• Norm gave praise for performance development session with the school board members yesterday as held by Naomi. 
• Marshall Communication Op-Ed by Lana and Norm. Not issuing any. 
• Lana meeting with commissioner, positive step. And looking at tentative dates to report to committee in January. 

Tori presented as head of committee.

Went over topics discussed during the committee:

• US News and World Report School Ranking Article - MCA #1 middle school. 
• Chronic Absenteeism information released from State. Four schools above state average, three below state average on this for charters. 
• MCA wanting to alter contract including no longer have Scarborough office building. Concern due to them having just won an award. But doing so could bring in more staff from different areas of state. 
• Brainstormed about new charter school application ideas/partnerships. 

Leigh presented as head of committee.

Went over topics discussed during the committee:

•  Acadia requesting short term loan approval through independent loaner. 
•  MCA's contract for the next five years and considering changing location of school or getting rid of location. From a finance perspective, curious that the money saved from this could maybe be used to go into more for the students. 
•  Financial audit update from Joe Drago, will be getting more audits soon. 
•  CRCS considering moving to a new location. 
•  Amy confirmed that all year end financials have been reconciled. 

Norm presented as head of committee.

Went over topics discussed during the committee meeting:

• Brainstorming and going over 10th charter school ideas for upcoming new school application.
• Marshall Communications Op-Ed, press release about the top schools. 

No Public Comment. 

Mandy Cyr via The Children's Collaborative presented reports of evaluation. 

• Evaluation is to consider state of school and gauge progress on recommendations from last year's TPE.
• Pearson is a large provider of services that school utilizes. 
• TPE is an audit to help feel the school is getting its money's worth out of Pearson.
• School is making progress toward its goals. 
• Students were asked about interest in Pearson models. 
• Five findings stand out: Positive school culture and climate that has been improving, enrollment is up. Relationships matter. Satisfaction with Pearson and overall work environment is up since previous years. Parents choose MCA to avoid poor services elsewhere, not as a last resort. Past parent concerns no longer exist. 
• MCA took recommendations to heart with academics.
• Social/emotional health of student body, plus mental health needs of students should continue to be prioritized as it is. 
• Gather more reliable data.
• Anxiety and major bullying from other schools were large reasons for students attending MCA.

Dr. Madden presented Maine Virtual Academy's Third Party Evaluation.

• Limited participation from students. 
• New enrollment process, number of steps that had to be done to complete enrollment process. 
• Re-enrollment was consolidated from a two part to a one part process. 
• Changes overall that staff made to enrollment process worked well; no negative comments, all positive. 
• Mental health challenges are top reason for MeVA enrollment, or were bullied for middle schoolers.
• For high schoolers, top reasons were them having trouble with in person learning environments or social anxiety. 
• Parents and students were invited to participate in the case studies. Almost all of the students had a level of special needs which encouraged them to join virtual environments. Case studies made up most of evaluation. 
• Participation for in person for in person events for student requirements be looked at more?

• Lana recognized and congratulated the three charter school for ranking in top 10 school in Maine in MeVA, MCA top 10 for middle schools. MCA was #1. And Baxter was top 10 for high schools. 
• Destiny Shepherd is an ELC student who was recognized by Waldo County Tech Center for her work in graphic design. 
• Tessier Wing and alumni being created at 
• MeAA students performed at Colby College dance concert and Augusta Adult Education event and Holiday Tree Center.
• Mid-Maine Technical Center released honor roll which included students from Means, MCA, and MeVA.
• MCA Student Shoutouts: Cara Dutton of Fryeburg who is an 8th grader into competitive cattle showing and competes in fairs. Excells academically. Isaac Sheen 8th grader from Brunswick recognized for youth program with sea cadet program and is the highest ranking cadet and youth leader. 
• Confirmed graduation space from Heather King's school. 

• Annual report to commissioner was submitted. 
• Commissioner is hoping to attend a commission meeting early next year to discuss findings of annual report. 
• Lana and Norm will be attending a commission meeting in January, date TBD. 
• Charter schools continuing getting enrollment past 10/1 count throughout year data was discussed with commissioner.
• Board on Track update - all documents and files in the software. Hoping to roll out BoardonTrack for all commission members to have access soon. 
• Goals to redesign website. 
• Plans to analyze data of engagement levels with schools. 
• Thursday - MeANS and ELC attending "Can We" Project in Augusta. Goal is for students to discuss controversial issues and a thoughtful and respective manner and to find common ground. 

None.

Amy presented.

• Report was certified and DOE accepted. 
• 8 of 9 schools are significantly up in enrollment. 
• With a school closure, still lost only 40 students since last school year.
• Higher than state average for both special education and economically disadvantaged students across charter schools. 
• Demographic data breakdowns - grade, gender, race, language, IEPs, economically disadvantaged, district/location.

None. 

• New member of board at Maine Arts Academy - Mitchell Thomas. 

None.

None.

January 9, 2024 at 1pm via Zoom and in the Cross Building at 111 Sewall Street, Room #103.