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Nuasin Next Generation Charter School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday May 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Location

Mission
At Nuasin Next Generation, we believe in the unlimited talent and intellectual potential of our scholars and our community. We cultivate this talent and intellectual potential through a progressive education that focuses on deep exploration, thoughtful questioning, relentless curiosity and critical thinking. Nuasin Next Generation Charter School implements a progressive K-12 educational program and an unyielding commitment to cultivating our scholars’ innate intellectual talents to empower our graduates to achieve excellence in their postsecondary paths and make positive impacts on the broader community. Every single one of our scholars have the potential to be great and change the world, at Nuasin Next Generation we prepare our scholars for that opportunity.

3 Pillars
The Mission of Nuasin Next Generation stands firmly on the foundation of our three pillars: Rigor, Self-Advocacy, and Community. These three pillars are the guiding principles for our school and culture. Please find a deeper explanation of our  pillars below.

Rigor:
We use the word “rigor” not in the stringent or inflexible sense, but in the sense of an unyielding need to challenge and push our scholars because we understand and believe in the potential, talent, and ability of our scholars and community. We challenge our scholars to build their confidence and help them realize what they can achieve. 

Self-Advocacy:
Our scholars are empowered to advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities. As our scholars come to understand that their voices are valued and needed, they learn to advocate for themselves. Our scholars are seen and valued; they understand that not only do they have the right to express their opinions, views, and perspectives, but it is their obligation to do so. 

Community:
Our scholars will embrace community and understand that as a member of a community you have certain
inalienable rights, the right to be seen, the right to be heard, the right to be protected and the right to be loved and
cherished. Our scholars will also learn of their obligations. As a member of a community you have the obligation to
respect, listen, support and only want and assume the best in all others. Every member of our community must understand that they are active participants in the Nuasin community and the community goes as we go.

Trustees Present

A. Bothner (remote), A. Khanyile (remote), E. Chen (remote), J. Scott (remote), K. Brisseau (remote), K. Shabazz (remote), S. Huda (remote), T. Bryan (remote)

Trustees Absent

J. Boulet, M. Dorrie, S. Pressley

Guests Present

A. Brown (remote), C. Polanco (remote), J. Keeney (remote), K. Davidson (remote), M. Alston (remote), M. Russell (remote), R. Johnson (remote), S. Kochar (remote), steven.almonte (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

K. Shabazz called a meeting of the board of trustees of Nuasin Next Generation Charter School to order on Thursday May 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM.

C.

Review the Agenda

KS, reviewed the agenda for the meeting this evening. 

D.

Board Meeting Updates

KS, there are no board meeting updates.

II. Mission and Pillars Board Reflection

A.

Community

TB, shared that community is deeply important to him and something he strives to cultivate with intention. He emphasized that building community requires being both intentional and participatory—it's not a one-time act, but an ongoing journey.

 

EC, shared there are micro-communities within the broader system that deserve our focused attention. We already have valuable components in place. The key now is figuring out how to connect these micro-communities into larger, collaborative networks. By doing so, we can strengthen what’s working at the micro level and more effectively support our schools through shared practices and resources.

III. School Updates

A.

Update from the Executive Director

MR, shared the priorties for Nuasin

  • Rigor
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Community
    • Independent Thinkers
    • We Are All Readers
    • Family Community Partnership
  • Staff Attendance
    • K-8 18.61% tardies
    • 3.34 absent
    • Throughout our 17 day April period 
    • 9-12 44.27% tardies
    • 7.16% absent
    • Throughout our 17 day April period
  • Scholar Attendance
    • Average Attendance April for 93.67% (K-8)
    • Average Attendance April 78.09% (9-12)

B.

Update from the K-8 Principal

KD, shared we don't have much data for this month. We just finished our make-up state exams.

  • VIP Dance May 15th for grades K-4
  • Ismail 3rd grader is Mr. Personality
  • 8th Grade Senior Dance May 15th class of 2029
  • Congratulations to Jaycob!
    • One of 75 of 3000 applicants to be accepted into Prep 9
    • Taught a lesson on slope that was amazing
  • Reflections on the 3 BIG 
    • Rigor
      • Great progress over time
      • Challenging to quantity
      • Variability across content areas and classrooms
    • Self Advocacy
      • Greatest growth in upper elementary and lower MS
      • Reading is less of a chore
      • scholars and staff are motivated by and excited for events (families too)
      • Goal for more school wide events and participation
    • Family and Community Partnership
      • Major growth in family participation in events and opportunities for collaboration
      • Consistently high PTC participation
      • Deep desire for more
  • The Month Ahead
  • June 3 Grade 3-5 Math Bowl
  • June 9 Week of Interim assessment
  • June 13 EOY Award Assembly 3-7
  • June 17-18 8th Grade Regents
  • June 18-Nuasin Got Talent K-4
  • June 20- Nuasin Got Talent (5-8)
  • June 20- Middle School EOY Showcase
  • June 24- Kindergarten and 8th Grade Graduation

 

C.

