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Rooted School - New Orleans

Minutes

Rooted School Board of Directors: Committee of the Whole

August Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday August 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Location

Rooted School 

6701 Press Drive

New Orleans, LA 70126 

MEETING NOTIFICATION

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 

5:00 PM Central Time

 

IN PERSON MEETING:

 

Rooted School

6701 Press Drive

SUNO School of Education & Human Development

 

ROOM : 106 - SOCIAL HALL

 

VIRTUAL OPTION:

 

If you wish to join the meeting virtually:


When: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM Central Time

 

*You must register in advance for this meeting.

 

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/2559449115?pwd=Zy9veWdGS3Q3Q3Z5UjBsa2JVUzNYUT09&omn=87540287730

 

PUBLIC NOTICE: 

 

Pursuant to emergency proclamation 30-JCE 2020, the Rooted School New Orleans Board hereby certifies that it will conduct all meetings scheduled for 2025 - 2026, in person (unless otherwise designated), at 6701 Press Dr. in the College of Education Building & Human Development on SUNO's campus in the Social Hall (Room 106) on the 1st Floor.

 

Board meetings shall be held in this manner until further notice.

Directors Present

L. Diaz, M. Quinn, N. Patrick, S. Glapion

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

F. Ingargiola

Non Voting Members Present

F. Ingargiola

Guests Present

Ashley Jackson, Esq, Hareanna Campbell, Jerrelda Sanders, K. Karpinski, Milton Batiz, Trenell Jackson - NOPS

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

M. Quinn called a meeting of the board of directors of Rooted School - New Orleans to order on Wednesday Aug 20, 2025 at 5:24 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Action Session [2025 BUDGET APPROVAL] & Board Work Session [Annual Board Retreat] on 06-20-25.
L. Diaz seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Diaz
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye
S. Glapion
Absent

II. SPECIAL VOTING SESSION: NEW BOARD MEMBER - DR. HAREANNA CAMPBELL

A.

The Board will move to vote on the addition of Dr. Hareanna Campbell to the 2025 - 2026 Rooted School Board of Directors.

M. Quinn made a motion to accept Dr. Ha'reanna Campbell as a voting member of the Rooted School Board of Directors.
L. Diaz seconded the motion.

Lucas Diaz conducted the public introduction of Dr. Campbell. 

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Glapion
Absent
M. Quinn
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye

III. PUBLIC MEETING PORTION: WORK SESSION

A.

Rooted School Mission Moment with Junior Milton Batiz:

Rooted School junior, Milton Batiz presented his experiences as a student.  Milton highlighted the following:

 

  • The Photography/Photo Shop program is what brought him to Rooted School.
  • Milton shared with the board some of his Photoshop images from his self-portrait project.
  • Milton also spoke about the impact of his CAD training and his 3D Printing work while at Rooted School.
  • Finally, Milton highlighted his work in his Dual Enrollment classes as a highlight of his academic career.

B.

Budget Update - FY 2024 - 2025 [Q4] Closeout and Overview of 2025 - 2026

  • Joe Daschbach, EdOps Finance Team, formally introduced himself to the board.
  • Joe has anchored the Rooted School financial team for several years.
  • Q4 financials are in the "soft close" phase.
  • 2024 - 2025 FY year will be finalized with Luther Speight (Rooted School Auditing Firm) by September 2025 with a report due to the board for the October 2025 meeting.

C.

Discussion of a Possible Update to the Rooted School Mission Statement

  • Kaitlin Karpinski, presented some possible variations to the current Rooted School Mission statement.
  • Nursing may be a possible pathway expansion for Rooted School during this school year.
  • Board members were supportive of the inclusion of nursing as part of the Rooted mission.
  • Concerns regarding grant funding and financial impact were raised.
  • Board members raised a question about impact on staffing and content expertise.

D.

LDOE Certificated & Differentiated Stipends for 2025 - 2026 School Year

  • Frank presented the current state of the LDOE certificated and differentiated stipends.
  • To date, finalized amounts have not been released at the school level.
  • LDOE will solidify those amounts and the distribution plan will be presented to the board at the October meeting.

IV. PUBLIC MEETING PORTION: ACTION SESSION CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS [A - F]

A.

Second Reading Draft Policy - Employee & Board Communications Policy

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the consent agenda Items A - F.
N. Patrick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Patrick
Aye
S. Glapion
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye

B.

Second Reading Draft Policy - Title IX Updates

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the consent agenda Items A - F.
N. Patrick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Patrick
Aye
S. Glapion
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye

C.

Second Reading Draft Policy - Communicable Diseases Policy

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the consent agenda Items A - F.
N. Patrick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Glapion
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye

D.

Second Reading Draft Policy - Rooted School Risk & Threat Assessment Policy

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the consent agenda Items A - F.
N. Patrick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Diaz
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye
S. Glapion
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye

E.

Second Reading Draft Policy - Rooted School Attendance Policy Update

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the consent agenda Items A - F.
N. Patrick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Quinn
Aye
S. Glapion
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye

F.

2025 - 2026 Curriculum Approval

M. Quinn made a motion to approve the consent agenda Items A - F.
N. Patrick seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Quinn
Aye
S. Glapion
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye

V. ACTION SESSION: INDIVIDUAL AGENDA ITEM - BOARD CD INVESTMENT / CHECKING REINVESTMENT

A.

The Board May Vote to Take Action on Financal Reinvestment

S. Glapion made a motion to invest the FDIC limit of $250,000 of Rooted's general fund monies in Grasshopper Bank.
L. Diaz seconded the motion.

This motion was amended by Ms. Glapion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
N. Patrick
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye
S. Glapion
Aye

VI. Executive Session: UTNO Standing Update & Executive Director Annual Evaluation and 2026 Contract

A.

Executive Session: Item I - UTNO Standing - [Vote to Occur In Public Session Only if Action Is To Be Taken]

There was no action coming out of Executive Session on this item.

B.

Executive Session: Item II - Executive Director Contract & Evaluation - [Vote to Occur In Public Session Only if Action Is To Be Taken]

M. Quinn made a motion to take action on the Executive Director's compensation package for SY 2025 - 2026 and the extension of the Executive Director contract for the upcoming school year.
L. Diaz seconded the motion.

The amount of the contract will be communicated privately.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
S. Glapion
Aye
M. Quinn
Aye
N. Patrick
Aye
L. Diaz
Aye

VII. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT:

A.

2025 - 2026 Administrative Restructuring

  • Kaitlin provided an explanation of current enrollment trends as well as some strategies for bolstering enrollment, including but not limited to:

a) Monetary incentives for successful student referrals

b) Personalized recruitment messages

c) NORD Camp competitions

d) STEM Camp competitions

e) Connection with Hangout NOLA

 

  • There are nationwide trends of lower school enrollments and lower birth rates.
  • Ms. Karpinski also gave an update on the 2025 - 2026 administrative restructuring and the naming of a new school principal, Ms. Jemiah Boagni.

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Quinn
Documents used during the meeting
  • Hareanna Cole Campbell Bio_ Rooted School.pdf
  • ROOT - Summary Presentation - June 2025.pptx
  • DRAFT Rooted School Employee & Board Communications Policy.pdf
  • DRAFT Rooted School Title IX Policy.pdf
  • DRAFT Rooted School Communicable Disease Policy.pdf
  • DRAFT Rooted School Risk & Threat Assessment Policy.pdf
  • Rooted School Attendance Policy (rev. spring 2025).pdf
  • Curriculum and Academics at Rooted School 2025-26.pdf
  • Deposit Rates - Grasshopper.pdf

We exist to provide our students personal pathways to financial freedom.