Leadership Reports

SUNY will visit the High School to observe its founding year sometime between February and May. Stephanie will coordinate the visit and ensure it does not conflict with testing dates.

Upcoming Board Events

Emerging Leaders Cohort Mixer led by Maya Smith at the Argus Hotel in Albany on January 23. Board members are encouraged to attend if possible.

Tickets are available for Mayor Dorcey’s inauguration. Trustees interested in attending should reach out directly.

Academic Committee: No report this month. Maisie will cover academic updates during her Data Dive presentation.

Finance Committee: Reported a $52 million operating budget for the year. The organization remains on track, with revenue meeting projections and expenses balanced as expected.

Development Committee:

• $5,010 raised from Giving Tuesday
• $50,170 raised to date, including donations and in-kind contributions
• $55,500 in outstanding asks
• March 6 – KIPP Capital Region 20th Anniversary Reception
  • Board members are asked to either sell 5 tickets or raise $500 in support of the event.

Data Dive: 2024–25 Student Achievement Overview

Reviewed NYSED district comparison data following the lifting of the state test data embargo. Testing occurred in April–May of the previous school year; while the data is outdated, it remains important for reflection and trend analysis.

i-Ready Middle-of-Year Data:

75% of students are expected to make Annual Typical Growth in both Math and Reading.

Current data indicates the organization is not on track to meet this goal in either Math or Reading.

SAT Performance:

The organization is not currently on track to meet SAT performance goals for the year.

Leadership is engaging in Strong Project Planning to improve SAT Day testing schedules and environments. Short-term investments and preparation will focus on juniors ahead of April testing, alongside long-term planning to better align curriculum and instruction to SAT expectations.

A moment to celebrate Tommy Henley and Brandi Langhorn for their leadership during the successful SUNY Renewal visit. School leaders highlighted their contributions to the 700 students across the two schools. Brandi Langhorn, who has served nearly 20 years, was especially acknowledged for her long-term dedication in navigating challenges and supporting the school’s success.

An anonymous empathy survey is being administered every six weeks and is currently in Survey #2; results from Survey #1 show overall positive, mission-aligned feedback. Principals report strong role clarity, regular and actionable manager feedback, and general regional support. Opportunities for improvement include clearer and more consistent performance expectations, stronger follow-through within regional systems, improved continuity and communication during leadership transitions, and deeper two-way alignment between school and regional culture.

The Intent to Return (ITR) process is designed to clarify which employees plan to return for the next school year. Staff indicated whether they plan to return to their current role, pursue an internal transfer, or depart KIPP Capital Region, with all Lock It In conversations completed and Talent Map sheets updated. Results show that 86% intend to return for the 2026–27 school year, 80% believe they are in the correct role, and 20% are seeking a different role while remaining with KIPP Capital Region. Recruitment will begin in January 2025, with vacancies posted for staff who are unsure or not returning. Success will be measured by vacancy rates, time to fill, retention rates, and leader satisfaction with hires.

KACCS is expected to be renewed for a full charter, likely with conditions. The formal report from SUNY is anticipated later this week.

• Enrollment, Recruitment, and Attendance: Responsibility is shifting from schools to the regional team, with regional staff held accountable. Early data shows this approach can be more efficient.
• First Day of School After Labor Day: Moving the start date later will reduce costs (~$200K for transportation) and address historically low attendance during that first week.
• No More Half-Days on Fridays: Considering eliminating half-days, which currently see low attendance, though some school leaders value the PD time they provide.
• High School Course Placement: Student grade placement will be based on course attendance and Regents passage, using a tiered system rather than age or expected grade level.
• Decisions will come to the board for the February meeting to be voted on. 

The board accepted the resignations of Kim Wilkins and Sharif Kabir. Trustees discussed the ideal board size and identified gaps in skills and representation. Michele Kilburn will lead the Governance Committee in developing strategies for board recruitment.

Not needed.