Our Community School 16514 Nordhoff Street, North Hills, CA 91343 Board of Directors Meeting January 21, 2010 In attendance: Scott Miller, Jana Harper, Susan Friedman, Ricardo Accorsi, Scott Spooner, Irina Castillo, Heather Ashton, Bill Maxwell, Bill Powers, David Marsh, Carolina Goodman, Hilary Anderson Other attendees: Principal Chris Ferris, PTSA Chair Victoria Camacho, ExEd Consultant Rich Vasquez The meeting was called to order at 6:05. There were no community speakers. Minutes of the last meeting were approved with one correction. The deadline for early-bird tickets to Big Night Out is January 22. Bill Powers, now serving as the board’s parliamentarian, reviewed Roberts Rules of Order in order to streamline our board meetings and to keep committee work in committees. Committees will report and make recommendations; the board responds by approving the recommendations or sending back them back to committee. Roberts Rules of Order can be suspended for special sessions, e.g. personnel issues, lawsuits. Minutes of closed sessions would not be distributed. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT - We are behind on net income because federal stimulus money has not yet come in, and we are waiting for 09-10 SB740 money. - Expenses are being managed well. - We are on track with ADA. - We are low in revenue; expecting class reduction money and lottery money. Given the state budget crisis, we may not receive our 09-10 SB740 funds. - We are slightly over on expenses this month, which could be due to higher health care premiums. - We have not yet tapped into our line of credit, which is currently $90,000 and $10,000 credit card. The bank is planning to renew lines of credit to schools at $50,000 ($40,000 and $10,000 credit card). Rich will research other banks’ lines of credit. - Report on the Governor’s Workshop
- We will not receive 2009-10 mid-year budget cuts. - $191/student ADA will be cut for elementary schools for 2010-11. - COLA is going down -.38%
- Carolina moved to approve financials. David seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
- Consolidated Application
- OCS’s level of Free and Reduced lunch is 45.9%. - Scott S. moved to approve the Consolidated Application. Heather seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT - Board members can help make Big Night Out a successful event by:
- attending and bringing friends - getting sponsors - procuring auction items - Annual Support has raised $8,593 to date. The goal for this year is $10,000.
- What is the % of family participation? FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT - LAUSD approved $3 million ($2 million for OCS; $1 million for shared space)
- We are waiting for the LAUSD contract
- With the help of volunteers we have started to inventory.
- We plan to have an evening or weekend time for families to meet at the new site.
- It’s likely that the community day school will be moved.
- We need to negotiate with our landlord with respect to selling our portables. David moved to officially thank the Facilities Committee for their hard work and to designate Chris and a board member to conduct this negotiation. Bill P. seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
- We are currently on schedule to be in Devonshire by September. We are waiting for LAUSD to assign a project manager. Do we need a project manager for us? It is important for OCS to have oversight.
- LAUSD is charging $0.75/square foot; we currently pay $1.35/square foot. It is unclear what space will be included in the lease. Chris will call Donna to find out this information.
Point of information – Don’t talk out; the chair will recognize you before you speak. GOVERNANCE REPORT - Principal Evaluation starts now. Carolina is chair.
- LAUSD requests assurance that board member Ricardo Accorsi will not be paid for his services.
- Scott M. moved to approve a letter to LAUSD stating that OCS will not pay Ricardo for his services. David seconded. The motion passed unanimously. - Susan moved to pass a Resolution stating that all board members understand the Conflict of Interest Policy. David seconded. The motion passed unanimously. - Minutes of this meeting will be sent to LAUSD’s Charter School Office. PROGRAM COMMITTEE REPORT - A formal Technology Plan was written in preparation for applying for the federal government’s E-Rate grant. It outlines curriculum, technology goals, (e.g. replacement policy for equipment), and the board’s commitment to fund OCS technology needs. Carolina moved to approve the OCS Technology Plan. Scott S. seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
- WASC visiting committee will be on campus February 22-25. The board will host a reception on that Sunday afternoon. Jana, David, and Irina volunteered to organize the food for the reception. Board members are encouraged to attend the oral presentation of the visiting committee’s commendations and recommendations on February 25 at 3:15.
- Renewal update – LAUSD deemed our document not reasonably comprehensive. 75% of their recommended changes are fine. Some had to do with wording. We will specify target numbers for standardized test scores and API. Since OCS does not use textbooks for social studies and science, teachers are mapping out their curriculum to include in the document. Chris met with head of Charter School Office to discuss the other issues, e.g. our plan to expand to 8th grade. If we are denied a charter, Chris recommends investigating applying to Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) for our charter. Bill M., David, and Jana volunteered to help with researching the pros and cons.
- OCS recommended that we continue the current arrangement where we give our special education funds to LAUSD, there is no encroachment, and we receive special education services through LAUSD. - LAUSD plans to charge a large encroachment and will still charge for services. - Charter schools are investigating what it would mean to work through LACOE’s SELPA. · Progress reports are going out to families next week. The board asked Hilary to pass along their appreciation for their thorough narrative writing about their students. REFLECTING ON OUR PROCESS - We went 20 minutes over our goal of 1-1/4 hour; perhaps we need 1-1/2 hour.
- Strategy meeting before or after the general meeting? The purpose of this next strategy meeting is to unify our move to Devonshire; create timelines and strategies.
- Committee reports would have time limits.
- Consider putting the Program Committee report at the beginning so that the board can understand school dynamics; then we can get to problem solving (e.g. budgets and communication issues) as well as follow routines and approve policies.
- It would be helpful to receive the minutes within a week after the meeting, rather than a week before.
Meeting adjourned 7:55. The next meeting is on February 25. Respectfully Submitted, Carolina Goodman, Secretary OCS Board of Directors
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