Brighter Choice Charter Schools
Minutes
Academic Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday November 16, 2021 at 1:00 PM
Location
Meeting will be held virtually. For Zoom link, please email Luke at llicygiewicz@brighterchoice.org
Committee Members Present
P. Romain (remote), T. Hanmer (remote), Z. Nelson
Committee Members Absent
M. Snyder, N. Maresca, N. Velilla, R. McLaughlin
Guests Present
K. Ford (remote), K. Mclean (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
T. Hanmer called a meeting of the Academic Policy Committee of Brighter Choice Charter Schools to order on Tuesday Nov 16, 2021 at 1:10 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Academic Policy
A.
Principal Report- BCCS Boys
Karen McLean presented the results of the NYS ELA and Math testing for 2021. Overall, Brighter Choice should be congratulated for very strong performances in third and fifth grades, especially given the challenges of the pandemic. Ms. McLean offered their analysis of the lower performance in fourth grade and attributed it primarily to weaker instruction at that level. The problematic instructors have been replaced. Overall, Brighter Choice students outperformed their district cohorts.
Enrollment is strong, 268 at the Boys’ School.
The school is close to being fully staffed, although there have been some adjustments this fall, particularly third grade on the boys’ side. The Boys’ School is holding an Academic Awards ceremony. The ceremony will be held in person, with each scholar limited to two adult guests, required masking and staggered seating times for different grades.
B.
Principal Report- BCCS Girls
Kristina Ford presented the results of the NYS ELA and Math testing for 2021. Overall, Brighter Choice should be congratulated for very strong performances in third and fifth grades, especially given the challenges of the pandemic. Ms. Ford offered their analysis of the lower performance in fourth grade and attributed it primarily to weaker instruction at that level. The problematic instructors have been replaced. Overall, Brighter Choice students outperformed their district cohorts.
Enrollment is strong, 297 at the Girls’ School.
BCCS_ Girls is close to being fully staffed, although there have been some adjustments this fall, particularly in the second grade.
III. Other Business
A.
Vaccinations
There was general discussion about educating parents in a non-political way about the value of vaccinating children. Mr. Romain praised an information session hosted by the school and led by an African-American medical doctor. Mr. Romain suggested that repeating the session to reach more parents would be beneficial. Ms. Ford and Ms. McLean reported that there is strong resistance among their parents to vaccinating children, but think that the reduction in quarantine days for vaccinated children will be an incentive for many parents who cannot afford to lose work when their children are forced to stay home. Sadly, a further incentive may be the death this week of the mother of a boys’ school student. Ms. McLean will be notifying the community of this loss.
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 1:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
T. Hanmer