James Ford joined at 1:10

Jim Handy read the Commission's Mission and Vision Statements.

Norm will chair the Commission today on interim basis.

• None

Tori reported the Committee discussed the following:

• The criteria and process guide for the Moxie Public Schools expansion.
• The Community Regional Charter School proposed facility move.
• The proposed calendar for the upcoming year.
• The Maine Arts Academy amendment to their mission statement due to the addition of the middle school.
• The proposed Professional Development opportunities for the upcoming year.
• The graduation requirements for Charter Schools and Public Schools.

• No meeting in August

• No Meeting in August

• None

Lana reported that the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences has hired Ryan Anthony as the new Head of School.

• Lana shared an end of year priorities reflection from the Commission staff and reported that the three major goals for SY24-25 were completed.  
  • A new charter school was approved, Moxie Public Schools. 
  • A new Commission strategic plan was finalized and implemented.  
  • The Commission structure to become a public instrumentality of the state was approved through legislation. 
  • Presenting the "Annual Report to the Commissioner" to the Education Committee was the only goal not realized during the year as the Committee wasn't able to fit it into their calendar.  Tom suggested drawing on the legislative experience of several Commission members to determine topics the Education Committee should hear when the Commission gets a chance to present to them again.  Tori responded that providing transparent, factual information about charter schools would go a long way.  The more the Committee knows, the better.
  • Lana reported that Moxie Public Schools has signed their contract.  The School Performance Criteria reviewed and approved the process criteria the Commission will use to evaluate their expansion to additional campuses.  Tori clarified the process will be used for any school seeking to expand. 
• Amy provided a status update on the Commission's restructuring as a public instrumentality of the State.  She informed that an EIN # has been obtained and the staff is in the process of choosing a bank.  September 25th is the effective date to operate under the new structure.    
• Lana gave an overview of upcoming Professional Development opportunities planned throughout the year with the following partners:   
  • Board on Track will hold topical sessions for School Boards live and virtually. 
  • PLT Strategies will hold session with Schools & School Boards on communication strategies and will also hold one for the Commission.
  • NWEA will hold 3 training sessions for school leadership on testing results analysis.
  • Naomi-Rubin Deveaux will hold a session for School Boards to check in on their short-term goals planning and another session for the Commission to review the progress on its strategic plan progress.
• Lana provided an update on the Community Regional Charter School facility location search. They are looking at a proposed location in Waterville to take the place of their buildings which are in need of replacing and will present data to address concerns in September.  They have offered to host the September Commission meeting at their campus. 
• Lana and Norm met with the new chair of the State Board of Education.    
• Lana proposed the September Commission meeting will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month but starting in October, the meetings will be held on the 2nd Wednesday each month to align with the new State Board of Education meeting schedule.
• End of Year meetings with all the schools are being held to review the performance outcome submissions.  The conversations will inform the writing of the annual reports.

• Ecology Learning Center (Justin MacDonald)

• Ecology Learning Center (Beth Alma)
• Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences (Susan Doughty)

September

• Spring 2025 Panorama Survey Results Presentation
• FY25 Year End Reconciled Financials
• SY25-26 Commission Priorities
• Community Regional Charter School Presentation

October

• To Consider the Approval of ACADIA Academy's Renewal Application
• To Consider the Approval of Maine Arts Academy's Renewal Application

November

• To Receive and Place on File SY2024-25 Annual Monitoring Reports
• To Consider the Approval of the SY2024-25 Annual Report to the Commissioner

The Maine Arts Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be hosted in May.