrative to advocate for continued innovation opportunities to key stakeholders. We are currently in the process of nominating staff for this opportunity.
- Strategic Planning Opportunity with Evan Rudal- The Mind Trust has offered us an opportunity to work with Evan Rudall (well known consultant and founder of Uncommon schools). Survey staff, talk with administrators, survey families and students; find out where our priorities of focus should be-not all academic.
- Visit from Secretary of Education- Cold Spring was visited by the US Secretary of Education. She was in town filming a segment on Innovation school, wanted to visit one and came to Cold Spring. She was able to visit 2 classrooms and hold a roundtable discussion with about 9 staff members.
C.
Principal's Report
Mr. Thomas Hakim gave the Principal's Report to the board, including information about the following:
- NWEA test results and projected proficiency rates on ISTEP.
- ISTEP applied skills testing starts next week.
- Cold Spring School's 2nd PIE Day was held on Friday, February 16.
- The school social worker is organizing events for Kindness Week.
- Parent Teacher Conferences were held on February 20.
- Ms. Pigg is working with the parent group to prepare for Teacher Appreciation and to recruit parent volunteers fro classrooms.
- The Saturday Stars program has over 60 children attending, which is a the target.
- CSS applied for a Fairbanks grant for a Substance Abuse Prevention program.
- At the end of the first round of enrollment CSS offered 22 kindergarten spots, but not all were matched. There are also a few spots available in other grades.
D.
SBA/Budget Discussion
IV. 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 7:24 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
B. Albano
Recorded By: Dr. Cheryl A. Hertzer
Reviewed and Submitted By: Dr. Cheryl A. Hertzer
Recorded By: Dr. Cheryl A. Hertzer
Reviewed and Submitted By: Dr. Cheryl A. Hertzer