LIndsey discussed ongoing preparations for the OCS virtual site visit on Thursday March 26.  Virtual tour will be done via prerecorded video and potentially utilizing drone technology.  Full board participation is encouraged in the board focus group.  Lindsey will oversee all scheduling and send calendar invitations and FYIs on how board members should prepare.

GC reviewed proposed by-law revisions to allow the community seat changes that were approved by the board in November.  Jeremy requested:

• consider whether all staff members can vote instead of only staff who are also parents
• limit number of community seat terms to three (six years total)

Dave will contact Lisa Stella to inquire about whether staff voting is legal.  If so, Jeremy will bring recommendation to board to revise by-laws accordingly.

Dave will also put a revised by-law topic on the Jan board meeting to align by-laws with the community seat revisions approved in Nov.

GC reviewed a draft 2026 recruitment plan (attached to minutes).  Discussion led to the following additions to the plan:

• Include ERA and ERA Community FaceBook pages in awareness campaign
• In second email to parents, include a poll about what questions they might want to ask parent applicants
• In the parent application process, include a short Zoom call between the applicant and a board member.  Record this Zoom call and include it alongside the application when sending to parents during the voting stage of the election process.
• Lindsey will consider how to leverage her Rotary network in creating awareness of community seats at ERA.

Next steps include:

• Dave to revise the draft plan and include it in the January board meeting
• Dave to draft and work with Jeremy and Elliot on messaging in all parent/community communications
• Lindsey to post messaging on all relevant sites.
• Dave to draft revised parent and community application and bring to March GC meeting for feedback.

The brand initiative is moving toward contract stage with Rhodes Branding.  Lindsey and Elliot to share draft contract with GC for review (especially on scope) ahead of signing.

There was interest in holding a mid-yr ED evaluation discussion.  Format will be a discussion rather than formal documentation and will focus on 2025-26 school goals and how the board can further support Lindsey in accomplishing them.  Dave will email GC members to find time for this closed meeting ideally to take place in the next couple of weeks.