Darshan Thakkar introduced Mark Ventre as the new Finance Director for LFDCS. Mark V. gave a brief overview to the Board of his experience. For the past 20+ he has worked in Education Technology, specifically for ESped, which was acquired by Frontline. This system was used in schools to manage special education systems. This is his first role school side. 

Jenin Duran, the sister of parent Maylin Gomez, addressed the Board on Ms. Gomez’s behalf.

She explained that Jariel Ontivero, an 8th-grade student, was required to attend summer school due to excessive absences. Ms. Duran stated that the student’s absences were related to accompanying his mother to medical appointments, where he provided emotional support during her treatment.

Ms. Duran expressed concern that requiring Jariel to attend summer school may negatively affect his summer experience before entering high school.

Additionally, Ms. Gomez extended an apology for her conduct during a previous meeting with school administrators, explaining that her reaction was influenced by past experiences in educational settings that left her feeling triggered.

Darshan T. provided clarification regarding the school’s attendance policy, which was previously approved by the Board. He outlined the specific criteria used to determine whether absences are classified as unexcused.

Head of School, Nicole A., addressed the student’s attendance history. She explained that when the student accumulated six absences, she informed him that, given he was in 8th grade and maintained an average grade of 75 or above, he would not be required to attend summer school, provided he met certain conditions.

Nicole A. noted that she did not receive a doctor’s note within the required 48-hour window. Furthermore, the documentation that was eventually submitted pertained to the student’s mother, not the student himself, and therefore did not qualify to excuse the absences under school policy.

She also clarified that if a student has already met graduation requirements, they would not be mandated to attend summer school. The school does not permit students to participate in graduation ceremonies and later requires them to attend summer school as a condition. HOS emphasized that she had previously assured the student that his absences would not prevent him from graduating with his peers.

However, the student’s mother expressed frustration, stating that she had not been informed that her child would not be required to attend summer school, if she were the meeting wouldn't have been necessary. Nicole A. extended an apology to the parent for the misunderstanding, explaining that both she and Darshan T. had believed the mother’s primary concern was related to the classification of unexcused absences on the student’s transcript.

Germinudy L. added that the student’s father also reached out, requesting that his son be excused from summer school due to a previously scheduled family vacation. Germinudy L. explained that she advised the parent to attend this evening’s meeting and present her claim directly to the Board, as she does not have the authority to make a determination independently; the decision must come from the full Board.

Ultimately, it was determined that there had been a miscommunication; the parent's concern centered on whether summer school was required, while school staff had understood the issue to be a challenge to the student’s attendance record as reflected in his transcript.

Nicole A., Head of Upper School, presented a letter to the Board on behalf of herself and the 8th-grade teaching team. She noted that she was willing to share the letter with the full Board separately.

Nicole A. outlined a situation involving a graduating 8th-grade student who had been informed that he would not receive his diploma due to confirmed plagiarism in his portfolio presentation, a requirement for graduation. The student was advised that, in order to be awarded his diploma, he would need to attend summer school and re-present his portfolio. The school also agreed not to notify the student’s future high school of the academic dishonesty.

Following this decision, the student’s family contacted various community members, including elected officials and other parents, to express their concerns. Nicole A. reported that the decision made by the school was later overturned by the Board Chair, Germinudy L. According to Nicole A., Germinudy L. contacted Darshan T. directly and instructed him to reverse the school’s decision and allow the student to graduate with his peers. Germinudy L. also stated that she had spoken with three other trustees, Jennifer C., Linette P., and Elizabeth N., who agreed that the student should be allowed to participate in graduation.

Nicole A. stated that Germinudy L. told Darshan T. that, as Board Chair and his supervisor, he was required to follow her directive. She expressed serious concern that this directive undermined the authority of the Superintendent, the Head of School, the 8th-grade teaching team, and the school’s established policies and procedures. Nicole A. emphasized that the role of the Board is to ensure compliance with the school's bylaws and charter, not to interfere with academic decisions, especially when a student has failed to meet graduation requirements.

