InspireSchool ofArts &Sciences BoardofDirectors

Regular Session– 7:00 pm

Monday, August 12,2013

Heldat InspireClassroomPC13 ontheChicoHighCampus

901 Esplanade Chico, CA

ThemissionoftheInspireSchoolofArtsandSciencesistoprovidehighlevelsoflearningandsupportwithin apersonalizedenvironmentthatallowsstudentstoexploretheirinterestsanddeveloptheirtalents.

In attendance: Jann Reed, Matt Brown, Debbie Travers, Ria Pope, Ron Pope, Dan LaBar, Denver Latimer, Eric Nilsson, Jana Gosselin

Meeting called to order 7:02.

Move to approve minutes. Motion by Jann, seconded by Debbie. Approved unanimously.

Principals report:

Fire alarm system holding up building completion.Scheduled to be completed tomorrow. Wrong parts ordered for the system, has become a rush job.Campus painting complete.

Movers on campus today.Two teams of movers and two trucks. All stuff from IT-3, IT-4 and IT-5 moved to new IC classrooms. Wet lab still needs electrical and gas work. Recording studio and dry science lab won’t be done by beginning of school year. No classes scheduled for fall for those rooms.

Will need to purchase window blinds for all new buildings.All new rooms and some older rooms.

Landscaping. Justin Azevedo agreed to do a campus landscaping plan probono. We would like to show plans at Taste of Inspire on Sept 15th. Foundation would like to organize around specific donations for landscaping.

Ron wrote a $5000 grant to Lowes. Inspire will use for seating. One goal is to provide shade between rows of classrooms.

All walls that need to be built will be done during fall semester. Rooms will be prioritized and walls built in that order.

Campus storage is a problem. Plan to vacate storage room at Chico U lock It. Might need to rent an additional storage space at Nord Ave. Mini Storage where we currently have 3 units. Plan to get rid of 2 of 3 on-site mobile-mini storage containers.

Current enrollment at 470.Anticipate a drop as some students we know are leaving have not been dropped from the rolls. Budget based on 440 enrollment. Have 45 days after budget.Revenue for common core from state, approximately $80k, not included in current budget. Predicted ending fund balance (right now) is $370k at end of 2013-14. Charters don’t have to adhere to 45 day revise. Waiting for district to give us a final budget.Will revisit M&O figures in MOU.

Did have projected deficit for this year but new revenues have erased the deficit. Deficit spending this year is one time based, mostly related to facilities.

Staffing – office assistant hired but won’t be on board until we’re in the new office. Currently no room to house an additional person.

Theron Hopkins (English) and Kathryn Buckles (math) will split the study hall. Each will take 4 study halls. Great benefit for Inspire.

Special ed – 0.3 position. Will be split between all three high schools.

Molly Becraft accepted the 0.2 position in counseling. Molly will also help with intervention.

Jann asked for a breakdown of monies that go to district in MOU.

Discussion/Action Items

Brown Act – A majority of board members can’t discuss action items that will relate to a board action (in this case 4 members). Board members can’t communicate directly.

  • Matt would like to discuss parliamentary process. Items shouldn’t be discussed that aren’t on the agenda.
  • Board has agreed to a recommitment to the Brown Act.

3 year math program – looking at last year’s students, 22 students would not have graduated with a 3 yr math requirement (26%).

  • Patterns last 20 years, math requirements have continued to go up. 24 or 25 states now have 3 or 4 year math requirements.
  • Requirements have gone up across all disciplines in last 20 years.
  • Ron says it’s a requirement for the adults. An additional requirement isn’t going to affect a kid that’s already planning to go to a UC. It might improve a math score. Being driven by common core. Common core tests in spring of junior year.
  • CUSD Board voted 5-0 to approve 3 year math requirement.
  • Jann request 3 years math requirement. Is there a level they’re looking for? High performing students that start 9th grade in alg 2…do they need to take three years above this level.

Other ways to advertise Inspire student achievement.

  • “Inspire students excel in math in ADD TEXT HERE”. Have on website.
  • Been looking at definition of achievement: what is the level of the class or is it the time in class? Academic college readiness – report lists 12-15 skills – no definition.
  • Discussion at next board meeting related to Inspire graduation requirements and how to advertise academic achievement beyond test scores.

When kids are connected they produce.

Jann asks if topics of common core will be English and math? Everyone knows that English and math don’t necessarily dictate a successful person.

  • Answer: Literacy across disciplines. Synthesis and deeper level thinking types questions.
  • In classroom: tasks in classroom, collaboration.

Inspire’s graduation requirements are in our handbook and in our charter. We don’t have to follow CUSD’s. They are now different than CHS & PV.

Conversation on Fiscal Manager

  • Jann asked are we paying for Fiscal Management services?
  • Comparison of admin sizes of various charters in district.
  • Need to be careful of titles of positions. Need to make a precise job description (what requirements of position would be). Need to be careful to craft a name for the position.
  • Need to break out % of each of positions. What percent on registrar duties, % on fiscal manager, % on comptroller.
  • Board will define a reasonable salary that blends the three positions.

Approval of asst principal salary – points of comparison – U Prep, Marysville charter

  • Dan’s job different at Inspire than other APs. Does the job of all. Need Dan’s very specific job description.

Salary decisions will be retroactive to July 1.

Dan & Eric both got 3% last year.

Eric will bring comparison salaries.

Principal evaluation:

  • Denver handed out packets containing a lot of documents that need to be synthesized into one evaluation of Eric.
  • Recommended the board form a sub-committee to establish how to evaluate Eric and also set policy on salary structure and other personnel related issues.
  • Needs a thorough job description from eric.
  • Eric on an at-willemployment agreement. Has no contract. His at will agreement doesn’t specify vacation time, nothing stipulated about pay increase, notice of exit, no indication of paying memberships (addendum to employment agreement).
  • An up to date CV would be helpful to Eric’s eval.
  • Need language that will help the board evaluate Eric.
  • Question about having Kelly weigh in on eric’seval. Is Board interested in having her feedback? Is there a Director level person who could weigh in?
  • What is goal of evaluating Eric? Is there certain things the board wants to see done. Erics primary interest would be in opinion of staff. Then results. And performance.
  • To include students (seniors).
  • Responsible for executing mission and vision. Question about how effective eric is in implementing mission and vision.
  • In what way do you see eric contributing to this.

Kim Hernandez has survey data.

Committees:

Policy making committee – Jann Reed, Rose Krepalka, Dan laBar

Evaluation committee – Denver Latimer, Debbie Travers, Mike

Yearly budget includes salary increases. Based on 3% increases.

Items from the floor –

Need a board member on the WASC Leadership Team. Will involve multiple meetings and focus groups.

  • Matt Brown volunteers to be on the committee.

Ron invites everyone on August 23rd to honor Katherine Sherman in the quad for her work on the mural and let students know the story.

17 students passed summer school classes. Two non-grad passed classes to become grads.

Meeting adjourned 9:24.