The Pledge of Allegiance was omitted since the meeting was held in the cafeteria  

L. Leonard noted that the board held an executive session from 6:01 to 6:25 for the purpose of discussing personnel issues.

Greg Murry thanks the executive search committee and is sympathetic to the amount of work that was done in a short period of time. It is his belief that 1 candidate is not enough and is worried about the candidate's qualifications. He wishes to see an additional candidate and an interim executive director may be prudent. 

Laura Wukovitz spoke to thank Vida and to congratulate everyone on a successful school year.

L. Leonard is pleased to announce that the Vida Charter School Board of Directors has selected Martha Davis as the new executive director of Vida Charter School effective July 1, 2016. L. Leonard appreciates the patience of the stakeholders and the contributions made by the executive search committee while the board made their decision, as well as thanking the candidates that applied for the position.


 

L. Leonard read the press release announcement for the benefit of all parties present and is a follows:

PRESS RELEASE 
 
Vida Charter School Announces Martha Viadana Davis Appointed New Executive Director 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Gettysburg, PA, June 1 – Vida Charter School announces the appointment of Martha Davis as its new Executive Director. She will assume responsibilities on July 1, 2016 and will succeed Cynthia Maldonado. 
"After a thorough and deliberate selection process, the Board of Directors is delighted that Ms. Davis will lead Vida Charter School in the upcoming years," said Lynn Leonard from Vida's Board of Directors.  "Ms. Davis has an in-depth understanding of the needs of our bilingual students and brings to Vida a wide variety of experience and skill in the areas of second language acquisition, business ownership, school administration, and non-profit board service." 
We welcome Ms. Davis' experience as a Spanish teacher in the Philadelphia and Oxford Area School Districts. In this capacity, Ms. Davis developed curriculum, provided professional development in cross cultural training and ESL teaching strategies, established an ESL After School Program, produced student plays on Incan and Mayan cultures, and designed and established a school-wide diversity program. Most recently as Director of Operations of Esperanza Charter School she oversaw all business, IT, cafeteria, enrollment, facilities, safety, and other essential functions of the school.  As an entrepreneur and long-time CEO of her own company, the Abroad Link language school, Ms. Davis designed customized language curriculum and provided students with cultural training.  Moreover, she published a book titled "History and Culture of Mexico" by the Rochester School District. Ms. Davis' rich and varied experience also includes working as an actuary in her native Mexico; directing a program for children with disabilities in Rochester, NY; teaching reading and writing to migrant students; being an adjunct professor; collaborating with the PA State Department of Economic Development in creating conferences for small businesses; serving on numerous nonprofit boards and planning committees; and much more.  
Ms. Davis holds an Associates in Actuarial Science from Universidad Autónoma de México, a Bachelors in Liberal Arts and a Masters in Public Administration from SUNY Brockport, a Principal K-12, and Spanish level II certificates from Immaculata University. 
Ms. Davis is passionate about languages (she is bilingual in English/Spanish and is learning Japanese), cultures, and travel. She is also a visual artist and enthusiastic supporter of the arts in all forms. 
"I am honored that Vida Charter School's Board of Directors selected me as their new Executive Director and am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in such a fine Charter School.  I look forward to positioning Vida as the leader of Dual Language Immersion and global Education in the central part of the state of Pennsylvania." said Martha Davis 

L, Leonard noted that the parents will be notified through the mail along with the report cards and the staff will be notified on 6-2-16.

S. White, Secretary notes that an Abstention Memorandum is on file for M. Rosenberger at the Vida Charter School Office.