Brighter Choice Charter Schools
Minutes
Board of Trustees Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday May 21, 2020 at 8:30 AM
Location
Remote due to covid-19 closure.
Trustees Present
M. Snyder (remote), N. Maresca (remote), N. Velilla (remote), R. McLaughlin (remote), T. Hanmer (remote), Z. Nelson (remote)
Trustees Absent
S. Wallace
Guests Present
Dan Pasek, J. Sherman (remote), K. Ford (remote), L. Licygiewicz (remote), S. Jahn (remote), T. Stutsrim (remote)
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 May 21, 2020 at 8:33 AM.
C.
Approve Minutes from the May 7, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting
T. Hanmer made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting on 05-07-20.
R. McLaughlin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Governance
A.
Charter Renewal
B.
Covid-19 Plans
III. Finance
A.
Payroll Protection Program
The schools' applications were approved and the funds have been received and deposited in the schools' savings accounts.
B.
YTD Financial Report and A/R update
The schools are both above budgeted revenue levels.
Shawn continues to send the schools' Covid-19 Continuation of Instruction Plan to other districts, when it is requested.
re: Accounts Receivable. Only one district has amounts due and P. Augello has an Intercept package prepared.
Shawn continues to send the schools' Covid-19 Continuation of Instruction Plan to other districts, when it is requested.
re: Accounts Receivable. Only one district has amounts due and P. Augello has an Intercept package prepared.
C.
Equipment Purchase
Discussion regarding the amounts in the school's capital budget to fund the purchase of enough ChromeBooks for current students, along with the licenses, and carts. N. Maresca or M. Snyder will send an email approving these purchases.
D.
403b
Tabled
E.
Budget for SY 2020-21
Tabled
IV. Academic
A.
Covid-19 Remote Instruction
J. Sherman reported the following regarding BCCSB:
* Enrollment for SY 2020-21
* Enrollment continues. The school needs about 40 scholars to meet the budgeted goal of 305 scholars.
* Covid-19 Closure:
* Participation in remote learning rates by grade level are 40 - 76%. Packet completion rates by grade level are 58 - 100%. Teachers have been able to make contact with families 88 - 100% of attempts.
* New packets are being created to cover instruction through June 26th. The packets will be available for in-person pick up at the school as well as locations in Troy and Schenectady. These are also available through the website.
* T3 will be graded using the scholar accuracy, effort and participation in the packets and in remote sessions. This has been communicated to parents/guardians.
* Chrome Book returns have been scheduled.
* Events:
* The school recently held Teacher Appreciation events via Zoom and other social media.
* Fun events are being planned for scholars and staff via Zoom and other social media.
* Enrollment for SY 2020-21
* Enrollment continues. The school needs about 40 scholars to meet the budgeted goal of 305 scholars.
* Covid-19 Closure:
* Participation in remote learning rates by grade level are 40 - 76%. Packet completion rates by grade level are 58 - 100%. Teachers have been able to make contact with families 88 - 100% of attempts.
* New packets are being created to cover instruction through June 26th. The packets will be available for in-person pick up at the school as well as locations in Troy and Schenectady. These are also available through the website.
* T3 will be graded using the scholar accuracy, effort and participation in the packets and in remote sessions. This has been communicated to parents/guardians.
* Chrome Book returns have been scheduled.
* Events:
* The school recently held Teacher Appreciation events via Zoom and other social media.
* Fun events are being planned for scholars and staff via Zoom and other social media.
K. Ford reported the following for BCCSG:
* Enrollment for SY 2020-21
* Enrollment is currently low, mainly due to many families have not yet returned their scholars' re-enrollment paperwork. The school's Parent Coordinator (PC) continues to make attempts to reach families. She will suggest her PC discuss ideas for motivating families to return the required information with the PC from BCCSB.
* Covid-19 Closure:
* Participation in remote learning rates by grade level are 43 - 50%.
