Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday May 11, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Location
Great Oaks Bridgeport - 2nd floor conference room
Directors Present
Amy Marshall, Dexter Upshaw, Ed Farrow, Leticia Sepulveda, Pamela Fraser-Abder, Susan Briggs, Tamara Smith
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
Jessica Walters, Michael Duffy, Monica Maccera Filppu, Rashaun Reid (remote), Rick Iandoli, Shana Hurley
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Ed Farrow called a meeting of the board of directors of Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport to order on Wednesday May 11, 2016 at 5:20 PM.
C.
Approve March Minutes
Dexter Upshaw made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 03-09-16 Board Meeting on 03-09-16.
Pamela Fraser-Abder seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Approve April Minutes
Dexter Upshaw made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 04-06-16 Board Meeting on 04-06-16.
Pamela Fraser-Abder seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Rashaun Reid arrived.
II. Governance and Policy
A.
Approval of new board member: Amy Marshall (host district designee)
A. Marshall is the Bridgeport Public Schools representative to our board. A career educator, Ms. Marshall led Beardsley School from being named a failing school to a nationally recognized school. Formerly the Chief Academic Officer of Bridgeport Public Schools, she is now the Executive Director of Elementary Education. She is also a resident of Bridgeport.
Dexter Upshaw made a motion to moved to accept Amy Marshall as a new member of the Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport Board of Directors.
Tamara Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Announcement of Board Retreat date
C.
Response from the state to our Enrollment Request for SY 16-17
Executive Director M. Maccera shared an update about the Connecticut State Department of Education's response to the Great Oaks request for grade growth. The issue was referred to the Academic Committee to discuss its implications on program design.
D.
Public Comment Policy
S. Briggs shared a proposed policy on procedures for public comments at a Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport. A. Marshall recommended additional language about not using names of students or staff or speaking disparagingly during comments.
Dexter Upshaw made a motion to accept the policy on procedure for public comment, with the addition of language included to protect the names of the students or staff as discussed.
Tamara Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Report from the Executive Director
A.
Review April Dashboard
M. Maccera presented the April data dashboard. Lunch detentions declined in the month of April.
B.
Presentation of CEP proposal from Operations team
Tamara Smith made a motion to accept the Community Eligibility Provision proposal for the federal free and reduced price meals program.
Susan Briggs seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Walters presented a proposal to accept the Community Eligibility Provision for the Great Oaks school food service program.
IV. Academic Excellence
A.
Report from the Academic Committee
On May 6th, the Academic Committee met with a representative of the Swedish education organization Kunskapsskolan (KED). KED's model is focused on student agency and working with students to set goals around academic mastery. Discussion about implementing KED-inspired practices at the Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport high school ensued.
V. Facilities and Finance
A.
Report from the Finance Committee
R. Iandoli reviewed the financial dashboard. The cash position of GO-BPT looks strong from now until the end of the school year. Discussion of the 2016-2017 budget will continue after the Academic Committee considers 2016-2017 enrollment. Board members tabled a discussion and vote on the line of credit to the next meeting.
B.
Update on the building project and financing
M. Duffy shared that work on the long-term space is on-going.
C.
Proposal to form a Fundraising Committee
Board members expressed interest in forming a cross-functional fundraising task force. Members will brainstorm potential candidates for the fundraising committee and/or the Board of Directors.
D.
National Americorps opportunity
M. Duffy provided the board with an update about the Great Oaks Foundation's effort to secure AmeriCorps funding for the Tutor Corps program. Two avenues are being pursued, the AmeriCorps National Direct Program and the Connecticut Commission on Community Service.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Pamela Fraser-Abder made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Leticia Sepulveda seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:34 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shana Hurley