Nuasin Next Generation Charter School

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday October 21, 2021 at 6:30 PM

Location


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Meeting ID: 931 3294 6482
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Meeting ID: 931 3294 6482
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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 students 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 students 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), A. Khatiwada (remote), E. Chen (remote), J. Boulet (remote), K. Brisseau (remote), S. Huda (remote), S. Pressley (remote)

Trustees Absent

A. Bothner, C. Barnes-Watson, K. Shabazz, M. Dorrie, T. Bryan

Trustees who arrived after the meeting opened

S. Huda

Ex Officio Members Present

M. Russell (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

M. Russell (remote)

Guests Present

E. Mew (remote), K. Davidson (remote), K. Perez (remote), L. Hart (remote), M. Alston (remote), R. Keogh (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

A. Khatiwada called a meeting of the board of trustees of Nuasin Next Generation Charter School to order on Thursday Oct 21, 2021 at 7:43 PM.

C.

Review the Agenda

M. Russell began the meeting by reflecting on our mission and our 3 Pillars. M. Russell reviewed the agenda after the reflection piece. 

 

 

D.

Nuasin Mission/3 Pillar Reflection

J. Boulet shared her reflection on one of the pillars. 

 

A. Khatiwada gave updates to the board on renewal. Our charter renewal is next month!

II. School Update

A.

Executive Director Update

M. Russell gave his monthly update. 
  • Renewal Prep- November 10th will be a prep day with Pasek Consulting. 
  • Renewal Week- Monday November 15-November 18 will be our renewal visits and interviews with staff, board members and our community. 
Renewal Prep:
  • Mock renewal walks in the school building 
  • Renewal Meetings- Checking in with all scholars 
  • Parent Outreach 
  • Working w/Pasek 
  • Pre-K Application 
Attendance:
  • K-8 Scholars have a 97% attendance rate. Our goal is 95%
  • 9-12 Scholars have a 88.5% attendance rate. Our goal is 95%
  • Staff Attendance- have a 98% attendance rate. 
Data Update:
  • iReady Math 9-12 grade: Needs improvements 
  • iReady Math 5-8 grades: Have made a lot of progress from last year
  • iReady Math 3-4th grade: Have made a lot of progress from last year and will have more improvements by the end of the year. 
  • iReady Math K-2nd grades: the numbers are low due to covid 

 

B.

K-8 Principal Update

K. Davidson shared his monthly updates. 
  •  
S. Huda arrived at 7:35 PM.

C.

9-12 School Update

M. Russell shared that the data for 9-12 was presented during his portion of the presentation. 

D.

Operations Update

K. Perez presented the enrollment numbers for the month of October. We are enrolling but we are also losing at a double rate. 

 

M. Alston shared the updates for the Manager of Talent Acquisition and Marketing.
  • Currently have 4 open teacher positions
  • For marketing-We have a tv commercial, staff videos, and scholar videos
  • Partnerships have been made in order to prepare for next year 2022-2023
  • Prospective staff intro to the school

E.

Staff Resumes

A. Khatiwada made a motion to approve all resumes at once.
J. Boulet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Khatiwada
Aye
K. Brisseau
Aye
A. Bothner
Absent
E. Chen
Aye
J. Boulet
Aye
K. Shabazz
Absent
S. Huda
Aye
A. Khanyile
Aye
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
S. Pressley
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
T. Bryan
Absent
A. Khatiwada made a motion to Approve all resumes presented.
J. Boulet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
K. Shabazz
Absent
K. Brisseau
Aye
A. Khatiwada
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
T. Bryan
Absent
E. Chen
Aye
A. Khanyile
Aye
J. Boulet
Aye
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
S. Huda
Aye
A. Bothner
Absent
S. Pressley
Aye

F.

Architect RFP Review and Approve

A. Khatiwada made a motion to approve the motion that M. Russell outlined.
J. Boulet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
K. Brisseau
Aye
A. Bothner
Absent
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
S. Huda
Aye
K. Shabazz
Absent
A. Khatiwada
Aye
A. Khanyile
Aye
T. Bryan
Absent
E. Chen
Aye
J. Boulet
Aye
S. Pressley
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent

III. Finance Committee Updates

A.

General Updates

E. Mew shared the monthly update.

 

  • Cash at the end of, cash at September 30th was just over 9 million dollars, of which $70,000 of that is restricted. Also, including that 9 million dollars is 5.2 million dollars of investment. And the investment is held pretty flat over the past several months, not fluctuating too much in either direction. 
  • The audit has been presented to the finance committee and we expect to have a final draft available to be voted on early next week, probably Monday.  As S. Pressely mentioned, you should expect a very clean audit, no findings, no material weaknesses, everything is looking lovely in terms of the audit for fiscal year 21. We have net assets of, just short of 11 million dollars. All the metrics look great. 4.1 is a great metric for current ratio and the asset ratio is very low, which means you have very little in the way of liabilities. So that is a great number as well, that service coverage ratio at 1.94 is outstanding. As we see through September and as of this reporting, we calculated 659 scholars, just three short of budget. And this is the reason we budget on a conservative basis at 662. So we're currently only three short of what we budgeted last year. We maintained a number around 680, 684. So definitely there's been issues with retaining students, but because we budget conservatively, once again.

B.

September Financials

S. Pressley made a motion to approve September financials.
J. Boulet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
E. Chen
Aye
K. Shabazz
Absent
A. Bothner
Absent
S. Pressley
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
K. Brisseau
Absent
A. Khatiwada
Aye
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
T. Bryan
Absent
A. Khanyile
Aye
J. Boulet
Aye
S. Huda
Aye

IV. External Relations Committee Update

A.

Fundraising Initiatives

A. Khanyile did not have any updates for the month. 

V. Public Comments

A.

Public Comments

No public comments at this time.

VI. Board Governance

A.

Approve September 2021 Board Meeting Minutes

J. Boulet made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 09-23-21.
S. Pressley seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Khanyile
Aye
S. Pressley
Aye
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
A. Bothner
Absent
J. Boulet
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
K. Shabazz
Absent
A. Khatiwada
Aye
T. Bryan
Absent
E. Chen
Aye
K. Brisseau
Aye
S. Huda
Aye

B.

Personnel Handbook

J. Boulet made a motion to approve the personnel handbook.
A. Khatiwada seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Bryan
Absent
A. Khanyile
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
S. Pressley
Aye
K. Brisseau
Aye
K. Shabazz
Absent
A. Bothner
Absent
J. Boulet
Aye
S. Huda
Aye
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
E. Chen
Aye
A. Khatiwada
Aye

C.

Scholar Family Handbook

J. Boulet made a motion to approve Scholar Family Handbook.
A. Khatiwada seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Bothner
Absent
S. Pressley
Aye
M. Dorrie
Absent
J. Boulet
Aye
E. Chen
Aye
A. Khanyile
Aye
S. Huda
Aye
K. Brisseau
Aye
T. Bryan
Absent
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
K. Shabazz
Absent
A. Khatiwada
Aye

D.

Board Committee Chairs

E.

Board Renewal Interview

F.

Bylaw - 4th Amendment

A. Khatiwada made a motion to approve.
A. Khanyile seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Bryan
Absent
M. Dorrie
Absent
K. Brisseau
Aye
J. Boulet
Aye
E. Chen
Aye
S. Pressley
Aye
A. Khatiwada
Aye
A. Khanyile
Aye
K. Shabazz
Absent
C. Barnes-Watson
Absent
A. Bothner
Absent

VII. 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 9:36 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Khatiwada