Network Board Meeting
Thursday October 17, 2013
1:00-5:00
Lakewood Campus
5806 W Alameda
Lakewood, CO 90226
Minutes
Directors present: Rick Bela, Larry Mason, Domonic Silva, Gina Nocera, Sarah Kurz and Polly Baca
Alternate Directors present: Juan Vigil, Ben Dominguez, Paula Gomez Farrell and Mary Hanewall
Regrets:
Staff: Dominic DiFelice, Craig Cook
Guests: Cara Lawrence, Patti Matthews, Michael Langley, Frank Riggs LaTricia Mathis (principal-Albuquerque), Margarita Porter (principal-Las Cruces), Robert Hubbard (vice-principal-Lowry), Mike Epke (principal-Denver) and Jon Berninzoni (principal- Lakewood).
1. Polly Baca called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm. Introductions were made.
2. Moved by Domonic Silva and seconded by Juan Vigil that the agenda be approved. Votes: Unanimous.
3. LaTrica Mathis read the mission.
4. Moved by Domonic Silva and seconded by Juan Vigil that the minutes of May 9, 2013 be approved. Votes: Unanimous.
5. Patti Matthews led the discussion on the agreements before the Board. After considerable discussion the membership fee agreement was modified to include
a. Termination clause
b. Determination that the fee would be at the discretion of the Board
c. Prorating of fee for new charter schools
d. Through consensus the Board determined that charging the at-large members would not promote the mission of the network and their role. Therefore the at-large members will not be assessed a fee
Moved by Larry Mason and seconded by Rick Bela that the Membership Fee Agreement be approved as amended. Votes: Unanimous. Each director will take this back to their respective Board for ratification.
6. Rick Bela suggested a friendly amendment to the motion that the membership fee be increased from the proposed $7500 to 10000. Moved by Gina Nocera and seconded by Domonic Silva that the 2013-14 membership fee be set at $10,000 per school. Votes: Unanimous.
7. The licensing and services agreement was reviewed and a number of issues still remain unresolved. Feedback from the group was considered and will be incorporated in the next iteration. Board members were asked to thoroughly review the agreement and send redline changes or bullet notations to Dom who will share with Cara and Patti.
8. Two actions items were also discussed for Directors and staff action
ü Craig Cook, Frank Riggs and Rick Bela will develop a network budget. The Network budget will provide guidance for the "pricing"and initial fee structure of the Network's licensing and services agreement with each charter-holding member in the NAS Network.
ü Cara will prepare a resolution for the NAS-Colorado Board to discuss relinquishing proprietary rights for the NAS materials to the Network and determine a quid pro quo arrangement
9. Craig, Frank and Cara explained the need for the Network Board to assume the responsibilities of the NASMO Board. NASMO has a number of LLCs that hold leases for NAS facilities. In the future to float bonds for the 89th and Washington school it will be necessary for the entity be held by a 501 (c) 3 which NASMO isn’t but the Network is. The discussion focused on the advantages of the Network serving as the vehicle for the ownership and financing of school facilities/properties and on the feasibility of "migrating" and merging NASMO, and its assets and liabilities, into the Network. Some concerns were raised pertaining to the "organizational risk" ofthe Networkacquiring and hold real property, and the related debt.
10. The Nominating Committee debriefed the Board on the names suggested for members at large. It was suggested that a more focused approach be taken viz. determine what you need in the way of skill sets or targeted fundraising, and then approach the people who meet your stated needs. A discussion about hiring a professional fundraiser to assist in this endeavor was proposed. The NC was charged to developing an RFP for a professional fundraiser. Frank Riggs volunteered to join the NC consisting of Gina, Juan, Rick and Larry.
11. Charter updates
a. Arizona: A principal search has ended and a candidate has been selected. Frank will be the GC chair. Board members have been identified. A CSP grant application (due Nov 14th) has been written. A charter application is due in March 2014. Anticipated start date is August 2015.
b. Nevada: Startup funds have not been secured. This will call for another one year extension. A letter will be sent to SPCSA requesting an extension to 2015 for the provisional charter. A more aggressive fundraising campaign will begin including hiring a professional fundraiser.
c. Albuquerque: Charter renewal submitted. The school raised last year’s F grade to a C and is a few points from obtaining a B grade from the state. An ELL professional grant was received.
d. Las Cruces: FTE at 315, 80 more than projection. The GC was awarded “GC of the Year” for 2012-13 in NM.
e. Lakewood: 80%+ of its students met yearly growth on MAPs. The school is finding ways to accelerate student graduation by offering more credit bearing opportunities. The school received $200,000 in Title I funding. A moving story was shared.
f. Lowry: The school raised its SPF score from Priority Improvement to Improvement. Some challenges associated with their chartering authority were shared. The school had an 83% return rate. It’s moving its charter from APS to CSI.
g. Denver: Now chartered with CSI. Received title grant. Has had to reduce staffing due to lower enrollment numbers. Moving to a new facility in January 2014.
12. No public input.
13. Meeting adjourned at 5:02 pm. Next meeting will be held in Denver at the new Thornton campus. Date to be determined.