MCCPS Board of Trustees
Minutes
March Board of Trustee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday March 26, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Location
MCCPS
17 Lime Street 01945
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/98355446062?pwd=bVg2VzE4bEZUVXJqY0R4UlJnVmZ1dz09
Trustees Present
Carol McEnaney, Ian Hunt, James Lewis (remote), Jessica Xiarhos, Kimberly Nothnagel, Lindsay Smith, Nick Santoro, Paul Baker (remote), Polly Titcomb (remote), Rodolphe Herve (remote), Stephanie Brant, William Rockwell (remote)
Trustees Absent
Katie Holt
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Lindsay Smith called a meeting of the board of trustees of MCCPS Board of Trustees to order on Tuesday Mar 26, 2024 at 7:07 PM.
C.
Public Comment
- N/A
D.
HoS Monthly Report
- *Please see attached HOS Report for full transcript
- Summary
- Enrollment
- SY23-24
- Currently have 178 enrolled total
- Have sent intent to return
- SY24-25
- Enrollment projection of 204
- Grade breakdown
- Targeting 46 students for 4th grade, 40-45 for 6th grade, 40 for 7th, and 27 for 8th
- Waitlists for several grade levels
- Targeting 46 students for 4th grade, 40-45 for 6th grade, 40 for 7th, and 27 for 8th
- Admissions changes from last year
- Deadlines on intent to return
- Stephanie noted Meg Upton's great work throughout this process
- Created newsletter for admitted students, handled outreach to prospective families, etc.
- Stephanie has handled all school tours herself
- Kim noted that she's heard from several prospective parents how appreciative they are of the "white glove" treatment Stephanie provides them
- Lindsay has heard similar things from parents
- Discussion re: interactions with prospective families
- Stephanie noted that there were many prospective students at Exhibition and that increasing engagement with both prospective and current students is something MCCPS can not only provide, but should provide
- A lot of prospective students knew/recognized each other at Exhibition
- Stephanie noted that there were many prospective students at Exhibition and that increasing engagement with both prospective and current students is something MCCPS can not only provide, but should provide
- SY23-24
- Budget & Other Events
- SSU Partnership
- Stephanie has begun interviews with Salem State University fellows (4 applicants) and hopes to be able to make some decisions regarding SSU partnership by the end of the week
- Staff Contract Meetings
- Stephanie aims to have contract meetings complete with all staff by the end of April break
- This could be pushed back a week depending on when staff survey is sent out and returned
- Stephanie aims to have contract meetings complete with all staff by the end of April break
- Chief King will be visiting campus this week to discuss ALICE training
- DOE conducting site visit next week
- Stephanie and Rose have been sharing documentation with the state about this
- DESE recently completed report regarding English learning program at MCCPS
- The school has partially implemented every indicator on the report but is not in complete compliance- Stephanie acknowledged there's work to do in this area
- Stephanie noted increasing number of English learners at MCCPS in recent years (several Russian and Spanish-speaking students currently)
- Katie asked where MCCPS stands in regard to compliance versus other schools
- Little school-to-school comparison done, though results are posted on DESE's website
- The school has partially implemented every indicator on the report but is not in complete compliance- Stephanie acknowledged there's work to do in this area
- Audit re: federal grant funds
- School received approx. $25,000 for establishment of Title I (targeted intervention) program, and auditors now following up
- School events coming up
- Dinner and magic show coming up
- 160 people have RSVP'd
- School fundraiser happening in a month
- Dinner and magic show coming up
- YMCA partnership
- MCCPS will partner with YMCA next year for after school programming
- YMCA's proposal provided affordable rates, additional benefits (discounted Y membership), flexibility re: how many students enroll
- MCCPS will partner with YMCA next year for after school programming
- SSU Partnership
- Enrollment
II. Committee Updates
A.
Finance Committee
- Current SY23-24
- 8 month profit of $138k but will end up between $2-300k loss as predicted
- Approx. $700k in readily available cash and $250k in Board restricted funds
- Next year's enrollment projections provide good news
- Budget approval for SY24-25
- Required in order to begin contract negotiations with staff
- Details of budget draft
- Budget based on 190 students
- Budgeted 3% increase in payroll
- Mortgage rate will go from 3.1 to 5%
- 10% increase for healthcare
- Questions
- Lindsay asked what assumptions this budget has been created under re: staffing
- Stephanie: this has MCCPS back to teams of 4 at each grade level
- Lindsay asked what assumptions this budget has been created under re: staffing
Lindsay Smith made a motion to approve the proposed MCCPS budget for SY24-25.
Paul Baker seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Jessica Xiarhos |
Abstain
|
| Ian Hunt |
Aye
|
| Nick Santoro |
Abstain
|
| Katie Holt |
Absent
|
| Kimberly Nothnagel |
Aye
|
| Rodolphe Herve |
Aye
|
| Stephanie Brant |
Abstain
|
| Lindsay Smith |
Aye
|
| Paul Baker |
Aye
|
| Carol McEnaney |
Abstain
|
| James Lewis |
Aye
|
| William Rockwell |
Aye
|
| Polly Titcomb |
Aye
|
B.
Governance Committee
C.
Personnel Committee
- Stephanie provided Personnel update
- Next Wednesday, Katie Sullivan and John Steinberg will be coming to discuss year-end surveys with MCCPS staff (surveys focus on HOS leadership, teacher satisfaction, Board of Trustees)
- Katie/John will present survey results once complete
- Committee discussed working with Stephanie on school handbooks, which haven't been updated since 2018
- Next Wednesday, Katie Sullivan and John Steinberg will be coming to discuss year-end surveys with MCCPS staff (surveys focus on HOS leadership, teacher satisfaction, Board of Trustees)
D.
Academic Excellence
- Next meeting occuring this coming Monday
E.
Development & Communications
- Kim reviewed DevCom updates
- Committee focused on preparing for April fundraiser
- Fundraiser will feature "teacher wish list" items, "fund a need" options, and items from businesses in the community
F.
DEI Committee
- Lindsay provided update on DEI
- Meeting pushed back to next week due to illness
- Next week's meeting will focus on restorative justice
- Committee will be framing its work around school climate
- Meeting pushed back to next week due to illness
III. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
- N/A
IV. Closing Items
A.
Recap Action Items
B.
Board Comments
- Paul mentioned professional development event at Devereux
- Speaker delivered great presentation on neurodiversity and recommended her to anyone interested in the topic
- Board also discussed scheduling presentation with Board onboarding professional
- Targeting June 15th from 9am-2pm
Lindsay Smith made a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting.
Nick Santoro seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Lindsay Smith |
Aye
|
| William Rockwell |
Aye
|
| Katie Holt |
Absent
|
| Nick Santoro |
Aye
|
| Stephanie Brant |
Aye
|
| Jessica Xiarhos |
Aye
|
| Rodolphe Herve |
Aye
|
| Paul Baker |
Aye
|
| Ian Hunt |
Aye
|
| Carol McEnaney |
Aye
|
| James Lewis |
Aye
|
| Polly Titcomb |
Aye
|
| Kimberly Nothnagel |
Aye
|
C.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
William Rockwell
Documents used during the meeting
- Head of School Report 3:24.pdf
- FY25 proposed budget 2.0.xlsx