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Maine Charter School Commission

Monthly Commission Meeting

Published on June 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT

Date and Time

Wednesday June 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM EDT

Location

Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, 13 Easler Drive, Hinckley 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 Amy Allen at (207)592-6364 or amy@mainecharterschoolcommission.org

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 5/13/26 Commission Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Leigh Albert
   
II. Comments From Commission Chair
  A. Comments Discuss Leigh Albert
   
  • Committee Membership Updates
III. Additions or Adjustments to the Agenda
  A. Additions/Adjustments Discuss Leigh Albert
IV. Committee Reports
  A. School Performance Committee FYI Tom Keller
  B. Finance Committee FYI Brian Langley
  C. Executive Committee FYI Leigh Albert
  D. Ad-Hoc Election of Officers Committee FYI Jim Handy
V. Public Comment*
  A. Public Comment Discuss Leigh Albert
VI. Presentation(s)
 
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Ryan Anthony, Head of School)
VII. Executive Director/Commission Staff Report
  A. School Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  B. Organizational Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  C. Media Updates FYI Lana Ewing
   

Maine Arts Academy

  • Maine's Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Profiles of Success (student featured on Page 8)
  • Featured in Kennebec Savings Bank's 2025 Annual Report
  • A student was featured on Maine Public Radio for her performance of Poetry Out Load. You can listed HERE. (NOTE - she went on to win the Maine State Championship and traveled to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Finals)
VIII. Monthly School Portfolio/Data Report
 
  • None
IX. Unfinished Business
 
  • None
X. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance
  A. To Consider the Approval of Community Regional Charter School's Request to Make Changes to the Food Service Program/Incur Debt Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • CRCS Amendment Request to Make Changes to the Food Service Program/Incur Debt
  B. To Consider the Approval of Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences' Innovation Fund Request Vote Leigh Albert
   

"The Regulated Classroom: A Cross-School Innovation Model for Student Access and Achievement"
  C. To Consider the Approval of Maine Academy of Natural Sciences' Innovation Fund Request Vote Leigh Albert
   

"Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Through the Creation of a Community School Coordinator Role"
  D. To Consider the Approval of Maine Academy of Natural Sciences' Innovation Fund Request Vote Leigh Albert
   

"Funding to Fully Enclose and Heat the Existing Woodshop Barn, Transforming it Into a Safe, Functional, Year-Round Instructional Space"
  E. To Consider the Approval of Maine Connections Academy's Innovation Fund Request Vote Leigh Albert
   

"Support the Establishment of an MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) Coordinator Position"
  F. To Consider the Approval of MOXIE Public Schools' Innovation Fund Request Vote Leigh Albert
   

"To Become an Innovation Pilot Site for OKO in SY2026-27"
  G. To Consider the Recommendation to Make NWEA MAP Growth an Opt-In Assessment for Charter Schools Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • Executive Summary
  • Map Growth: The Case for Moving from Mandatory to Opt-In
  • NWEA memo: Maine Through Year Assessment and MAP Growth Comparison
  H. To Consider the Approval of the Commission's SY2026-27 Calendar Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • Maine Charter School Commission Full Calendar - SY2026-27
  • Maine Charter School Commission Professional Development Calendar - SY2026-27
  • Maine Charter School Commission Member Calendar - SY2026-27
  I. To Consider the Approval of the Commission's Conflict of Interest Policy Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • Draft Conflict of Interest Policy
  J. To Consider the Approval of the Commission's Data Privacy/FERPA Policy Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • Draft Data Privacy and FERPA Policy
  K. To Consider the Approval of the Commission's Investment & Reserve Policy Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • Draft Investment and Reserve Policy
  L. To Consider the Approval of the Commission's Records Retention & Document Management Policy Vote Leigh Albert
   
  • Draft Records Retention & Document Management Policy
XI. New Business Requiring Notification to the Commission (No formal action to be taken by Commission)
  A. New Governing Board Members FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • None
  B. Board Member Resignations/Left the Board FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences (Bruce Woodard)
  C. Board Member Term Outs FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • None
XII. Future Topics
  A. Future Topics FYI Leigh Albert
   

 

July

  • No Meeting

August

  • Election of Officers
  • Panorama Survey Results Presentation

 
XIII. Announcements
  A. Important Dates FYI Leigh Albert
   

Graduation

  • Friday, June 12th at 5:00pm - Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences (Norumbega Cidery, New Gloucester)
  • Friday, June 12th at 6:00pm - Overman Academy (Skowhegan Opera House, 225 Water Street, Skowhegan)
  • Friday, July 10th at 6:00pm - Maine Academy of Natural Sciences/Campus (13 Easler Road, Hinckley)
  • Friday, July 17th at 6:00pm - Maine Academy of Natural Sciences/Threshold (13 Easler Road, Hinckley)
  B. Upcoming Business Meeting(s) FYI Leigh Albert
   

 

  • July - No Meeting
  • August
  • September

 
XIV. 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.