Lisa welcomed everyone and began recording the meeting.

Lisa reviewed the minutes from the prior meeting including finance, enrollment data, outreach committee and completed registrations with goal of 315 in the budget, methods of keeping track of interested families, summer school, Bloomberg grant, staffing and anticipated hiring needs, governance committee updates and work with Board on Track PD, lunch with the staff.

Elaine Schmeideshoff shared the financial summary.

She stated that there is $2.3 million in cash in bank or 4.3 months of cash on hand.

Elaine said she is going to look at the difference she noticed in last 2 months.

Enrollment up, revenue total $5.8 and budgeted at $5.1 which is due to. higher enrollment.  She stated that everything is going well at school and that TNAACS is in sound financial shape.

Elaine reviewed roles that will not be filled and which boosted net income up a bit.

She stated that all is on par with what was anticipated and asked if there were any questions.  There were no questions from the board.

Lisa stated that the school is putting together a compensation committee together.  Jenny stated that in order to remain competitive, they created two committees (certified, non-certified).  Each group voted for a representative of each group.  They are also asking for one board member to join the committee and hopefully create something for next school year.

Mac volunteered to represent the board on the certified teacher committee.

Lisa stated that whatever the committees propose, it will be presented to the board for approval.

Colleen suggested that Elaine take a look at any proposals and the budget over 5 years. Jenny stated that yes, Elaine does this.

Lisa stated that these conversations about compensation to be in time for contract for 2024.

Cristy stated that she thought this was a really good idea and important.  She asked Lisa how this committee idea came about.

Jenny stated that this came for survey data within the question on growing on the career ladder and in the comments asked about compensations/days off etc.

Lisa stated that the committees will help gather perspectives and also inform what is realistic.

The teachers/staff on the committees were voted on by their peers.

As a reminder, Jenny stated that the board is in need of a treasurer.  Lisa also stated that this is a vulnerability going forward with regard to charter renewal.

Jenny presented tutoring data.  She explained that teachers tracked various standards over the tutoring period.  Students are beginning to take iReady assessments.  After the iReady assessments are complete, they will compare these results to the tutoring data.

Cristy asked if it is possible for the teacher to go back to work with individual students to continue to support.  Jenny explained that yes, teachers were but it may not be evident on data shared.

Mac asked which teacher data showed that she worked with all the students.  Jenny explained that it was a teacher who is most familiar with iReady, knows the students well and used the program iReady with fidelity.

Cristy suggested that there be a way to organize tutoring so that is becomes more systematized so that any one who is teaching will know how to plan and teach.  Jenny stated that while autonomy is valued at TNAACS, it may be better to be systematized.

Jenny stated that after the iReady data is reviewed, there will be a reflection and then a conversation about what is working.

Mac stated that there is an opportunity to use this as a case study to determine what works best by looking the data and be inclusive of many areas (relationships, tools, looping etc).  

Jenny stated that standardizing the process would improve the data vs. allowing teachers to modify the tutoring.

Lisa stated that the renewal decision was given to Lisa and Mac and an email was sent to the board.  NYSED's charter school office recommended a 3 yr renewal but Lisa Long stated that the regents did not go with the recommendation of 3 years but rather a 2 year renewal was all they would approve.

Mac asked about the reasoning for this, the answer was data - state exam scores and did not exceed the district of location.

The good news is that the school was renewed.  Lisa gave some history of renewals which in the past, there were weaker scores and a 2 year renewal was given.  So there is a marked difference in decision making especially since the school is so much further along.

It does not seem in line with how school scored on matrices and what other charter schools in area scored on state exams.

Lisa stated that there will be a mid-site visit this year which means that the 2024 test scores are what will become part of the charter renewal.

Lisa stated that the regents contact, Cathy Cashin has been invited to the school but has never attended.  Lisa also stated that the school will contact community members, regents, parent letters in order to gain support for the school.  They are also looking for material changes in enrollment numbers given the decline in number of students in NYC post Covid.

Jenny stated that she is looking to find additional PD opportunities in order to be laser focused on instruction and teacher development from Lavinia and Metamorphosis.

Lisa stated that in the past what NYSED recommended, the Board of Regents usually followed but this year, that was not the case.

Cristy stated that the academic committee should be formalized in order to show the commitment to the recommendations from this charter renewal.  Lisa stated that the DTL's should also be on the committee.

Cristy made a motion to form an Academic Committee. Michelle seconded.  All were in favor.

Lisa stated that this was a great first step in moving forward.

Colleen stated that there were no updates to share.  Cristy reminded everyone to update profile and do one PD a year with Board on Track. 

Lisa stated that there are a number of PD sessions on the Board on Track website.  There is a spreadsheet for board members to note what PD they have done throughout the years.

Colleen shared how to keep track of committee minutes and agendas, members etc. so that there is a consistent way to keep track and make a permanent place for committee meetings so that there is a way to pass these on when committee members change and committees change.

Mac asked about Teacher Compensation Committee.  Lisa reminded board that we do need a board member for the non-certified teacher committee.

Jenny stated that all other members are in place and that there will be probably one meeting in June to introduce themselves to each other.

Final reminder is that we need a treasurer for the board.

Lisa shared a webinar idea about creating a development committee.  She reiterated completing profile and do a PD.