Amani Public Charter School
Minutes
Amani Board Meetings
Date and Time
Monday December 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Directors Present
A. Spencer (remote), G. Johnson (remote), G. Sardi (remote), J. Killoran (remote), J. Kuo (remote), M. Smith, P. Morenberg (remote), S. WuDunn, T. Houston (remote)
Directors Absent
P. Smith, S. Edwards
Ex Officio Members Present
D. Stern
Non Voting Members Present
D. Stern
Guests Present
B. Tanner, C. Stern, L. Marshall, N. Thurman, S. Parande
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Kim Johnson (CSBM) presented the financials.
As of the end of October, which is the last month that we have closed so far. We are in the process of working on November now.
B.
Educational Accountability
C.
Fundraising
Fundraising committee shared the annual letter.
The board discussed the plan to mail out the annual letter.
D.
Capital Campaign
Charles Stern (chair of Capital Campaign) shared the recent walk-through of the Parole Building. Also provided an update that the plan is to begin to reach out to Charter School real estate development groups.
III. Governance
A.
Board Members Approved
Debra Stern
Shared that the following board members are not officially approved by the state:
John Kuo
Alex Spencer
Max Smith
Sondra WuDunn
B.
Board Members Pending
Debra Stern
Shared that the following board members applications are still pending:
Paul Morenberg
Gina Sardi
C.
Board Training
IV. Management School Report
A.
Grants Update
B.
Recruitment Season
Bruce Tanner (Director of Operations)
shared the updated enrollment numbers
Also shared that the school will continue to enroll at all grade levels.
C.
Budgeting and Cash Flow Discussion
Niamh Thurman (Business Manager) riased the issue that we have heard from the Mount Vernon School District that the next invoice will be paid out on Friday, December 22nd.
Requested from the board advice regarding the line of credit.
Advised the board that we are prepared to initiative the Intercept process if the funds are not released to us on Friday, December 22nd.
D.
Meeting with the Mount Vernon City School District
Sophia Parande (Principal) reported on the positive meeting with members of the Mount Vernon School - Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum.
V. Other Business
A.
Upcoming Events
Debra Stern - Shared the following upcoming events:
Dancing Classroom Culminating Event - Friday, December 15
Winter Concert - Tuesday, December 19
Staff Holiday Party - Wednesday, December 20
Debra Stern (ED)
Shared holiday cookies with all of the members present at the meeting.
John Kuh raised the issue regarding the lease and the contingent potential conditional liability surrounding the build-outs and things done by the landlord.
Suggested that the board get guidance on how best to address the situation.
Tamara Houston raised the question about the landlord's billing for this portion.
John Kuo noted that what the board seeks is guidance on whether or not the right position to reflect this liability on financials.
Another board member asked a question about what was specified in the original contract regarding this.
Debra Stern noted that this was contingent on providing invoicing and backup for the work which has not happened as of yet.
Sondra WuDunn offered to begin to investigate possible real estate attorneys.
Kim Johnson (CSBM) added that the audited financial statements disclose this relationship in a footnote.