Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday January 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Location
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Topic: Scholars Academy Monthly Board Meetings
Register in advance for this webinar:
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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, M. Pfaff, N. Morrison, S. Dasu, W. Ning
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
A. Pieper
Non Voting Members Present
A. Pieper
Guests Present
Enrique Alvarez, K. Ely, M. Dixon, T. Hemming
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 11/28/22
F.
Approval of Prior Minutes - Special Meeting 12/14/22
G.
Adoption of the Agenda
II. Director's Report
A.
General Items
III. Governance Committee
A.
Status Review
(45:20)
- Quarterly Board Newsletter - first edition is scheduled to be released in late January
- Community Townhall on April 19th at 6:30 PM- in-person and zoom participation
- The community has the ability to ask questions in advance
- Staff Survey
- Executive Director Evaluation
- "Ask the Board" form on the school website
IV. Policy Committee Updates
A.
Policy Updates
(51:20)
- Policies under review this year: staff teleworking, paid time off, and religious holiday
- Policy "first read" for Teleworking and Religious Non-discrimination policies.
- Condense policy name
V. Expansion Committee
A.
Status Review
(1:08:25)
An expansion-related contract is to be discussed in closed
VI. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Updates
A.
Status Review
(1:08:55)
• Developing a religious holiday non-discrimination policy
• Build a list of diversity-focused community organizations with which we could partner
• Focus on DEI for the quarterly Board newsletter in Feb/March
VII. Educational Excellence Committee Updates
A.
Status Review
(1:10:10)
Committee updates: Working on a survey for parents to gather feedback on the school experience. Seeking a broader school experience (the last one was done in 2018) to be sent by the end of February.
VIII. Foundation
A.
Status Review
(1:12:15)
- Annual Giving Campaign trends
- YTD $162,124
- Current families 74% (79.5% in the prior year)
- New families 88% (60% in the prior year)
- Created a phone script for Trustees to do targeted outreach to those who have not pledged yet.
• Highlighted the 3-year strategic planning process
IX. Whole Child Committee
A.
Status Review
(1:18:10)
- Committee update - working on a staff and teacher retreat and compiling data.
- A meeting is to be scheduled onsite to review playground options.
X. Finance Committee Update
A.
Finance Recommendations
(1:19:40)
Committee Update
- Review budget amendments (vote)
- Increase in revenue - $9,386.79
- Reducing expenses - $26,372.50
- If approved, surplus is $316,600.40
- Surplus is higher than average due to federal grants received over the last few years.
- 30% of bus riders have donated to the transportation fund.
- Reviewed quarterly financial performance dashboard
- ECF - Tax Credit estimated $1m credit spread out over 2 years - unrestricted amount to be used at our discretion.
XI. Closed Session
A.
Closed Session
Employment contracts
expansion related
Monthly Board Report Topics (9:00)
Human Resources Overview (20:44)
Types of Employees:
All staff has a one-year contract based on the number of contracted work days.
Termination occurs before the contract ends. Subject to board approval.
NC is an employment-at-will state
Benefits package includes:
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Short Term Disability
Additional Benefit Options - Retirement, Worker's Compensation, Unemployment
Other Employee Support
Policies under review: