Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday September 23, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Location
Scholars Academy Board Room
Directors Present
A. Farooqi, A. Gozycki, M. Dixon, M. Mittal, M. Ramasamy, S. Dasu, S. Korrapati, S. Liner, S. Schroeck
Directors Absent
A. O'Rourke
Directors who left before the meeting adjourned
A. Farooqi, M. Mittal
Ex Officio Members Present
A. Pieper
Non Voting Members Present
A. Pieper
Guests Present
T. Hemming
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
Members of the community were on the conference line.
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
M. Dixon called a meeting of the board of directors of Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy to order on Monday Sep 23, 2019 at 6:31 PM.
C.
Read Mission Statement
A. Gozycki read the Mission Statement.
D.
Approval of Prior Minutes
A. Gozycki made a motion to approve minutes from the Board Meeting on 08-07-19 Board Meeting on 08-07-19.
S. Korrapati seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Adoption of Prior Minutes
S. Korrapati made a motion to approve minutes from the VIA PHONE ONLY - SPECIAL Board Meeting on 09-10-19 VIA PHONE ONLY - SPECIAL Board Meeting on 09-10-19.
M. Ramasamy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
Adoption of the Agenda
S. Korrapati made a motion to Adopt the agenda.
M. Ramasamy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Community Comments (First Opportunity) - subject to guidelines
A.
Community Comments - guidelines
Toni Hemming thanked the Board for their service 100% participation in the Annual Community Giving Campaign. Staff Participation is also at 100% participation.
III. Director's Report
A.
General Items
A. Pieper gave the Director's Report.
Student Performance: Teachers are currently administering iReady testing math and reading, wrapping up next week. Data will be discussed with the Educational Excellence Committee.
iStation is the new reading assessment tool rolled out by the State of NC. This is for grades K-3. The assessment takes 30 minutes plus a fluency test that takes 90 seconds. iStation and iReady are on the list of approved assessment tests for NC. DRA is not on the list, so Scholars Academy will try iStation this year. If it is determined that iStation does not work for Scholars Academy, iReady will be used for reading assessment next year. Scholars Academy is unlikely to return to using DRA. Ms. Zagorski is working on getting teachers trained to administer iStation so that it can be administered in October.
Mrs. Pieper will do community conversations on Wednesday morning to update parents about electives and what the school plans to do with electives next year.
Teachers and Staff: New Spanish teacher has started and is working with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. This has enabled a large class to be split into two classes.
Governance & Financial: Title II funding - this funding is for the professional development for teachers. SA is using plans to use the money to support our first year teacher with coaching. An organization has agreed to do this coaching for us. Title II funding requires that public notice is given prior to funding. This note in the minutes fulfills the requirement for public notice.
We are at 373 students this year (3 students below full) because there are 3 open spots in 8th grade. This is the third year in a row that there are open seats in 8th grade. Mrs. Pieper wants to entertain the idea of adding 1 or 2 extra students in 6th or 7th grade to get ahead of the trend whereby there are open seats in 7th/8th grade. This has not yet been discussed with teachers or the community. This is a topic of discussion for a possible motion for a vote at next month's board meeting.
After care program to be discussed in closed session.
Charlotte Math Club is an organization that provides tuition free sessions in math for math gifted children. The club is looking for a facility from which to run their sessions. Mrs. Pieper believes that this will be a good opportunity for gifted outreach. This would happen on Saturdays (once per month), and Mr. Chavel has agreed to be a staff facilitator.
Student Performance: Teachers are currently administering iReady testing math and reading, wrapping up next week. Data will be discussed with the Educational Excellence Committee.
iStation is the new reading assessment tool rolled out by the State of NC. This is for grades K-3. The assessment takes 30 minutes plus a fluency test that takes 90 seconds. iStation and iReady are on the list of approved assessment tests for NC. DRA is not on the list, so Scholars Academy will try iStation this year. If it is determined that iStation does not work for Scholars Academy, iReady will be used for reading assessment next year. Scholars Academy is unlikely to return to using DRA. Ms. Zagorski is working on getting teachers trained to administer iStation so that it can be administered in October.
Mrs. Pieper will do community conversations on Wednesday morning to update parents about electives and what the school plans to do with electives next year.
Teachers and Staff: New Spanish teacher has started and is working with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. This has enabled a large class to be split into two classes.
