Read by David Potter.

No public comment.

Final week of 1st semester!  Trying to send message to students to wrap up work - grades close on Friday.  Winter Music Showcase is Fri & Sat - sampled during last week's open mic. Musicians are outstanding - you do not want to miss this one!  Some talented students that will be with us for another year or two so more years to come.

Paideia starts next week - losts of planning.  Going to be a fun two weeks.  Activities from hiking to preparing for the musical.

Once Upon a Mattress Feb 4, 5 & 6 - annual musical.  Tickets on sale soon!

Second semester and planning for next year under way.  

As of today enrollment is 389.  Special lottery on Jan 6 - will get to 400 students for start of second semester.  Last reporting period is Feb 15th and will help our tuition dollars - we are in good shape.

Teacher opening - MS AS Teacher and 1 paraprofessional.  Can always use part-time subs - application is open.

Finance Committee met on January 9, 2023.  The Committee reviewed the 2nd Quarter Budget vs Actual and reported no spending outside of what would be expected at this time of the year.   DESE 2nd Quarter Tuition numbers were not yet available at the time of the meeting.  

The Committee spent most of the meeting discussing capital plans.  A timeline was mapped out for construction based on the recommendations from the Infrastructure Committee.  A potential plan for fiscal years 24 through 26, including funding, was identified.  The Committee approved the Capital Budget for FY24 - the Board of Trustees will receive this information as part of the FY24 budget in May/June. 

Nomination for Azizah Yasin - some information on her qualifications:

• Familiar with community
• Dances with Bisko
• Familiar with committee work
• Works at Holyoke District Court as the First Assistant Clerk-Magistrate
• BA of Arts in African Studies and Psychology
• Has judged for Mock Trial
• As Clerk Magistrate cannot be involved with fundraising.

Changes to bylaws:

Two proposals based on teachers being voting or non-voting members of the Board.

Teachers being voting members - Governance recommends that all members are serving as individuals and not as representatives of a specific group they are to work in the interest of the school.  Teachers have traditionally filled a role of representing to views of the teachers - very valuable piece of Board.  Doesn't match how a Board works and the Union complicates it further.  Recommendation is that teachers become non-voting members.

DESE membership requirements include voting and non-voting members = confusion.  Goal is   to simplify Board composition and decrease the min requirement to be more realistic - we have struggled with this.  

Governance Committee recommends decreasing parent voting members by 1 - all other changes are by moving others out of voting membership.

Committee has not met since last Board meeting.  Learning from Board on Track about utilizing their tools and resources.  Conversations ongoing about big picture process with Brent.  Will be looking for Board feedback prior to next check in with  Brent later this month.  Next meeting with Brent will be more formal than last meeting.  Between Jan & May surveys will go out.  Brent's self survey will be shared along with a survey for you to give feedback.  Will continue to work with Board onTrack about how to analyz the data from surveys.  Nothing but good things are happening - does more work need to be done or can we develop new goals?  

Next Board meeting will be sharing a document about mid-year check in.

Shared report.  Committee has paused meetings while other committees move recommneded work forward.

MS - consumed with Paideia - excited with changes for MS.  Appreciative of the SEL curriculum - necessary right now.  7th grade had productive conversation with Admin today - support from Admin appreciated.

HS - committee after Paideia to give feedback.  Civic classes are learning about local government and doing some awesome work.  Can't wait to see results.  9th grade team talking about a reset for second semester - how do we finish the year? Arts classes about how to grow programming - theater courses in particular.  People are talking -see where they go.

Seniors - wrapping up semester - desperate need of grade meeting to discuss graduation and logistics and reinforce the importance of responding to email.  Yearbook and senior photos and some miscommunications about deadlines.

Juniors - musical, music showcase & Paideia -excited!!  Future planning for a senior trip for next year.

Sophomores - wrapping up 1st semester - excited for production season!  Planning a field trip and fundraising.  Alot of positive change!

There has been a negotiating session since the last Board meeting.  We had reached agreement over ground rules - norms set and Feb 7th was agreed as deadline for proposal submission.  Sounds positive.

Developing news - Friends of PVPA and fundraising.  Conversations taking place with potential members - spread the word.  Hopefully will have some developments soon.  

New members need committee assignments.  Possibility of a Board Fundraising Committee. Friends role is maintaining the building and supporting the the mission of the school.  Friend is 501(c)(3).  Leadership starts at the Board level - we will get there.

Please send interested parties to David or Brent.  You can always donate anytime - go to our website.

At this point there are 116 7th grade applicants - same as this time in 2019.  Doing as well as we were per-pandemic - word of mouth is our best recruiting tool, spread the word about applying for next year.