Great Oaks Charter School - Bridgeport
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday April 5, 2017 at 5:15 PM
Location
Great Oaks Charter School; 510 Barnum Ave (2nd Floor Conference Room)
Great Oaks Charter School of Bridgeport's April board meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5th at 5:15 pm on the second floor of the school at 510 Barnum Ave. Those desiring to provide public comment must sign in between 5:00 and 5:15.
Directors Present
Amy Marshall, Dexter Upshaw, Ed Farrow (remote), Leticia Sepulveda, Pamela Fraser-Abder, Susan Briggs, Tamara Smith, Wade Eyerly (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
Amy Marshall, Wade Eyerly
Directors who left before the meeting adjourned
Ed Farrow
Guests Present
Adrienne Eckman, Ashley Guest, Christine English, Ivan Martinez, Khadija Marks, Melissa Frank, Michael Duffy, Michael McGregor, Nadina Juarez, Rashaun Reid, Rick Iandoli, Shana Hurley, Vanessa Ceas
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 Apr 5, 2017 at 5:19 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
Susan Briggs made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 03-08-17 Board Meeting on 03-08-17.
Dexter Upshaw seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Public Comment (As needed)
II. Governance Committee Report
A.
Approval of contract for Executive Principal
Dexter Upshaw made a motion to to ratify the contract for Brittney Jean-Louis as Executive Principal starting May 30.
Leticia Sepulveda seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Ed Farrow left.
III. Report from the Executive Director
A.
Dashboard Review
B.
Advocacy update for Per Pupil Funding
Executive Director M. Duffy described the work that Great Oaks is doing with our partner, Northeast Charter Schools Network, to identify a date for a planned press conference after the appropriations committee releases their budget. In addition, board members were invited to attend Charter Awareness day with Great Oaks Bridgeport families on May 2.
C.
Student Recruitment update
Director of Operations S. Hurley shared information about the 2017-2018 recruitment season. In time for its 4/5 lottery, GO-BPT received 320 applications for its 120 sixth grade seats with a high rate of prospective English Language Learner applicants. GO-BPT also met its goals for applications in grades 7 and 8.
S. Hurley and M. McGregor also discussed a strategies planned for retaining rising ninth graders in preparation for the first year of a Great Oaks Bridgeport high school.
S. Hurley and M. McGregor also discussed a strategies planned for retaining rising ninth graders in preparation for the first year of a Great Oaks Bridgeport high school.
Wade Eyerly arrived.
IV. Facilities and Finance
A.
Report from the Finance Committee
Director of Finance R. Iandoli and Treasurer S. Shahin provided an overview of GO-BPT's cash flow. The fourth quarter installment of per-pupil funding has come in and is expected to fund operating expenses through the end of the school year. One notable variance is outstanding special education reimbursement from Bridgeport Public Schools.
Amy Marshall arrived.
B.
Plan for FY 18 budget process
The Finance Committee will present the 2017-2018 budget at the June board meeting, providing time for the incoming Executive Principal to participate in the process of writing the budget.
C.
Development Report
Chief Operating Officer M. McGregor presented scenarios for capital and operating expenses as well as fundraising needs based on student enrollment.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Pamela Fraser-Abder 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 6:32 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shana Hurley
Additional discussion of Saturday Academy, a program targeted for students who are on the cusp of achieving proficiency, ensued. About forty students have been participating in the sessions led by eighth grade math teacher Mrs. Dortch.