Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday February 8, 2017 at 5:15 PM

Location

Great Oaks Charter School; 510 Barnum Ave (2nd Floor Conference Room)
Great Oaks Charter School of Bridgeport's November board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 8th  at 5:15 pm on the second floor of the school at 510 Barnum Ave. 

Directors Present

Dexter Upshaw (remote), Ed Farrow (remote), Pamela Fraser-Abder (remote), Susan Briggs, Tamara Smith

Directors Absent

Amy Marshall, Leticia Sepulveda

Guests Present

Christine English, Christine English, Michael Duffy, Michael McGregor, Monica Brown, Monica Maccera Filppu, Rashaun Reid, Rick Iandoli, Shana Hurley

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Susan Briggs called a meeting of the board of directors of Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport to order on Wednesday Feb 8, 2017 at 5:29 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Susan Briggs made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 01-11-17 Board Meeting on 01-11-17.
Tamara Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Report from the Executive Director

A.

Dashboard Review

B.

Advocacy Needs for Per Pupil Funding

Executive Director M. Maccera shared an analysis of the governor's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget provides allocates fewer seats for charter school grade growth than anticipated. The GO-BPT board considered different advocacy actions in coordination with GO-BPT partner NECSN. 
W. Eyerly made a motion to authorize S. Briggs to review ConnCAN's proposal to join an amicus brief regarding the recent CCJEF ruling and how the state is funding charter schools. 
T. Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. Facilities and Finance

A.

Report from the Finance Committee

R. Iandoli shared an overview of the financial dashboard. The operating gap for FY1718 has been nearly resolved. 

B.

Development Report

M. Brown shared an update on fundraising. The Great Oaks Foundation is applying for grants from previous fundraisers and some new leads. She also shared the efforts of the Foundation to garner political support for the long-term space. 

C.

Facilities Update

M. McGregor provided an update on the efforts to outfit the short-term space at 510 Barnum Ave. as well as the long-term facility at Cherry St. The Foundation is working with the Bridgeport Trade and Technology Center on permitting the space. The contractor is expected to break ground in March, which will keep the build out of the short-term space according to schedule. 

With respect to the long-term space, Great Oaks recently participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Cherry St. lofts. Closing for the long-term space is expected in late February or early March. Discussion of financing the short-term construction and the long-term facility ensued. 

T. Smith made a motion to refer additional discussion to a special meeting. 
W. Eyerly seconded the motion. 
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion. 

IV. Academic Excellence

A.

Report of the Academic Committee

T. Smith presented updates from the recent Academic Committee meeting. They continue to explore options for Tier II and Tier III behavioral interventions for some of GO-BPT's most challenging students. The Academic Committee also discussed procedures for expulsion. S. Briggs will continue to lend her expertise to continue to develop those policies. 

V. Governance Committee Report

A.

Executive Session

T. Smith made a motion to enter into executive session at 6:50.
S. Briggs seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
The following members entered into executive session: L. Sepulveda, S. Briggs, A. Marshall, E. Farrow, T. Smith and P. Fraser-Abder. The board invited the following guests to join the executive session: M. Maccera, M. Duffy, R. Reid, M.McGregor, R. Iandoli, M. Brown, C. English and S. Hurley. 

W. Eyerly made a motion to end executive session at 7:01.
T. Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Wade Eyerly made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Tamara Smith 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 7:02 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Shana Hurley