• Board Chair encouraged participation in the MCPSA Board Diagnostic Survey. Action - ALL Board Members.
• Kim Nothnagel shared details of the Advocacy Agenda from MCPS.
• Open Meeting "Training" was also flagged. The Board Chair encouraged Board members to participate (including new board members). 

• HoS shared updates on ongoing recruitment activities. 
• Intent to Return forms are also being sent out for next year. In parallel, conversations with staff will also begin.
• Update on Strategic Plan development including pending training for LT. Strategy Planning process, will begin in March, 2025.
• HoS shared update on DESE findings relating to the Charter's renewal. DESE did approve school charter renewal, but with two conditions relating to student enrollment (see attached report).  HoS also shared reflections from a meeting on Feb 25 with DESE in which conditions were discussed in more detail. Generally, positive feedback was reported. Key outcomes:
  • Priority 1 | Target activities to reach full enrollment of 230 students from all districts. 
  • Priority 2 |  Explore strategies to increase sending district to ~80% of the total student population.
• HoS shared perspectives on strategies to realize the two conditions, with particular emphasis on full enrollment at school to 230 in the next 1–2 years. This includes focusing on improving MCAS scores to attract more local families and focusing on academic excellence with staff.
• HoS shared updates of HoS goals for 2025. 
  • Mid-Year Progress Check on iReady diagnostic assessments (Board Presentation on iReady data on 3/25)
  • Adjustments to PALS through weekly PD
  • Grade-level teams provided professional Development for staff on differentiated math instruction for struggling students. 
  • (Registered) April 2025 2 days of professional development through Learning Acceleration Network for the entire math department to support vertical alignment in math practices
  • Observations of math teachers by TNTP are scheduled for April 1 and 2; professional development will be observed.
• DESE Food Survey / Audit findings shared. Additional information will be shared at future board meeting. 
• Misc: Fund Raising events planned for March.

See notes above. BoD monthly update focused on DESE renewal conversations. 

HoS shared changes to the school calendar to encourage sustained student learning with longer, more focused periods of study (e.g. prevent start/stops). 

Lindsay provided an update on the proposed dates for the MCCPS Board Retreat. Proposed dates are June 21. Lindsay asked all board members to reply to survey by EOB, Feb 26.

Emily shared updates from the most recent meeting (Feb 2025) that centered around DESE feedback and enrollment projections for next school year. 

• Polly shared an update on approving missing published minutes from past committee meetings. 
• Chris Dohen was interviewed by the Gov. Committee as a possible candidate as the Head of the MCCPS Academic Excellence Committee. The committee elevated Chris for consideration for Head of Schools AEC. 
• Chris Dohen shared his perspectives on fleshing the committee including frequency and focus of meetings. 
• Update on Board recruitment process is also shared with 2+ potential new members. 

Updates on sponsorship for talent show and silent auction events. The silent auction was a major fund-raising opportunity for the school in 2024. The team is looking to moving the silent auction to exhibition night to advance fund-raising activities. Targeting March 20 exhibition. 

Did not meet in Feb. 

Will update at next Board Meeting. 

Board members to share availability for June retreat.