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Maine Charter School Commission

Monthly Commission Meeting

Published on April 3, 2026 at 10:03 AM EDT

Date and Time

Wednesday April 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM EDT

Location

Room #500, 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 2/11/26 Commission Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Leigh Albert
   
II. Additions or Adjustments to the Agenda
  A. Additions/Adjustments Discuss Leigh Albert
III. Committee Reports
  A. School Performance Committee FYI Tom Keller
  B. Finance Committee FYI Leigh Albert
  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
   
  • SY25-26 Mid-Year Meeting with Schools - Summary
  C. Media Updates FYI Lana Ewing
   
  • MCA Student of the Month
VII. Monthly School Portfolio/Data Report
  A. SY26-27 Enrollment Lottery Update Discuss Amy Allen
VIII. Unfinished Business
 
  • None
IX. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance
 
  • None
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 (Ryan Gagnon)
  • Maine Arts Academy (Kelly Clark)
  • Maine Arts Academy (Michael Fortin)
  B. Board Member Resignations/Left the Board FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • ACADIA Academy (Mary Morrissey Torsch)
  C. Board Member Term Outs FYI Leigh Albert
   

None
XI. Future Topics
  A. Future Topics FYI Leigh Albert
   

May

 

  • CRCS Proposed Changes to its Food Service Program
  • Renewal Timeline
  • Maine Charter School Commission FY27 Budget 

 

 

 
XII. Announcements
  A. Important Dates FYI Leigh Albert
   

Graduation

  • Sunday, May 31st at 12:00pm - Maine Arts Academy (Augusta Civic Center)
  • Friday, June 5th at 2:00pm - Maine Connections Academy (Merrill Auditorium, Portland)
  • Friday, June 5th at 2:00pm - Maine Virtual Academy (Zoom)

 

Professional Development

  • Tuesday, May 19 (9:30-11:30am) - Planning for the Summer/Making the Most of the Summer Months - Zoom Only

Other

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

 

  • May 13, 2026 - Zoom Only
  • June 10, 2026 - Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, 13 Easler Road, Hinckley or Zoom

 
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.