Nuasin Next Generation Charter School
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday November 21, 2024 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. Bothner (remote), A. Khanyile (remote), E. Chen (remote), J. Boulet (remote), J. Scott (remote), K. Brisseau (remote), M. Dorrie (remote), S. Huda (remote), T. Bryan (remote)
Trustees Absent
K. Shabazz, 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), steven.almonte@nngcs.org (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Review the Agenda
D.
Board Meeting Updates
AB, stated no board meeting updates.
II. Mission and Pillars Board Reflection
A.
Rigor
KD, reflected on rigor and connected it to the phoenix council speeches. All four students did not start off with Nuasin. And the conference that these four students excuding in there speech spoke to the rigor that Nuasin
MR, believe in what we say. People work really hard. He also we should ourselves accountable and our community and we are growing here at Nuasin. We need to hold on to that and before leadership. We need to be good to people.
EC, reflected on rigor and shared how proud she is our of scholars and the work they are doing in school.
III. School Updates
A.
Update from the Executive DIrector
MR, shared the priorities for Nuasin.
- Independent Thinkers
- Independent thinking is the foundation of empowerment
- Our society. needs our scholars perspectives
- We know they can do it
- We are all readers
- Literacy enables continuous learning
- Reading grants access
- Reading facilitates thoughts
- Family and community partnership
- With partnership comes learning
- We can't win without our community
- We are not colonizer
- Staff Attendance, is not where we want it to be. However, we are working towards improvement.
- Student Attendance, is an improvement. in our K-8 cohort. Our goal is 95%. Students want to. be at school and families want their scholars in school. High school attendance is still an area of improvement for us. We have moved into our new space and improvement has been seen.
B.
Update from the K-8 Principal
KD, shared the core priorities for 24-25
- Scholar Joy- Character Day
- Family Literacy Bingo Night ( Games, Art and main event for BINGO and had an amazing time for students and families still an academic focus. Family were allowed to apply for library cards and this a huge.
- Quarterly 1 Awards Assembly, was a huge success.
- Over 100 families in attendance
- Parent Teacher Conference data
- attendance was at 76%. Goal is 100% by next week Tuesday. Increase from last year 60%
- ELA Interim Assessment 1 data
- Overall average is up 4% from 2023
- Pass rate is up 11% from 2023
- 3rd Grade data is lower than last year. KD and team are devising plan to address this concern.
- Math Interim Assessment 1 data
- Overall average is up 2% from 2023
- Pass rate is up 5 % from 2023
- Alignment is a strong indicator for both math and ELA
C.
Update from the 9-12 Principal
AB, shared the core priorites for high
- Midterms
- College Ready/Bound
- Pre-AP Framework Preliminary Results
- College Trip- Women's College (social change projects and interdisciplinary & practical as well as intellectual exploration
- Smith College
- Haverford College
- Bryn Maw
- AB, asked about the academic college experience and how are we looking at the data as we come up on our 4 years of graduation data.
- Tracking graduates and support how our scholars are doing
- Alumni group
D.
Update from K-12 Operations
MA, shared operations updates.
- Total teacher opening
- Kindergarten offer out
- 8th grade offer out
- Still looking for high school AP role and high school stem role
- Fall for Fall event
- recruiting events
- Storefront academy
- Capital Expense Details
- Total approved $813,000,00
- Board members group visit days
- High school Jan 15
- Elementary and Middle Jan 28
IV. Finance Committee Updates
A.
General Updates
JK, shared the financial updates.
- We are right on budget
- Operation surplus of $850,000
- Paid enrollment is favorable
B.
October Financials
JK, shared the October financials
- Buget vs actuals
- Rental assistance application
- Income statement
- Balance sheet
AB, proposed a vote to approve October financials.
C.
Quarterly Strategic Report
AK, shared that he working on internships for a few of our seniors. MR, asked that AK connects with AB and AL
V. External Relations Committee Update
A.
External Relations Update
AK, shared their are no updates.
B.
Quarterly Strategic Report
VI. Nominating Committee Update
A.
Nominating Committee Update
KB, shared we have two candidates in the pipeline. More information to come.
B.
Quarterly Strategic Report
VII. Education Committee Update
A.
Education Committee Update
EC, shared their are no updates.
B.
Quarterly Strategic Report
VIII. Expansion Committee Update
A.
Board Retreat Planning
JS, their are no updates.
IX. Governance Committee Update
A.
Governance Committee Update
JB, shared the governance midyear conversation coming up
- Will be emailing team over the break to over things forward.
B.
October Board Meeting Minutes
C.
Trustee Goal Setting Reflection
AB, shared the trustee goal setting reflection. AB wants to get better on fundraising and a commitment to the getting good at it.
- Transition to fundraiser board
D.
Quarterly Strategic Report
X. Public Comments
A.
Public Comments
AB, shared their are no public comment.
AB, reviewed the agenda. No updates