Nuasin Next Generation Charter School
Minutes
Monthly Nuasin Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday October 26, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Location
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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 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, A. Khanyile (remote), J. Boulet, J. Scott (remote), K. Brisseau, K. Shabazz, M. Dorrie (remote), S. Huda (remote), S. Pressley, T. Bryan
Trustees Absent
C. Barnes-Watson, E. Chen
Ex Officio Members Present
M. Russell
Non Voting Members Present
M. Russell
Guests Present
C. Polanco, G. Borja, K. Davidson, M. Alston, S. Rasheed (remote), Sarah Meding
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Review the Agenda
D.
Board Meeting Updates
II. Mission and Pillars Board Reflection
A.
Mission
JB starts off by reading the Mission pillar. JB relates her identity and each of the pillars and how they relate to our goals and the impact we make. JB states that every piece works together and reflects how this pillar builds the foundation for their potential.
III. School Update
A.
Executive Director Update
MR reviews the three topics of differentiation. MR explains this is part of our ICT construct. MR reviews building the brand that will lead to expansion. MR also emphasizes we are focusing on family engagement as part of our growth. MR reviews the staff attendance and scholar attendance. MR explains we are looking to have scholar attendance to be 95%. JB enters the meeting. MR reviews the expansion updates. Reviews the 4 spaces with the most potential. MR reviews what a zombie charter concept makes up.
MR announces SM who is our new Director of Fundraising. SM reviews the fundraising process. AB enters the meeting. SM also reviews the different stages in fundraising and where Nuasin stands in the stages. SM reviews historical trends in giving nationally, and each generation and how they donate. SM reviews the different priorities for the quarter and the year. TB asks about our goal? SM responds that it depends on her evaluation over the next 60 days. AB states all board members are at different stages. AB suggests he is ready to start cultivating his pipeline.
B.
K-8 Update
KB reviews the different priority areas. Lower school has worked hard in writing components, differentiation and family engagement. KD reviews the reading buddy, where older scholars read with younger scholars. KD also reviews club phoenix, where scholars can partake in event if they meet grade and behavioral requirements. KD also presents Hispanic heritage and discusses how the students in each grade all interact. KD also discusses partnership with the Highbridge Library, where every week a new grade will go to visit. KD reviews the comparative data where the city and our district has also improved, Nuaisn has improved the most. KD reports in 2019 we were under scored, and we have doubled and remain over average for the city and district. MR points out the large gap in achievement within our city and our school.
C.
9-12 Update
MR reviews that grades 9 and 10 which are the grades we backfill have the greatest struggle. The current IA numbers reflect that. Every year there is further growth and it gives us the ability to forecast and plan ahead. We are seeing a greater interest in college and college trips. We have a deans list and scholars take pride and are working hard to achieve. AB asks about recruiting qualified staff, MR responds that we are in a strong space in our k-8 and 9-12 is still building out that achievement.
D.
Operations Update
MA reviews the waitlist and enrollment. MA also states that DOE will be providing speech services and so we will not longer look to hire for that position. MA presents videos from staff recruiting event. MA states we are meeting compliance reporting. MA and GB went to NYS Charter Conference.
IV. Finance Committee Updates
A.
General Updates
SP announces SR will review the September Financials. SP reports that DOD is no longer on our goals, only goal remaining is to create a roadmap with expansion committee, an additional goal is increasing financial literacy with board members and also a review of vendors in partnership with operations team.
B.
September Financials
Total cash 8.6 million dollars. We received ESSER grants. 8.5 million cash in hand. Enrollment is strong, we have 674 students enrolled. We have recognized 3.4 million in revenue. We are projecting a 330K deficit with fundraising goals. We have budgeted at 662 but we are at 674 students. AB asks about fundraising goal and MR confirms it was a plug in number. AB requests to see what the deficit will be without fundraising. KB asks for cash on hand? SR reviews what the concept means and how the numbers make sense. SR also reviews the investment report, 5.2 million are in investments and we entered the quarter with 5.27 million, this was the overall accrued interest.
C.
Audit Approval
The audit passed with no findings. AB reports there were no deficiencies. AB reports they did not identify any precautionary guidance. The audit team was invited to speak during the executive meeting and they did not see this as necessary.
V. Education Committee Updates
A.
Education Update
AB reports there are no updates.
VI. External Relations Committee Update
A.
External Relations Update
AK reports there are no updates.
VII. Governance Committee Update
A.
Approve September 2023
B.
Trustee Goal Setting Reflection
SH reports her goal is to develop her contribution and value proposition.
C.
Annual Review of Academics
JB reports there are no updates.
D.
Admissions Policies Update
MA reports that there are updates to the admissions policy for scholars. The new change would add a preference for children of staff members.
VIII. Nominating Committee Update
A.
Nominating Committee Update
KB reports there are no updates and the team is working on their goals, and is evaluating the different expectations for entering board members.
IX. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
There are no public comments.
KS reviews the agenda after calling the meeting to order. MA states she will begin the meeting with operations update.