Board Meeting Minutes

Back to Board Minutes

 

August 18, 2008 – 7:40p.m.

 

Attendance

Board members in attendance: Mr. Tom Nida, Chair; Dr. Dora Marcus; Mr. Will Marshall; and Josephine Baker, Ex-Officio and Secretary

 

Board members excused:  Mr. Anthony Colón, Vice Chair; Mr. Brian Jones; Mr. Lawrence Patrick; Mr. Karl Jentoft (Vote entered by Proxy)

 

The board meeting was called to order at 7:40p.m by Mr. Tom Nida.

 

Approval of Agenda

Mr. Tom Nida reported that the Technology Committee agenda item has been deferred until the September, 2008 monthly board meeting.

 

Approval of May Meeting Minutes
The July 21, 2008 minutes were reviewed and approved.

 

Acknowledgement of Elected Officials

Mr. Tom Nida invited elected officials to stand and be acknowledged; there were none present.

 

Contracts Reviewed

Mr. Tom Nida reported on contracts reviewed over $25,000.00 which were approved by the Finance Committee. Mr. Will Marshall made the motion to accept the report and the motion was seconded by Dr. Dora Marcus.

 

The first session the D.C. Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) meeting was adjourned at 7:50p.m.

 

The Public Hearing session of the (DCPCSB) meeting convened at 7:51p.m.

 

Schools Committee

 

Public Hearing - Request to Amend Charter

Friendship Public Charter School

School Representation Present: Mr. Donald Hense, Board Chair; Mr. Michael Cordell, Chief of Academics; Mr. James Waller, Director of Academic Operations; Ms. Kimberly Campbell, Chief of Operations

 

Ms. Monique Miller reported that Friendship PCS seeks to change the focus of its curriculum from textbook based to standards based that align the Friendship standards with the D.C. Learning Standards and other nationally recognized standards.

 

Mr. Donald Hense explained the components of the academic design and strategic plan process and reported that the design has been approved by their board.  Discussion was held regarding professional development, instruction academic performance and expectations. 

 

Mr. Nida opened the floor to the public for comments.  There being no public comment, Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion that the charter amendment request be approved based on continued monitoring by the PCSB of the conditions to be defined in detail. The motion was seconded by Mr. Will Marshall.   Mr. Tom Nida entered an affirmative proxy vote for Mr. Karl Jentoft.  

 

The Public Hearing session of the meeting adjourned at 8:22p.m.

 

The second session of the D.C. Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) meeting was reconvened  at 8:25p.m.

 

Proposal for Board Action

Inadequate Attendance/Truancy Rates

Dr. Robert Mayo presented a proposed attendance and truancy policy that to hold schools accountable for their respective attendance and truancy trends.  Specifically, staff recommends that:

Discussion was held regarding the relationship of the policy and its link to the Preliminary Charter Review.  Dr. Mayo clarified that the policy will directly correlate with the Preliminary Charter Review as it will serve as a threshold to specify significant inadequacies prior to the Preliminary Charter Review.  Following further discussion concerning the rate percentages, Mr. Will Marshall made the motion to approve the Attendance and Truancy Policy.  The motion was seconded by Dr. Dora Marcus.  Mr. Tom Nida entered an affirmative proxy vote for Mr. Karl Jentoft.  

 

Community Briefing:  Final DCCAS Results and Analysis

Dr. Sean Coleman presented an overall summary of the DCCAS Results for the PCSB. 

 

Dr. Coleman provided handouts and a slide presentation of the statistical data analysis report which focused on the gains charter schools made from last year to this year.  He indicated that the figures showed overall, that the D.C. Public Charter schools elementary and secondary schools performed moderately well in both reading and math.  Dr. Coleman noted that the majority of the schools met proficiency target by safe harbor.

 

Mr. Nida opened the floor for public comment and there was no public comment.

 

Proposal to Lift Notice of Probation

KAMIT Institute of Magnificent Achievers PCS (KIMA)

School Representation Present:  Ms. Saungktakhu Richey, Principal

 

Mr. Corey Carter stated that KIMA submitted an action plan for addressing the areas of non-compliance as well as the areas of concern identified in the self-study and transcript reviews and that the action plan has been accepted by the school’s program manager.   The school requests that the PCSB lift the Notice of Probation.  Staff will continue to monitor and evaluate the school’s execution of the plan.  Mr. Will Marshall made the motion to lift the Notice of Probation and the motion was seconded by Dr. Dora Marcus.  Mr. Tom Nida entered an affirmative proxy vote for Mr. Karl Jentoft.   Mr. Marshall commented that KIMA should review their framework for accountability due to the decrease in reading and math.

