December 15, 2008 – 7:30 P.M.
Attendance
Board members in attendance: Mr. Tom Nida, Chair; Dr. Dora Marcus; Mr. Will Marshall; Mr. Brian Jones; Dr. Darren Woodruff; Mr. Don Soifer; Mr. John “Skip” McKoy and Ms. Josephine Baker, Ex-Officio and Secretary
Mr. Thomas Nida, Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
Approval of Agenda
Mr. Nida presented the proposed agenda for the December 2008 meeting. The December 15th, 2008 agenda was approved without changes.
Approval of August Meeting Minutes
Mr. Nida presented the November 17, 2008 meeting minutes for approval. Mr. Marshall made the motion to approve the minutes and Dr. Marcus seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as presented, with all members voting in favor of it.
Introduction of Newly Appointed Board Members
Mr. Nida introduced the three new board members to the audience. Dr. Darren Woodruff, Mr. John “Skip” McKoy, and Mr. Donald Soifer were recently appointed by Mayor Adrian Fenty, he explained. The new board members each gave a brief synopsis of their professional and educational background.
Dr. Darren Woodruff stated he was a Howard University graduate, currently working for The American Institute for Research and has been a District of Columbia resident for approximately 17 years. Mr. John “Skip” McKoy stated he has served in the Federal, District, Private, and Non-private sector, currently working for Fight for Children and has been a District of Columbia resident for 30 years. Mr. Don Soifer stated he has a background in Public Policy, currently working for The Lexington Institute and has been a District of Columbia resident for 18 years. All new board members expressed their support for maintaining quality charter schools.
Acknowledgement of Public Officials
Mr. Nida gave recognition to the two public officials present, Mr. David Holmes and Mr. Nick Alberti of ANC Ward 6A, and opened the floor for their comments. Mr. David Holmes recalled a recent report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding audited notification procedures of the D.C. Public Charter School Board to the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC’s). Mr. Holmes pointed out that in accordance with the requirements of the law, the standards need to be amended whereas ANCs shall be given a 30-day notification for petitions to establish new charter schools, amend existing charter school agreements and requests to relocate to existing charter schools. Mr. Nida noted that a response was provided to the OIG addressing the notification procedures. Mr. Holmes stated that he and Mr. Fengler, ANC 6A chairman were asking for the resignation of the senior board members. Mr. Nida expressed his appreciation to the ANC’s for their concern and stated that he would take their input under advisement.
Mr. Holmes brought up an article in the Washington Post suggesting potential conflicts of interest of senior board members regarding inappropriate voting on charter school loans or facilities in which certain board members may have had personal or professional interests. One argument of the ANC 6A is regarding an ongoing controversy of the Appletree Institute located 138-12th Street, N.E. school site being subject to charter school site and zoning regulations.
Contracts Reviewed
Mr. Nida presented to the Board, for approval, contracts over $25,000.00 that were reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee. Mr. Marshall made the motion to accept the report as presented. Dr. Marcus seconded the motion and the motion passed with the exception of the three newly appointed board members, Dr. Woodruff, Mr. McKoy, and Mr. Soifer, who did not submit votes.
School Committee
Accountability Plan
Bridges PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Alexa Kuuskraa, Assistant Director, and Special Education Coordinator
PCSB staff member, Carolyn Trice reported that Bridges PCS has submitted a draft of its proposed accountability plan and was requesting full approval. Bridges PCS accountability plan proposed using indicators to determine progress in kindergarten readiness skills. Bridges’ non-academic performance objectives include targets related to attendance, family and teacher satisfaction, and parent participation.
Bridges Public Charter School has submitted a draft of its proposed accountability plan and requests full approval. Baseline data was established for ten out of eleven targets during the 2006-2007 school year. Baseline for the remaining target was established during the 2007-2008 school year.
Mr. Nida entertained a motion from the Schools Committee to fully approve Bridges PCS’ accountability plan. Dr. Marcus made the motion to grant full approval of the accountability plan. Mr. Marshall seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously carried.. Dr. Marcus commented that in reviewing the plan and involvement with conference call discussions, she found the plan to be very well structured and was particularly impressed with the work environment and staff satisfaction aspect.