She further highlighted that the trustees involved did not follow proper open meeting laws, nor did they conduct a formal vote. Nicole A. stated that this unilateral action by the Board Chair has diminished trust among faculty, students, and families. It sets a troubling precedent that devalues the hard work of teachers and the credibility of the school’s academic standards. Most concerning, she added, is the message it sends to students that academic dishonesty can be overlooked with the right connections.

Nicole A. urged the full Board to review this matter closely and to clarify the boundaries of authority to ensure the integrity of the school’s academic program and the consistent application of its established policies.

Board member Elizabeth N. requested clarification regarding the contents of the letter. Darshan T. then asked Anthony C. to advise on whether, and in what capacity, the Board could respond to the grievance that had been raised regarding its conduct.

Anthony C. advised that, given the nature of the complaint involving the Board, it would be appropriate for an independent third party, such as legal counsel, to conduct an investigation. He emphasized the importance of ensuring due process and noted that the investigation would be conducted within 45 days, after which a report detailing the findings would be issued. Once the report is available, the Board will have the opportunity to review its contents, discuss the findings, and provide feedback. Based on this review, the Board can then determine an appropriate course of action.

Chris N. asked Anthony C. whether he would recommend that the Board take a formal vote to initiate the investigation. Anthony C. advised that the Board should proceed with a vote and adopt the recommendation to have legal counsel conduct the investigation. He further recommended that the Board appoint a trustee, who is not named in the complaint or implicated in the allegation, to serve as a liaison with counsel throughout the process.

Chris N. states that he believes the right person to serve as the liaison would Dave D. 

He nominates Dave D. to be the liaison to counsel. 

Anthony C. stated that legal counsel will be reaching out tomorrow to obtain contact information for school personnel and other individuals involved in the matter.

In response to a question from Chris N. regarding who will be conducting the investigation, Anthony C. confirmed that the assigned attorney will be Bettina Toner.

Darshan T. reported that during the most recent Finance Committee meeting, it was shared that LFD is requesting clarification from the school regarding the term length of the upcoming agreement. Whether it should be for one year or five years. The school is recommending a one-year term in order to retain the flexibility to terminate the agreement earlier, as there are plans to bring both custodial and IT services in-house.

Finance Committee member Chris N. provided additional context, explaining that the recommendation is to draft two separate agreements, one for IT services and one for custodial services. Each contract will be structured to reflect the school's long-term intention to transition these services internally. The current proposal is for a one-year term with the possibility of extensions.

Chris N. requested a motion for the Board to approve and authorize the execution of both contracts on or before June 30.

Chris N. announced that he will proceed with finalizing the Superintendent’s contract. He shared that he had spoken with Robert Carpenter, and both agreed that a formal performance review was not necessary at this time due to the comprehensive process already undertaken to nominate Darshan T. as Superintendent. However, it is understood that a formal review will be conducted after Darshan T. completes one year in the role.

Chris N. stated that two Board members, Lynnette M. and Jose H., have agreed to serve on the Superintendent Review Committee, and that one additional Board member is needed to complete the committee.

Dave D. noted that there are review templates available for reference and added that Robert Carpenter has been a helpful resource in the process.

Elizabeth N. volunteered to serve on the committee.

Chris N. recommended that the Superintendent’s salary compensation be reviewed and discussed during executive session at the next Board meeting scheduled for June 18.

He further stated that he, Dave D., and Elizabeth N. will collaborate to review the contract and salary compensation in preparation for the presentation to the Board at the June 18 meeting.

Dave D. added that there are salary compensation tables available for reference, and suggested that they schedule a separate Zoom meeting to review and discuss them.

Chris N. asked Anthony C. for clarification on whether the three of them could meet outside of executive session without violating open meeting laws.

