Collegiate Charter School of Lowell
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday January 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Location
Collegiate Charter School of Lowell
1857 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA 01851
Meeting Notice
The Collegiate Charter School of Lowell, 1857 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA
will hold a Board of Trustees monthly meeting on January 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in room 1223.
Posted to The Lowell Sun 1/19/2025.
Trustees Present
B. Chapman (remote), D. Tucker, E. Nelson (remote), K. McCarthy, P. Patel (remote), W. McGrail
Trustees Absent
A. Miller
Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned
K. McCarthy
Guests Present
A. Bailey-O'Keefe, A. Bakr, Brian Henderson, C. Connors, C. Crane, C. Nystrom (remote), Crit Baker, Heather Rossbach, P. Rondon, T. Cameron
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
School Mission
D.
Approve Agenda
E.
Approve Minutes - December 2024
II. Public Comment
A.
Floor Open to the Public
no prublic comment
III. Activities Update
A.
School Events
- K-2 Disney Dance 1/23/25 5-7p
- Quarter 2 Perfect Attendance and Honor Roll assemblies in next 1-2 weeks
B.
Athletics
- Winter sports update - basketball, cheer (middle school, JV, varsity), wrestling, and ski clubs
- Joining MIAA as a league - paperwork filed for next season
- First 1000-point scorer - senior Vanessa Guingue
- Cheerleading expanding
- Wresting started as a club with 4 regular students
- Ski club started Monday nights at Wachusett Mountain
- Boy's Lacrosse is pending Lowell Catholic co-op
- Exploring golf, softball, baseball, tennis
- At close of Quarter 2 - all athletes are eligible to play academically
- Student athlete jobs - film games, concessions, pictures, announcements, clock
IV. New Business
A.
Annual Bondholders Conference Call
board notified of call on 2/11
B.
Capital Needs Assessment
update given on immediate need action items
C.
DESE Mid-Cycle Visit (February 11th)
Update provided by A. Bakr. Site visit on February 11th. Part of the renewal process. Overview of the visit provided - meetings, observations, etc.
Board virtual call - Wednesday, February 5th @ 6:00 p.m.
D.
Executive Director Evaluation Process
Summary of process provided by A. Bakr for evaluation process beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
E.
Data Breach Update
Update provided by A. Bakr.
V. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
None.
B.
Academic Excellence
None. Sub-committee meeting in February.
C.
Facility
Refer back to Capital Needs Assessment report.
D.
Governance
None.
E.
Board Development (Fundraising)
None. Update at February meeting.
F.
Director's Evaluation Sub-Committee
Still in process.
VI. Unfinished Business
A.
Approval of Executive Director's Evaluation for 2023-24
Tabled until next meeting.
B.
Bicknell Easement III - Settlement
Update on status and opinion provided by attorney M. McCarthy.
Further discussion of options.
C.
Organizational Chart Update
Review of updated organizational chart by A. Bakr.
Addition of Assistant Director. Naming Carl Nystrom to that role for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. Addition of Pupil Services Director role for 2025-26 school year.
D.
Cell Phone Use/Policy Update
Cell phone policy committee formed. Will meet first week of February, date/time TBD. Research shared with different programs and options by A. Bakr.
E.
Uniform Policy Update
Review of current policy by A. Bakr. Policy posted in student handbook. Review of current policy with committee to ensure policy is realistic and enforceable that still meets the mission of the school.
VII. Director's Report
A.
Academic Update
Update provided by C. Connors. All K-8 averages are meeting goals. High School currently appearing low due to grades still being entered following mid-term exams and end of Quarter 2.
Half day PD session held on 1/17. Focus on co-teaching and evidence-based teaching practices.
Curriculum updates provided.
B.
Marketing
Update provided by C. Crane.
PowerSchool breach news article.
Girls Basketball - 1000 points article.
STEM programs article.
VIII. Executive Session
A.
Legal Issue: Real Estate
IX. Public Comment
A.
Floor Open to the Public
no public comment
The mission statement was recited by the board of trustees.