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Maine Charter School Commission

Monthly Commission Meeting

Published on February 10, 2025 at 7:32 AM EST

Date and Time

Tuesday February 11, 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   Norm Higgins
  C. To Consider the Approval of the 1/14/25 Commission Meeting Minutes Approve Minutes Norm Higgins
    Minutes for Monthly Commission Meeting on January 14, 2025
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 - February 3rd Meeting Cancelled FYI Tori Kornfield
  B. Finance Committee - February 6th Meeting Cancelled FYI Leigh Albert
   
  • FY25 Budget vs Actual Spending Report
   
  C. Executive Committee - February 6th Meeting Cancelled FYI Norm Higgins
V. Public Comment*
  A. Public Comment Discuss Norm Higgins
VI. Presentation(s)
  A. Heather King - Maine Arts Academy Grants FYI
  B. Joe Mattos - Educational Policy Values FYI
   
VII. Executive Director/Commission Staff Report
  A. School Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  B. Organizational Updates Discuss Lana Ewing
  C. Media Updates FYI Lana Ewing
   

Community Regional Charter School Maine WinterKids Competition Event

https://www.wmtw.com/article/weather-at-your-school-community-regional-charter-school/63605116

 

Maine Connections Academy - Outstanding 12-Year-Old Plans to Graduate Early

https://www.wabi.tv/2025/01/30/outstanding-maine-12-year-old-plans-graduate-early/

 

Maine Academy of Natural Sciences - Seasonal Intensives

https://www.mapcs.net/school-highlights/means-intensives
VIII. Monthly School Portfolio/Data Report
  A. Enrollment - Senate and House Representation /"Heat Map"/Resident District/Resident Town Discuss Lana Ewing
   
  • Breakdown of Senate and House Representation
  • "Heat Map" 
  • Resident District Breakdown
  • Resident Town Breakdown
   
   
   
   
IX. Unfinished Business
 

None
X. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance
  A. To Consider Moving the November Commission Meeting from November 11th (Veterans Day) to November 18th 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
   
  • Community Regional Charter School (James Hodgkin)
  • Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (Greg Bazakas)
   
   
  B. Board Member Resignations FYI Norm Higgins
   
  • None
  C. Board Member Term Outs FYI Norm Higgins
   
  • Ecology Learning Center (Chris Lewis)
XII. Future Topics
  A. Future Topics FYI Norm Higgins
   

March

  • Performance Framework Minor Clarifications
  • Mid-Year Meetings Review
  • Summary of New School Applications Received
  • 2025 Renewal Timeline
XIII. Announcements
  A. Important Dates FYI Norm Higgins
   

 

  • 2/13/25 - Deadline for Submission of New School Applications
  • 5/29/25 - Maine Charter School Hall of Flags from 8 AM - 12 PM
  B. Upcoming Business Meetings FYI Norm Higgins
   

 

  • March 11, 2025 (Cross Office Building, Room #103, Augusta) or Zoom
  • April 8, 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.