Darshan T. reported that at the most recent Finance Committee meeting, Susan P. presented the draft budget for fiscal year 2026. Chris N. then deferred to Mark V. to present the proposed budget to the full Board.

Chris N. explained that the draft budget was initially approved in April 2025 and serves as the foundation for the version being presented now. It reflects anticipated salary increases and an enrollment increase from 900 to 920 students. The school's total projected revenue is $24,125,457, which includes enrollment-based funding and approximately $2.5 million in federal grants.

Chris N. asked Darshan T. if there were any updates regarding federal funding. Darshan T. responded that Title I and Special Education grants are exempt from federal orders and should remain unaffected in the coming year. He noted that Title II, III, and IV grants, along with supplemental Special Education funding, account for a small portion of the $2.5 million in federal aid. Even if those smaller grants are impacted, the budget has a sufficient cushion to absorb the potential loss. He added that unless significant federal changes occur that affect state funding, Title I and Special Education funds are expected to remain stable.

Chris N. highlighted increases in compensation for administrative staff, instructional leadership, teachers, and paraprofessionals. Darshan T. elaborated on changes to the teacher career ladder, noting that the top-tier “Master” level had not been utilized due to its rigorous requirements. As a result, funds allocated for that level were redistributed across other tiers. The base salary at the entry level was raised from $60,000 to $66,000, with a $6,000 increase applied to each level of the ladder.

Chris N. inquired whether a comparative salary study had been conducted. Darshan T. stated that a study was completed a few years ago, which showed that while LFDCS salaries were competitive, they still lagged behind the regional average. With the new increases, the school is now positioned in the 85th percentile compared to other schools in the Merrimack Valley and other charter schools.

Chris N. also asked whether the paraprofessional career ladder was new this year. Darshan T. clarified that it was introduced last year. He explained that, due to fluctuating headcounts, salary adjustments were made both last year and again this year. The new scale for the upcoming school year is expected to be more clearly defined.

Chris N. noted that stipends this year will be higher than in previous years and emphasized their importance in supporting teacher development and mentoring. Darshan T. added that the school recently invested in new curriculum materials for ELA, Math, and Spanish, which required hiring specialists to develop curriculum and lesson plans.

Chris N. then reviewed the budget line by line and requested clarification on the Special Education expense line. Sean R. explained that the school currently contracts for occupational therapy services, neuropsychological evaluations, and a part-time speech and language pathologist. However, starting next year, OT services will be brought in-house, which should reduce the contracted services expense.

Chris N. asked whether Special Education expenses are largely supported by federal grants. Sean R. clarified that they are not.

Darshan T. addressed Line 67, Tuition Reimbursement, stating that the school is considering increasing the reimbursement rate from 50% to 75%, as the allocated funds in this line have not been fully utilized in past years.

Darshan T. also reported that the switch to a new food vendor is projected to result in a net profit of $40,000.

Chris N. discussed the facilities budget, stating that once the facilities department is transitioned in-house, associated costs are expected to decrease.

Chris N. expressed a desire to see the Net Income line increased by at least a few hundred thousand dollars.

Mark V. noted that access to the school’s financial system will not be available until July 1. He expressed his intention to develop a more intuitive and transparent budgeting process with broader stakeholder participation.

Chris N. recommended that the Board approve the proposed budget, with the condition that Darshan T. and Mark V. make necessary adjustments to increase the projected net income once they have full financial visibility.

Elizabeth N. asked if there was a timeline for these adjustments. Mark V. responded that the new financial software should be available sometime in July and noted that further savings are anticipated once additional departments are absorbed into the school’s operations by January 1, 2025.

Chris N. requested that an adjusted budget be presented at the August 2025 Board meeting. Mark V. cautioned that this timeline will require the involvement of all relevant stakeholders who contribute to the budgeting process.

Darshan T. reported that all expenses referenced were related to capital improvements. Mark V. noted that while the original allocation was $1.2 million, total expenditures reached $1,775,000. Of that amount, approximately $700,000 was invested in technology infrastructure, including the installation of 77 Promethean smartboards in classrooms over the summer.

