Mr. Tishuk reported one the status of the renewal effort.

Mr. Sciame reported on his efforts to engage Board members on the renewal effort and requested that Board members be available to come to the School at 4pm on 11/16 to meet with the DOE as part of the DOE visit.  We will meet with the DOE from 4pm - 5pm and then the public meeting will be held thereafter at 6pm.  Mr. Sciame noted that he would like to see if we can get an alumna or parent to participate at the hearing.

 

Treasurer Victor Rivera presented on behalf of the committee.

He updated the Board that the school's current enrollment exceeds budget projections for both general education students and special education students.  In the minutes of the finance committee call, we will have a finance committee meeting, open to the public, on October 17th.  The school's auditors would be presenting on that day the results of the school's annual audit, to the Finance Committee. 

The Finance Committee will have an informal discussion briefly the prior to Renewal Hearing Meeting held by the New York City Department of Education, on Nov 16th.

Ms. Russo reported on the Academic Committee's meeting.  Ms. Russo noted that Ms. Brown told the Committee about the new teachers and how they were fitting in.  The Committee was advised that we needed two math teachers.

Ms. Brown note that the School was off to a great start and that assessments had already been performed and were being reviewed.  

Mr. Nesbitt reported on the next steps for the Committee now that the PFO had been established and stabilized.  They spoke with V. D'Anjou-Pomerleau and N. Tishuk about engagement efforts and several initiatives.  The school participated in the Caribbean Day parade with a mix of staff, parents, students and Board members.

He reported on possible engagement on relief efforts with a possible sister Houston school where the School may be able to donate items.  Mr. Nesbitt noted that he hoped this would be a learning opportunity and a lasting relationship.

Mr. Nesbitt advised that he hoped the next committee meeting could be focused on how the Committee could support the PFO and what the Board should do to aid the effort.

Mr. Nesbitt stated that the Committee was looking with regard to holding public meetings.
Mr. Tishuk noted that recent events in Puerto Rico might be able to help and cope with the possible migration of persons escaping the effects of the hurricane.  He noted that he wanted to establish the School as a leader in the community in helping those persons harmed by the effects of recent natural disasters.  He noted that the School should consider joining with other charters in a system that might allow collaboration to help the distressed.

Mr. Nesbitt asked about the City response; Mr. Tishuk noted that he was unaware of any organized effort.

Ms. Givens asked about the School's capacity to handle excess and was advised thatt he School's statutory limit is 702 enrollees.  The SMT advised that any person living in New York City who attended the School would be subject to the same per pupil allocation.

The Board, by unanimous vote, authorized the School to go forward and identify opportunities to help and support any families who have been displaced by the recent natural disaster in Puerto Rico, including the enrolling of any displaced students.



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Ms. D'Anjou-Pomerleau advised the Board of her meetings with Assemblyman Dylan and Coucilman Espinal and noted their support for the School.  She noted that a picture of School participants at the Carribean Day parade was on the Governor's website and was helping with name recognition.

Ms. D'Anjou-Pomerleau advised the Board that she had contacted the Houston school district to see if the School could help someone there.  The contacts led to a relationship with the Hillard School in Houston, a school with similar demographics to the School.  The School is now conducting a sock drive to start what we hope is a good relationship with them.  Ms. Givens asked about how the students would help and was advised that, while it had hot been worked out yet, it would surely involve a personal note from a student with each package.

She further advised about Bring Your Father to School day, which was very successful.  She noted that the School would be the site of a public meeting  Councilman Cornegy's participatory budgeting project.  Persons living in the District and age 11 or higher can vote.  The School will have a submission this year.

Ms. Givens asked about the status of an attempt to obtain funding through the use of the School as a public space for community meetings.  Ms. D'Anjou-Pomerleau advised that the School's name was "getting out" as a place for community gatherings.

Mr. Sciame asked Ms. D'Anjou-Pomerleau to draft a letter to the Governor's team regarding a possible visit.

In the public session, Ms. Julien asked about possible changes to Saturday school, perhaps by breaking it up to separate Math and ELA sessions.  Mr. Tishuk advised that he would let the SMT know about it.

Mr. McConnell advised the board of his interest in applying to the Board and advised that he had provided required documents for consideration.

Mr. Tishuk requested authority to amend the Charter to add two preferences to the application process: children with disabilities and children with employees.  the revised list of lottery preferences would be: (1) Returning Students, (2) Siblings of enrolled students, (3)Students with Disabilities, (4) Children with Employees, (5) Students living in CD 16; and (6) Students living in NYC.  

The Board generally discussed the possible impact of an increased SPED enrollment and the resources needed to support this change.  

 Ms. Givens discussed the issue of the misnomer of learning disabilities, noting that they should be called learning differences and that teaching methods had changed.  Ms. Theodore-Green requested an assurance that we have the resources to deal with learning differences if we approve the preference.  Mr. Tishuk noted that the broadest category of disability was learning disabled and speech impaired; emotional and physical issues were the smallest category.  He further noted that this change would support  the School in serving all students in the District.