Accountability Plan
City Lights PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Iris Lewis, Executive Director; Ms. Brenda Richards, School Principal; Mr. James Jackson, Board Chair; Mr. Will Johnson, Board Member; Mr. Stuart Land, Board Member; Mr. Jim Ward, Board Member
PCSB staff member, Carolyn Trice reported that City Lights PCS has submitted for conditional approval a draft of its proposed accountability plan for the school years 2007-2008 through 2011-2012. The school proposed using performance objectives to determine positive growth in the academic as well as the behavioral and social-emotional areas for special needs students. In addition to the two mandated reading and math targets related to the DC CAS, the school will administer the GRADE (Group Reading Assessment and Diagnostic Assessment) as an internal instrument designed to measure academic performance of students in reading, and the pre and post test assessments for Saxon Math. There is a target for measuring the mastery of IEP objectives and an accountability target for student graduation/exit rates. City Light’s non-academic performance objectives include targets related to attendance, parent and student satisfaction, and post-secondary transition. Additionally, City Lights includes performance objectives that promote positive student behavior as evidenced by a target that focuses on an annual decrease in the student suspension rate. Baseline data was established for five out of eleven targets during the 2007-2008 school year, with baseline for the six remaining targets to be established in 2008-2009.
Mr. Nida asked for a motion from the Schools Committee regarding City Lights’ accountability plan.
Mr. Marshall made the motion to conditionally approve the accountability plan. Dr. Marcus seconded the motion. Dr. Marcus stated that full approval will be granted once satisfactory targets and baseline data are met for the remaining targets.
Dr. Woodruff questioned how the school would work towards the dimensions of student exit rates, 1 of 6 seniors graduating and the target goal of 75% of the students to receive diplomas or IEP’s. Ms. Richards answered that the school could not anticipate the growth of the senior class each year due to their social and economic life challenges and limitations, versus academic targets. Ms. Richards explained that developing initiatives with the assistance of on-site clinical staff and interfacing with outside social workers and community agencies would help to support the students and families in the graduation and exit transition, through the combination of diplomas and IEP’s. Mr. Marshall inquired about the value of the non-academic goal related to parent satisfaction in helping to manage the school and produce improved outcomes.
Ms. Lewis responded that parents are more likely to support their student and increase school management, recruitment and student productivity, when incorporating the involvement and assistance of both the biological parent and guardians such as foster parents, group home managers, and managers of independent living facilities. Dr. Marcus asked if the program is a beginning process or one that has been in place.
Ms. Richards stated the program has been in place and in an effort to better meet the needs of the students, three staff members have been added to assist with the clinical and behavioral management.
Dr. Woodruff asked how the school receives its students. Ms. Lewis answered that the students are 18 years old or over and commented that students are recruited through word-of-mouth, through advocates for the school such as attorneys, jails, DCPS schools, parents and guardians. Mr. Nida noted that the motion was made and seconded for conditional approval and requested board members to vote. The motion to conditionally approve the accountability plan passed with all members voting in favor of it.
Accountability Plan
Next Step/El Proximo PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Julie Meyer, Executive Director; Ms. Susan Espinosa, Principal; Mr. Juan Martinez; Head Teacher
PCSB staff member, Corey Carter reported that The Next Step/El Proximo Public Charter School received approval of their charter amendment request last month which realigns the mission of the charter, and defines the academic program and express component transition for post-secondary opportunities. The Next Step/El Proximo Public Charter School requested conditional approval of its accountability plan, which is aligned with the school’s recently approved charter amendment request. Mr. Nida asked for a motion from the Schools Committee. Dr. Marcus made the motion to grant conditional approval and
Mr. Marshall seconded the motion.
Mr. Soifer asked the school to address some of the factors why the school chose to increase the target attendance rates by 2% each year. Ms. Susan Espinosa stated that in serving the teen parent population with attendance being a big issue, considering the history of the school facing many obstacles with truancy, the main focus is raising attendance rates. Dr. Marcus complemented the school for the inclusion of a transition coordinator in their accountability plan and asked if the idea originated from the school or elsewhere. Ms. Julie Meyer responded that this evolved over a couple of years starting with an internship program to assist the immigrant students in applying for post-secondary opportunities, GED’s and scholarships, and in improving their lives.
