Leigh thanked all for attending and the Commission members for their flexibility in serving.

None

Tori reported the Committee discussed the following: 

• SY25-26 Commission Priorities as presented by Lana. 
• Panorama Survey Results as presented by Amy.  Tori noted the Committee concerns for two schools with poor results.

Brian Langley reported the Committee discussed the following:

• The Commission's Reconciled FY25 Financials.
• School 4th Qtr. Financial Results which showed improvement over FY24. He noted Cash Flow as the most challenging metric.
• SY25-26 Commission Priorities as presented by Lana. 
• The MCSC's structure change to a Public Instrumentality.  The Commission has chosen Bangor Savings Bank for its banking/payroll needs and expects to receive funds including a carryover of approximately $600K in October.

Leigh reported the Committee discussed the following:

• SY25-26 Commission Priorities as presented by Lana.
• Committee Membership

None

Travis Works (Executive Director), Elizabeth Firnkes and Susan Muzzy (Building Principals) addressed the Commission regarding Community Regional Charter School's ("CRCS") new facility search for a combined school.

Travis described CRCS's unique learning model that is designed to meet diverse learning needs in a rural area.  The school uses an ungraded, customized, flexible model with competency-based advancement.  Student selected seminars integrating multiple subjects are designed to meet learning targets and proficiency is measured on evidence over time.  Susan Muzzy noted the customized learning differentiates the school from a traditional graded model and emphasized that the school is not in competition with other schools but seeks to offer a different option to fit diverse student needs.  

Travis described the benefits of a new combined school facility and a property found on Trafton Rd. in Waterville that offers public utility access, fire safety compliance and the availability of 3-phase power needed for HVAC systems. He stated the school has not found another property in the Skowhegan / Cornville area that offers these options cost effectively. The school is under contract for this property as of July 2025. Waterville will need to approve zoning for the project.  

Travis discussed the transportation challenges for the current locations.  There are long bus rides for students which are difficult logistically and long commutes impact staff retention.  The Waterville location would improve this.  Bus start times would be no earlier than 7 am and students and staff could leave earlier to provide improved work-life balance.  He stated the school is committed to servings students across its current geographic area.

Travis noted the school has local lawmaker and community leader support for the move and that the school is the only one with its ungraded model.  To address enrollment concerns of area public and charter schools, CRCS is in favor of a cap limiting its high school enrollment and are open to high school students enrolling in other schools which best suit individual needs.  He stated that CRCS is committed to being a good community partner.  

Susan addressed current academic performance and noted that fragmented programming caused by extra travel between schools and staff recruitment due to the current remote locations are challenges.  A new combined location would improve this environment.  They will address performance by focusing on staff retention and lowering chronic absenteeism.  She also noted that the NWEA time-based testing does not lend itself to the CRCS learning model which is ungraded.  This may explain why CRCS Accuplacer results are strong while NWEA scores are lower.          

Norm and Jim requested CRCS provide documentation of any public support given.

Tori asked for clarification for caps on enrollments of future high school students.  

Tom asked about available retention data for families who prefer a small school environment.  

Lana welcomed all to the new school year and noted Charter School enrollment is up in Maine. 

• MCA is launching a college and early career readiness program this year.
• MeArts has successfully opened their Middle School and held a Maine Arts Academy Camp themed orientation to welcome students and focus on relationship building.  
• MeVA has been accredited through Cognia.  They went through a rigorous external review process which signals that the school is credible and met educational benchmarks.  this accreditation allows more scholarship opportunities for students.
• Fiddlehead School doubled their Pre-K program this year.

Lana provided the following updates:

The SY25-26 Priorities for Commission and Staff are:

• To support Moxie Public School's work to open in the Fall 2026.
• To strengthen Charter School Messaging by offering Professional Development with PLT Strategies.
• To expand Professional Development offerings for School Boards. 
• To successfully implement the shift to a Public Instrumentality Commission organization structure. 

ACADIA and Maine Arts Academy are in the renewal process.  Their applications have been filed and Focus Groups and Public Hearings will be held this month.  The Commission vote for renewal will be in October.    

School End of Year Meetings were held in August.  Staff visited all the schools and reviewed the Performance Framework results.  The outcome will be included in the Annual Reports approved by Commission in November.

Professional Development for School Leadership Teams has been scheduled.  

Amy reviewed the summary level results of the Spring Panorama Surveys.

• Participation levels increased since last year. 
• 4 of 9 schools are meeting or exceeding expectations.
• 3 schools are not meeting expectations for students in grades 3-5.  Amy noted the staff will review in more detail to understand the survey results for this group. 
• 2 schools are not meeting expectations across most groups surveyed.

The review for SY2024-25 Year End Unenrollment/Enrollment will be conducted in the October meeting due to time constraints.

Leigh recognized Jessica Dionne joining the CRCS Board and Jonas Maines and John Neal joining the Maine Arts Academy Board.

Leigh noted the resignations of James Hodgkin and Nikki Reinholt on the CRCS Board.

Leigh and Lana recognized and thanked the following long term Board members whose terms expired:

Susan Doughty - Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences

Sherry Gilbert - Maine Arts Academy

Janna Townsend - Maine Arts Academy

Lana thanked the long term members who termed out.

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

• September 16, 2025 (9:00am-11:00am) for School Leaders
  • Map Growth: Reports for Teachers: Analyze Start Data Virtual post-assessment administration
• September 23, 2025 (10:00am-12:00pm) for Board Members and School Leaders
  • Board 101 and Introduction to BoardOnTrack
• October 28, 2025 (10:00am-11:30am) for Board Members and School Leaders
  • Finding, Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Board Members to Meeting Your 3-5 Year Goals 
• November 12, 2025 (9:30am-12:00pm) for Commission Members
  • Message and Media Training
• November 13, 2025 (9:30am to 12:00pm) for School Leaders
  • Why Communications and Advocacy Matters
• May 2, 2026 (11:00am-1:00pm)
  • Maine Arts Academy 10-Year Anniversary Gala

• October 14 (Room #103, Cross Office Building, Augusta or Zoom)
• November 12 (Room #103, Cross Office Building, Augusta or Zoom)