Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
Minutes
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Date and Time
Tuesday September 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Trustees Present
Azizah Yasin, Kezia Fitzgerald (remote), LATRINA DENSON (remote), Laura Grant (remote), Marita Banda (remote), Mindi Winter, Thomas Roy
Trustees Absent
Ann Dargie Gladd, Esq, Emily Whitebear
Ex Officio Members Present
Brent Nielsen, Marcy Conner (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
Brent Nielsen, Marcy Conner (remote)
Guests Present
Jayme Wyndell
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Reading of the Mission Statement
D.
Public Comments
Azizah invited Public Comment - There was no Public present so no Public Comment was given.
E.
Approval of Minutes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Mindi Winter |
Aye
|
| Laura Grant |
Aye
|
| Kezia Fitzgerald |
Aye
|
| LATRINA DENSON |
Aye
|
| Emily Whitebear |
Absent
|
| Marita Banda |
Aye
|
| Thomas Roy |
Aye
|
| Azizah Yasin |
Aye
|
| Ann Dargie Gladd, Esq |
Absent
|
F.
Approval of Minutes
Location on First page is duplicated in the minutes please amend and remove the duplication on the first page
Motion Passed as Amended
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Ann Dargie Gladd, Esq |
Absent
|
| Laura Grant |
Aye
|
| Marita Banda |
Aye
|
| Kezia Fitzgerald |
Aye
|
| Mindi Winter |
Aye
|
| LATRINA DENSON |
Aye
|
| Thomas Roy |
Aye
|
| Azizah Yasin |
Aye
|
| Emily Whitebear |
Absent
|
II. PVPA Staff and Student Reports
A.
Staff Report
Jayme introduced herself to the Board then mentioned new staff and Alumni returning to work at PVPA. 4-5 Alumni have returned to work here at PVPA.
Student Teachers are here at PVPA.
Emily shoutout for Professional Development for how to meet the needs of multiple leveled students and how to get different resources for different professionals.
Compassion Accountability Respect Empathetic Safe - Values of PVPA staff and Students how we move forward together.
Seussical auditions have happened
KJ is organizing
Community Day - Dance classes are performing
Students are MCing the Open Mics and that is going well this year.
First performance is Constellations on Nov 20 & 21
B.
Student Reports
Students are not chosen yet from Student Council.
III. Head of School Report
A.
General Updates
New Teacher Orientation has occurred - fewer than usual this year which is good.
3 teacher work days theme was around School culture Emily nieman did Faculty engagement around norms for the new school year to help foster the climate in the new school year for an agreed upon norm around mutual respect for the teachers and staff.
First day was a nice outdoor welcome event with a nice rainfree day!
CHanges to cell phone policy were introduced - phones are no longer allowed in the building from 8:15 to the end of the day. Asking Teachers and Admin to set the example of not being on their phones as well and it is having an effect with kids interacting more.
Enrollment is at 399 with an offer out for the 400th slot.
October lottery for Grade 11
30th Anniversary celebration on September 27th - 3 Food Trucks - Affinity Groups running carnival grames during the event - Alumni Open Mic -PVPA at the Theater
School Culture
- Cell Phone Policy
- Student seen with a phone - Phone referral turn phone into the office then get it back at end of day
- 17 referrals to office
- Class skipping is down
- Referrals for this is spending lunch with other kids that are having the same referrals
- Poppins - 10 minutes of Admins going into classrooms using a Form where they are consistently looking at the same information that will be used to track progress of how the classroom culture is doing
- LSU affinity group was in the Puerto Rican day parade in Holyoke - they all got soaked in the parade. Kids had a great time
- Community Day is this Friday.
Open House is next Friday - PTO is organizing snacks.
Questions:
Latrina - Complimented Emily's addition of the Poppins policy.
Azizah - Complimented and commented on the Cell phone policy and wanted to mention that she appreciated the lunch room being non-phone oriented.
Kazia - asked about the lock pouches for the phones.
IV. Governance Committee
A.
Approve 2026-2031 Accountability Plan
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Emily Whitebear |
Absent
|
| Marita Banda |
Aye
|
| LATRINA DENSON |
Aye
|
| Azizah Yasin |
Aye
|
| Mindi Winter |
Aye
|
| Laura Grant |
Aye
|
| Thomas Roy |
Aye
|
| Kezia Fitzgerald |
Aye
|
| Ann Dargie Gladd, Esq |
Absent
|
B.
Approve Policies
What was the child abuse policy question?
The policy should be written in such a way that the school could be flexible enough to be able to follow instructions of DCF workers and able to keep the child safe
Discussion of language on policy 2j Reporting Abuse policy Page 2 Paragraph 3
to Bullet point 3 When there is suspicion or allegation when there is abuse or neglect in the home the child should not be sent home from school before filing a verbal 51 A report and receiving direction from the department of DCF the report must be filed within 48 hours.
Tom Roy proposed to change Policy 2j Reporting Abuse Bullet point 3 to the following language:
When there is suspicion or allegation when there is abuse or neglect in the home the child should not be sent home from school before filing a verbal 51 A report and receiving direction from the department of DCF the report must be filed within 48 hours.
Seconded by Laura Grant
Azizah Yasin Yes
Kezia Fitzgerald Yes
Latrina Denson Yes
Laura Grant Yes
Marita Banda Yes
Mindi Winter Yes
Thomas Roy Yes
Ann Dargie Gladd Yes
Motion Passes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| LATRINA DENSON |
Aye
|
| Thomas Roy |
Aye
|
| Ann Dargie Gladd, Esq |
Absent
|
| Kezia Fitzgerald |
Aye
|
| Marita Banda |
Aye
|
| Mindi Winter |
Aye
|
| Laura Grant |
Aye
|
| Azizah Yasin |
Aye
|
| Emily Whitebear |
Absent
|
C.
Committee Appointments
Latrina is going to send an email to the full Board to invite the Board members to volunteer to serve on Committees please respond only to her and let her know which committee you choose to serve on so that she can assign you to a committee.
Board members are not the only people who can serve on committees so they are open to everyone please invite other community members.
V. Closing Items
A.
President's Business
In October Azizah will call on a Board member to read the mission statement so please have the Agenda open on your computer.
Circulate a list to Volunteer Box Office and Concessions - Mindi will help you volunteer. Azizah will circulate a volunteer list so that people can sign up for performance listings.
Azizah would like to institute a no cell phone policy at the Board table and would like to discuss Board Norms at the next meeting.
Board presence at the 30th Anniversary so there is something to put in the "Friday Notes" that Sandy puts out weekly.
Open House next Thursday.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
- PVPA_Accountability_Plan_Provisionally_Approved_080526.pdf
- 1.f. Policy Concerning Board of Trustees Powers and Duties.pdf
- 1.k. Open Meeting Policy.pdf
- 3.b. Reporting Policy.pdf
- Public Complaints In Accordance with 603 CMR 1.09.pdf
- 2.j. Reporting Abuse and Neglect Policy.pdf
Mindi Winter read the Mission Statement
The Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School offers its students intensive exposure to the performing arts within the context of an excellent college preparatory curriculum.