Mr. Marshall asked how a school leader might convince a student to choose between dropping out and continuing their education. Ms. Espinosa explained that having the students look at the big picture, education now to earn more money in the future, empowers the students to pursue their educational goals.
Ms. Espinso also noted that students are allowed to take a leave of absence and still have the opportunity to re-enroll every trimester. Ms. Baker asked how dropping out and re-enrolling affects the students’ credits? Ms. Espinso answered that credits are not awarded and therefore, the students are preparing to take the GED and those that drop out and return can start where they left off. Ms. Espinosa further explained that advancement of students is based on the student meeting certain learning objectives and scoring at a certain grade level on standardized exams aligned with the GED as opposed to Carnegie Units. She pointed out that this alternative model works well as it captures disconnected youth. Mr. Nida noted that the motion was made and seconded for conditional approval and asked board members to vote. The motion was conditionally approved and passed with all members voting in favor of it.
Accountability Plan
Education Strengthens Families PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. June Confer, Interim Board Chair; Ms. Karen Hertzler, Accountability Leader and Teacher; Mr. Laurent Gosselin, Program and Outcomes Manager; Ms. Becca Walawender, Board Member; Ms. Lisa Luceno, Preschool Program Manager; Ms. Christie McKay, Executive Director
PCSB Staff Member,, Dr. Jackie Boddie reported that Education Strengthen Families PCS submitted revisions of its conditionally approved accountability plan for the school years 2006 through 2011, to further define the school’s objectives. The school is refining language specific to assessments used in the Early Childhood program, including the Brigance and the Creative Curriculum Developmental continuum. The school is also incorporating rubrics as a measure for the CDA program and non-academic family literacy indicators. The school will also defer the Medical Assistant Certification program until the school perfects the steps required for certification in the area of Child Development and more closely examines the dynamics involved in offering the Medical Assistant’s Certification.
The number of targets has been reduced from 19 to 16. Baseline data were established for 14 of the 16 targets, during the school years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. Baseline data will be established for 2 of 16 targets in Spring 2009. Dr. Boddie cited one correction to be made to the accountability plan, in the adult academic performance target 1.3 should be in Spring 2008 instead of Spring 2007.
Mr. Nida asked for a motion from the Schools Committee regarding the revised accountability plan.
Mr. Marshall made the motion to conditionally approve the revised accountability plan and Dr. Marcus seconded the motion. Mr. Soifer questioned why the goal regarding percentile ranking was set at or above 45 on the Brigance Preschool Screen II in their dominant language as of EOY assessment? Ms. McKay noted that 85% of all ELL students from immigrant families are Spanish-speaking and the other 15% are from diverse cultures. The children are in preschool, ages 3-4 years old. Mr. Gosselin pointed out that the 45% reference is based on advanced screening for the national norm for early childhood children of immigrant families, considering the relative short period to reach the goal. Mr. Nida noted that the motion was made and seconded for conditional approval and asked board members to vote. The motion to conditionally approve the accountability plan passed with all members voting in favor of it.
Accountability Plan
Community Academy PCS
School Representation Present: None
Action deferred for Community Academy Public Charter School’s accountability plan until the January 26, 2009 board meeting.
Technology Plan Approval Request
Children’s Studio PCS
School Representation Present: Excused; On behalf of the school, the Technology Plan to be presented by the Technology Committee; Dr. Dora Marcus and Mr. Lamont Brittain, IT Manager
PCSB Staff member, Lamont Brittain reported that Children’s Studio submitted their Technology Plan on November 14, 2008 and their deadline for review was extended through daily emails and written notification by the Technology Committee.
Mr. Nida asked for a motion from the Technology Committee to approve Children’s Studio Technology Plan as presented. Dr. Marcus made the motion for approval and Mr. Jones seconded the motion. The motion to approve the technology plan passed with all board members voting in favor of it.
