Southside Family Charter School Board Meeting

Saturday, December 10, 2011 at Southside Family Charter School

 

Present: Scott Heard, Ben Kressel, Pete Oppenheim, Beth Hart, Emily Robertson, Renee Anderson, Heidi Batz, Amber Augustin, Dana Neuhauser, Brian Reichert

Guests: Erin Wisness, Eliza Goodwin, Andy Berg, Tania Montgomery

 

I. Call to order – Beth Hart

 

II. Introductions of all present.

 

III. Review & Approve Agenda, move to approve the agenda by Ben, second by Pete. All in favor, the agenda is improved.

 

IV. Review & Approve Minutes of Last Meeting; corrections, add Tania Montgomery as a guest, and remove Renee Anderson as a guest (she is a board member). Motion to approve the revised minutes by Ben, second by Dana. Revised minutes are approved.

 

V. Training: Audited Financial Report Presentation by Andy Berg from Abdo, Eick and Meyers. Handouts: Southside Family Charter School, Charter School No. 4162, Minneapolis, MN, Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2011; Southside Family Charter School, Charter School No. 4162, Minneapolis, MN, Management Letter for the Year Ended June 30,2011. Discussed the details of report by the auditors. We received no findings, a clean audit overall; financial systems, monitoring, general fund balance, communication between Finance Committee and the Board, etc. are on track.

 

VI. Director’s Report – Eliza Handout: Director’s Report Update on curriculum/program, communications and outreach, fiscal management and fundraising, board development and support and family and community involvement.

 

VII. Open Forum for Community Input – no report.

 

VIII. Board Committee Report

a. Finance; November 2011 Financial Reports – Scott Handouts: Financial Report to the School Board, November 2011; FY2012 Income Statement Through November 2011; Balance Sheet Through November 2011 Nearly all of the holdback amount from last year has been repaid. We are on track for expenditures for where we are in the year due in part to adopting the new budget last month. Cashflow schedule is on track. Looking into an increased line of credit or additional means of extra financial support as a safety net this year. Motion to accept $5,000 gift from Greystone Foundation, Kathleen Pratt and $15,000 anonymous gift by Hilary, second by Heidi. All in favor, gifts are accepted.

b. Planning; Accountability Plan, Strategic Planning – Dana Planning committee is meeting today and focusing on the strategic planning programming that are in line with our budget and culture of the organization.

c. Policy; Mandatory Policies – Renee Handouts: Addendum to FY12 Lease Aid Application – Charter school Assurances; Southside Family Charter School Assurances; Board of Director Training Information for Assurances; Policy 609, Religion; Policy 801, Equal Access to School Facilities; Policy 504, Student Dress and Appearance; Policy 531, The Pledge of Allegiance; Policy 417, Chemical Use and Abuse; Policy 418, Drug Free Workplace and School; Policy 419, Tobacco-Free Environment; Policy 501, School Weapons Policy; Policy 502, Search of Student Lockers, Desks, Personal Possessions, and Student’s Persons; Policy 515, Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records; Policy 413, Harassment and Violence; Policy 102, Equal Educational Opportunity; Policy 214, Out-of-State Travel By Board Members; Policy 401, Equal Employment Opportunity; Policy 402, Disability Nondiscrimination Policy; Policy 406, Public and Private Personnel Data; Policy 410, Family and Medical Leave Policy; Policy 412, Expense Reimbursement. Motion to approve all the above policies by Heidi, second by Amber. Amber withdraws her second, and Scott seconds approval of the policies. Amber abstains; all other present approve the policies. More policies will be reviewed in January.

 

IX. Other Committee Reports

a. Development Update – Eliza Handouts: FY 2012 Development Report, July 1, 2011-Present We have reached the halfway point in our fundraising goals for the year! Annual appeal is out, another version will be sent to families.

 

X. Continuing Topics

a. Authorizer Update – fall report Handout: Volunteers of America Minnesota Charter School Authorizing Program letter from Molly McGraw Healy dated October 28, 2011 Overall very positive report. Less than meets standards in two areas: 1. academic leadership, re: no classroom observation in teacher reviews and 2. financial oversight re: negative number in the budget for the year is in violation of their policies.

We were not evaluated in “Assessment and Use of Data” because they wanted to wait for a year of data is collected before reviewing us in this area.

Staff and board will work together to address areas that do not meet standards.

b. AYP Status and Process – Tania School Improvement Plan will be submitted Monday. Still investigating how to utilize and administer SES resources.

 

XI. New Topics Heidi, parent giving: parents are interested in opportunities to give in ways that directly impact their child. In the works – a monthly giving campaign to make up the difference between per-pupil aid and the kind of education kids get at Southside. Looking into a spring pledge, or beginning of the year kickoff. Beth suggests highlighting how parent contributions on boards, etc. are valued in financial terms so people can give in a variety of ways. Families will also get a version of the annual appeal letter this week. Ben talks about how last month’s conflict with the middle school has been resolved and is happy about the way things have been handled. Other parents also feel this was handled appropriately. Discussion about transportation issues.

 

XII. Discussion of Board Meeting: To what degree do you agree with the following statement: “The issues we covered today were important to our mission.”?

What were the most valuable contributions we made to the good of SFCS today?

Emily: thanks to staff (esp. Eliza and Traci) for a great audit and review from

authorizer!

Dana: appreciates the new formatting

Move to adjourn by Pete, second by Renee. Meeting is adjourned.