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Maine Charter School Commission

Monthly Commission Meeting

Published on December 6, 2024 at 11:03 AM EST

Date and Time

Tuesday December 10, 2024 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   Norm Higgins
  C. To Consider the Approval of the 11/12/24 Commission Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Norm Higgins
    Minutes for Monthly Commission Meeting on November 12, 2024
II. Comments from Commission Chair
  A. Comments Discuss Norm Higgins
III. Additions or Adjustments to the Agenda
  A. Additions/Adjustments Discuss Norm Higgins
IV. Committee Reports
  A. School Performance Committee FYI Tori Kornfield
  B. Finance Committee FYI Brian Langley
   
  • FY25 Budget vs Actual Spending Report
   
  C. Executive Committee FYI Norm Higgins
V. Public Comment*
  A. Public Comment Discuss Norm Higgins
VI. Presentation(s)
  A. Maine Virtual Academy's Independent Third Party Evaluation Discuss Dr. Mary Madden
   
VII. Executive Director/Commission Staff Report
  A. School Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  B. Organizational Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  C. Media Updates FYI Lana Ewing
   
  • None
VIII. Monthly School Portfolio/Data Report
  A. Student Enrollments and Demographic Data Breakdowns Discuss Lana Ewing
   
  • SY2024-25 School Enrollment Statistics
  • SY2024-25 Demographic Data Breakdowns
   
   
IX. Unfinished Business
 

None
X. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance
  A. To Consider Ecology Learning Center's Request to Amend Bylaws Vote Norm Higgins
   
   
   
  B. To Consider Amending 20-A MRSA, §2405 Sub-§8 To Establish the Commission as a Body Corporate and Politic and a Public Instrumentality of the State Vote Norm Higgins
XI. New Business Requiring Notification to the Commission (No formal action to be taken by Commission)
  A. New Governing Board Members FYI Norm Higgins
   
  • Maine Arts Academy (April Hughes)
   
  B. Board Member Resignations FYI Norm Higgins
   
  • Ellen McBride (Maine Connections Academy)
  C. Board Member Term Outs FYI Norm Higgins
   
  • None
XII. Future Topics
  A. Future Topics FYI Norm Higgins
   

January

  • Review the Annual Report with Commissioner Makin
  • Launch Strategic Plan
  • 2024 Annual Boards and Commissions Report
  • Appointment of New School Application Review Team

February

  • Performance Framework Minor Clarifications
  • Preview Enrollment Map Update
XIII. Announcements
  A. Important Dates FYI Norm Higgins
   

 

  • 2/13/25 - Deadline for Submission of New School Applications
  B. Upcoming Business Meetings FYI Norm Higgins
   

 

  • January 14, 2025 (Cross Office Building, Room #103, Augusta) or Zoom
  • February 11, 2025 (Cross Office Building, Room #103, Augusta) or Zoom

 
XIV. Closing Items
  A. Adjourn Meeting Vote Norm Higgins

* 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.