Brighter Choice Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Trustees Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday January 9, 2020 at 9:30 AM
Location
250 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
Note: A member of the BCCS Board of Trustees will be participating in the BCCS Annual Board Meeting meetings on Friday, January 9, 2020 via videoconferencing from the following location: 6209 Empire Ave. Schenectady NY 12306. This notice shall inform the public that videoconferencing will be used, identify the locations for the meeting, and inform the public has the right to attend the meeting at any of the locations.
Trustees Present
M. Snyder, N. Maresca, N. Velilla, R. McLaughlin (remote), T. Hanmer, Z. Nelson
Trustees Absent
S. Wallace
Guests Present
K. Ford, K. Mclean, L. Licygiewicz, S. Jahn, T. Stutsrim
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
M. Snyder called a meeting of the board of trustees of Brighter Choice Charter Schools to order on Thursday Jan 9, 2020 at 8:39 AM.
C.
Approve Minutes from the December 13, 2019 Board of Trustees Meeting
T. Hanmer made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting on 12-13-19.
N. Maresca seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Finance
A.
Tentative - Budget
III. Academic
A.
BCCSG (Abbreviated) Report
K. Ford reported:
* Enrollment currently at 326, above the budgeted total of 314.
* SWD = 2.7% of enrollment and ESL = 11%
* Enrollment currently at 326, above the budgeted total of 314.
* SWD = 2.7% of enrollment and ESL = 11%
B.
BCCSB Report
K. Mclean reported:
Enrollment:
currently at 305, below the budgeted total of 314. The waitlist for grades K - 3 has been depleted. Backfilling fourth grade creates challenges given that the 5th grade has only two sections of classes.
Attendance:
Both absence and tardy rates have decreased.
A schoolwide goals for absence and tardy rates has been created and communicated to staff and parents.
Letters are sent to parents/guardians re: chronic absences and tardies.
Positive reinforcement of good attendance (prizes, recognition and rewards) is also been used.
Staff Attendance:
The school has also begun tracking and sharing counts of staff absences and tardies.
A Staff Attendance Wall has been created.
Guided Reading Data:
October STEP testing results were shared.
As a result of these results, areas of focus and action steps have been identified and shared with teachers.
School Culture:
The number of incidents and OSS instances are being tracked and discussed.
Schoolwide goals have been set - a 30% decrease in the number of incidents and a 15% decrease in OSS instances.
Staffing:
A new K teacher has been hired.
A new Building Substitute Teacher has been hired.
One Special Education Teacher is out of work on Temporary Disability.
Recent Events include a School Kindness Wall, Awards Dinner, "Black Snowman" and the creation of a 5th Grade Council.
Enrollment:
currently at 305, below the budgeted total of 314. The waitlist for grades K - 3 has been depleted. Backfilling fourth grade creates challenges given that the 5th grade has only two sections of classes.
Attendance:
Both absence and tardy rates have decreased.
A schoolwide goals for absence and tardy rates has been created and communicated to staff and parents.
Letters are sent to parents/guardians re: chronic absences and tardies.
Positive reinforcement of good attendance (prizes, recognition and rewards) is also been used.
Staff Attendance:
The school has also begun tracking and sharing counts of staff absences and tardies.
A Staff Attendance Wall has been created.
Guided Reading Data:
October STEP testing results were shared.
As a result of these results, areas of focus and action steps have been identified and shared with teachers.
School Culture:
The number of incidents and OSS instances are being tracked and discussed.
Schoolwide goals have been set - a 30% decrease in the number of incidents and a 15% decrease in OSS instances.
Staffing:
A new K teacher has been hired.
A new Building Substitute Teacher has been hired.
One Special Education Teacher is out of work on Temporary Disability.
Recent Events include a School Kindness Wall, Awards Dinner, "Black Snowman" and the creation of a 5th Grade Council.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Future Agenda Items
Budget Amendments
Any Grant-Writing updates?
Strategic Planning
Call in from National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools? Can they offer any guidance in recommended steps to increase our SPecial populations?
Resolution to thank Marcy Stryker for recent Book Drive
Any Grant-Writing updates?
Strategic Planning
Call in from National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools? Can they offer any guidance in recommended steps to increase our SPecial populations?
Resolution to thank Marcy Stryker for recent Book Drive
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:39 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Z. Nelson
S. Jahn explained that he and Paul Augello would meet with the Principals to discuss the budget along with their "wish list" and whether these item(s) are possible. Often the amendments are a realignment of line items. After this these initial discussions, recommended amendments would be presented to the Board for approval.
This is scheduled to occur during the February, 2020 committee and Board of Trustees meetings.