An additional $445,000 was allocated for maintenance improvements, which included HVAC system upgrades and roof repairs. Mark V. added that other unanticipated building improvements and upgrades also contributed to the increased total cost.

Darshan T. highlighted the value of the new Promethean smartboards, explaining that these interactive tools will enhance instructional delivery by allowing teachers to reduce the time spent at their desks using a computer, thereby improving classroom engagement and flexibility.

Nicole D.-W. reported on the Spring 2025 MAP assessment results. She noted that with the implementation of the new ELA curriculum, there was an increase in the number of students identified in Tier 3 for reading. This shift is attributed to teachers continuing to adjust to the new curriculum and focusing efforts on supporting students performing at the Tier 3 level. Nicole D.-W. shared that, beginning next year, the school will transition from using MAP scores to identify students for summer school and will instead use DIBELS to monitor reading fluency.

She also secured a grant to support fluency instruction for students in grades 2 through 8 during the first half of the upcoming school year. This initiative is aimed at improving both reading fluency and overall comprehension.

In mathematics, the percentage of students in Tier 3 increased by 1%; however, there was a decrease in Tier 2 students, and an increase in students performing at Tier 1 and Advanced levels.

Dave D. asked for clarification regarding the reported percentages. Nicole D.-W. explained that the percentages reflect the proportion of LFDCS students performing within each tier category.

For Spanish, the number of students in Tier 3 increased, while the percentages of students in Advanced, Tier 1, and Tier 2 decreased.

In Science, the number of students in Tiers 3 and Advanced decreased, while the number of students in Tier 2 increased.

Nicole D.-W. also discussed how MAP results from January through May are used to identify students for the Extended Day Academic Academy (EDAA) program. At the Upper School level, the program focuses on math instruction and includes support from Varsity Tutors. Based on the Spring MAP results, 26% of participating students met their growth goals and exited the program. 

At the Lower School and Academy levels, the EDAA program emphasizes reading skills, and 24% of participating students tested out of the program.

Nicole D.-W. concluded by recognizing and commending the teachers who had 70% or more of their students meet their individual growth goals in Math and Reading.

Nicole D.-W. presented the results of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) assessment conducted at the end of May using the Panorama platform. Panorama provides schools and districts with research-based surveys and actionable data to support students’ social-emotional development. It offers a comprehensive view of each student’s SEL needs within a centralized system.

Students in grades 3 through 8 completed the student self-assessment survey, which focused on areas such as supportive relationships and social awareness. For students in grades 7 and 8, the survey also included questions related to self-efficacy.

For students in grades K1 through 2, the assessment was completed by teachers through an observational survey. This version measured indicators including emotion regulation, social awareness, classroom effort, grit, and self-management.

Comparing the data from Fall to Spring, Nicole D.-W. reported significant growth in the area of social awareness across most grade levels. However, challenges were noted in the domain of managing difficult emotions. In particular, 6th-grade students demonstrated the greatest struggles with emotional regulation and handling challenging feelings, likely linked to the upcoming transition to a middle school schedule. Similarly, students in grades 3 through 5 experienced increased difficulty with emotion regulation toward the end of the year. Nicole D.-W. noted that this is a common trend as students approach summer break, during which the structure and routine of the school environment are no longer present. Additionally, students in these grades are still developing their ability to manage transitions effectively.

In grades K1 through 2, growth was observed across all measured areas, with self-management showing the most improvement. Nicole D.-W. highlighted that this reflects students’ growing ability to enter the classroom, settle into routines, and engage in academic tasks. She also noted that younger students are becoming more capable of verbalizing their needs and advocating for themselves in the classroom setting.

Rachel S. reported that Stock Pot Malden (SPM) has been contracted as the school’s new food service vendor. As part of the transition, SPM hired six former LFD staff members to join their team. SPM also facilitated the interview process for these positions.

