Due to a family emergency, Paul Mancinone, Vice Chair, filled in for Board Chair Patrick Kayego.

Paul welcomed everyone and thanked everyone for their time and dedication to the school. 

School updates – First week of school/orientation last week. Focusing day one on college-bound mindset. This week feels like school has been in session for a while diving into academics.  Senior Sunrise (self organized) a new tradition.  Sports have begun. 

Key Data – enrollment 586. Fully enrolled in middle school. Room for growth in 9-10 grade.  Slight decrease from previous year in certain grades because of moves.  Monitoring that we meet our budget – if not we will make adjustments.  Faculty, 2 spots opened last minute outside our control.  Working to fill and in a great place compared to previous years. MCAS preliminary data out.  We don’t have student growth percentile and accountability yet.  ELA all middle school grades increased.  8th graders surpassed 50% meeting or exceeding.  KD noted that growth within the same kids last year to this year. Math had significant growth too. For context, SPS averaged in the teens for these areas.  State average was in the 50 range. Science growing as well – more work to do but going in the right direction. Also saw a significant decrease in # students who are not succeeding. 

Post Secondary Updates – Spent summer supporting students.  Most start classes next week.  Making sure they actually show up.  Will be following the data along the way to help create systems and touch points. Thinking about how to continue to steward alumni. Janice and Kari offered with ideas they’ve seen.

FY26 ED Goals – realigning the ED evaluation to the new focus/goals:
              Meeting strategic goals (see presentation for details)
              Secure charter renewal SY 26-27
              Purchase Liberty St Building complete before end of school 2027
              Secure new charter in CT (open Fall 2027)
ED SY25-26 Subgoals set (see presentation from agenda)

North Star Fellowship – started last week.  Doing it with Ben Cruse who is technically the fellow splitting work. “Libertas Academy Hartford”.  The Governance is going to be a little difference – create a new overseeing body. Will be visiting schools, working on RFP, etc.  Need to do the learning/work to understand elementary school – we know Middle / High Schools.  Propose start with K-1 & 5-6.  The way that the CT political works is we will need approval from the Hartford legislature reps.  Providing an ED coach.  Getting a grant of $175,000 from fellowship – use to cover the travel and coaching of leaders here in Modesto & Ben’s absence. 

Financials – because of the construction expenses and upfront costs for the year and tuition payments not until end of month. It’s tight for cash flow.  October is very tight because of timing of things. Trying to draw down on grants, etc as fast as can to cover.  Modesto in seeing this coming, spoke to Gary about providing an interest-free loan if find it is needed.  Kari asked about impact of Federal funding.  Modesto said funding goes through the state and are in a good place for this year.  Concerns may come up next year given the changes. 

Reminder of board goals:

1. Draft 3-year recruitment plan

2. 3 new trustees, especially with development experience

3. 100% engagement in a LCAS touch point

4. 100% board giving

5. 100% board participation in a training webinar

Next meeting September 23, 2025 at 5:30 pm