Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools

Minutes

Monthly BSNBCS Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday June 16, 2020 at 6:00 PM

Location

REMOTE MEETING:
 
DIAL-IN:
PIN: ‪133 513 914#‬
Remote dial-in:
(‪US‬)‪+1 240-435-2124‬
PIN: ‪133 513 914#‬

Trustees Present

Cecelia Russo (remote), Doris Givens (remote), Joseph Sciame (remote), Kevin Nesbitt (remote), Leticia Theodore-Greene (remote), Neil Samen (remote), Patricia Bramwell (remote), Tamikka Pate (remote), Tyler McConnell (remote), Victor Rivera (remote)

Trustees Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk (remote)

Guests Present

Lisa-Renée Brown (remote), Vicky D'Anjou-Pomerleau (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Joseph Sciame called a meeting of the board of trustees of Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools to order on Tuesday Jun 16, 2020 at 6:01 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Patricia Bramwell made a motion to approve the minutes from Monthly BSNBCS Board Meeting on 05-19-20.
Victor Rivera seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Governance

A.

Report from the Governance Committee

Update on Board on Track usage, completion of profiles and internal assessments. Congratulations on 100% Board attendance for the past few meetings.
Update on Board recruitment: Six individuals were emailed, waiting to hear back regarding their interest. Looking for people with development/fundraising background with large networks, people who could help with expansion, experience with Boards or organizing experience.
On nominating committee's activities: Doris, Cecelia and Tyler contacted each Board member to ask them if they had an interest in continuing beyond their current term, in their current role, and shared that we are accepting nominations for each office. 

B.

Re-election of Trustees to full, 3-year terms

Victor Rivera made a motion to re-elect Cecelia Russo, Joseph Sciame, Neil Samen, and Tamikka Pate to a three-year term, from July 1 2020 - June 30 2023.
Patricia Bramwell seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Election of Board Chair for School Year 2020-21

Tyler McConnell made a motion to elect Victor Rivera to the office of Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Tamikka Pate seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Election of Board Vice-Chair for School Year 2020-21

Kevin Nesbitt made a motion to elect Patricia Bramwell to the office of Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Cecelia Russo seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Election of Board Treasurer for School Year 2020-21

Patricia Bramwell made a motion to elect Tyler McConnell to the office of Treasurer of the Board of Trustees.
Victor Rivera seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Election of Board Secretary for School Year 2020-21

Neil Samen made a motion to elect Doris Givens to the office of Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Victor Rivera seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Selection of Board meeting dates for school year 2020-21

The Board has selected the following dates and times for 2020-21 BOT meetings:
Tuesday July 21st, 2020 3:00 PM
Tuesday August 18th, 2020 6:00 PM
Tuesday September 15th, 2020 6:00 PM
Tuesday October 20th, 2020 6:00 PM
Tuesday November 17th, 2020 6:00 PM
Tuesday December 15th, 2020 6:00 PM
Tuesday January 19th, 2021 6:00 PM
Tuesday February 23rd, 2021 6:00 PM
Tuesday March 16th, 2021 6:00 PM
Tuesday April 20th, 2021 6:00 PM
Tuesday May 18th, 2021 6:00 PM
Tuesday June 15th, 2021 6:00 PM

III. Academic Committee

A.

Report from the Academic Committee

All staff have been asked back for the coming academic year. Were able to give a cost of living raise to staff. School is satisfied that staff, students and families are on board and that students' needs are being met. No summer school but planning to open the week of August 24th, pending future guidance from City and State. Noted that the zip codes of our community were greatly affected by the virus, so we are keeping this in mind. 
Seniors will pick up a graduation packet this week at the school, and the graduation ceremony will be live-streamed on Friday. An in-person event will be planned once it is possible to return to the building.
Concerns were raised around students' learning slide and the importance of providing summer school. The school will be providing packets of summer materials to all but not summer school. Ms. Russo expressed confidence in the school's preparedness to address the March-August slide.

IV. Finance

A.

Report from the Finance committee

Did not have a meeting in the last couple weeks, enrollment and financial snapshot was circulated. 
Update on PPP: regulations and clarifications are fluid, but so far we anticipate that the monies provided will be forgivable.
Looking at Budget to Actuals for Q3, we are ahead on revenue and have under spent on certain expenses. Current performance is better than budgeted as of Q3. 
The Treasurer noted the diligent work of Lisa-Renee, and of Nick and Vicky in securing the PPP. The Treasurer thanked all Finance Committee Members for their time and dedication.

V. Development

A.

Report from the Development Committee

No update, it is the right time to re-engage and restart the campaign. As a reminder, event is currently slated for September 23rd.

VI. Family Life

A.

Report from the Family Life committee

Letter written by the Board will be included in the Graduation packet. School has been doing a lot of engagement around this event and we are looking forward to it.
Committee also collected videos from Board members which will be presented to students as part of the graduation.
Continuing to work on goals for the committee for next year. 

VII. New Business

A.

New Business

Discussion of the provision of virtual counseling for students and their families in dealing with COVID-19 and civil rights issues.
The school has a 9-member team whose role it is to support students socio-emotionally and they have been working closely with students all year. For staff who participate in school benefits, we offer TalkSpace for virtual mental health counseling.
The School and Board are looking forward to a conversation on how to improve our response and do more on those issues, including providing families with resources such as counseling.

B.

Public comments

Lisa-Renee thanked Victor are Treasurer, and congratulated him on his new position.
Joe praised the Board team's commitment, and his expressed his confidence in the new Chair. Thanked the Board for the honor of being a founder and Chair. Joe sent his prayers for the safety and health of everyone, and shared his sentiments for staff and students.

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Victor Rivera made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Doris Givens 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 7:23 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Vicky D'Anjou-Pomerleau