 

Request to Approve Accountability Plan

Capital City PCS
School Representation Present:  None

 

Mr. Tom Nida stated that since no representation from the school was present, the request to approve Capital City PCS’s accountability plan will be tabled until the September 2008 monthly board meeting.

 

Request to Operate in a New Location

Potomac Lighthouse PCS

School Representation Present:  Mr. Matt Bachand, Chair

 

Dr. Sean Coleman reported that Potomac Lighthouse PCS’s requests authorization from PCSB to temporarily relocate to the Caloramis YMCA at 1906 Allison Street, N.E. from August 25th to September 2nd. This request is being made because construction at the new location is incomplete. Potomac Lighthouse will move to 4401 8th Street, NE after September 2nd. PCSB staff will conduct a pre-opening visit at both campuses.

 

Mr. Nida suggested that to allow for any unforeseen circumstances, the request be amended to include an extension of time for one month instead of the requested one week.  Discussion was held regarding facility issues, student instructional plans, and the facility layout to accommodate student instruction during this phase.  Mr. Matt Bachand explained that the first week will consist of student orientation and if needed, there is available open space for Potomac Lighthouse to create classroom settings using dividers.

 

Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion that the request to temporarily operate in a new location be approved and Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion.  Mr. Tom Nida entered an affirmative proxy vote for Mr. Karl Jentoft.  

 

Request to Reinstate Seventh Grade

SAIL PCS

School Representation Present:  Mr. Larry Riccio, Executive Director; Ms. Mary Ann Derosa, Curriculum Facilitator 

 

Ms. Carolyn Trice reported that SAIL suspended operations at the Upper School program (grades 7 through 10) in July 2007.  The condition for the reinstatement of the Upper School program is the development of the written curriculum for the middle and high school program.  Although it remains a “work in progress” the school is requesting permission to expand its program to include 7th grade beginning SY 2008-2009. Ms. Trice stated that there are concerns with SAIL’s initial request dated back to June and August regarding the 7th grade curriculum.  The school has submitted a partially completed curriculum, as of August 2008.

 

Discussion was held regarding program implementation and the concerns regarding assessments of the curriculum framework knowing that SAIL only has the first six weeks in place.

 

Ms. Susan Miller explained that the curricular document submitted does have essential components and SAIL has responded from the recommendations from staff review.  However, the document covers only one unit of study (6 weeks) that can be considered as a start-up and not a complete curriculum.  The school reported that the August submission was an expanded version and included lesson plans and SAIL is aware that the full 7th grade curriculum remains incomplete.

 

Following discussion, Mr. Tom Nida advised that SAIL provide the 7th grade curriculum with the Performance Development Review and the 8th grade curriculum by January 1, 2009.  Mr. Nida also stated that the PCSB be provided a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy.  The main objective is that the school devises a full curriculum program.  Mr. Will Marshall motioned that the request be granted subject to conditions defined and outlined by the PCSB.  Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion.  Mr. Tom Nida entered an affirmative proxy vote for Mr. Karl Jentoft.  

 

Request to Temporarily Operate in a New Location

Community Academy PCS (CAPCS)

School Representation Present: Mr. Tony Upson, Vice-President of Education; Mr. G. Glegg Watson, Board Member; and Mr. Kent Amos

 

Dr. Robert Mayo reported that in May 2008, the PCSB granted Community Academy Public Charter School (CAPCS) permission to begin Pre-School -8th grade operations at the old Armstrong School.  However, building construction is behind schedule and CAPCS is requesting permission to temporarily relocate its Armstrong School/Amos 3 operations to facilities at the Metropolitan Baptist Church, located at 1225 R St. NW, Washington D.C. CAPCS officials plan to notify parents in a timely manner and transport students to the new location. The estimated time for operations at this temporary location is through the end of this September 2008, which is when 1st floor construction should be complete.   

 

Mr. Nida said that a temporary Certificate of Occupancy will be needed and the PCSB will conduct a site visit.  Mr. Tom Nida noted that the Certificate of Occupancy is under the mandate and depends on the decision of DCRA.  Mr. Will Marshall made the motion to temporarily approve the request pending obtaining a temporary Certificate of Occupancy from DCRA and Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion.  Mr. Tom Nida entered an affirmative proxy vote for Mr. Karl Jentoft.  Mr. Kent Amos commended Ms. Jacqueline Scott-English and Dr. Robert Mayo for their extra efforts, intervention and direction in working with the school.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40p.m.