* New packets are being created to cover instruction through June 26th. The packets will be available for in-person pick up at the school as well as locations in Troy and Schenectady. These are also available through the website. These final packets will not be collected but families are asked to send photos of the completed pages to teachers for grading.
* Chrome Book returns have been scheduled.
* Enrollment for SY 2020-21
* Enrollment is currently low, mainly due to many families have not yet returned their scholars' re-enrollment paperwork. The school's Parent Coordinator (PC) continues to make attempts to reach families. She will suggest her PC discuss ideas for motivating families to return the required information with the PC from BCCSB.
* Covid-19 Closure:
* Participation in remote learning rates by grade level are 43 - 50%.
* New packets are being created to cover instruction through June 26th. The packets will be available for in-person pick up at the school as well as locations in Troy and Schenectady. These are also available through the website. These final packets will not be collected but families are asked to send photos of the completed pages to teachers for grading.
* Chrome Book returns have been scheduled.
B.
Summer 2020 Instruction
BCG:
* Summer Instruction
* Families and teachers are being surveyed regarding their interest in participating in this instruction. Thus far, there are about 9-13 teachers interested in teaching either remotely and/or in-school. Approximately 30 scholars are interested. Updated results will be shared at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
BCB:
* Summer Instruction
* Families and teachers are being surveyed regarding their interest in participating in this instruction. Thus far, there are about 9 teachers interested in teaching and about 35 scholars. Updated results will be shared at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
* Summer Instruction
* Families and teachers are being surveyed regarding their interest in participating in this instruction. Thus far, there are about 9-13 teachers interested in teaching either remotely and/or in-school. Approximately 30 scholars are interested. Updated results will be shared at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
BCB:
* Summer Instruction
* Families and teachers are being surveyed regarding their interest in participating in this instruction. Thus far, there are about 9 teachers interested in teaching and about 35 scholars. Updated results will be shared at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
C.
Recognizing Staff during pandemic closure
M. Snyder will begin an email discussion among the Trustees regarding ideas for this.
D.
5th Grade Graduation
BCG:
* Graduations
* Kindergarten and 5th grade Graduations are being planned. These will be done virtually, with photos, slide shows, guest speakers and virtual classroom parties via Zoom. The school will invite Trustees via a link to the Zoom events.
BCB
* Graduations
* Kindergarten and 5th grade Graduations are being planned. These will be done virtually, with photos, slide shows, guest speakers and virtual classroom parties via Zoom. The school will invite Trustees via a link to the Zoom events.
* Graduations
* Kindergarten and 5th grade Graduations are being planned. These will be done virtually, with photos, slide shows, guest speakers and virtual classroom parties via Zoom. The school will invite Trustees via a link to the Zoom events.
BCB
* Graduations
* Kindergarten and 5th grade Graduations are being planned. These will be done virtually, with photos, slide shows, guest speakers and virtual classroom parties via Zoom. The school will invite Trustees via a link to the Zoom events.
V. Closing Items
A.
Future Agenda Items
Future Agenda Items
Finance:
> SY 2020-21 Budget
> YTD Financials
> 403B
> Grants?
Academic:
> covid-19 Remote Instruction
> Summer 2020 Instruction
> Recognizing staff work during pandemic
Governance:
> Renewal
Finance:
> SY 2020-21 Budget
> YTD Financials
> 403B
> Grants?
Academic:
> covid-19 Remote Instruction
> Summer 2020 Instruction
> Recognizing staff work during pandemic
Governance:
> Renewal
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:53 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Z. Nelson
He also shared that the Board of Regents has recently approved renewals despite schools not meeting the benchmarks for special subgroups of Students who are Economically Disadvantaged, English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities. Our schools meet two fo the three benchmarks.
He feels optimistic re: the schools' renewal application. Lastly, Dan will meet with Shawn Jahn and Paul Augello next week to discuss the financial considerations.