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MCCPS Board of Trustees

Minutes

Board of Trustees Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday October 22, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Location

Trustees Present

Carol McEnaney, Ellen Lodgen (remote), Emily Promise (remote), Ian Hunt, James Lewis (remote), Jessica Xiarhos (remote), Katie Holt, Kimberly Nothnagel (remote), Lindsay Smith, Polly Titcomb (remote), Stephanie Brant

Trustees Absent

None

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Katie Holt called a meeting of the board of trustees of MCCPS Board of Trustees to order on Tuesday Oct 22, 2024 at 7:07 PM.

C.

Public Comment

Eric is attending as a guest.

II. Board Action Items

A.

New Board Member Nomination and Vote

Polly Titcomb made a motion to Vote on Eric Nagel to join the MCCPS as a full board member.
Lindsay Smith seconded the motion.

Eric shared his interest in joining the MCCPS board. Keen to share project management skills-set. 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jessica Xiarhos
Absent
Ian Hunt
Aye
Katie Holt
Aye
Ellen Lodgen
Absent
Carol McEnaney
Aye
Lindsay Smith
Aye
James Lewis
Aye
Stephanie Brant
Aye
Kimberly Nothnagel
Absent
Polly Titcomb
Aye
Emily Promise
Absent

B.

Minutes to Approve: September

Katie Holt made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Trustees Meeting on 09-24-24.
Carol McEnaney seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Polly Titcomb
Abstain
James Lewis
Aye
Ian Hunt
Aye
Lindsay Smith
Aye
Katie Holt
Aye
Kimberly Nothnagel
Absent
Jessica Xiarhos
Absent
Ellen Lodgen
Absent
Carol McEnaney
Aye
Stephanie Brant
Aye
Emily Promise
Absent

III. Head of School Report

A.

October Report

HoS shared monthly updates. Key highlights:

  • Enrollment is stable (192). Hired new instructional (5th grade) teacher. Additional 5th grade inclusion ongoing. 
  • Parent Square meetings are progressing. Roll out planned for early December.
  • DESE Site Visit preparation ongoing. Three focus groups are planned - staff, leadership and board. HoS prepping staff and focus group participants.
  • Admission opens November 1st. Engagement strategy being development (postcard, town banners, print articles, open houses etc). The board encouraged HoS to target Christmas Walks (Swmapscott).
  • Busy schedule of community engagement activities planned for the fall (My Brothers Table Walk, Movie Nights etc). Bringing these back is a key priority for the school.
  • Megan Upton is developing an off-boarding strategy to support 8th grade students preparing for next steps in their education. The board encouraged HoS to explore options to engage / help support parents. 
  • Sports update - teams excelling in their sports. The board congratulated staff and teachers. 

B.

HOS Goals: Review and Vote

Katie Holt made a motion to Approve proposed HoS professional development and student learning goals.
Carol McEnaney seconded the motion.

HoS shared two proposed draft goals:

  • Professional
  • Student Learning

A key element to the learning goals is to  advance MCAS student scores. HoS  and the board explored current MCAS scores and agreed on scope of both goals.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
James Lewis
Aye
Polly Titcomb
Aye
Emily Promise
Absent
Ellen Lodgen
Absent
Kimberly Nothnagel
Absent
Lindsay Smith
Aye
Ian Hunt
Aye
Carol McEnaney
Aye
Katie Holt
Aye
Jessica Xiarhos
Absent

IV. Board Annual Items

A.

Upcoming Agenda Items

Board agreed to develop and maintain a strategic calendar. Jeff Lewis agreed to take the lead on this. 

 

B.

Board Goals

Katie Holt made a motion to Adopt proposed MCCP Board Goals.
Ian Hunt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jessica Xiarhos
Absent
James Lewis
Aye
Carol McEnaney
Aye
Emily Promise
Absent
Polly Titcomb
Aye
Katie Holt
Aye
Kimberly Nothnagel
Absent
Ellen Lodgen
Absent
Lindsay Smith
Aye
Ian Hunt
Aye

C.

Board Self Assessment

The board discussed self assessment in advance of DESE site visit. Key topics to focus on:

  • Technical and Procedural polices related to board health
  • Open Meeting Law

 

Lyndsay shared input from the charter public shool association as a key tool to advance board health and operation. 

 

V. Audit 2024

A.

Vote: 2024 Audit Findings

Katie Holt made a motion to We, the Board of Trustees of MCCPS and Marblehead Charter Education Fund, Inc. or its designated committee or individual, have voted to accept the representations of management and the expression of the opinion made by Daniel Dennis & Company LLP as embodied in the combined financial statements and independent auditors’ reports for the year ended June 30,2024. We also certify that the representations made by management and the disclosures in the combined financial statements are accurate and have been correctly and completely disclosed as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Charter School.
Lindsay Smith seconded the motion.

Katie Holt provided an update audit from Jeff and Emily who were absent at the Board Meeting. Audit due 10/31.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Polly Titcomb
Abstain
Katie Holt
Aye
Ellen Lodgen
Absent
Lindsay Smith
Aye
Emily Promise
Absent
Ian Hunt
Aye
Jessica Xiarhos
Absent
James Lewis
Aye
Kimberly Nothnagel
Absent
Carol McEnaney
Aye
Stephanie Brant
Aye

VI. Committee Updates

A.

Finance Committee

Did not discuss.

 

B.

Governance Committee

Handbook prep ongonig. 

C.

Personnel Committee

Working with HoS on goal setting. Committee membership to be updated. 

D.

Academic Excellence

Team have not met.

E.

Development & Communications

Committee to move to quarterly cadence with new sub-committees to be set-up to drive key events. 

 

F.

DEI Committee

First meeting of the year. New committee advanced several topics for further exploration. 

VII. Public Comment

A.

Public Comment

No public comment. 

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Recap Action Items

B.

Board Comments

C.

Adjourn Meeting

Katie Holt made a motion to Close meeting.
Ian Hunt seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Lindsay Smith
Aye
Emily Promise
Aye
Stephanie Brant
Aye
Polly Titcomb
Aye
Jessica Xiarhos
Aye
Ian Hunt
Aye
Ellen Lodgen
Aye
Carol McEnaney
Aye
Kimberly Nothnagel
Aye
Katie Holt
Aye
James Lewis
Aye
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,
Ian Hunt
Documents used during the meeting
  • Resume 8-23.docx
  • EGN Board LoI.pdf
  • 0ctober 2024 Head of School Report (1).pdf
  • Brant%20Professional%20Practice%20Goal%202024.pdf.pdf
  • Brant%20Student%20Learning%20Goa%202024.pdf.pdf
  • FY24-25 Board Assessment.pdf
  • Screenshot 2024-10-18 at 3.17.59 PM.png
  • Draft - Marblehead - FY24.pdf

Updated Student Learning Goal for HoS presented at meeting and attached to these minutes - see attachments