Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday July 9, 2020 at 3:30 PM
Location: Join our Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 896 4417 5114
Password: 1x2kHa
Meeting ID: 896 4417 5114
Password: 1x2kHa
Directors Present
A. Farooqi (remote), A. Starling (remote), A. Young (remote), C. Lewis (remote), M. Dixon (remote), M. Ramasamy (remote), S. Dasu (remote), S. Korrapati (remote), S. Liner (remote), S. Schroeck (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
A. Pieper (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
A. Pieper (remote)
Guests Present
D. Morris (remote), Henry Zhang, M. Vespa (remote), katie foote
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
M. Dixon called a meeting of the board of directors of Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy to order on Thursday Jul 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM.
II. JULY BOARD MEETING
A.
Opening Items
M. Dixon read the Mission Statement.
S. Schroeck made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 06-22-20.
S. Korrapati seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
S. Schroeck made a motion to adopt the July 9, 2020 meeting agenda.
M. Ramasamy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Community Comments (First Opportunity) - subject to guidelines
There were no members of the Community who wished to make a comment.
C.
Director's Report
A. Pieper gave the Director's Report.
School Calendar
The school was directed to by the state to make changes to the calendar. Five additional instructional days were required to be added to the calendar. Five existing days were required to be slated as Virtual Learning Days. The calendar pertains to a situation where the school is opened fully with all students in physical attendance. The first day of school was moved to August 17 in order to accommodate the additional days. The last day of school would be May 28 which aligns with the CMS Calendar. Spring Break and Winter Holidays will be the same as the calendar that was previously approved. The Board had previously approved an extension of the school day to a 3:05PM dismissal.
School Calendar
The school was directed to by the state to make changes to the calendar. Five additional instructional days were required to be added to the calendar. Five existing days were required to be slated as Virtual Learning Days. The calendar pertains to a situation where the school is opened fully with all students in physical attendance. The first day of school was moved to August 17 in order to accommodate the additional days. The last day of school would be May 28 which aligns with the CMS Calendar. Spring Break and Winter Holidays will be the same as the calendar that was previously approved. The Board had previously approved an extension of the school day to a 3:05PM dismissal.
S. Dasu made a motion to adopt the calendar as presented.
S. Korrapati seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Return to School Plan
The Return to School Committee has developed plans A, B, and C which were presented in the newsletter. A statement from Governor Cooper was expected July 1, but was postponed to next week about the status when school opens. There will be a Special Board Meeting open to the community on July 16 where the plan will be discussed. Details of the return to school plan will be in the newsletter on Friday. There will be an opportunity to submit feedback over the weekend. There will also be a town hall on Tuesday July 21 to address community comments and concerns.
Regardless of the plan implemented, all students will have the option to choose all remote instruction. A plan for remote learning that pertains to students who choose virtual learning, or the whole school should the State require schools to operate fully remote is expected to be submitted to the State by July 22. The Board will vote on the plan tonight.
The Return to School Committee has developed plans A, B, and C which were presented in the newsletter. A statement from Governor Cooper was expected July 1, but was postponed to next week about the status when school opens. There will be a Special Board Meeting open to the community on July 16 where the plan will be discussed. Details of the return to school plan will be in the newsletter on Friday. There will be an opportunity to submit feedback over the weekend. There will also be a town hall on Tuesday July 21 to address community comments and concerns.
Regardless of the plan implemented, all students will have the option to choose all remote instruction. A plan for remote learning that pertains to students who choose virtual learning, or the whole school should the State require schools to operate fully remote is expected to be submitted to the State by July 22. The Board will vote on the plan tonight.
S. Korrapati made a motion to approve the remote learning plan as presented.
S. Dasu seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
A discussion about contracts will happen in closed session.
D.
Governance Committee
S. Liner gave the Governance Committee Update.
The Governance Committee did not meet this month. The Committee has been apprised of the remote instruction plan and the Health and Wellness plan from Ms. Pieper and expect the rollout of those plans next week.
A new expanded FMLA policy and Return To Work policy was presented to the Board at the Board Retreat and will be voted on tonight. These are new federal rules and regulations that expands the ability of employees to take FMLA leave should their children not be able to go to school or childcare and allows employees to take time off for six reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the conditions for returning to work.
The Governance Committee did not meet this month. The Committee has been apprised of the remote instruction plan and the Health and Wellness plan from Ms. Pieper and expect the rollout of those plans next week.
A new expanded FMLA policy and Return To Work policy was presented to the Board at the Board Retreat and will be voted on tonight. These are new federal rules and regulations that expands the ability of employees to take FMLA leave should their children not be able to go to school or childcare and allows employees to take time off for six reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the conditions for returning to work.
A. Farooqi made a motion to approve the 4.8a Expanded FMLA Leave Policy as presented.
M. Ramasamy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
A contract and a personnel matter will be discussed in closed session.
E.
Foundation Committee
M. Ramasamy gave the Foundation Committee Report.
The application to create a Foundation was accepted and the Foundation has received non-profit status.
The application to create a Foundation was accepted and the Foundation has received non-profit status.
F.
Expansion Committee
S. Korrapati gave the Expansion Committee Update
The Expansion Committee did not meet this month. They continue to monitor market conditions. The Committee is in communication with lenders to get updated financing information. The current school building is on the market at this time.
The Expansion Committee did not meet this month. They continue to monitor market conditions. The Committee is in communication with lenders to get updated financing information. The current school building is on the market at this time.
G.
Development Committee
A. Farooqi gave the Development Committee Report.
Participation in the Annual Giving Campaign was at 82% as of the end of the school year. Pledges have come in at 83% of our financial goal. $428,000 includes outstanding pledges.
Participation in the Annual Giving Campaign was at 82% as of the end of the school year. Pledges have come in at 83% of our financial goal. $428,000 includes outstanding pledges.
H.
Finance Committee Update
A. Starling gave the Finance Committee Update
The Finance Committee met to finalize the 2020-2021 Budget. It will be submitted to the State.
The Finance Committee met to finalize the 2020-2021 Budget. It will be submitted to the State.
I.
Community Comments (Second Opportunity) - Subject to Guidelines
There were no members of the community who wished to make a comment.
J.
CLOSED SESSION
M. Ramasamy made a motion to convene in closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. ยง143-318.11: to prevent the disclosure of privileged or confidential information and to discuss contract negotiations;.
S. Dasu seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
S. Dasu made a motion to adjorn.
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 4:50 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Schroeck