Make changes to the language of the Charter Goal 10

Proposed 

Option 1: Each year, each board member will attend 80% of the scheduled board meetings

Option 2: Each year, each board member will attend 80% of the regularly scheduled board meetings.

Discussion coalesced around a preference for the second option.

Large takeaways from the July 10 retreat:

1. The clarification of roles based on Ends work (Board's area) vs Means work (TLS's area) to help navigate our work together.

2. The recognition that the board is a collective that speaks with one voice (decisions are not made by one voice)

3. The need to rely on full and accurate information before decisions are made in order to reduce miscommunication, streamline work. 

4. The reminder to stay focused on roles vs people

5. The guidance to check all action for alignment with mission.

3 Big Takeaways from the July 7 Meeting:

• The committee is changing focus toward developing a fundraising plan and encouraging the board to round up resources vs planning individual events (Skating for Change, excepted)
• Staff support and family engagement are needed to promote school success, shared accountability.  Accordingly, the school will work with families to set up a PTO starting in September 
•  The PTO leadership could participate as members of the Development Committee, with most of the current family membership of the committee shifting to membership in the PTO

TLS Action:  Keisha will provide a timeline related to the PTO development process at the August 22 board meeting. The leads will be Rebecca Maldonado and Carmen Ward.  Action may also include setting up Parent Coffees.

Fall 2025 Community Event Calendar - Going forward dates to events will be placed on the Development Committee's slide in the monthly board slide deck: 

• July 26 - Collab Fest (see flyer)
• August 7 - Ribbon cutting on the second building (4:30 PM) and Open House (5 - 7 pm) 
• Sept. 27 Trivia Night 
• Oct PTO Popcorn Fundraiser

Board Action:  Board presence and engagement with the community at these events is strongly encouraged. Board name badges will be provided to help identify members to the community.

Major Financial Opportunities for Board Giving

• December 3 - Giving Tuesday 
• May 7 - Give STL Day 

Board Action: Board members should mark their calendars with these two dates and plan to support both events through their Give Butter accounts, either directly or through network contacts.

Board/TLS Action: Shala has offered to partner with the Development Committee and TLS in applying for grant funding from various sources (DESE, St. Louis County).

Meeting is June 23, 2025 and financials will be shared with the board later in the week for approval early next week, due to the board meeting date being the 4th rather than the last Tuesday of the month.

Discussion of amending the Board Calendar to make all board meetings the last Tuesday of the month, in order to ensure the financial reporting is complete before the board meeting.  The revised 2025 - 2026 Board meeting dates will be placed on the consent agenda for the August 26 board meeting showing changes to the June 24 approved calendar to meetings in September, March and June.

Technology Advisory Committee met on July 16.  Topics addressed:

• Implications of TLS Board policies for TLS Staff and Family Handbooks
• Security
• Communications 
• Educational Technology and EdPlus membership benefits

Board and TLS Action Items requiring immediate attention: The State has mandated no cell phones during the day - a board policy is needed; the school needs to include this information in Staff and Family Handbooks, and announce on the TLS website.

TLS Action Items requiring immediate attention: 

1, To align with TLS Technology Acceptable Use policy, the Staff Handbooks need to include an expectation that teachers will instruct students in Digital Citizenship/Literacy and the Family Handbook needs to provide guidance in what internet safety involves and how to guide their children in this area.

2. To align with Board adopted Local Educational Agency Title I.A Parental Involvement Policy and School Title I.A Parental Involvement Policy, the TLS Family handbook should include literacy links to online books and other web resources to support literacy in the home.  Such links may also appear on the TLS website as further guidance for parents.

Courtney will follow up with JB and Stephanie instructing them to meet ahead of the July 30 TAT meeting to clarify agenda items:  Specifically, what items the school would like board advice/guidance/thought partnership on as they relate to ENDS and what  areas should be removed from the agenda as they relate to MEANS.

Congratulations to all! 

Chair Rebecca

Vice Chair Carrie

Treasurer-Gary

Secretary-Keisha can step in and support rotating Board members to fulfill these responsibilities.

Draft Board Norms, Draft TLS Board Communication Protocols, Employee Professionalism Policy, and a draft Public Comments policy were reviewed and suggestions given. Revisions will be shared with all, with final feedback expected by the second week in August in preparation for approval at the August 26 board meeting.

The Executive Director's report was tabled for next month's meeting due to time.

Motion to move into closed session. 

Role call: 

Shala

Rebecca 

Aaron

Gary

Tanisha