Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Friday July 15, 2016 at 9:30 AM

Location

82 Lewis Avenue

Trustees Present

Angel Charriez, Cecelia Russo, Joseph Sciame, Kevin Nesbitt, Leticia Theodore-Greene, Marlena Mondesir, Patricia Bramwell, Victor Rivera (remote)

Trustees Absent

Dalia Oberlander

Trustees who arrived after the meeting opened

Cecelia Russo, Joseph Sciame, Kevin Nesbitt, Victor Rivera

Trustees who left before the meeting adjourned

Victor Rivera

Ex Officio Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk

Non Voting Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk

Guests Present

Anna-Mae West, Lisa-Renée Brown, Niomi Plotkin, Patience Brown, Silbia Pagan, Vicky D'Anjou-Pomerleau, Wanda Morales

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Patricia Bramwell called a meeting of the board of trustees of Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools to order on Friday Jul 15, 2016 at 9:42 AM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Changes needed: 
Under report from Engagement: last paragraph mis-spelling of the word "asked".
Under new business, a parent's name is mis-spelled.
Correct Leticia's last name: Greene.
Correct that Development wishes to be "made aware so we do not duplicate efforts".
Patricia Bramwell made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 05-18-16 Board Meeting on 05-18-16.
Leticia Theodore-Greene seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Update on School Status

A.

Update on School Status

Cecelia Russo arrived.
School updates:
First ever Regents Examination, two courses were offered for 8th graders: Living environment and Integrated Algebra. 12 students took those classes and the exam, and they all passed it!

Comptroller Audit:
It was a one-day news story.

Calendar:
Was published during the last week and distributed to families. It meets all state requirements and is designed to improve student learning by keeping as many weeks whole as possible.Very popular change last year by extending the Thanksgiving break, we will keep this.
Added 3 days to the Spring Break for students and staff, so there are no orphan days after a long break.

Question:
Do students receive packets during summer and spring break?
Answer: They receive packets during the summer. In MS, they complete a project during the Spring Break. In LS they receive work aligned to the learning happening in class during that time.
Joseph Sciame arrived.
Victor Rivera arrived.

III. New Business

A.

Election of Leticia Theodore-Greene

Marlena Mondesir made a motion to Elect Leticia Theodore-Greene as a Trustee for a three-year term.
Angel Charriez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Election of Kevin Nesbitt

Patricia Bramwell made a motion to Elect Kevin Nesbitt as a Trustee for a three-year term.
Angel Charriez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Election of Marlena Mondesir as a Trustee

Leticia Theodore-Greene made a motion to Elect Marlena Mondesir as Trustee for a one-year term.
Patricia Bramwell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Election of The President/Chairman

Angel nominates Joe Sciame.

Joe accepts. More than likely, this will be his last year as Chairman.

Thanks the Board for its confidence.
Cecelia Russo made a motion to Elect Joseph Sciame as Chairman of the Board.
Leticia Theodore-Greene seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Election of the Vice-President/Vice-Chairperson

Marlena nominates Patricia.

Joe wishes to thank Patricia for her work and presence at the school.
Cecelia Russo made a motion to Elect Patricia Bramwell as Vice-Chair of the Board.
Leticia Theodore-Greene seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Election of the Treasurer

Angel is willing to commit to another year, but it may be his last year as Treasurer.

There has been conversation regarding importance of role and attendance of the Treasurer. It may be helpful, in the future to have a vice-treasurer.

Marlena nominates Angel.
Leticia Theodore-Greene made a motion to Elect Angel Charriez as Treasurer.
Patricia Bramwell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Election of the Secretary

Victor has encouraged the consideration of other Trustees being considered to the position.

After the election of Marlena as Secretary, Joe officially thanks Victor's service as Secretary in the past years.
Patricia Bramwell made a motion to Elect Marlena Mondesir as Secretary.
Leticia Theodore-Greene seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Review of the Standing committees as per Bylaws

Victor Rivera left.
Discussion of the committees as per our bylaws. We are required to have a Grievance and Family Life.

We may wish to add the Education Committee to the By-laws at a later date.

I.

Election of the Grievance Committee Chair

Leticia Theodore-Greene made a motion to elect Victor Rivera as the Grievance Committee Chair.
Marlena Mondesir seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Kevin Nesbitt arrived.
Joe notes that a member of Family Life and of Education sit on that committee.

J.

Election of the Finance Committee Chair

The Board Treasurer, Mr. Angel Charriez, is Chair of the Finance Committee.

K.

Election of the Family Life Committee Chair

Kevin Nesbitt made a motion to elect Kevin Nesbitt as Chair of Family Life.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

L.

Election of the Development Committee Chair

Kevin Nesbitt made a motion to elect Leticia as Chair of the Development Committee.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

M.

Election of the Education Committee Chair

Kevin Nesbitt made a motion to elect Cecelia as Chair of Education.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

N.

Public Comments

Joseph Sciame wishes to publicly thank Silbia for her work with the Graduation.

Silvia thanks Joe for his keynote address at Graduation.

Joe notes that photographs should be published on the school's website.

Joe wants to welcome Patience Brown and Niomi Plotkin to the table as members of the School Management Team.

Angel wishes to congratulate and thank the Executive Director for his leadership in the Comptroller's Audit process.

Cecelia and Joe were at an event with Bread of Life and met Councilman Robert Cornegy and he commented that the school is great and that he supports us.

Kevin wishes to thank the families who came to the June 21st Engagement Meeting.

Leticia thanks the parents in attendance today.

O.

Move to Executive Session

Leticia Theodore-Greene made a motion to Move to Executive Session.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

P.

Move to return to Public session

By unanimous consent, the Board moved back to Public Meeting.

Q.

Report from the executive session

The Board discussed school staff, Leadership Evaluation and Trustee personnel matters.

R.

Approve April Minutes

Patricia Bramwell made a motion to approve the April Minutes.
Marlena Mondesir seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

S.

Approve Budget for Fiscal Year 2017

Cecelia Russo made a motion to Accept the budget proposed by the Executive Director.
Kevin Nesbitt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Marlena Mondesir made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously 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 4:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Vicky D'Anjou-Pomerleau