Veritas Preparatory Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Friday October 28, 2016 at 8:15 AM
Location
Veritas Prep Charter School 1st floor conference room or Dial-in number: 866-848-2216, Conference Code: 7783935205
Trustees Present
A. Mendelson, C. Alves, C. Wistreich (remote), D. Fuller, D. Janes, J. Crowell, L. Abbate, L. Doherty (remote), M. Landon, M. Sweet
Trustees Absent
A. Martin, G. Moody, R. Sela, T. Gabinetti
Trustees who arrived after the meeting opened
C. Alves, L. Doherty, M. Sweet
Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned
J. Crowell
Guests Present
A. Clark, D. Raymond, E. Baecher, 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 Oct 28, 2016 at 8:18 AM.
C.
Approve Minutes
L. Abbate made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 09-23-16 Board Meeting on 09-23-16.
D. Janes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
D.
8th Grade Students to present on Class Trip to DC
8th Grade teacher Sarah Center-Gray brought 8th grade students, Kianaleigh Rios and Nate Aponte to present to the board on what they are learning in 8th grade social studies and the justification for their end of year class trip to Washington, D.C. The students requested fundraising support from the board members.
M. Sweet arrived.
II. Board Chair Report
A.
Executive Director Performance Review
R. Romano excused herself from the meeting. A. Mendelson opened with a background of the process and requested comments from board. No comments, A. Mendelson discussed compensation. A. Mendelson provided compensation research information to support the salary increase. A. Mendelson is recommending a 5% increase to salary FY17.
C. Alves arrived.
D. Janes made a motion to to approve the executive director performance evaluation and 5% salary increase for FY17.
M. Sweet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
III. Finance Committee Report
A.
Review September Financials
L. Doherty opened the discussion on September financial results. She highlighted the focus on enrollment and we are on track financially to budget. She mentioned that buying the building is financially feasible. R. Romano and L. Abbate commented on fundraising and development infrastructure.
B.
Enter Executive Session
M. Sweet made a motion to enter executive session to discuss the facility acquisition of 370 Pine Street, Springfield.
L. Abbate seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Landon |
Aye
|
| R. Sela |
Aye
|
| A. Mendelson |
Aye
|
| D. Fuller |
Aye
|
| L. Doherty |
Aye
|
| C. Alves |
Aye
|
| C. Wistreich |
Aye
|
| D. Janes |
Aye
|
| L. Abbate |
Aye
|
| M. Sweet |
Aye
|
| J. Crowell |
Aye
|
C.
Executive Session:Discuss Facility Acquisition of 370 Pine Street, Springfield
A. Mendelson commented that having the discussion on acquiring the facility in an open meeting would be detrimental to the negotiation of the facility purchase.
L. Doherty arrived.
D.
Exit Executive Session
L. Abbate made a motion to exit executive session.
D. Janes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Fuller |
Aye
|
| A. Mendelson |
Aye
|
| M. Landon |
Aye
|
| M. Sweet |
Aye
|
| L. Doherty |
Aye
|
| C. Wistreich |
Aye
|
| L. Abbate |
Aye
|
| C. Alves |
Aye
|
| D. Janes |
Aye
|
| J. Crowell |
Aye
|
IV. Executive Director
A.
Revised Enrollment Policy
R. Romano commented
L. Abbate made a motion to approve the updated enrollment policy and authroize Rachel Romano to submit the amendment to the charter on behalf of the board of trustees.
D. Janes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
V. Academic Committee Report
A.
Review 2016 PARCC/MCAS Performance
R. Romano introduced Emily Baecher, principal and Amy Clark, assistant principal to the board. Members of the board introduced themselves. E. Baecher provided background on standardized testing at the school. She discussed the schools we are using for comparison. R. Romano commented that more schools took the paper test than in-line even though in 2015 they took the test on-line. E. Baecher walked through the 2016 results highlighting comparative scores, growth scores. R. Sela explained Student Growth Percentile (SGP). A. Clark discussed our growth, growth indicators, special education subgroup performance, and action items to better prepare students for on-line testing. E. Baecher discussed the on-line testing environment and the accommodations. A. Clark mentioned there is not State data for comparison this year. E. Baecher discussed leadership's response to the results.
M. Sweet asked about action plans related to staffing. E. Baecher discussed staffing for grade-level content teachers, special education staffing, and culture impacts and changes.
M. Sweet asked about action plans related to staffing. E. Baecher discussed staffing for grade-level content teachers, special education staffing, and culture impacts and changes.
A. Clark arrived.
E. Baecher arrived.
J. Crowell left.
B.
2016-2017 Committee Goals
Discussion moved to November meeting.
VI. Other Business
A.
Other Business
R. Romano mentioned Governor Baker will be visiting Springfield on Tuesday morning and she is looking for attendees to the event.
VII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
M. Sweet made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
L. Abbate seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
L. Doherty