Nuasin Next Generation Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday June 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Location
ID: 96370544823
Passcode: 569498
Passcode: 569498
Meeting host: melissa.alston@nngcs.org
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://metlcs.zoom.us/j/96370544823?pwd=5aJm4n7MmaOYbzaafKMLqpqWQBkmU0.1
launch
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. Khanyile (remote), E. Chen (remote), J. Boulet (remote), K. Shabazz (remote), S. Huda (remote), T. Bryan (remote)
Trustees Absent
A. Bothner, J. Scott, K. Brisseau, M. Dorrie, S. Pressley
Guests Present
A. Brown (remote), C. Polanco (remote), J. Keeney (remote), M. Alston (remote), M. Russell (remote), R. Johnson (remote), S. Kochar (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Review the Agenda
D.
Board Meeting Updates
KS, shared their are no board updates.
II. Mission and Pillars Board Reflection
A.
Mission
MR, shared his thoughts on community. Be proud and raise the flag on excellence.
III. School Updates
A.
Update from the Executive Director
MR, shared updates on the following the three pillars
- Jump in attendance for K-8
- Throughout our 21-day May period, 25.97% of the lower school staff were tardy. Up from 18.61% in the previous month.
- In our 21-day May period, 7.10% of the lower school staff were absent. Up from 3.34% the previous month
- Throughout our 21-day April period, 25.68% of the High School staff were tardy. Down from 44.27% in the previous month.
- In our 21-day April period, 5.59% of the High School staff were absent. Down from 7.16% in the previous month
- Lower school summary
- 25.97% late
- 7.10% absent
- High school summary
- 25.68% late
- 5.59% absent
- Lower school summary
- K-8 Scholar attendance decreased from 93.67% in April to 92.17% in May, a decrease of 1.50 percentage points.
- High School Scholar attendance declined from 78.09% in April to 73.49% in May, a decrease of 4.60 percentage points.
B.
Expansion Update
C.
Update from the K-8 Principal
MR, shared updates for K-8
- Mock Regents Algebra
- This year's mock pass rate is 13% above last year's mock exam
- This year's mock is similar to last year's actual regent data, which both were increases from the mock
- 2025 Projection is using a similar percent increase as last year (increase from mock to regents)
- Mock Regents Living Environment
- Similar story as in Algebra, but with added pacing concerns
- The mock is the first full length regents they do in the school year.
- Action Plan
- Start with the constructed response. There are a lot of easy points there which are of higher weight, but some scholars are not getting there.
- Pacing. Scholars are used to untimed tests. Timed tests are more challenging for them, but we are working toward stamina.
- Momentum. During a long test, it’s easy to get stressed and unmotivated. Seek out the easy questions to feel a win.
- EOY iReady Math Data
- Percent of scholars in tier one (green) up 5% year over year
- Grades 3-5 remain the strongest performers
- Entry points of Kindergarten and 6th grade have weakest performance
- ELA still in progress
D.
Update from the 9-12 Principal
AB shared the following updates;
- SAT/PSAT
- Increase in scholars scoring above 1000 on both the SAT and PSAT
- While overall scholar scores remained stable year over year, there was a measurable increase in the proportion of scholars scoring above 950, indicating positive movement within the higher performance band.
- MLL Data Analysis
- There has been an increase in MLL scholars at the Entering and Emerging stages in grades 9–11. These scholars, who have limited English proficiency, are being asked to take high-stakes, complex exams.
- Often, their performance reflects challenges with the English language rather than a true measure of their content knowledge and skill level.
- Response
- Continue providing
- Translated materials: assignments, instructions and lessons
- Provide differentiated supports across content areas.
- Use visual aids, native language support, and scaffolded instruction
- Avoid equating low test scores with low intelligence or academic ability.
- Continue providing
- There has been an increase in MLL scholars at the Entering and Emerging stages in grades 9–11. These scholars, who have limited English proficiency, are being asked to take high-stakes, complex exams.
E.
Update from K-12 Operations
CP shared the following updates
- Enrollment and Application Updates
- 780 (Authorizer Goal of 52 scholars per grade, 78 in expanding grades)
- 804 current enrollment
- 814 operational goal
- Application update
- 832 authorizer goal
- 924 operational goal
- LY same time 1033
- Current 953
- Recruiting
- Nuasin Squeeze Community Event on May 29th
- Family Fun Day@ Davoe Park May 31st
- South Bronx Cultural Festival June 1st
- Skate Night in the Bronx with Althea Stevens June 3rd
- High School Field Recruiting Day June 5th
- Council Member Pierina Sanchez Park Event June 7th
- Washington Height Santiago Fair June 7th
- Puerto Rican Day Parade June 8th
- Nuasin in the community
- Althea Stevens Youth Advisory Board May 28th
- Talent Updates
- Leaders
- K-8 Director of School Culture
- 9-12 Leader of School Culture
- K-8 SPED and MLL Coordinator
- Operations
- K-12 operations associate of technology
- K-8 Teachers
- ART
- Elem ICT
- 4th Grade Teacher
- 9-12 Teachers
- HS Math
- ELA
- MLL
- Leaders
IV. Finance Committee Updates
A.
General Updates
JK, shared the following May financials;
- Current asset -$11,128,154
- Current liabilities- $45,609,783
- Net Assets- $ 11,373,034
- FY 25 budgeted enrollment 766
- Enrollment at most recent billing 786
- YTD Rev $19,375,488
- YTD Net Surplus $2,002,986
- Forecasting operating surplus $701,925
- Liability & Equity
- Total liability $34, 236,748
- Total equity $13,373,034
B.
May Financials
C.
Financial Policies and Procedure Update to Policy
MA, shared the following;
- 1st level up to $10,000 Melissa is the approver and loops MR into all conversation regarding purchases
- 2nd level anything over $10,000 and up to $50,000 requires principals signature. Would like to remove that step as we have a number of changing shift and would like to keep the consistency.
- RFP anything over $50,000 requires board approval
Roll Call | |
---|---|
J. Scott |
Absent
|
K. Shabazz |
Aye
|
T. Bryan |
Aye
|
A. Khanyile |
Abstain
|
K. Brisseau |
Absent
|
S. Pressley |
Absent
|
E. Chen |
Aye
|
M. Dorrie |
Absent
|
S. Huda |
Aye
|
A. Bothner |
Absent
|
J. Boulet |
Aye
|
V. External Relations Committee Update
A.
External Relations Update
AK, shared there are no updates.
VI. Nominating Committee Update
A.
Nominating Committee Update
KS, shared there are no updates.
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
B.
Trustee Goal Setting Reflection
KS, shared the following reflection;
- Opportunity presented itself to join another school board and the fit just wasn't right.
- Committed to partnering with the Nuasin board to help fulfill the promise of delivering strong competencies in education and recruitment—particularly for those with limited access to resources.
C.
Board Succession Plan
D.
Annual Bylaw Review
IX. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
KS, shared there were no public comment.
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.
Invite, Melissa and Marvin Vilma from BEVY Studio
KS, reviewed the Agenda with the committee.