Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools
Minutes
Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Location
82 Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Trustees Present
Cecelia Russo, Doris Givens, John Matos, Kevin Nesbitt, Shawn Carson, Victor Rivera, Vishal Gupta
Trustees Absent
Cynthia Aker, Joseph Sciame, Simone Pratt
Ex Officio Members Present
Nicholas Tishuk
Non Voting Members Present
Nicholas Tishuk
Guests Present
Brian Blough, Lisa-Renée Brown, Patricia Bramwell
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve April 23rd Meeting Minutes
II. Academic and Family Life Committee
A.
Committee Update
III. Governance Committee
A.
Committee Update
The Board discussed the evolution of the school(s) and Board since the initial founding team's work which began in 2009. Chair Victor Rivera, a founding member, expressed his confidence in the new Officers and their capacity to continue the effective work of the school.
Committee Chair Doris Givens discussed the work she has engaged with the new trustees related to the Trustee handbook and the roles and responsibilities of Trustees.
Chair Victor Rivera discussed the two Board awards provided for two 8th grade students who are matriculating from 8th grade into high school: one academic and one THRIVE award. Victor announced that the THRIVE Award will be designated as the Patricia A. Bramwell Community THRIVE Award.
B.
Officer Elections for 2025-26
Chair Doris Givens presented the resolution to elect new officers for the 2025-26 school year. The following nominations have been accepted: Treasurer John Matos, Secretary Doris Givens, Vice Chair Shawn Carson and Chair Kevin Nesbitt.
IV. Finance Committee
A.
Finance Committee Update
Chief Finance Officer Lisa-Renee Brown updated the Board on the school's finances. She updated Board on the school's general and special education enrollment, current balances and expenses.
Academic Committee Chair Cecelia Russo explained to the Board that the school has a practice of providing all needed services to support student learning, including at-risk services, despite any delays in the process of NYC's Committees on Special Education. Eventually, changes to student funding will occur once codified by by an Individual Education Plan.
Executive Director Nicholas Tishuk present the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the Board. Trustees asked clarifying questions on revenue assumptions and expenditures, including our compensation and benefits structure, the expenditures on student marketing.
Secretary Doris Givens updated the Board on the upcoming event on May 30th honoring the legacy of friend of the school Dirk Tillotson, to be held at the High School Campus.
B.
Vote on Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
V. Public Comments
A.
Public comments
There were no public comments.
HS Principal Brian Blough presented to the Board on our academics K-10. We have a 8th grade graduation/stepping up ceremony at Medgar Evers College, to which all Trustees are invited. We had both a Boys Summit and Girls Summit in the last month and we continue our recruiting effots across the board in grades K-10.
Mr. Blough shared several items specific to the high school, including direct activities recruiting local middle schools, our Commitment Activities for rising 8th graders and additional programming. The Board asked clarifying questions around enrollment practices, the lottery and the rest of the student recruitment framework. Chair Cecelia directed Trustees to the school's website for further information.