Governance & Financial: Title II funding - this funding is for the professional development for teachers. SA is using plans to use the money to support our first year teacher with coaching. An organization has agreed to do this coaching for us. Title II funding requires that public notice is given prior to funding. This note in the minutes fulfills the requirement for public notice.
We are at 373 students this year (3 students below full) because there are 3 open spots in 8th grade. This is the third year in a row that there are open seats in 8th grade. Mrs. Pieper wants to entertain the idea of adding 1 or 2 extra students in 6th or 7th grade to get ahead of the trend whereby there are open seats in 7th/8th grade. This has not yet been discussed with teachers or the community. This is a topic of discussion for a possible motion for a vote at next month's board meeting.
After care program to be discussed in closed session.
Charlotte Math Club is an organization that provides tuition free sessions in math for math gifted children. The club is looking for a facility from which to run their sessions. Mrs. Pieper believes that this will be a good opportunity for gifted outreach. This would happen on Saturdays (once per month), and Mr. Chavel has agreed to be a staff facilitator.
IV. Finance Committee Update
A.
Quarterly Financial Snapshot
M. Mittal presented the Quarterly Financial Snapshot. Draft audit will be ready by the next Board meeting.
Mortgage refinance will be discussed in closed session and a vote will occur in open session following that discussion.
Mortgage refinance will be discussed in closed session and a vote will occur in open session following that discussion.
V. Educational Excellence
A.
Educational Excellence Committee Update
A. Gozycki presented an update from the latest meeting of the Educational Excellence Committee.
The Committee met to look at testing data from last year. Alicia presented bullet points from that data.
Goals for EOC/EOG:
Have year over year positive growth, 80% of students scoring at 80th percentile or above, and 95% of students scoring a 4 or 5 on the test (defined by the State as "College and Career Ready")
EOC/EOG:
Most grades met or exceeded these goals. Those classes that did not were within 5% of the goal.
Possible explanation for classes that fell short of goal: 8th grade students scored well on the Biology EOC, but not as well overall on the 8th grade science EOG. The 8th grade EOG is based on content from prior years from these students. The 5th grade science curriculum is a 5th and 6th grade compacted course. The content gets broken out and more deeply explored as individual science disciplines in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. All middle school science state standards are covered, but not in the same order as in a traditional school. Scholars Academy's curriculum is not designed to align with state testing.
Goals for iReady:
Have 80% of students working at least one half year above grade level. Math: K-2 students to reach 80% at goal Reading: 70% for K and 80% 1st grade and above.
iReady:
Goals were met or exceeded in most cases in both math and reading. Cohorts are showing year over year positive growth.
DRA (administered in K-2 only) goals:
70% of K students at or near SA level or higher
80% of 1st grade students at or near SA level or higher
80% of 2nd grade students at or near SA level or higher
DRA:
Results show positive growth across grade levels
3-year historical data shows that second grade students are exceeding the 80% goal, closer to 90%
DRA will be replaced by iStation starting this year
The Educational Excellence Committee will redefine goals for this system as needed.
Other work in progress by the Educational Excellence Committee:
Curriculum review is in process. Will compare SA curriculum to NAGC gifted standards. Working to determine whether additional testing is needed in some middle school subjects to make the high school placement process easier.
Looking for a way to qualitatively measure success in SEL program and to introduce humility as an area with growth potential for the students.
Coordinating a parent survey.
Planning teacher workday collaborative outreach for teachers in the community.
Looking how to improve the end of year award ceremony..
The Committee met to look at testing data from last year. Alicia presented bullet points from that data.
Goals for EOC/EOG:
Have year over year positive growth, 80% of students scoring at 80th percentile or above, and 95% of students scoring a 4 or 5 on the test (defined by the State as "College and Career Ready")
EOC/EOG:
Most grades met or exceeded these goals. Those classes that did not were within 5% of the goal.
Possible explanation for classes that fell short of goal: 8th grade students scored well on the Biology EOC, but not as well overall on the 8th grade science EOG. The 8th grade EOG is based on content from prior years from these students. The 5th grade science curriculum is a 5th and 6th grade compacted course. The content gets broken out and more deeply explored as individual science disciplines in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. All middle school science state standards are covered, but not in the same order as in a traditional school. Scholars Academy's curriculum is not designed to align with state testing.
Goals for iReady:
Have 80% of students working at least one half year above grade level. Math: K-2 students to reach 80% at goal Reading: 70% for K and 80% 1st grade and above.
iReady:
Goals were met or exceeded in most cases in both math and reading. Cohorts are showing year over year positive growth.
