Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
November Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday November 27, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Location
Scholars Board Room
Directors Present
A. Gozycki, J. Wagler, M. Mittal, M. Scruggs, R. Watson, S. Liner, S. Scott
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Cuneo
Non Voting Members Present
J. Cuneo
Guests Present
A. Farooqi, T. Hemming, T. Miller
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
R. Watson called a meeting of the board of directors of Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy to order on Monday Nov 27, 2017 at 6:32 PM.
R. Watson announced that the meeting is audio recorded and will be placed online in the public Board on Track portal, which can be accessed on the Board page of the school website.
C.
Read Mission Statement
S. Scott read mission statement.
D.
Approval of Prior Minutes
M. Scruggs made a motion to approve minutes from the October Board Meeting on 10-23-17 October Board Meeting on 10-23-17.
J. Wagler seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Adoption of the Agenda
R. Watson noted that Director's Report is not attached within agenda but is within Board on Track along with enrollment report, for Board review.
M. Scruggs made a motion to approve agenda.
J. Wagler seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Community Comments (First Opportunity) - subject to guidelines
A.
Community Comments - guidelines
No community comments in room or on phone during first or second round of community comments.
III. Director's Report
A.
General Items
J. Cuneo presented the Director's Report.
- Blue Ribbon Celebration was well attended by the community
- SA was 1 of 352 schools in the nation to receive the honor, 1 of 6 schools in NC, only school in Mecklenburg.
- We are 1 of 5 schools in NC that have received the award twice
- LIEP - Language Instruction Educational Program Services
- J. Cuneo discussed process for identification, qualification for English language instruction (for those in non-English speaking households)
- Currently this is a very small number of students third grade and younger, based on parent reported data at the beginning of the year (via form)
- We may need to put more behind this via training, no funding currently given due to our small numbers - but these numbers are likely to rise given trends
- NAGC Site Visit Recap
- 35 gifted educators from across the country and Canada attended, teachers and students highlighted via classroom visits and round tables (featuring SA students, teachers and parents)
- Palmetto Scholars Academy also traveled from Charleston to attend/present
- SA received great feedback on organization of the event and information given
- Enrollment updates given within report
- Open Houses in full swing
- First Tuesday Tour had 20 families and first Saturday Open House had 200+ people in attendance
IV. Development Commitee
A.
Update on Development initiatives
J. Wagler
- Science Fair info has been prepared to recruit judges
- We have a number of returning science fair judges from Queens, CPCC, new tihs year will be the Biology Chair of Davidson, and some alumni
- Annual Campaign
- Family Participation is at 60% (down 8% from last year)
- $394,000 (down slightly from last year at $421,000)
- Parent Ambassador Campaign begins 12/5, parent volunteers will be reaching out to families to drive up participation through peer to peer contact
- Campaign is currently on track to meet our goal
- Marketing brochure is complete
- Targeted inserts will be created next - aiming to be done by January board meeting
- Volunteer database - should be started by next meeting
- Working on subscription based donations, year round giving, targeting past alumni & families
V. Diversity Committee
A.
Update on committee initiatives
M. Scruggs
- Current Diversity Committee focus is on grassroots marketing
- Word of mouth is what drives our open house attendance
- Committee is targeting open houses in area (charter schools, magnet schools) and leaving information on cars
- A letter about the school was drafted and shared among committee members within community, YMCAs, churches with diverse populations
- Next Diversity Committee meeting is 12/6 6pm
VI. Finance Committee
A.
Audit Results
M. Mittal
- Audit finalized, no issues to report - attached in Board on Track for review by the Board
B.
Athletic Budget update
- Recently, some parents have raised concerns about lack of sports funding
- There is currently a budget line item for athletics which covers refs, field rental, and team stipends, $6700
- Committee will plan for uniforms within next year's budget based on a rotation by sport
- SA student participation fees are lower than other schools, were increased this year by $25
- We haven’t looked into community/business sponsorship yet and these can be explored
- Board has already approved restricted gift policy for such specific needs in October meeting
C.
Budget Amendments
- State has allocated additional $13,625 for this year. This requires a budget amendment from initial estimates.
M. Mittal made a motion to approve budget amendment for additional state funds.
J. Wagler seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VII. Policy Committee
A.
Gift Policy Amendment
S. Liner:
- Gift Amendment updated to include volunteers
- Ideally, gifts larger than approved amount should be refused
- Discussed creation of volunteer handbook for next year to ensure clarity
S. Liner made a motion to approve amendment to gift policy.
M. Scruggs seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Attendance Policy
- Solidified Attendance Policy (had existed within Administration) and included State Board of Education Ten Day Rule
S. Liner made a motion to approve Attendance Policy and Ten Day Rule.
A. Gozycki seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
- Additional policies in the works
- A. Pieper is amending discipline policy, to be reviewed by Board in January
- Open Meeting Laws (S. Liner and A. Gozycki) slated for Jan/Feb timeframe
VIII. Closed Session (if necessary)
A.
Closed Session
M. Scruggs voted to move to closed session, A. Gozycki seconded. All approved.
M. Scruggs voted to move out of closed session, J. Wagler seconded. All approved at 7:45pm.
M. Scruggs voted to move out of closed session, J. Wagler seconded. All approved at 7:45pm.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Discussed January agenda, potential February slate
M. Scruggs made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
J. Wagler seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
A. Gozycki