Tom read the Mission and Vision statements.

Norm thanked the members for creating an environment where honest conversations can be held as evidenced by the participation in the Commission Strategic Planning Meeting.

In the upcoming legislative session, Norm anticipates conversation around how the Federal Government will use finances to advocate its agenda. At the state level, school choice will be discussed.  The Commission will monitor the impacts on Charter Schools.

None

Tori reported the following:

• The Committee discussed Fiddlehead's request to use its Yurt as classroom space and recommended the school revise and reconsider the request.    
• The Committee reviewed demographic breakdowns and discussed data anomalies among the schools regarding gender and school populations representative of the local community. 

Brian reported the Committee reviewed the following:

• The Fiddlehead Yurt proposal withdrawal.
• SY24-25 Enrollment Data with a slight increase in student counts and higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students and students with IEPs.
• 1st Quarter Financial Metrics for Schools with overall positive results and continued monitoring of those with high-risk scores.  
• The financial order requesting $118,000 from carryover funds - Committee approved.

Tom suggested the committee seek cross school professional development funding for innovative instruction modes.  

Norm reported the Committee discussed potential legislation to:

• amend the structure of Commission operations to allow the option to operate more independently as a state agency.  
• expand enrollment cap on virtual schools.

The Commission will monitor upcoming legislation and support if desired.  

Jana Lapointe clarified that the potential legislation concerning the enrollment cap for virtual schools is considered to allow a 10% over / underway leeway. 

Lana thanked Matt Newburg, the executive director at Maine Academy of Natural Sciences as he steps down for a new position. Matt reported that Evan Coleman and Pat Heyman will serve as school leaders on an interim basis until a search to start in January concludes. 

Heather King shared that Maine Arts Academy is holding a free community dinner served at their school on Christmas Eve at noon.  Recently, the students participated in a full theater performance and a dance performance at UMA and are working on a 3-D architectural rendering of the Cushnoc Brewery building in downtown Augusta for display there.  The students visited seven colleges in November.

For Community Regional Charter School, building principal Susan Muzzy reported that 11 staff members participated in a conference in Boston and are incorporating items learned within the school.  Elizabeth Firnkes shared a tool being used at Overman Academy to enhance mathematics skills, Pathways to Careers.

Anna Klein Christie reported Baxter's Chess team participated in a National Championship in D.C. and was on Maine Public Broadcasting on Friday.

Dr. Mary Madden presented Maine Virtual Academy's 3rd Party Evaluation for SY23-24.  The evaluation explored experiences of 16 newly enrolled students and their parent/caregiver by holding two interviews during the school year.  The interviews were held first early in the year to learn about the choice to come to MeVA and then towards the end of the year.

Highlights and challenges include the following:

• Student needs assessments are thorough.
• Video recording of lessons is helpful.
• Weekly newsletters are informative.
• Offering college classes is important.
• Teachers and staff respond quickly to questions. 
• Making peer connections is challenging. 
• Academic Progress almost always went up from previous school experiences.

Recommendations include the following:

• Continue to provide recordings of lessons and quickly respond to questions
• Provide public school guidance counselors with information on MeVA.
• Clarify in-person/social opportunities are limited.  Virtual experience is emphasized over in-person as the wide geographic area is a barrier to in-person meetings. 

Lana reported the following: 

Maine Arts Academy has received grants recently. 

• Kennebec Savings Bank Catalyst grant for $30,000 to pay for auditorium seating and a collaborative traveling theater production with Augusta's Colonial Theater.
• Whole Foods grant for $3,500 to pay for food warmers and other kitchen equipment.

Maine Arts Academy was on a segment of the Maine Business Show which highlighted what an arts education looks like for students in Maine.

Tom suggested a letter be sent thanking Kennebec Savings Bank for their partnership.

Lana reported the following:

• Binders with Maine Charter School Commission documents were provided to the Commissioners. 
• School Board members and leaders attended a professional development session yesterday. They provided feedback on the Commission's Strategic Plan and reviewed their own short-term goals.
• Lana graduated from the Georgetown course on educational finance, Edunomics.
• Commissioner Makin will attend the January Commission meeting to review and ask questions on Annual Report.
• Mid-year meetings with all the schools will take place in January.

Amy presented the Enrollment Data as of 10/1 with the following highlights:

• The total charter school student number increased since last year but is less than 2% of total Maine students.
• Most schools are meeting the contracted enrollments.
• Students from 143 Maine districts and 300 cities, towns or unorganized territories are enrolled.
• 22.88% of students have an IEP and 44.31% are economically disadvantaged. Both scores are higher than currently published state averages.
• Portfolio wide, gender and race breakdowns are comparable to the statewide breakdown, but   not in all individual school communities.
• Students speak 19 different languages, excluding English.

February 13th is the deadline for new school applications. The review/approval process will be discussed in the January meeting.