Bronx Charter School for the Arts
Minutes
Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 15, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Trustees Present
Arlene Bascom (remote), Barbara H. Scott (remote), Dan Vislocky (remote), David Barnard (remote), Denise Brecher (remote), Eric Osorio (remote), Lori Biancamano (remote), Susan Geisenheimer (remote)
Trustees Absent
Andrea Zayas, Charles Whites, Evette Stair- Radlein, Katherine Trager
Guests Present
Jasmin Abbatiello (remote), Kathy Ortiz (remote), Melanie Hok (remote), Patricia Rooney (remote), Ryan McCabe (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Board Chair
A.
Update
III. Interim Executive Director
A.
Academic Program
Kathy Ortiz provided the Interim ED report which included the recent updated Covid-19 vaccination policy announced by NYC Mayor Adams, the school monthly dashboard, student recruitment plans and total applications received to date. She also provided an update on the current charter renewal project timeline, noting continual partnership with Heather Wendling and Paul O'Neil.
Both Kathy Ortiz and Ryan McCabe provided the Academic Program report, highlighting recent winter results from the NWEA MAP assessments for the middle school. Ryan McCabe also shared an instructional action plan addressing the findings of the winter NWEA MAP assessment results.
B.
Core Values
Discussion ensued regarding core values for the school.
IV. Finance
A.
Finance Report Update
Melanie Hok provided the finance report, sharing that there is continual underspending in both personnel and non-personnel costs.
V. Development and Communications
A.
FY22-23 Fundraising update
Jasmin gave the development report, highlighting that a total of $268k has been raised to date (including formal/verbiage pledge from PitCCH In), with $82k remaining to be raised to achieve the fundraising goal of $350k. Assuming all board members achieve give/get goal of $5k + continued Citibank donation, the remaining gap to fundraise is then reduced to $50k. Jasmin further shared that there are additional identified grant funding opportunities that is pending and will be provided once more detail is available.
Finally, Jasmin mentioned that plans for a website redesign is pending proposals and reference checks from different agencies.
Barbara H. Scott provided a brief update on her weekly meetings with Kathy Ortiz, which she shared have been extremely beneficial.