DRA (administered in K-2 only) goals:
70% of K students at or near SA level or higher
80% of 1st grade students at or near SA level or higher
80% of 2nd grade students at or near SA level or higher
DRA:
Results show positive growth across grade levels
3-year historical data shows that second grade students are exceeding the 80% goal, closer to 90%
DRA will be replaced by iStation starting this year
The Educational Excellence Committee will redefine goals for this system as needed.
Other work in progress by the Educational Excellence Committee:
Curriculum review is in process. Will compare SA curriculum to NAGC gifted standards. Working to determine whether additional testing is needed in some middle school subjects to make the high school placement process easier.
Looking for a way to qualitatively measure success in SEL program and to introduce humility as an area with growth potential for the students.
Coordinating a parent survey.
Planning teacher workday collaborative outreach for teachers in the community.
Looking how to improve the end of year award ceremony..
VI. Governance Committee
A.
Governance Committee Update
S. Liner gave a report on the Governance Committee meeting.
The Committee met and set goals for the school year:
-Deciding how to delegate the handling of grievances pursuant to the Dispute Resolution and Grievance Policy
-2020-2025 Strategic Plan
-Smooth leadership transition
-Succession planning for the Board
-Executive Director Evaluation - Smita is heading this up
The Committee met and set goals for the school year:
-Deciding how to delegate the handling of grievances pursuant to the Dispute Resolution and Grievance Policy
-2020-2025 Strategic Plan
-Smooth leadership transition
-Succession planning for the Board
-Executive Director Evaluation - Smita is heading this up
VII. Expansion Committee
A.
Expansion Updates
S. Korrapati gave an update on the activities of the Expansion Committee.
Malik and Smita addressed the community via a video and requested parents join the expansion committee. Several members of the parent committee from various backgrounds have expressed interest in joining the committee. The first meeting will be in two weeks. The committee is continuing to visit sites. The modular unit and another contract will be discussed in closed session.
Malik and Smita addressed the community via a video and requested parents join the expansion committee. Several members of the parent committee from various backgrounds have expressed interest in joining the committee. The first meeting will be in two weeks. The committee is continuing to visit sites. The modular unit and another contract will be discussed in closed session.
M. Mittal brought the following topics related to expansion up in discussion in order to seek fellow board members views on the same:
- 2017 parent survey
- Hiring staff
- Capital campaign
- School community volunteering
Also discussed was the evolution of expansion over the past 2 years as well as the need to educate/update the community as we move along the process.
VIII. Development Committee
A.
Development Committee Update
A. Farooqi gave an update on the activities of the Development Committee.
The Committee met to discuss Annual Giving Campaign. Early Eagle pledging is greatly increased over YTD last year. Official launch is October 1.
New parent orientation after curriculum night gave new parents the opportunity to ask questions about ACGC.
Discussed the 20 in 2020 celebration. Vendor contract for the March 7 20 in 2020 event will be discussed in closed session.
Science Fair sponsorship changes were discussed.
The Committee met to discuss Annual Giving Campaign. Early Eagle pledging is greatly increased over YTD last year. Official launch is October 1.
New parent orientation after curriculum night gave new parents the opportunity to ask questions about ACGC.
Discussed the 20 in 2020 celebration. Vendor contract for the March 7 20 in 2020 event will be discussed in closed session.
Science Fair sponsorship changes were discussed.
S. Liner moved to move item IX (second opportunity for community comments) to item X. S. Dasu seconded. There were no members of the community who requested to make a comment during this second round of comments.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IX. Closed Session (if necessary)
A.
Closed Session
S. Liner made a motion to convene in Closed Session pursuant to "Permitted
Purposes" under N.C.G.S. §143-318.11: (a) To prevent the disclosure of privileged or confidential information; (e) To discuss contract negotiations.
M. Mittal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Purposes" under N.C.G.S. §143-318.11: (a) To prevent the disclosure of privileged or confidential information; (e) To discuss contract negotiations.
M. Mittal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
A. Farooqi left.
AJ Farooqi joined via phone.
M. Mittal left.
M. Mittal joined via phone.
Non-Board members of the community left the call prior to going into closed session.
X. Closing Items
A.
Vote on any items from Closed Sessions
S. Liner made a motion to approve the four contracts as discussed in closed session.
M. Ramasamy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
S. Liner made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
S. Korrapati 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 9:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Schroeck