Brian Langley arrived at 1:30

Norm thanked Heather King, Head of School for the Maine Arts Academy for hosting the meeting this month.

Norm will visit ACADIA Academy and Fiddlehead School.  Lana will coordinate the meeting. 

There are two public hearings coming up.  

None

Tori reported the Committe reviewed the following:

• Revisions for the Innovation Fund application.  They suggested a few updates including an emphasis on Commission priorities for the awards.
• Renewal reports for the Ecology Learning Center and for Maine Virtual Academy.
• Maine Arts Academy request for its middle school addition.

Leigh reported the Committee reviewed the following:

• The FY22-23 monitoring report addendum for financial indicators based on school's audited results.
• The Commission FY25 YTD Budget vs Actual Report.
• The school's FY24 Financial results based on 4th quarter reporting.

Lana thanked Joe Drago for his work presenting the quarterly risk data in a clear, easy to interpret way.

Norm reported on the following:

• Progress is being made on the DFAS recommendation to decouple the operations of the MCSC from state.
• The composition of MCSC going forward.  A number of Commissioners (Tom, Norm, Leigh, Brian and Jim) have terms to expire on June 30, 2025.  Recommendations will be needed to continue, renominate, etc. Tom suggested it would be helpful to contact Missy O'Neal-Low, the Commission's liaison to the DOE for guidance.  

None

• Lana wished a happy start to the school year to all schools.
• Lana reminded the group that ACADIA Academy has hired Heather Bucklin as the new Executive Director for the school upon Casey Baugher's resignation.  Heather introduced herself and discussed the role change for the Executive Director's position. Her role will be focused on academics while the business, finance and HR functions will be separated.  The school is in the process of hiring a business manager. 

Lana reviewed the annual calendar of the MCSC staff work. The priorities for the year include:

• New Charter School Vote - The applications are due in February.  A committee of two Commission members and Lana will be formed to review the schools' applications using a rubric for judging. The committee will recommend finalists to the full Commission who will in turn decide which school applications move forward into the final round.  The final round includes a Commission interview and a public hearing prior to a May vote. The committee review team will work with David Hartman from Zenn Education.  Currently, there is no priority concerning the type of school to be chosen (rural, urban, pre-k, elementary, etc.).
• Finalize and implement the strategic plan - The Commission will meet December 10th to formalize the final draft of the 3-year strategic plan to go into effect in January 2025.  Feedback for the draft will be provided by School boards and leaders on December 9th.
• Commission Staff organizational structure - Possible legislative changes may give the MCSC more autonomy and clarification in terms of how the Charter school works with the State.
• Lana finished the annual calendar review by providing highpoints for Commission monthly activity.

Lana provided an update of the ELC and MeVA renewal process. Both submitted their applications for a five-year charter renewal on time.  Focus groups and classroom observations have been completed for both schools and both are on track for next month's vote.  The School Performance Committee has reviewed the Year 4 Performance report.  The report along with summaries of public hearings and the staff's renewal recommendation for both schools will be available to the full Commission prior to the October vote. 

Innovation Fund - Commission includes $40k in budget for the innovation fund.  Lana will forward criteria to schools and encourage them to apply.  The Commission priorities include a demonstration of rigorous learning and high student engagement to increase achievement. Other priorities include a program to run for the school year; a program that impacts many students; collaboration with other schools; a program to provide new experiences for students; a program for a school not funded in the previous year.   These priorities are the things the Commission is the most interested in, but they are not hard and fast rules. 

• ACADIA Academy (Alicia Laroche)

October

• To Consider the Approval of Ecology Learning Center's Renewal Application
• To Consider the Approval of Maine Virtual Academy's Renewal Application
• SY2023-24 Unenrollment Data

November

• To Receive and Place on File SY2023-24 Annual Monitoring Reports
• To Consider the Approval of the SY2023-24 Annual Report to the Commissioner

December

• 10/1/24 Student Enrollment Data Breakdowns

Maine Virtual Academy's Independent Third Party Evaluation Presentation

• 9/17/24 Public Hearing for Renewal - Ecology Learning Center (2:30-4:00pm/42 Depot Street, Unity)
• 9/26/24 Public Hearing for Renewal - Maine Virtual Academy (1:00-2:30pm/ZOOM)
• 12/9/24 Governing Board Strategic Planning PD Session (10:00-12:00pm)
• 12/10/24 Commission Strategic Planning PD Session (10:00-12:00pm)

• October 8, 2024 (Cross Office Building, Room #103, Augusta) or Zoom
• November 12, 2024 (Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences, 25 Shaker Road, Gray) or Zoom
• December 10, 2024 (Cross Office Building, Room #103, Augusta) or Zoom