Community Regional Charter School
Minutes
CRCS Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 12, 2025 at 6:00 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), J. Hodgkin (remote), M. Buja (remote), N. Reinholt (remote), T. Overall (remote)
Directors Absent
S. Saltzman
Ex Officio Members Present
T. Works (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
T. Works (remote)
Guests Present
A. Savage (remote), B. Andre (remote), D. Ryder (remote), E. Firnkes (remote), J. Alves (remote), Kit Canning (remote), Megan Munroe (remote), T. Wyman (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Agenda
II. Approve Business Meeting Minutes
A.
Approve Minutes from 12/11/2024 meeting
III. Executive Director and Staff Reports
A.
Letters of Resignation (since last Board Meeting)
B.
New Hires (since last Board Meeting)
Lindsey McCorkindale - secretary at Dimensions
Sean Callahan - facilitator at Overman
C.
Live Weather Broadcast with Channel 8 @ CRCS Dimensions
Travis shared the video from Channel 8 when CRCS did the live news weather forecast.
D.
Consolidation Update
At a standstill on the property across from Thomas College - it has been designated as wetland so we need a wetland delineation done in the Spring when the snow is gone.
Still keeping an eye out for other properties as well.
E.
ED279 and Pay Scales
Travis shared out our ED279 for next school year and budget for FY26 and the increase is exactly what we expected them to be. It was a good increase from last year and one reason for this increase is our free and reduced lunch number.
Travis shared out a draft pay scale that is being considered for next school year (2025-2026).
F.
Learner Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Strategies
Elizabeth shared out what CRCS is doing for learner attendance and chronic absenteeism strategies.
* attendance meetings
* posting daily attendance for learners to see at Overman
* improving our monthly attendance audits
* looking at trends with communication and attendance
* attending the Attendance Matters trainings offered to charter schools
IV. Other Business:
A.
Vote to Approve Jim Hodgkin as a New Board Member
B.
Vote to approve the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant
V. Board Chair Updates
A.
Annual Monitoring Meeting with Maine Charter Commission
Nicki shared out some highlights from the Maine Charter Commission annual monitoring meeting.
- Learner retention
- Growth and proficiency for reading and math
- Improved communication between CRCS and the Charter Commission
B.
Board Self Assessment
Nicki reminded everyone to go into Board on Track and look at the results from the Board Self Assessment.
At the next meeting, the board will discuss goals and next steps from this self assessment.
C.
Board Member Job Description
Nicki shared a draft of the Board Member Job Description for the board to review and give feedback.
Would like to vote to approved and adopt this job description at next months meeting in March.
D.
Board Member Agreement
Nicki shared out the draft of the Board Member Agreement for the board to review.
Vote to approve the Board Member Agreement at the March board meeting.
VI. Academic Excellence Committee
A.
Presentation - RavenCon
Elizabeth shared details about RavenCon.
- Overnight game night at Overman
- 1/3 of the learners at Overman attended
- Fundraiser for the John Shay Memorial Fund
B.
Review January 7, 2025 Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Committee looked closely at attendance and chronic absenteeism and the LinkIt! platform.
Learners are currently taking the NWEA assessment and at the March Academic Excellence Committee meeting will look closely at this updated data.
The meeting minutes were not attached to this agenda so they will be approved at the March board meeting.
VII. Finance & Facilities
A.
Approve Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes from 11/20/24
Nicki reviewed the minutes.
Board didn't have the minutes in time to vote on them so they will be approved at the March board meeting.
VIII. Governance Committee
A.
Review Governance Committee Minutes
Nicki reviewed the minutes.
Board didn't have the minutes in time to vote on them so they will be approved at the March board meeting.
B.
Onboarding Manual update
Theresa shared the draft of the CRCS Onboarding Manual/Board Handbook that Travis Works, Ashlee Savage, Theresa Overall, and Arron Richards have been creating.
Committee is looking for feedback from board members to improve the handbook.
Mark Melia - secretary at Dimensions
Tasha Goodrich - facilitator at Dimensions
Matthew Shawyer - facilitator at Overman