Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools

Minutes

May Monthly Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Location

82 Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Trustees Present

Cecelia Russo, Cynthia Aker, Doris Givens, Joseph Sciame, Kevin Nesbitt, Victor Rivera

Trustees Absent

Josue De Paz, Shawn Carson

Ex Officio Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk

Non Voting Members Present

Nicholas Tishuk

Guests Present

Lisa-Renée Brown, Patience Brown, Patricia Bramwell

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Victor Rivera called a meeting of the board of trustees of Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter Schools to order on Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 6:05 PM.

C.

Approve April minutes

Cecelia Russo made a motion to approve the minutes from April Monthly Board Meeting on 04-19-23.
Doris Givens seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approve May Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Kevin Nesbitt made a motion to approve the minutes from May Finance Committee Meeting on 05-09-23.
Doris Givens seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Academic and Family Life Committee

A.

Committee Update

Cecelia updated the Board on the Work of the academic and family life committee. She recognized the My Brother's Keeper and Girls' Summits which occurred in the past month, which great success. Themes included community and self-care.

 

Staff appreciation week was very appreciated, as the school engaged in various activities and acknowledgement of our great school staff. Quarter 3 staff evaluations are ongoing. The New York State Exams occurred with no issues.

 

Career Day will be June 7th, all Trustees are invited to attend. Graduation will be at Bishop Laughlin HS on June 17th at 11am. Planning for our Summer Program (July 10th to August 4th) is ongoing now, to support our scholars learning over the summer.

 

The Board acknowledged Lamar Garcia and her new role of Principal starting in 2023-24.

III. Governance Committee

A.

Committee Update

Doris explained the Board is in the middle of its recruitment process for new Trustees and encourages people to share any candidates.

IV. Finance Committee

A.

Finance Committee Update

Lisa-Renee shared the update on the school's finances. Current enrollment is 722; the school is on track for its end of year enrollment targets and has exceeded its finance baseline of 710 students. There are no unusual revenue or expense items for this period. Lisa-Renee updated that our auditors were in the building this week, testing our financial records and documents, as a part of the regular auditing of the school's finance.

 

 

B.

Vote on FY24 Budget

Doris explained that Committee met to review the Fiscal Year 24 budget for the last three finance committee meetings, March, April and May, as well as the last two full Board Meetings, in March and April.  

 

The school will be investing in its expansion to add an additional 540 students through this process, which is reflected in the FY24 proposed budget which was voted and approved by the Finance Committee at its May Public Meeting. Joe recommended; Doris seconded; the motion was unanimously recommendation.

Joseph Sciame made a motion to approve the proposed FY24 budget, per the recommendation of the Finance Committee.
Doris Givens seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Charter Schools Program Grant

Nicholas described the school's intent to apply for the Charter School's Program grant, of which it is eligible for up to $750,000 in funding for its expansion expenses.

 

Trustees asked questions regarding the scope and usage of the funds and what it could be utilized. There was a discussion about the value of using funding to support McKinney-Vento eligible students (who are homeless, in transitional housing, in the shelter system or doubled up) for uniforms or other school expenses.

 

Victor Rivera recommended that the Board authorize Nicholas to apply for the CSP grant, with the Board reviewing the progress of the grant in midyear, February 2024 and following of the fiscal year, August 2024. Kevin seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. 

Victor Rivera made a motion to recommend that the Board authorize Nicholas to apply for the CSP grant, with the Board reviewing the progress of the grant in midyear, February 2024 and following of the fiscal year, August 2024.
Kevin Nesbitt seconded the motion.

Trustees asked questions regarding the scope and usage of the funds and what it could be utilized. There was a discussion about the value of using funding to support McKinney-Vento eligible students (who are homeless, in transitional housing, in the shelter system or doubled up) for uniforms or other school expenses.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session: Real Estate and Legal

Cecelia Russo made a motion to enter the executive session to discuss real estate and legal matters.
Doris Givens seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Vote to return to Regular Session

Joseph Sciame made a motion to return to regular session.
Victor Rivera seconded the motion.

Following a discussion of real estate and legal matters, the Board voted to return to regular session.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Public Comments

A.

Public comments

There were no public comments.

VII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Nicholas Tishuk