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Maine Charter School Commission

Minutes

Monthly Commission Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday November 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM

Location

Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences, 25 Shaker Road, Gray, Maine 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.

Directors Present

James Ford, Jim Handy, Leigh Albert, Norm Higgins, Tom Keller, Tori Kornfield

Directors Absent

Brian Langley

Guests Present

Amy Allen (remote), Susan Whipkey

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Norm Higgins called a meeting of the board of directors of Maine Charter School Commission to order on Tuesday Nov 12, 2024 at 1:09 PM.

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

C.

To Consider the Approval of the 10/08/24 Commission Meeting Minutes

Jim Handy made a motion to approve the minutes from the Monthly Commission Meeting on 10-08-24.
James Ford seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Leigh Albert
Aye
Tori Kornfield
Aye
Brian Langley
Absent
Norm Higgins
Aye
Tom Keller
Aye
Jim Handy
Aye
James Ford
Aye

II. Comments from Commission Chair

A.

Comments

Norm discussed the recent Maine elections.  He and Amy will be monitoring the upcoming legislative agenda. 

III. Additions or Adjustments to the Agenda

A.

Additions/Adjustments

None

IV. Committee Reports

A.

School Performance Committee

  • Tori reported that the Committee reviewed the Annual Monitoring Reports for all schools.
  • Tom asked if the Commission could fund Math support across all schools.  
  • Norm emphasized the value of the report review by the School Performance Committee which provides important feedback to school leadership.
  • Jim urged all schools to fully participate in the Panorama survey to spotlight areas of concern.

 

 

 

B.

Finance Committee

Leigh reported that the Committee discussed the following:

 

  • CRCS's Feasibility Study - Nothing is finalized but a Raymond James representative provided a progress report. Norm informed that the Commission will be asked to recommend moving forward with the project at some point.  Joe Drago pointed out that in addition to finances, it will be important to have a clear educational model.  How will the new facility improve the students' experience?  
  • The financial portion of the Annual Monitoring Report - Near term measures are generally healthy while long term measures reflect more risk.   
  • Commission Charged Oversight Fee - The Committee voted to keep the FY26 fee at the FY25 level.

 

 

 

C.

Executive Committee - No meeting held

No meeting was held in November.

 

 

V. Public Comment*

A.

Public Comment

None

VI. Presentation

A.

Fiddlehead

  • Jacinda Cotton-Castro provided an overview of the history and recent operations of the Fiddlehead School.  Since the negative effects of the pandemic, they are working to improve Panorama results. 
  • Principal Jason Manjourides and consultant Ann presented a teacher resource document they have developed that outlines the educational vision at Fiddlehead.  Jason also discussed their work to address chronic absenteeism. 
  • Bill Doughty, Board Chair discussed the school's investment in an integrated Teacher Assistant (TA) Model that has been reintroduced this year after a pause.  He also relayed that there will be a drop in enrollment next year due to closing enrollment in grades 6,7, and 8. 

 

 

VII. Executive Director/Commission Staff Report

A.

School Updates

Amy reported the following:

  • The MDOE Newsroom published an article about the Fiddlehead Yurt.
  • ACADIA Board changes - Founding members Chris Brann, Treasurer and Sean Siebert have termed out. Amy Dieterich has termed out as President but will remain on the board for one more year.
  • Matt Newberg, Head of School at Maine Academy of Natural Sciences has resigned.  

 

B.

Organizational Updates

Amy reported that Mid-Year Meetings with all schools have been scheduled for January.  The focus will be on areas where schools are not approaching or meeting metrics. with focus on areas not meeting on metrics.

 

A school that submitted a letter of intent to file a New School Application has withdrawn.  There are 6 remaining schools who may submit the full application.

 

 

 

 

C.

Media Updates

VIII. New Business Requiring Approval and/or Acceptance

A.

To Receive and Place on File SY2023-24 Annual Monitoring Reports

Tori Kornfield made a motion to receive and place on file all SY2023-24 Annual Monitoring Reports.
Jim Handy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Leigh Albert
Aye
Norm Higgins
Aye
Tori Kornfield
Aye
Tom Keller
Aye
Jim Handy
Aye
James Ford
Aye
Brian Langley
Absent

B.

To Receive and Place on File SY2023-24 Annual Report to the Commissioner

Jim Handy made a motion to receive and place on file SY2023-24 Annual Report to the Commissioner.
Tori Kornfield seconded the motion.

Tom provided one edit and Amy will make the update.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Tori Kornfield
Aye
Tom Keller
Aye
James Ford
Aye
Brian Langley
Absent
Norm Higgins
Aye
Jim Handy
Aye
Leigh Albert
Aye

IX. Future Topics

A.

Future Topics

  • Enrollment Data
  • Strategic Plan
  • Professional Development will be held on December 10th at 10:00

X. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 2:37 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
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.