MOXIE Public Schools
Minutes
MOXIE PS Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Friday April 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Directors Present
B. Rabbitt (remote), J. Brown (remote), J. Perkins (remote), M. Pouliot (remote), V. Hammonds (remote)
Directors Absent
None
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Operational Updates
A.
Facility
B.
Development
We have been invited to continue with reinvestment from both New Schools Venture Fund and
Charter School Growth Fund.
Barr Foundation will allow us to spend down our grant early so we can movie to a next round of funding - $400k over 18 months.
MPS was 1 of 30 orgs selected nationally to receive $10k over 3 months for a Catalyze Grant to develop workforce connections.
Federal Charter School Program grant request coming in May. Working with a professional grant writer with experience with this fund. $4-500k annually possible if successful.
South Portland CCTV segment going live soon.
C.
Nonprofit Operations
Secured Paper Trails for HR consulting and Tina Flaherty for bookkeeping, financial control processes & strategy.
Now seeking benefits provider - not eligible for same benefits that public school teachers can access through the state of Maine.
Dan hiring staff currently. Two are Americorps positions.
D.
Student/Family Recruitment
141 applications from 122 families were received in time for April 1 lottery.
78 are enrolled from 68 families. Today is deadline for those offered positions after the lottery.
6th grade has wait list.
Don't have access to demographic info until students are enrolled.
No issues with hitting enrollment caps from any district (can't enroll more than 10% from any individual district.)
High percentage of students with IEPs.
III. New Business
A.
Governance Review: Draft Calendar and Student Handbook
Moxie has been offered governance assistance from Bellwether. Jessie and Charlie will take lead here.
- Annual Student Calendar - changing to conform with Portland Schools' changes
- 5 staff learning days included
- Including special curricular unit after holiday break
Nearing final permitting process in South Portland.
Did not succeed in getting loan to finance construction work - but we have the cash on hand.
Awaiting final estimate for construction of required firewall between cafeteria and neighboring tenant's office space.
City of South Portland has calculated occupancy at 120 due to formula about relating parking lot size to the number of assumed vehicle trips per day. The board strategized about responses to this limitation.