Veritas Preparatory Charter School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Friday June 24, 2016 at 8:15 AM

Location

Veritas Prep Charter School board room or Dial-in number: 866-848-2216, Conference Code: 7783935205

Trustees Present

A. Martin, A. Mendelson, C. Wistreich (remote), D. Fuller, G. Moody, L. Doherty, M. Sweet, S. Alston

Trustees Absent

L. Abbate, R. Holmes, T. Gabinetti

Guests Present

D. Raymond, R. Romano

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

A. Mendelson called a meeting of the board of trustees of Veritas Preparatory Charter School to order on Friday Jun 24, 2016 at 8:18 AM.

C.

Approve Minutes

L. Doherty made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 05-27-16 Board Meeting on 05-27-16.
D. Fuller seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Governance

A.

Appoint New Board of Trustees

A. Mendelson asked the attending new board members to provide background information to the group. R. Sela provided her background.  Dales Janes provided his background.

D. Fuller presented recommendations from the Governance Committee.
M. Sweet made a motion to approve the appointment Dale Janes, Rebecca Sela and Charles Alves to a three year term to the Veritas Prep Board of Trustees to end June 30, 2019.
A. Martin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Reappoint Board of Trustees Officers for FY17

A. Martin made a motion to reappoint the officers of Veritas Prep Charter School, Aaron Mendelson as Chair, Michael Sweet and Vice Chair, Anthony Gabinetti as Treasurer, and Lisa Doherty as Secretary for a one year term ending June 30, 2017.
M. Sweet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D. Fuller presented recommendations from the Governance Committee.

C.

Reauthorize Board of Trustees Committees for FY17

L. Doherty made a motion to reauthorize the Academic Achievement, Governance and Finance committees for another one year term ending on June 30, 2017.
M. Sweet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D. Fuller presented recommendations from the Governance Committee.

D.

Reappoint Board of Trustees Committee Chairs for FY17

M. Sweet made a motion to reappoint Louis Abbate as Chair of Governance Committee, Anthony Gabinetti as chair of Financial Committee for a one year term ending June 30, 2017.
L. Doherty seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D. Fuller presented recommendations from the Governance Committee.

E.

Appoint Board of Trustees Committee Members for FY17

A. Mendelson made a motion to appoint Ashley Martin, Ryan Holmes, Michael Sweet, Greg Moody, Dale Janes and Rebecca Sela to the Academic Achievement Committee, Anthony Gabinetti, Lisa Doherty, and Susan Alston to the Finance Committee and David Fuller, Louis Abbate, Aaron Mendelson, Carl Wistreich and Charles Alves to the Governance Committee for a one year term ending June 30, 2017.
S. Alston seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D. Fuller presented recommendations from the Governance Committee.

III. Executive Director Search

A.

Executive Director Search

R. Romano was excused from the discussion. A. Mendelson opened the discussion on the work of the executive committee on finding a search firm for a new executive director. A. Mendelson mentioned another option of R. Romano staying on for two more years after the SY17 school year after a conversation while working from an office in Boston for a portion of the week. L. Doherty summarized her conversation with R. Romano and discussion by executive committee. Members of the executive committee and several other board members discussed the potential of keeping R. Romano and also providing further growth and development .of the leadership team.

No vote will be taken of this time. A vote will be taken at a future meeting.

R. Romano was brought back in and asked to comment on having her stay for 3 more years commuting from Boston a few days a week. She explained how she believes the arrangement would be beneficial to the School, the staff and her.

IV. Facility Update

A.

Facility Update

M. Sweet briefly summarize the information he provided in the last meeting.  Discussions are ongoing and a meeting with the landlord is anticipated within the next couple of weeks. M. Sweet commented on next steps and timelines. M. Sweet commented on financing possibilities. Any facility transition revisions are subject to approval of the Board.

V. Academic Achievement

A.

5 Year Plan

R. Romano provide a background on what information and discussions were had by the committees and board over the past months. R. Romano walked through a proposed 5 year plan, the seat requests, expanding 5th and 6th grade, and replication of an additional middle school at another site. She did a year by year walk through. D. Janes asked about attrition rates. Discussion ensued about attrition rates and availability of seats, and the school's track record of performance. M. Sweet commented on student performance statistics related to proven provider status. A. Martin commented on the need in Springfield with 9 out of 11 under performing middle schools. L. Doherty provided background on the financials for the proposed 5 year plan. S. Alston commented on the challenges of finding a second site. R. Romano commented on our systems in place and strengthening them in anticipation of replication. 

No vote needs to be taken at this meeting.

VI. Executive Director Report

A.

2016-2017 Staffing Update

R. Romano provided an update on staffing.

VII. 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 9:54 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Doherty
D. Fuller made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
L. Doherty seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.