Discussion of Initiative and Operational Calendar
Mr. Nida explained that the D. C. Public Charter School Board and staff had been actively engaged in working with a major consulting firm to help craft a new Performance Management Framework. The idea was to overhaul the accountability plan process to make it more consistent, simplified, transparent, and easier to contend with for both the schools and PCSB staff. The Performance Management Framework will also be integrated with the technology system known as Mission Oriented Data Management Solution (MODMS). The framework is a very comprehensive program being developed by the Boston Consulting Group working with a number of consulting groups with support from major grant funding foundations. The developmental phase is finished and by the end of January implementation of a pilot program will commence with a selected number of charter schools. Upon completion of the pilot program, it will become operational for all charter schools.
Mr. Nida added that, as the program is being developed, piloted, and implemented, the operational timeline calendar for new schools submitting applications has been deferred until November 2009. He stated that rescheduling the timeline for new applications would reflect all new changes. Mr. Nida stated that one thing not decided during the meeting was how schools thinking about expansion of an existing program will be handled. He suggested that expansions and other school requests be handled on a case-by-case basis. At that time guidelines and ground rules would need to be specified, integrated, and worked out with individual schools. Mr. Nida further stated that this information had been distributed to stakeholders and staff members were awaiting feedback from them.
Mr. Nida requested that the board act on and officially implement this new Performance Management Framework process in order to finish the developmental stage for the benefit of schools yet to come.
Mr. Marshall moved that the board adopt the new 2009 Application Review Process Timeline with the change of calendar dates every year, and that the PCSB implement the new Performance Management Framework process.
Mr. Jones seconded the motion.
Mr. Marshall added that after having been involved with staff and other individuals in the incredibly rigorous new framework review and construction process since July, he wanted to note his congratulations for their countless man-hours devoted to the project. Mr. Marshall also commented that he believed this would be one of the most sophisticated instruments and valuable tools for the use of charter school accountability in the country. He further stated that such a big change for schools would require the interruption of the old review cycle to allow time for adaption of the use of the program and to tweak and implement the assessment regime process. Dr. Marcus added that once the schools get adjusted to the use of the new framework, the process would be much more reasonable and transparent. Dr. Marcus noted that after months of devising the process, the 2nd phase is being finished and the team is moving into the 3rd phase. Mr. Jones underscored Mr. Marshall’s comment, commending the staff and individuals for all their hard work. Mr. Jones noted that one critical part of the process is that staff and outside consultants involved, conferred with stakeholders and schools impacted by the process. Mrs. Baker thanked the board on behalf of the staff for their input, involvement, and time. Mrs. Baker further noted the staff’s appreciation for the board’s support and voiced her excitement of the marvelous instrument that will take the PCSB to another level.
Mr. Nida noted that the motion had been made and seconded and requested a vote. The decision to adopt the new 2009 Application Review Process Timeline and implement the new Performance Management Framework process was approved with all board members voting in favor of it.
General Public Comments
Community member Stephen Lowe indicated that the quote cited in the Washington Post article regarding the move of Potomac Lighthouse to 8th Street was incorrectly reported by the Post. Mr. Mark Lerner, Board Chair of William E. Doar PCS noted that the school was cited in an article. He said the article reported inaccuracies. Mr. Lerner stated that there was not evidence of a potential conflict of interest from the Board and that an amendment is in place to get correction on this matter
Ms. Margaret Hallway, a Capitol Hill resident and representative of ANC 6A stated that their ANC Chairman asked the Inspector General’s office to review Pecs’s compliance of notification requirements according to the ANC Act, specifically pertaining to location of a new charter school or expansion.
Ms. Hallway further noted the incident with Apple tree Institute, regarding the sale of the building in July 2005 and stated that legislation regarding this issue is still pending with the City Council and the Zoning Board.
Mr. Nida reiterated that he has responded to the OIG with procedures to comply with the ANC requirements and had done so with conformity to the specific changes. He pointed out that anything else is pure speculation and advised that the meeting was not a public hearing to deliberate that matter.
Mr. Nida adjourned the meeting at 9:40 PM.