Elaine S. too the board through the monthly financials and stated that there are very few changes.

The revenue side the change is due to enrollment.

On expense side the variance is due to some furniture and technology expense. Jenny added that there was a budget of $50,000 for furniture.  The vendor replaced broken furniture without charge and so that money was used for technology.

On balance sheet side, everything looks strong and is on track for this year.

Jenny shared an email from a data meeting.  Her example was upper loop math data meeting.

They looked at the math state data and compared it to state exam and other test data.

She explained how she worked with teachers when looking at data.

Examples of what they looked at:

• mid or late grade level iReady about same as state - 3's and 4's.
• early grade level - some tested 3 and some 2's.
• looked at students using iReady platform and those who are not passing the iReady as well as should be
• Noticed that students taking a very long time on quick check assessments. Why?  Teachers stated that maybe students are not confident, not familiar with the format, did not understand the context of the question.  Teachers discussed needing to teach context of the problem for word problems.
• Next steps - Choose a standard, look at lessons that matched, bring back the mini assessment and look at student work at the next meeting.
• Cristy spoke about the possibility of having students discuss what a question is asking without solving the problem in order to support what was it in the question, that caused difficulty in answering the question.
• Colleen brought up the three reads protocol.  Lisa stated that this was something that was done preCovid and felt that it would be good to bring this back/pd for teachers who are new.
• Jenny stated that any suggestions/next steps for instruction, for the board to share with her.
• Mac stated that sometimes students just give up when they do not understand the questions.  He spoke about encouragement and risk taking.
• Jenny stated that CGI professional development is training on many of the ideas that Mac brought up.  She added that the knowledge developed in PD over the years left when teachers left the school.  She is working toward rebuilding that knowledge.
• Mac added how newer teachers need more support.  Lisa stated that the DTL of learning is working toward this as well.
• Lisa spoke about how informal observations are targeting and differentiating the PD needed.
• Jenny spoke to how teachers are working really hard and now need to fine tune looking at formative data and working with teachers to support their students.
• Jenny is also meeting with the student support team and highlighted how looking at the number of absences for the year as a way to also look at proficiency levels.
• Lisa spoke to how even last year, Covid caused many absences due to the number of cases.  She spoke to how promotional criteria needs to be looked at in relation to the 90% attendance requirement.
• Lisa also stated that this data is used for identifying students for after school tutoring groups.
• Jenny added that looking at attendance regularly will help to identify students who are already on track or already beyond the number of absences allowed.

The governance committee shared (Michelle) one major goal is to set goal and then follow up and to put this on the agenda at the board meetings.

They suggested that there be a committee/board session retreat in February.

Lisa stated that she will make sure that the committee meetings are made public.

Lisa spoke to how the Finance Committee meets monthly, discusses enrollment.

Lisa stated that the challenge is in replacing Matt with a board member who has finance experience.

She asked if all members of the board could reach out to friends and colleagues for possible new board members.

The Finance Committee currently meets on Fridays.  Kevin Yu will be returning after the new year and may be interested in the finance committee.

Lisa spoke to what happened during the site visit.

There were a number of focus groups and classroom visits.  Very little/no feedback was given during the visit from the state representative which is protocol.

One of the meetings was a parent meeting and it seemed to go well.

The state representative spoke with the leadership team.  She asked lots of very good questions such as where they would see the mission in instruction and the culture and how decisions were made.  

She asked about communication from ELT to the teachers and also to the boards.  

The rep stated that the teachers spoke about classroom visits and follow up feedback.

Lisa attended a children's focus group with the rep. They students spoke a great deal about the HEARTS values.

12 classrooms were visited.  Teachers were nervous but did a good job.  She saw upper and lower loop meetings, saw Amplify and TERC lessons, and an interdisciplinary lesson.  

Cristy added some of the board focus group meeting including: background of the board members,  develop goals, serve on committees, ensure that the school is fulfilling mission and key design elements.

This will be reviewed and discussed in depth at next meeting.