Soleil Academy
Minutes
Soleil Academy Board Meeting: September 20, 2023
Date and Time
Wednesday September 20, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Location
12315 Thorson Ave Lynwood, CA. 90262 (Satellite Option: 3900 Agnes Ave. Lynwood, CA 90262)
OR
Join Zoom Meeting
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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Board Meeting will be held at 3900 Agnes Ave, Lynwood, CA 90262 and on zoom on the above date and time. During the meeting, the Board will consider, discuss, and may take action upon any of the agenda items listed below.
PUBLIC COMMENT – Members of the public calling in or participating via Zoom will be given the opportunity to address the Board during the meeting. Members of the public who wish to comment during the Board meeting may use the “raise hand” function on the Zoom platform to indicate their desire to speak at the beginning of consideration of that agenda item or during the period provided for comments from the public on non-agenda items. Members of the public who wish to speak on any item are requested (but not required) to identify themselves and indicate on which agenda item they wish to speak. The Board will provide an opportunity for the public to speak on each agenda item for a maximum of three (3) minutes per person or six (6) minutes if a translation is required.
ACCESSIBILITY – If you need special assistance, disability-related modifications, translation, or other reasonable accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Gricelda Ramirez at (323) 409-0801. Notification at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting will enable Soleil Academy to make arrangements that will ensure accessibility.
Directors Present
J. Kinoshita, J. Noel, V. Gonzalez-Diaz, V. Reynolds
Directors Absent
A. Pariano, S. Johnson
Ex Officio Members Present
B. Gutierrez
Non Voting Members Present
B. Gutierrez
Guests Present
DeAnna Jones (remote), M. Serrano, R. Avilez
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Set the agenda
II. Consent Agenda
A.
Approve 7/15/23 Soleil Academy Board Meeting Minutes
B.
Approval of 23-24 Consolidated Application (ConApp) - Application for Funding
V. Reynolds asked if we are able to apply for Title III funding. As a school, Soleil is at the cusp of qualifying. A. Grant responded it is ultimately up to schools as to whether or not to apply for these funds.
C.
Approval of Unaudited Actuals Report
III. Management Update
A.
Soleil Management Updates
IV. Finance
A.
Updates
Deanna Jones reviewed financials.
Enrollment is great compared to other charter schools. Forecasted ADA percentage is 2.6% above budget.
Income: The difference between forecasted and budgeted amounts for LCFF is an increase in ESSER funds and the learning recovery funds.
Expenses: Budget for afterschool expenses was increased to match the expanded learning opportunity funds.
Balance sheet: Soleil is expected to end the year with roughly the same amount in cash position as of now.
B.
New ExEd VP Deanna Jones
Deana Jones will be taking over Soleil account this year
V. Governance
A.
Updates
B.
Yearly/Monthly Plan for Board Meetings
B. Gutierrez created a year at a glance listing approvals needed each month.
C.
Proposed Draft Bonus Structure
Executive Director bonus structure takes into account:
1. ADA/revenue
2. Financial management
3. Staff retention
4. Student achievement
5. Strategic planning
VI. Academic
A.
Beginning of Year Data
Principal Serrano noted the keys to increasing academic achievement will are consistent explicit phonics instruction and data systems.
NWEA Map scores (reading):
Our ELA Fall MAP scores score average this year in reading is 1.9, where last year’s cohort entered at an average of 2.27.
Most dramatic drops were in 3rd and 5th grade.
Three phase plan to increase reading achievement was presented.
Attendance
ADA for Month 1 is 94.16%. Soleil hopes to maintain/improve attendance as we move forward, especially in the TK grade.
J13-A school closure due to tropical storm Hillary on 8/21, which means SA will no longer meet teh 175 instructional day requirement for the academic year. To address this situation, we are required to complete and submit a J13-A form to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) for approval to prevent SA from having to another instructional day to the calendar.
Enrollment
Actual enrollment 332. SA continues to try and fill seats, mostly in the upper grades and there is no current waitlist in those grades. Lower grades are in good shape.
Family Engagement
Over 200 families attended Back to School Night. Cafecitos was well attended, with 93 families. More parent engagements will be planned for October and November.
Prop 39
Open Enrollment for the 24-25 SY began on Monday, September 1. Goal is to add another TK class. Deadline for the 24-25 SY Prop39 Application is November 1st
B. Gutierrez introduced draft board goals. Academic and Governance committees will meet to discuss the proposed goals and brought to the October board meeting for approval.