Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday September 26, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Location
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Topic: Scholars Academy Monthly Board Meetings
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tVP7q8nNR9O4LaIS1aV99g
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You may also watch the meeting live via YouTube stream, at rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2
Directors Present
A. Farooqi, A. Starling, C. Lewis, D. Palmer, E. Womer, M. Pfaff, S. Dasu, W. Ning
Directors Absent
N. Morrison
Ex Officio Members Present
A. Pieper
Non Voting Members Present
A. Pieper
Guests Present
Alison Hall, Anne Mitchell (remote), Brian Healey (remote), K. Ely (remote), N. Zagorski (remote), Toni Hemming (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Read Mission Statement
D.
Administrative Meeting Review
E.
Approval of Prior Minutes 8/29/22
F.
Adoption of the Agenda
G.
Elect director to fill current vacancy
II. Director's Report
A.
General Items
- Staff Report
- Opening for 1st-grade teacher and school counselor
- Hiring discussions for closed session
- Enrollment Report
- Average Daily Membership (ADM) 391 for the 2022-2023 school year (down by 3 - did not add 2 additional 5th graders and did not replace a 4th-grade vacancy). School funding is based on ADM.
- all families have returned from overseas
- 186 students on the current waitlist
- 2021-2022 Testing Data Review
- State Testing
- BOG (3rd grade only), EOG (3rd grade - 8th grade), EOC (HS Math 1, Math3, and Biology)
- 91% rating for 2021-2022 (A rating every year since 2013)
- Overall growth target not met this year - measures cohorts and schoolwide growth year over year
- Met in Math and EOCs
- Not met in Reading and Science
- State Testing
- iReady
- Goals set by Educational Excellence Committee
- K to 1st grade (tested at grade level) - 95% of students will demonstrate one year's growth
- 2nd grade (tested one grade level ahead) - 80% of students will be working above grade level (early+ or more)
- 3rd to 8th grade (tested one grade level ahead) - 80% of students will be working at least one-half year above grade level (mid+ or more)
- Goals set by Educational Excellence Committee
- Action items
- Review data in detail in Educational Excellence - discuss any issues that are seen in the data
- No single data point is used for a child but the data is used to inform instruction and to look for intervention
- Reviewed 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 EOG/EOC data (Math, Reading, Science)
- Reviewed 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 iReady data (Math, Reading)
- Removing barriers to attendance
- 151 riders - $450/semester per child
- reduced fee, payment plans, or no cost available for families with economic need
- 3 routes - North Charlotte + 2 South Charlotte routes
- Plans to add West Charlotte/Steele Creek route in the future
- 2 FT drivers, 1 PT driver, Mr. Marino drives PT
- Radios were installed on buses. Drivers can update the school about delays and children who have not been picked up.
- Remind app for communicating with parents
- School Pass (new software) will be launched in early October
- tracks when child has been put on the bus
- parents can mark when child is not riding in the app
- Future goal is to have internet installed on the bus to enable more real-time communication.
- Lunch Program
- MyHotLunch Box - daily service from local food vendors
- Ability to pay with school card for students in need using revenue from donations and My Hot Lunch Box
- Emergency lunches for all students
- How does a family indicate need?
- School will follow up with families that indicated they meet the federal income thresholds from Economically Disadvantaged Students (EDS) Form. Families may be eligible for additional services.
- Other Support for Students
- PTO support for school supplies and field trip scholarships
- Considering using unclaimed items from Lost and Found to create a clothing closet for students that may have clothing needs.
- Professional development for staff - Poverty and Trauma-Informed Practices (funded by Access Grant)
- For prospective students:
- Targeted marketing-to underrepresented groups, free group test, translating collateral (Spanish and Chinese)
- 2023-2024 Applications are open. They are now fillable PDFs.
- Karen Ely - Student Support Services
- Exceptional Children - special education services
- 504 - services for students with medical conditions that affect learning
- speech services
- Occupational Therapy
- Counseling
- Intervention services
- NC Virtual Public Schools (NCVPS) - for students operating above Scholars' curriculum)
III. Governance Committee
A.
Status Review
- 9/19 Meeting
- Vote for an amendment to the school calendar
- 2/20 is a holiday (not Teacher Workday)
- 2/27 move to a virtual day
- Vote for an amendment to the school calendar
- Reminder - Background checks for all volunteers every 2 years. Contact Ms. Pantuso.
- Employment contracts to review in closed session
IV. Policy Committee Updates
A.
Policy Updates
Next meeting is 10/3
V. Expansion Committee
A.
Status Review
No public meetings are scheduled.
Additional discussions in closed session
VI. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Updates
A.
Status Review
First meeting 9/30.
VII. Educational Excellence Committee Updates
A.
Status Review
Defined goals for this school year.
Goal - How do we differentiate middle school kids from elementary kids?
Goal - Survey to parents focused on what they want middle school to be (est in 45 days)
VIII. Foundation
A.
Status Review
October Pledge drive kicks off on 9/30.
20 Parent Ambassadors signed up
2022-2023 including pledges
~$123,000
$69,000 - pledge amount
$11,000 monthly + match gifts (2021-2022 school year)
$18,000 donations
IX. Whole Child Committee
A.
Status Review
9/28 first meeting
X. Finance Committee Update
A.
Finance Recommendations
Budget Amendments
Budget was passed in May. Amendments due to:
- ~$74,000 adjustment
- state and local % remained flat (assumed a 2% increase)
- assumed the same headcount (3 less)
- increase in expenses
- benefits cost ($55,000), staff development ($10,000), utilities, bus-related expenses.
- federal funds - grant money being rolled over.
- $177,000 2022 year-end surplus rolled over.
- Requesting approval to pay health insurance payments (exceeds the $20,000 threshold).
Reimbursement resolution to replace existing resolution agreement