Community Regional Charter School
Minutes
Business Meeting of the Board
Date and Time
Monday December 11, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe these meetings but must be aware that although the meeting is held in public it is not a public meeting and therefore observers are not permitted to speak during the meeting itself, except during public comment.
Directors Present
C. Hansen (remote), M. Buja (remote), N. Reinholt (remote), S. Saltzman (remote), T. Arnold (remote)
Directors Absent
T. Overall
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
C. Hansen
Ex Officio Members Present
T. Works (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
T. Works (remote)
Guests Present
A. Savage (remote), Dan Ryder (remote), E. Firnkes (remote), J. Alves (remote), K. Canning (remote), Susan Muzzy (remote), T. Wyman (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Agenda
D.
Approve November 13 Business Meeting Minutes
II. Executive Director Reports
A.
Letters of Resignation (since last Board Meeting)
B.
New Hires (since last Board Meeting)
Amber Richardson - Ed Tech I at Dimensions
Victoria Adams-Cheney - Facilitator at Dimensions
Christi Belanger - Special Education Facilitator at Dimensions
C.
Enrollment
Our enrollment continues to grow. We are continuing to increase enrollment and new learners/families will start in January to keep our numbers strong.
D.
Other: Future Facilities Planning
Travis shared the following:
Highmark, specializes in designing, financing and building private and public charter schools.
In late November Travis and Jill had an initial meeting with Highmark
On December 4th, Travis and Jill had a meeting with Raymond and James (underwriter) recommended by Highmark.
Key Facts:
* CRCS could quality for a USDA direct loan for 3.8% for 40 years (no penalty for early payoff).
* CRCS‘s loan payments for CCA and Overman would be the equivalent of a 5-6 million dollar loan at the USDA rates/terms.
* Increasing enrollment to 700 (50 at each age level) would increase our current budget by over 3 million dollars annually. Currently CRCS needs space for 450 learners based on 32 learners at each age level. We currently only have space for less than 400 learners and our enrollment is at 380.
* CRCS could reduce redundancy in personnel, transportation, administration, and overall operations.
* CRCS would need to find a suitable site (public water and sewer) with a minimum of 25 acres and make sure that the new location would not result in a negative loss of current enrolled families.
* CRCS either needs to heavily invest in the 3 current buildings or invest in a singe new building in a new location.
Next Steps:
Highmark will be putting together some information along with R&J that will be shared with the Finance/Facilities Committee. In January at the Board Meeting a presentation will be done by Highmark and/or R&J.
Travis, Jill, and Kit will be compiling information for Highmark, R&J, and the Board prior to the Finance/Facility Committee Meeting and Board Meeting.
The Board will need to consider the options of continuing to maintain 3 separate campuses or consolidation of a single building. Our current long term facilities planning was based on maintaining 3 buildings, however, financing, design, and building may be obtainable given the resources and support of a developer such as Highmark.
Information about Highmark can be found on their website:
https://www.highmarkschools.com
At this point, it is Important that the CRCS team is compiling information and keeping the board informed. The Board should ask questions about the topic and understand the process, implications, and future impact.
III. Academic Excellence Committee
A.
Academic Excellence Presentation
Susan and Elizabeth shared a preview presentation on CRCS' Fall NWEA data and at the next academic excellence meeting the committee will dive into this data.
None since the last board meeting