Update from the 9-12 Principal

Ab, shared the we don't have much HS data.

  • Community
    • Rise Leadership Exhibition 5/22
    • Address 276 Grand Concourse in Bronx @ 4PM
      • 7th Scholars will be participating
  • Sports
    • Track and Field
    • Road Runners Club of America
    • Vancortlandt park championship
    • Baseball, softball and volleyball are all in the semi finals 
  • College Trips
    • Hunter College
    • Pratt Institute 
    • Barnard
    • Lehman College
    • Brooklyn College 
    • Yale University
  • Upcoming Events
    • Talent Show 5/21
    • Senior Prom 5/30
    • End of school trip 6/3
    • Field Day 6/5
    • Award Night 6/12
    • Graduation 6/25

D.

Update from K-12 Operations

E.

Expansion

F.

25-26 Calendar Review and Vote

K. Shabazz made a motion to Approve Calendar.
E. Chen seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Chen
Aye
A. Bothner
Absent
J. Scott
Aye
T. Bryan
Absent
K. Shabazz
Aye
K. Brisseau
Aye
S. Pressley
Absent
S. Huda
Aye
J. Boulet
Absent
A. Khanyile
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent

IV. Finance Committee Updates

A.

Proposed Budget

B.

April Financials

JK, shared the April financials

 

  • Student Enrollment Projections
    • Full enrollment projected at 884:  572 at LCS, 312 at CPA
    • Revenue budgeting assumes 98% enrollment at both schools
    • All grades backfilled to capacity
    • SPED 20% - 60% 2% vs CY3.7%
    • SPED > 60% 12% vs CY12.74%

 

  • Per Pupil Revenue
    • Assumes base per pupil rate of $19,044
    • Continued rent assistance at 30% of per pupil in grades 6-12. 
       
  • Federal Funding
    • $0.86MM budgeted in federal continued receipt of Titles I-IV, IDEA and eRate.
  • Enrollment Target
    • targeted enrollment 782
    • budgeted enrollment 766
  • Payroll Cost
    • Instructional staff
  • FY23:  $6.27MM 25%  
  • FY24:  $7.0 MM 12%
  • FY25:  $6.87MM -3%
  • FY26: $7.5MM 9%
    • Support Staff
  • FY23:  $0.77MM 24%
  • FY24:  $0.95MM 24%
  • FY25:  $0.94 MM -1%
  • FY26: $0.95MM -1%- Department change for few position
  • Budget is good and strong


 

V. External Relations Committee Update

A.

External Relations Update

AK, shared there are no updates.

VI. Nominating Committee Update

A.

Nominating Committee Update

AB, shared the following

 

  • Nominating committee is under way anyone interested should reach out to Aaron as the chair of nominating committee

 

B.

Committee Annual Plan

VII. Education Committee Update

A.

Education Committee Update

EC, shared there are no updates.

VIII. Governance Committee Update

A.

Governance Committee Update

AB, shared the following

  • Board surveys are out. Please ensure that you complete survey end of next week

B.

Board Succession Plan

AB, shared the following

  • Board succession plans are coming as we know we renew each year so be on the look out.

C.

Annual Bylaw Review

AB, shared the following

  • Postponed by ongoing org structure. We will revisit

IX. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

AB, shared there was no public comment for this evening meeting.

X. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session proposed for the purposes of the proposed acquisition, sale, or lease of real property or proposed acquisition of securities or sale or exchange of securities, held by such a public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof.

A. Bothner made a motion to move into executive session and invite two guest Melissa and Cliff into session.
A. Khanyile seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Bothner
Aye
E. Chen
Aye
J. Boulet
Absent
K. Shabazz
Aye
T. Bryan
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
S. Huda
Aye
S. Pressley
Absent
A. Khanyile
Aye
J. Scott
Aye

B.

Executive Session Proposed for the discussion of the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;

C.

Personnel Changes

XI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Bothner