Urban Montessori Charter School
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday February 22, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Location
4551 Steele Street, Oakland, CA 94619. Ring the front bell or call/text 510-290-4005 for entry. Signage on campus will direct you to the correct room, generally the Head of School's Office.
The public may comment and participate via Zoom if they prefer. The public may also email comments to board@urbanmontessori.org to be shared by the Board's Secretary during the meeting. Please make that intention clear in your email.
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Meeting ID: 825 9285 5160; Passcode 510 842 1181
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Meeting ID: 825 9285 5160
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This meeting will be audio recorded. The public can find documents related to this agenda either linked directly on the agenda or under "Documents" after selecting the meeting in BoardOnTrack prior to viewing the agenda. Downloading the "packet" may not include all of the "Documents" that are still otherwise available to the public via the Meeting on BoardOnTrack.
Members: Kara Fortuna, Greg Klein, Sarah Morrill (Chair), Amy Ng, Ann Rhodes, Evan Sequoia, Donald Williams
Urban Montessori Charter School welcomes your participation at Board meetings. The purpose of a public meeting of the Board of Directors (“Board”) is to conduct the affairs of the organization in public. Your participation assures us of continuing community interest in our school and assists the Board in making the best decisions for our school. To assist you in the ease of speaking/participating in our meetings, guidelines are provided at the bottom of this agenda. All materials for all board and committee meetings, including audio recordings of Regular Board Meetings, are available on our BoardOnTrack public portal and also through the UMCS School Calendar.
Directors Present
A. Ng, E. Sequoia, G. Klein, K. Fortuna, S. Morrill
Directors Absent
A. Rhodes, D. Williams
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
E. Sequoia
Guests Present
D. Bissonnette
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Review of Action/Discussion Items
D.
Board and Community Appreciations
Sarah appreciated our Head of School candidate, Daniel, for applying and participating in the interview panels.
Kara appreciated the parents and staff for the panel interview they just completed!
Parent appreciated being invited into the process.
Daniel thanked the student panel that interviewed him.
Anna appreciated Daniel for all the work he does at school, and to Kara for all her volunteer and board service.
Sara appreciated Kara and Marcela for supporting the staff and family leader panel.
Parent appreciated Daniel for approving Family Game Night / Auction Kick off.
Greg appreciated Sarah for leading the hiring process so far.
Marcela appreciated Emily and Sara for helping with the FAC, and for Kara for all the emails and help!
E.
Board Member Comment
No board member comments on items not on the agenda.
F.
Presentations from the Floor
No public comments on items not on the agenda.
G.
Community Agreements Discussion
Tabled.
II. Head of School Panel Interview
A.
Panel Interview
Sarah began by reviewing the hiring process to date, including searching internally and receiving a qualified candidate application. Previously, Daniel answered questions from a student panel, as well as a staff and parent leader panel. The board then asked questions of Daniel Bissonnette for the role of Head of School starting July 1, 2024.
In public comment Sarah appreciated Daniel for applying and being a candidate. Emily commented that Daniel is a welcoming force her as a parent, as someone who is open to feedback and wants transparency.
III. Closed Session
A.
Closed Session Items
6:47pm Sarah announced that the Board would go into closed session on Public Employee Performance Evaluation - Head of School and Public Employment - Head of School.
There were no public comments on this item.
Daniel left the closed session at 7:05pm.
IV. Return to Open Session
A.
Report out of any closed session action(s)
At 7:28pm, the Board returned to open session. Quorum was re-established. No actions were taken. Sarah shared that the Board very much appreciated the all the work that's gone into the search process so far and that at this time there is no intention to open a broader public search. The earliest the Board is allowed to take action on an employment contract is the next Regularly scheduled Board meeting.
V. Head of School Report
A.
Head of School Report
Daniel shared the Head of School report, which is in the public documents for this meeting. Daniel shared about families coming to observe classrooms this week, with conferences next week. The school recently celebrated Kindness Week and Daniel shared what the staff worked on at the recent professional development day.
Daniel shared that the on-time enrollment application window has closed, with 243 applications. We continue to accept applications for all grades! Daniel also reported that the school has currently filled all staffing positions at this time.
For Measure G1, Daniel shared how the local bond measure supports staff retention stipends and to support middle school arts, music, and social and emotional learning, and student retention and suspension reduction. Part of those funds have supported the role of Director of Student Services. The recommended plan is to continue to use the funds in this way. The was no questions for Daniel about Measure G1.
Greg appreciated that the school is fully staffed. Amy asked and Daniel clarified that the school may need to hire for the new year, but staff retention is looking strong now.
There were no public comments on this item.
B.
Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) 2024-2025
Greg gave an overview of the LCAP, the process to adopt one, how the public and community can weigh-in on the development of the UMCS LCAP by attending meetings, completing surveys, or working on the document online.
Marcela asked and Greg clarified what LCAP stands for.
There were no other public comments on this item.
C.
Proposal for Ongoing Growth and Development at UMCS
Sarah shared about how the Executive committee discussed the proposal and decided it wanted to pause until the new Head of School was in place.
No public comments on this item.
VI. Family Advisory Council
A.
Discussion Item - Committee Report
Marcela shared the FAC Report. Recently the SuperBowl Squares project raised $1500 and the recent Parent Nights Out raised another $500. Kindness Week was awesome and the Silent Online Auction kick off will be here in the Sun Room on March 15th. Looking for help with pizza that night out. Lots of donations are coming in! Earth Day Plant Sale and Clean Up will be on April 20th, from 10-2p. Adult Karaoke night coming up also at Left Coast Yoga, and Moveathon will be on May 18th. FAC is also considering a parent work day later this Spring. Coffee is tomorrow morning and the next Zoom meeting is this coming Wednesday.
No public comments on this item.
VII. Academic Oversight Committee
A.
Committee Report
Tabled.
VIII. Executive & Governance Committee
A.
Gratitude for Donald Williams service on the UMCS Board of Directors
Sarah and Greg thanked Donald for completing his two years of service on the Board. The board and others in attendance thanks Donald for his service! There were no other public comments on this item.
B.
Board and Committee Officers & Members
Sarah shared role of the Vice Chair and called for nominations. Kara volunteered.
No public comment on this item.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| G. Klein |
Aye
|
| K. Fortuna |
Abstain
|
| S. Morrill |
Aye
|
| A. Rhodes |
Absent
|
| D. Williams |
Absent
|
| A. Ng |
Aye
|
| E. Sequoia |
Aye
|
C.
Head of School Interview with the Board
Tabled. (Duplicate agenda item.)
IX. Other Business
A.
Oakland and California Updates
Greg shared and Amy clarified that OUSD has approved their 2024-2025 school calendar. Greg shared that the Governor's January proposal has a less than one percent cost of living adjustment.
Sara asked and Sarah clarified that the UMCS Calendar for 2024-2025 was about to be voted on momentarily. No other public comments.
B.
Approve Minutes from January 25, 2024 Regular Meeting
No public comments on this item.
C.
Action Item - Vote on General Consent Report
No public comment on this item.
D.
Collect New Business items for Future Meetings
Greg will agendize a vote on a Head of School employment contract as we are able to.
X. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- UMCS_January_2024_Balance_Sheet.pdf
- UMCS_January_2024_Cash_Flow.pdf
- UMCS_January_2024_Financials.pdf
- UMCS_January_2024_FC_Presentation.pdf
Sarah announced that she would table the Community Agreements discussion and Academic Oversight Committee report.