Ogden Preparatory Academy

Minutes

April 2018 Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 26, 2018 at 4:30 PM

Location

1415 Lincoln Ave. Ogden, UT 84404
VISION: Ogden Preparatory Academy’s vision is to create a positive, nurturing environment for students to grow and learn as they develop the skills necessary to become tomorrow’s leaders. Through high academic expectations and experiences, bilingual exposure, leadership roles and commitment to community, OPA students will gain confidence and a sense of self worth that will prepare them to face the challenges in a competitive world.

Directors Present

L. D'Hulst, N. Bowsher, N. Neider, S. Ballard, S. Shupe, T. D'Hulst

Directors Absent

None

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

N. Neider

Ex Officio Members Present

A. Campbell, A. Perez, D. Deem, K. Kennington, S. Mathers

Non Voting Members Present

A. Campbell, A. Perez, D. Deem, K. Kennington, S. Mathers

Guests Present

S. Adams

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

S. Ballard called a meeting of the board of directors of Ogden Preparatory Academy to order on Thursday Apr 26, 2018 at 4:34 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

L. D'Hulst made a motion to approve minutes from the OPA Board Meeting on 03-22-18 OPA Board Meeting on 03-22-18.
T. D'Hulst seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment

No public present for comment.

III. Executive Session (closed)

A.

Enter Closed Session

S. Shupe made a motion to enter closed session to discuss the reputation, character, or mental or physical health of an individual, but not his or her professional competence. To consider discipline or dismissal of an employee, or hear complaints or charges brought against an employee. Note: If the board is meeting in executive session under either of these exceptions, the individual in question is afforded certain rights, including the right to have notice of the meeting, the right to be present, the right to have counsel attend, and the right to speak on his or her own behalf.
L. D'Hulst seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. D'Hulst
Aye
N. Bowsher
Aye
S. Shupe
Aye
N. Neider
Absent
S. Ballard
Aye
L. D'Hulst
Aye

B.

Exit Closed Session

N. Bowsher made a motion to exit closed session.
T. D'Hulst seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Bowsher
Aye
S. Shupe
Aye
L. D'Hulst
Aye
T. D'Hulst
Aye
S. Ballard
Aye
N. Neider
Aye
N. Neider arrived.

C.

Discipline Decision

N. Bowsher made a motion to suspend the student for the remainder of the school year.
L. D'Hulst seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

CEO Contract Renewal

N. Bowsher made a motion to approve the contract renewal for the 2018-2019 school year for Amie Campbell as discussed.
N. Neider seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Reports

A.

Financial Report

Reviewed financial summary as of 75% completion of the year.
Revenues:
Local: 96% forecast
State: 75% forecast
Federal: 50% forecast. Expecting Title I funds on next allotment. Should see Title II on next month's allotment. Lost approximately $13,000 in Title III funds.

Expenses:
Looking very good. Increased a couple line items due to expected expenditures. There are potential savings in the budget that we anticipate realizing. 
Ratios are looking good. We anticipate reaching 100 days cash on hand next year. 

B.

CEO Report

Academic Activities: 
End of Year DIBELS started. SAGE started this week. Opt-outs have reduced significantly. We are requiring alternate assessments for those who are not taking the SAGE.

Leader in Me (LIM): Sonnet VanPatten has done a fabulous job leading the LIM project this year. We beta tested curriculum in the Junior High without great success. Amie negotiated the Franklin Covey price from $11,000 to $5,100.

Honors Pathway: Teachers have created an entrance path to honors. Students complete a google form and write an essay. Teachers are looking for initiative and effort. Teachers anticipate accepting the majority of applicants. The process will be refined as necessary.

Candidate Debate: UPACS has asked OPA to host a candidate debate on May 31. They wish to have students present. Amie is coordinating with the History department and 6th grade to encourage attendance and questions.

Safety Training: UPACS is providing a safety training April 27 at OPA.

Magnetic Locks have been installed at the Junior High and are functioning well.

Reunification is May 4. Letters and cards have been distributed to parents. Parents can check out a student before dismissal. We expect to be done by 3:00 p.m. We anticipate many students being checked out early or not attending school on Friday. We will have support from the local police. In the Fall, we will do an off campus evacuation. 

Upcoming events are on the calendar.

V. Policy Updates

A.

Field Trip Policy

Administration will add language to the procedures to ensure the parameters for sibling attendance on field trips are appropriate.
T. D'Hulst made a motion to approve the revised field trip policy.
N. Neider seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Other Business

A.

Wonders Curriculum Adoption

Stephanie negotiated the curriculum from $145,000 to approximately $130,000.
It is an all inclusive curriculum for K-5.
The purchase includes support for 6 years.
It will replace several pieces of curriculum support we have previously supported. 
It includes the intervention, EL and Sped packages. 
It provides teachers with all materials including with over 100 leveled reading books for each classroom. 
There is an online component.
We will revisit replaced curriculum supports if we find gaps with the new curriculum.
Teachers will be trained May 29. We will survey teachers after training to build PD support.
N. Bowsher made a motion to approve the purchase of the Wonders Curriculum.
N. Neider seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

FY19 Calendar Minimum Days

Teachers were asked for input. Administration also discussed pros and cons. 
Amie created a PR statement with one of the PR committee members, Rylee Kiernan.
Board requested that the PR statement reflect the current activities of Ogden School District.
N. Neider made a motion to approve early release Fridays effective 2018-2019 school year.
N. Bowsher seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Leader in Me

T. D'Hulst made a motion to approve Leader in Me purchase.
N. Bowsher seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Updates for Dress Code Policy

Policy Changes:
Removed gender bias. 
There was a teacher discussion regarding tucking of shirts. Teachers recommended keeping in dress code.
Added permission for Administration to make specific adjustments as necessary.
Board requested clarification on clean shaven, this is in relation to facial hair.


Handbook:
Allowing patches and rips if there is material under or over the rips.
Added school foundations.
Updated personal electronic device expectations.
Safe School Policy section was moved, but is still included.
Board requests that the front office staff trained on expectations for fair and accurate enforcement.
Board requests gender updates for clean shaven reference to boys and modesty reference to girls.
N. Bowsher made a motion to approve the changes to the Dress Code Policy and handbook changes.
N. Neider seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
S. Adams left.

E.

Technology Purchases

Proposed purchases for FY19.
IT department needs additional prep time in the Summer to prepare for the start of the School year.
Costs will be FY19 budget items.

The Promethean project: There will be a demonstration on May 1. Prometheans are flat panel interactive displays. Includes curriculum software base K-12. After the demonstration, school teams will discuss usage and make requests. The IT department is planning on "seeding" with a few units and increasing implementation as teachers request and TVs need to be replaced.
T. D'Hulst made a motion to approve the preliminary IT budget for FY19.
N. Bowsher seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

CEO Evaluation, Agreement and Bonus Structure Policy Approval

Table to allow for changes.

VII. Committee Reports

A.

Academic Excellence

Covered in CEO report.

B.

Growth and Development

PR/Marketing
March 7, 2018
Discussed the value of a brand in education.
Discussed what OPA's current image. 
Discussed audience, goals and brainstormed ideas. 
Currently we have a media committee.
The committee anticipates doing an RFI from marketing companies to help create a plan that can be implemented by OPA.
Marketing will build image to help maintain and recruit students and teachers.  

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

N. Bowsher made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
N. Neider seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:18 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
S. Ballard