Adrienne Mason welcomed community members attending the meeting.

No public members were present at the start of the meeting; Matt and Crystal expected to join later.
 

Note: Community members are allotted 3-5 minutes for comments. The board listens but does not directly respond per FERPA guidelines.

• Email and Board on Track Access:
  • All board members were reminded to ensure access to their Rooted School email and the Board on Track system for agendas, documents, and meeting RSVPs. Steven will assist anyone having trouble with access.
• Board Participation in "Friends of Rooted" Event:
  • Adrienne Mason thanked board members for their participation in the Friends of Rooted event and students who presented. Further discussion was deferred to later in the meeting.

Balance Sheet Overview

• Total assets: $3M
• Liabilities: $2M
• Equity: $1.5M
• Revenue (Year-to-Date): $293,000 (11% of the annual budget)
• Expenditures (Year-to-Date): $140,000
• Days of cash on hand: 90+ (target: 60)

Enrollment

• Enrollment count for September: 61 (budgeted for 70); current: 57.
• Discussion of small school funding eligibility and the need to increase student count to 140 to maximize funding. Additional strategies to address current enrollment were discussed.

SPED Funding

• Currently exceeding the 15% state threshold for special education, qualifying for additional funding. However, actual costs of special education services remain underfunded by the state allocation.

Student Representatives' Report

• Student representatives Samantha and Crystal delivered an enthusiastic report on recent and upcoming student activities:
  • Fundraising: "Boo Grams" were sold at $1 each to fund the upcoming Halloween Glow Party.
  • Halloween Glow Party: Scheduled for October 25, with strong volunteer support from parents for food and decorations, though additional chaperones are still needed.
  • Spirit Week: Reported high engagement and participation with themes each day, including Anything But a Backpack Day, Sports Day, Group Matching Day, Advisory Colors Day, and Formal Friday.
• The Board offered to assist with remaining needs for the party and was encouraged to donate or volunteer if available.

Operations Report (Steven)

• Curriculum Updates: New math and reading intervention programs—Math Nation and Achieve 3000—are in place.
• Professional Development: Staff completed trauma-sensitive practices training, reinforcing the school's commitment to supporting students impacted by trauma.
• Enrollment Update: Current enrollment is 57 students, slightly below the target of 70. Several families visited the school recently, with the hope that more students will join for the upcoming semester.
• Enrollment Plan: Steven shared a comprehensive enrollment strategy, including community outreach, post-election canvassing, and informational events, supported by board participation in community canvassing.
• Behavioral Data Tool (Supported School): An overview of the Supported School platform was given, showing its capacity to track and analyze student behavior and support needs by time, location, and type, which aids in targeted intervention planning.

Executive Director Report (Steven)

• Red Comet Vendor Transition: Due to testing constraints, certain courses on Red Comet will now be taught by in-house teachers.
• Compliance and Strategic Goals: All compliance submissions are on time, with an upcoming update on student progress per the NWEA MAP assessments.
• Johns Hopkins Cultural Survey: Recently launched, results are expected by late December or early January.
• Open Seat Program: Mental health support provided at no cost through the Open Seat program, benefiting students with coaching services available in-school.

Scheduled for December 7 at Rooted School; will fulfill mandatory DEI training for all board members.

Survey launched to gather input from students, staff, and families. Results anticipated by December-January.

• Total funds raised at the event: $1,825 with $400 in-kind contributions from board members.
• Future planning will incorporate a targeted approach to increase board engagement and broaden reach beyond immediate networks.

Fundraising and Financial Development

Friends of Rooted Fundraising Event Recap

• Total funds raised at the event: $1,825 with $400 in-kind contributions from board members.
• Future planning will incorporate a targeted approach to increase board engagement and broaden reach beyond immediate networks.

Long-Term Development

• Discussion of the need to close a projected $300,000 budget gap for operational sustainability. Exploration of outsourcing fundraising and increasing grant applications were discussed.

Facilities and Growth

• Expansion to include a middle school and reach an enrollment target of 350-500 was discussed as a strategic goal to achieve funding stability.

February is the target for the next fundraising event, pending finalization.