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Maine Charter School Commission

Monthly Commission Meeting

Published on November 7, 2025 at 9:39 AM EST

Date and Time

Wednesday November 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM EST

Location

Room #103, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta or via Zoom

The Vision of the Maine Charter School Commission is that "Innovative public charter schools will provide Maine students with an equitable opportunity for an excellent education where students are valued, supported and challenged."

 

The Mission of the Maine Charter School Commission is "To authorize, monitor and support innovative public charter schools that provide a dynamic, high-quality education for every student."

 

Reminders:

  • This meeting is being recorded via Zoom.
  • We ask members of the public to hold comments until public comments are heard.

 

Any person seeking special accommodation for the public meeting should contact Sue Whipkey at (207)816-2187 or susan.whipkey@maine.gov.

Agenda

Section Number Topic Number Details Purpose Presenter
I. Opening Items
  A. Record Attendance   Susan Whipkey
  B. Call the Meeting to Order   Leigh Albert
  C. To Consider the Approval of the 10/14/25 Commission Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Leigh Albert
    Minutes for Monthly Commission Meeting on October 14, 2025
II. Additions or Adjustments to the Agenda
  A. Additions/Adjustments Discuss Leigh Albert
III. Committee Reports
  A. School Performance Committee FYI Tori Kornfield
  B. Finance Committee FYI Brian Langley
  C. Executive Committee FYI Leigh Albert
IV. Public Comment*
  A. Public Comment Discuss Leigh Albert
V. Presentation(s)
 
  • None
VI. Executive Director/Commission Staff Report
  A. School Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  B. Organizational Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  C. Media Updates FYI Lana Ewing
   
  • None
VII. Monthly School Portfolio/Data Report
 
  • None
VIII. Unfinished Business
 
  • None
IX. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance
  A. To Receive and Place on File the SY2024-25 Annual Monitoring Reports Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • SY2024-25 Annual Monitoring Reports' Portfolio Summary
  • SY2024-25 Annual Monitoring Reports' Financial Summary
  • SY2024-25 Annual Monitoring Reports
    • ACADIA Academy
    • Baxter Academy for Technology and Science
    • Community Regional Charter School
    • Ecology Learning Center
    • Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences
    • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
    • Maine Arts Academy
    • Maine Connections Academy
    • Maine Virtual Academy
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  B. To Receive and Place on File the SY2024-25 Annual Charter School Report Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • SY2024-25 Annual Charter School Report
   
  C. To Consider Approval of Maine Academy of Natural Science's Request to Amend Bylaws Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • MeANS Request to Amend Bylaws
   
X. New Business Requiring Notification to the Commission (No formal action to be taken by Commission)
  A. New Governing Board Members FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • ACADIA Academy (Mary Morrisey Torsch)
   
  B. Board Member Resignations/Left the Board FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • Ecology Learning Center (Justin MacDonald)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Sally Beaulieu)
  C. Board Member Term Outs FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • ACADIA Academy (Amy Dieterich)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Erin Brown)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Robert Dodge)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Kimberly Patnode)
XI. Future Topics
  A. Future Topics FYI Leigh Albert
   

December

  • No meeting

January

  • 10/1 Enrollments
  • Annual Boards and Commissions Report
  • Mid-Year Annual Calendar Progress Checks
XII. Announcements
  A. Important Dates FYI Leigh Albert
   

Upcoming Professional Development

  • November 13, 2025 (9:30am to 12:00pm) for School Leaders
    • Why Communications and Advocacy Matters
  • January 26, 2026 (9:00-10:30am) for School Leaders
    • How to Host a Successful Policy Maker Visit and Engage Your Board
  • February 10, 2026 (10:00am-12:00pm) for Board Members and School Leaders
    • Strategic Planning: Mid-Year Update
  • February 11, 2026 (10:00am-12:00pm) for Commission Members
    • Revisit MCSC Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision, and Performance Framework

Other

  • May 2, 2026 (11:00am-1:00pm)
    • Maine Arts Academy 10-Year Anniversary Gala
  B. Upcoming Business Meeting(s) FYI Leigh Albert
   

 

  • December - No Meeting
  • January - ZOOM Only
  • February - Room #103/Cross Office Building, Augusta

 
XIII. Closing Items
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Leigh Albert

* The Charter School Commission does not allow airing of complaints in public meetings regarding Commission and charter school employees or school employment matters, in order to protect employee privacy, to comply with Maine law and pursuant to our contractual relation with the schools. To the extent that the Commission receives complaints and concerns relating to school employees in writing, those concerns will be reviewed and addressed by the Commission and its staff outside of a public meeting. This meeting is not the appropriate forum for such comments. You are free to direct your concerns in writing to the Commission's Executive Director, if you have not done so already.