Rachel S. shared that the Wellness Committee participated in a “Cafeteria Confessions” podcast interview. Representatives from the School Food and Wellness Group visited to interview students in grades 6–8, along with teacher Allison M. The episode is scheduled to air in July and is expected to serve as a positive way to kick off the new school year. The Committee plans to collaborate with the new Communications Specialist to share more information about wellness initiatives with the school community.

Next school year, the school will reintroduce composting as part of its sustainability efforts. The school has maintained a 93% diversion rate of food waste from landfills, and additional composting bins will be placed throughout the campus to support this initiative. Efforts will be made to increase awareness and engagement around composting practices.

Rachel S. also noted the Committee’s intention to increase parent and community involvement in wellness initiatives, with a focus on advisory support, education, and promoting overall well-being. Additional resources will be developed to support areas such as stress reduction and burnout prevention.

Dave D. requested that the Academic Advisory Council be kept informed about these wellness topics to encourage further discussion and alignment across committees.

Rachel S. announced that the school received a Health and Wellness grant from DESE, which will support the development of additional programming.

She also reported that the school held its second annual Field Day last Thursday. The event was a great success, engaging students and staff across the school. Kona Ice generously donated additional treats beyond what had been budgeted. Moving forward, Field Day planning will be incorporated into the work of the Wellness Committee. 

The Heads of School provided updates on Quarters 3 and 4, highlighting student achievements in the areas of Model Student, Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, and High Honors.

Laurie L. (Head of School for K1 & K2) reported that, despite some staff turnover, the K1 team has shown improvement. This year, a new curriculum was implemented, and the team had to adjust to it. Awards ceremonies for K1 will take place on Monday, while K2 recently celebrated its graduation. K2 also experienced some turnover, with one teacher relocating out of state and another on maternity leave. Laurie L. expressed optimism that, with greater classroom stability and deeper familiarity with the curriculum, student outcomes will improve in the upcoming year.

Andreina C. (Head of School for Grades 1 & 2) shared that the Grade 1 awards ceremony was held today, with Grade 2 scheduled for Friday. She noted significant growth in perfect attendance and attributed this to productive meetings with parents regarding truancy concerns. At the start of the year, teachers were acclimating to the new ELA curriculum, and students initially struggled. However, steady progress has since been observed.

Chloe P. (Head of School for Grades 3 & 4) reported positive trends in attendance and student performance. Awards ceremonies are taking place this week. She credited the rise in perfect attendance to effective communication by reception staff with families. In mathematics, significant improvement was noted, largely due to the support provided by Title I Math Teacher, Ms. Ursu.

Nicole A. (Head of School for Grades 5–8) reported that all awards ceremonies have been completed. In Grades 5 and 6, there was an increase in both Honor Roll and High Honors recipients. Notably, many students who achieved Honor Roll in Grade 6 advanced to High Honors by the final quarter. Perfect attendance also improved. Nicole A. explained that a slight dip in Model Student recognitions during the fourth quarter was expected, as students take on more responsibilities to prepare for the next academic level, resulting in a shift from Quarter 3 to 4.

In Grades 7 and 8, there was a noticeable shift in High Honors. Grade 7 experienced a dip, which Nicole A. clarified was due to several students moving from High Honors to Honor Roll. She acknowledged a technical error in PowerSchool related to grading adjustments, which will be corrected to reflect accurate High Honors data. Model Student recognitions remained stable.

Nicole A. concluded by highlighting the strong academic performance of Grade 8 students, which was evident in the high number of recognitions presented during their graduation ceremony.

Germinudy L. requested a motion to enter Executive Session for the next agenda item. She stated that the session was necessary to discuss the potential purchase, exchange, or lease of real properties located at 34 West Street, 32 West Street, 400 Haverhill Street, and 10 Railroad Street. She noted that holding these discussions in open session could adversely impact the school’s negotiation strategy.