Leigh : I will post to the portal once we get the updated budget.  We do have updated projections for the next year that we will address later on.

Jeremy:  Should be out by the beginning of next week.

Leigh:

We have another round of progress reports going home this week as well as their first semester report cards.  We're excited to send home these reports and see progress.  We're expanding our professional development and we will be conducting some trainings for some curriculum training.    We have had conversations with 6 families about their child potentially transitioning out and we're looking at that right now.  We will only transition students when the IEP team determines that they need a less restrictive environment.

 Leigh:
We anticipated that we were going to need more space in year 2 and there is not space to do so within the center.  We have discussed multiple options including T-buildings (as a temporary solution).  We previously talked about potentially building a small building to accommodate our students.  In November, JP shared that we had some sketches and that the center would build the building and the school would lease the space.  In December, we had continued conversations with LSU on land lease.  We did know that in order for the building to be ready we would need to break ground in Jan or Feb.  On December 20th the Emerge Center Board voted to get the architectural plans and to move at a more conservative building pace driven by fundraising.

JP: 
Part of that decision included some donors wanting to see more concrete plans before committing.  LSU will also require more concrete plans.  The Emerge Center board also wanted to see more concrete plans to determine if additional funding would be needed to complete the building.

Leigh:
We have two options:  1. stay at the emerge center for the following year and continue to occupy the same space.  We would hold a small lottery to fill the available spots (likely 5-6).  We would utilize the same classrooms but would need to purchase new furniture.  We would also have a larger fundraising gap.  Option 2 lease a space from EBR until the building could be completed.  We would then hold a larger lottery.  When the building would be ready (potentially December/January).  We do not have an exact price for renting an EBR building.  We do not know which school the space would be in at that time. 

Sarah:  It may be worth to talk with LSDVI as they may have some space and are under new leadership.  

 Leigh:  We met with EBR general counsel yesterday and they spoke to looking for a long term transition plan to aide the students moving from our school to general education school.

JP:  The other part of the meeting with EBR counsel yesterday was related to the services contract.  They are very open to extending the services contract and will undertake the drafting.  They also didn't not have any issues with altering the do not exceed limit.  We should receive those changes next week.  The meeting could not have gone better.  The counsel has been very accommodating and open to meeting with us.  

Leigh:  In light of the two options to consider, we also wanted to share some financial projections.  These are not official.  

Jeremy:  There is a narrative of what some of the versions are.  This has been an evolving document.  These are projections.  FY19 was based on the last board packet submitted.

JP:  If there is not objection we will move forward with these discussion with general counsel.  

Alice:  So is there a version that we are thinking of leaning more towards?

JP:  We're still looking at all the versions to determine which will work best.  

Alice:  If the worse happens and were not able to take more kindergarten students would we be in violation of our contract?

JP:  No.  We would have to write a letter and notify them.  If the reason is a space limitation it would need to be a notification.

Alice:  So that's not going to blow back.

JP:  No.

Melissa:  Staying here is a contingency plan.

Leigh:  Another concern for that is when we get to 3rd grad and testing and the percentages of scores would be bizarre.  We would only have a handful of students testing. That impacts our percentages.

JP:  The only other business is to ask for a fundraising update from Shelton.

Shelton:  Our goal for operating fundraising has been to raise $50,000 and we did receive a grant for $25,000 and we received a gift from an individual for $15,000.  We have also received additional gifts and we are currently at about $46,000.

In terms of the growth campaign we began speaking with some of the centers donors.  We had some very productive meetings.  We did receive a $100,000 donation from a private couple.  The other conversations have been very positive but donors requested formal plans an budget.  Where we are right now is continuing to identify donors and continue those conversations.  We do have a million dollar gift that was given last year.  We also received a three year pledge of $50,000.  We are currently at 1.15 million.  We're hoping to not extend beyond April for fundraising for the groundbreaking date.

Jp:  Any other business.

Leigh: If you have not done your ethics training please complete.