Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday November 28, 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. Hall, A. Starling, C. Lewis, D. Palmer, E. Womer, S. Dasu, W. Ning
Directors Absent
M. Pfaff, N. Morrison
Ex Officio Members Present
A. Pieper
Non Voting Members Present
A. Pieper
Guests Present
Julie Doll (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 10/24/22
F.
Adoption of the Agenda
II. Director's Report
A.
General Items
III. Governance Committee
A.
Status Review
(35:00)
11/14/22 Committee Meeting highlights:
- Developing a quarterly newsletter to be released in December.
- Planning to host a community town hall - target date is April 2023.
- Discussed committee members attending staff committee meetings throughout the year.
Staff employment contracts to discuss in closed.
IV. Policy Committee Updates
A.
Policy Updates
(37:40)
11/10/22 Committee Meeting
Policies under review:
- Staff teleworking policy - to reflect the current virtual learning options and remove COVID references.
- Paid Time Off policy - how time is accrued.
- The expanded FMLA requirement expired and has been removed.
V. Expansion Committee
A.
Status Review
(39:46)
No formal or public meeting.
Real estate-related contract to be discussed in closed.
VI. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Updates
A.
Status Review
(40:12)
11/18/22 Committee Meeting highlights:
- Developing a religious holiday policy
- For example, no official projects, tests, or field trips will be held on the holidays covered in the policy. if the student misses school to celebrate the holiday, it will be an excused absence.
- Build a list of diversity-focused community organizations to make connections and increase the awareness of Scholars.
- Prepare for the second quarterly board newsletter in Feb/March to highlight the DEI accomplishments to the community.
Next Meeting 12/9
VII. Educational Excellence Committee Updates
A.
Status Review
(47:30)
11/11/22 Committee Meeting highlights:
- Parent survey in development with a target release in January.
- The survey will be shared with the staff committee for feedback.
VIII. Foundation
A.
Status Review
(51:09)
Highlights:
- Current participation: 60% vs 55.5% (2021-22)
- New family participation: 78.0% vs 60.0%
- Tracking year-over-year participation of 37 families for 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23
IX. Whole Child Committee
A.
Status Review
(48:26)
11/16/22 Committee Meeting
- A committee member will participate in the 12/13 staff committee meeting
- There is a federal nursing grant that can be used to support physical and mental health.
- The committee is researching playground equipment that can be purchased using the grant.
- Planning staff retreats in the spring for K-4 and 5-8 staff.
- Offsite meetings to include planning, lunch, and team building activity.
- Ideas that are being explored include bowling, an escape room, and top golf.
X. Finance Committee Update
A.
Finance Recommendations
(62:05)
- Reviewed budget amendments for vote
- Revenue increase due to Mecklenburg funding - $35,000 more than estimated.
- Expense adjustment for increasing interest obligation on existing building debt.
- Expense adjustment for salary true-up (~$56,000 reduction)
- Reviewed options for CDs coming up for renewal in December (vote)
- conditional approval to reinvest in a 3-month CD if not needed for expansion in the first three months of 2023.
- Discussed the bus transportation plan
- Current state $450/semester per child
- Interpretation of a rule that says that a charter school cannot charge a fee for something offered by the local public school for free.
- Propose asking families who ride the bus for a $450/semester donation to cover the cost.
- Currently no waitlist but a process will need to be determined for the new school year.
(5:41)