Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School

Board of Trustees – January 5, 2010 6:00- 7:10 PM

Members in attendance: Caleb Bernard, Tim Brown, Stoney Cantler, Benny Docter, Beth Graham, Kim Hicks, Bailey Jackson, Sheila Mulholland, Mary Clare Powell, Frank Sansom, Sarah Sansom, Dorie Shallcross, Hannah Sokoloff-Rubin, Paul Weinberg, Graham Weston, Paul Wright

Members not in attendance: Bob Brick, Austin Joseph

Others in attendance: Anna Rossi, Mary Cantler, Peter Root, Spencer Gagnon, Maeve Moller-Mullen, Will Szal, Rose O’Connell-Marion, Maisie Dolan, Elliot Hartman-Russell, Noah Loving, Hannah Levy, Alma Sanchez-Eppler, Joseph Kendrick, Benigno Sanchez-Eppler, Steve Hill, Amelia Cain, Robert Brainin, David Wicinas, Lark Wicinas, Jesse Docter, Michael Docter, Naomi Klayman, Lynn Bowmaster

Summary of Votes Taken:

The Minutes of December 1, 2009 were unanimously approved.

The Board unanimously approved a proposal to rescind the part of the vote previously taken that would have allowed a withdrawn student to request re-admittance within 6 months.  The entire paragraph was stricken.

Summary of Meeting

Sheila Mulholland read the Mission Statement.

The Minutes of December 1, 2009 were unanimously approved.

President’s Business:

Dorie Shallcross announced there was a joint statement between Bob Brick and Dorie on behalf of the Board of Trustees sent out by e-mail to the school community on December 23, 2009.  There will be no vote on Bob’s contract until mid-April. The announcement also stated that Bob and the Board request the patience and support of all members of the PVPA community during this time. 

Dorie Shallcross proposed consideration of changing regular board meetings to the second Tuesday of the month because of the numerous conflicts that arise with meetings on first Tuesdays. She asked Anna Rossi to chair a committee that would include Tim Brown and Hannah Sokoloff-Rubin to look at next year’s calendar to see how that change would work.

Paul Weinberg expressed concerns that board members conduct themselves in the best interest of the school, that use of language when discussing school matters be carefully chosen. Considerable discussion followed.  

Dorie Shallcross attended a General Assembly of the MA Charter Public School Association, and she reported about favorable developments as the state legislature contemplates the yearly budget. It appears that charter school caps will be increased and that the funding formula will not change. She also remarked that Massachusetts charter schools have a good reputation nationally.

Governance:

Paul Weinberg proposed that the Board rescind one part of a vote taken during the December 1, 2009 meeting, which would have allowed a withdrawn student to request re-admittance within six months.  We have since been informed by the state that such a policy change would be illegal. A vote taken during this meeting would only affect the one clause of the previous vote. Bob Brick does not need to bring the rest of the proposed enrollment policy changes back to the Board for approval. 

The Board unanimously approved a proposal to rescind the part of the vote previously taken that would have allowed a withdrawn student to request re-admittance within 6 months.  The entire paragraph was stricken.

Mary Clare Powel reported that four potential community members are to be vetted, and a slate will be presented during the February meeting.

Management Team Report:

A. Business Manager:

• Robert Brainin reported that the fiscal year audit has been finalized and was filed by the December 31, 2009 deadline. 
• The quarterly tuition has been received with a payment of 1.1 million dollars. The projection of revenue is in excess of what had been budgeted.
• The Finance Committee has held monthly meetings and will meet again next week to discuss next year’s budget. 

B. Director of Curriculum and Instruction

• Beth Graham reported that Paidea activities include both full and half-day offerings, giving more sampling opportunities. A few of the offerings are “Arts Alive in Springfield Schools”, “Acoustic Music and Recording”, and “Greenhouse Interior Design”. Two teachers, Dee Brooks and Erin Feldman, are taking Paideia leaves. Dee will be working toward completion of her master’s degree. Erin will travel to New Orleans to work in charter schools on the integration of performing arts. 
• Admissions meetings will begin on January 12. There had been an admissions information meeting at the Community Music School in Springfield.
• Two positions are to be filled for the spring semester and are posted on the website.  One is for a long-term substitute for integrated math & science.  That would be for a maternity leave. The other would be for a math coach to shore up skill building and MCAS. The latter is Title 1 and paid from a federal grant.
• Beth and the directors have increased the number of classroom observations. The goal has been for more consistent and timely feedback.
• Under consideration are having salaried performing arts on our regular staff as well as other thoughts about staffing and course offerings. 

Staff: Tim Brown reported that students are finishing up work from the first semester, and everyone is looking forward to Paideia.

Students: 

• Benny Docter also reported that students are looking forward to Paideia. 
• He said that students are also excited that there has been a joint announcement from Bob Brick and the Board. They look forward to being part of the process.   

A discussion followed regarding the status of the Executive Director evaluation.  The mediation process is no longer going on. Leslie Fisher-Katz, Paul Weinberg, Mary Clare Powell have been appointed to formulate the administrative evaluation process. There will not be a widespread questionnaire going out to the community.   

Development:

• Mary Cantler provided an update on the Annual Fund campaign.  To date, 60 PVPA families and friends have donated over $11,500 to the annual appeal.  This represents half of the total of dollars raised and donor participation in last year’s appeal.  
• Mary also reported the Friends of PVPA had conducted a phonathon in December and stated another phonathon should be held in the next few months.  She commented that participants in last year’s phonathon included some students.  Their participation yielded good results.  She invited the student board representative to participate.  Benny Docter informed her the student council meets on Thursdays and it would be a good venue to ask for participation.

Respectfully submitted, Anna Rossi