The purpose of the exercise was to highlight goals for the board as a group and individually related to upcoming academic year. 

The board stressed the need for adaptability to meet these goals and the need to leverage technology for efficiency.

The board disccused the 15th anniversary gala, laying out the date, Gala timelines and strategies, roles and responsibilties and expectations.

Raj Thakkar of Charter School Business Management gave a Finance Workshop. The presentation focused on best practices for board members. 

Highlights included fiduciary responsibility, how to properly conduct an audit, addressing deficits and keeping them manageable, fundraising standards, operating within community norms, having a reality-based budget forecasted through the end of fiscal year, financial transparency, having a fiscal calendar that utilizes concrete deadlines and deliverables, distinguishing between wants and needs, addressing growth, political realities, and the importance of offering competitive salaries.

Some noted the retreat was too compressed and needed to be 2 days instead of one. Another noted the need for board members to be specialists in varied areas rather than generalists who all handle similar tasks. 

Overall board member feedback was positive, as some noted the retreat was “encouraging” and “insightful.”