Bright Starts Cooperative Early Learning Centre Board Meeting

Tuesday, April 25, 2017at 6:45 pm

Chairperson: Kelly Tunney

Minutes

In attendance:Kelly Tunney, Heather O’Leary, Stacey Reid, Kathy Boegel, Lisa Brackenridge, Karen Hinnigan, Lindsay Ford, Heather Gawel, Nicole Miller, Scott Leatherdale, Casey Remmer, Vera Jbanova, AminaGilani, Nan Gao

Regrets:Stephanie Putnam, KostyaKovalenko, BarbaraCsima

Not in attendance: N/A

On minutes:Heather O’Leary

ApprovalofAgenda

Motion: Lindsay

2nd: Scott

All in favour. None opposed. Motion carried.

Approvalof March 21, 2017 Board Meeting Minutes

Motion:to approve minutes as revised. Kelly

2nd: Nicole

9 in favour, 1 abstain, none opposed. Motion carried.

Business arisingfrom prior meetings

Presentation of the slate of nominees for the next Board of Directors

  • Nominations committee met and reviewed applicants for the board.
  • There were 9 applicants and the Nominating Committee recommends that all the applicants be approved by the board.

Nan arrived.

  • Lisa asked for questions from the board about the nomination form, or the recommended slate. There were no questions.
  • Motion:Lisa moves that the Board approve the slate of nominees as discussed and recommended by the Nominating Committee for election by the general membership at the Annual General Meeting.
  • 2nd: Heather O
  • All in favour, none opposed. Motion carried.

Playground Options presentation

  • The playground committee proposes 4 options for paying for and implementing the renovations of the playground. The committee devised four different ways of implementing the changes to all 4 playgrounds with the same current budget, and a second phase for implementing the remaining renovations when funds are available.
  • The board discussed some of the options and pros and cons of the various implementation options.
  • Option one is total completion of Preschool playgrounds including all landscaping and equipment.
  • Motion:Nicole moves that the board approve Option one in the amount $120,000 including the addition of a sprinkler system.
  • 2nd: Scott
  • All in favour; none opposed. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report

  • Total cash has been steadily accumulating
  • As of March 31 Bright Starts has $100K invested in GICs
  • Total payroll expenses consistently under budget, but camp payroll expenses are not included, because our payroll yearly budget is spread out over a 12 month period.
  • March P6 has an impact on food costs.

Committee Reports

  • Parent Communications
  • Has been working on AGM emails for letting people know about AGM and has a plan for the 2 reminder emails to parents.
  • 3 required surveys have completed
  • Family survey: 113 responses
  • Very pleased with educators, and they stood out as the highlight
  • Many families displeased with the loss of the multi-purpose room in order to make room for P6
  • Many other comments about the muddy/dirty playgrounds.
  • Several comments about drop off and pick-up times being stressful/difficult for the parents and children.
  • Families noted concerns about quality and quantity of food.
  • Cost: mostly satisfied
  • Board survey

Amina stepped out

  • Priorities for the board:Budgeting, strategic planning, staff performance/engagement, fundraising
  • Intersection of the board survey and family survey is the multi-purpose room
  • Staff survey:
  • Motion: To go in camera
  • 2nd: Lindsay
  • Fundraising
  • Recent Steeped Tea fundraiser 33 families purchased; netted $756!
  • Finance –N/A
  • See Treasurer’s report.
  • Health & Safety
  • Heather G wants to bring to the attention to the board that City of Waterloo has an idling by-law. The board briefly discussed the number of cars that are often seen idling during pick up and dropping off children at the centre, and that we should, as a board remind parents that idling is not permitted.
  • The Health And Safety committee will take away this discussion to put into place some communication and/or actions.
  • P&P
  • No report from P&P at this time
  • Nominating
  • No further report than the previously discussed slate.
  • AGM
  • The invite is sent. Location is set for Optometry.
  • Amina will send an invitation on Dropbox or Google Drive for the board to bring a salad or dessert to contribute to the potluck. Pizza will be ordered as the main.
  • We will also need volunteers to help with line the path to Optometry and guide parents to the room. We also need volunteers for sign-in table, set-up, take-down/clean-up.
  • Exec will be at the table at the front. And first two rows at the front will be reserved for other board members so we can be seated together.

Executive Director’s Report:

  • Stacey addressed a biting incident and wanted to discuss more generally with the board our process so that the board is aware that there is a protocol that is followed by staff and administrators to support the effected families.

New Business:

Approval of the following policies:

Training and Development Policy (Updated)

Program Statement Implementation Policy (Updated)

Water Flushing Policy (Updated)

Motion: Scott movesto approve the above-mentioned policies as updated by the Personnel and Policy Committee.
2nd: Heather G
9 in favour; 2 abstain; none opposed. Motion carried.

Next meeting:

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 – Annual General Meeting

Regrets: Scott Leatherdale, Nicole Miller

ADJOURNMENT

Motion:Lisa moves to adjourn the meeting.

2nd: Kelly

All in favour; none opposed. Meeting adjourned at 8:44 pm