February 26, 2009 – 7:37 P.M.
Attendance
Board members in attendance: Mr. Tom Nida, Chair; Mr. Will Marshall; Dr. Dora Marcus;
Mr. Brian Jones; Dr. Darren Woodruff; Mr. Don Soifer; and Mrs. Josephine Baker, Ex-Officio and Secretary
Board members excused: Mr. John “Skip” McKoy
The board meeting was called to order at 7:37 P.M. by Mr. Tom Nida.
Approval of Agenda
Mr. Tom Nida presented the proposed agenda for the February 23, 2009 meeting. Dr. Dora Marcus moved that the agenda be accepted as presented, and Dr. Darren Woodruff seconded the motion. The agenda was approved as presented by all members.
Approval of January Meeting Minutes
Mr. Nida presented the January 26, 2009 meeting minutes for approval. Mr. Will Marshall moved that the minutes be approved, and Mr. Don Soifer seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by all members present.
Acknowledgement of Elected Officials
Mr. Nida called for any elected officials to stand and be recognized. None were present.
Contracts Reviewed
Mr. Nida reported on contracts over $25,000, which were reviewed by the Finance Committee. The board members accepted the report as presented.
SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to Revoke Charter
MEIFuturesAcademyPublicCharterSchool (PCS)
School Representation Present: Ms. Aminyah M’Backe’, Executive Director; Mr. Craig Edelin, Board Member and Parent; Mr. Matthew Ward, Board Member Elect
Mr. Nida reported that MEI Futures Academy PCS committed material violations set forth in its charter agreement, related to the education of children with disabilities. He highlighted the nine (9) violations that included the following: 1) failure to operate with a valid Certificate of Occupancy, 2) lack of sufficient books for students attending the school, and failure to develop and provide curriculum materials to all teachers, 3) failure to operate in accordance with the mission statement provided in its application, 4) failure to design and implement the educational program described in its application, 5) failure to adopt content and performance standards for all subject areas at all grades and other performance levels, 6) failure to comply with all federal requirements related to educating students with special needs, 7) failure to maintain an inventory of all assets purchased with District of Columbia funds or federal funds, 8) failure to submit to the Public Charter School Board the meeting minutes of their Board of Trustee and, 9) failure to have a Board of Directors that is in compliance with the School Reform Act. Mr. Nida stated that based on these violations, the Public Charter School Board is proposing revocation of the charter of MEI Futures Academy Public Charter School.
Dr. Dora Marcus asked if MEI Future Academy PCS’s Board considered surrendering its charter. Ms. Aminyah M’Backe stated that the Board has refused to surrender its charter.
Dr. Marcus further questioned whether its Board members felt the school is insolvent, and the school has enough funds to successfully operate the remainder of the school year.
Ms. M’Backe responded that the school is solvent and has sufficient funds to continue operations. Mr. Marshall asked Ms. M’Backe to elaborate on the source of the monies.
Ms. M’Backe stated that commitments from funding sources were in process from several community investors. After a brief discussion of about whether the investments were sources of grants or loans, it was indicated by Ms. M’Backe that the monies would be small business loans payable over a five-to-ten year period.
MEI Futures Academy was given the opportunity to address the violations cited concerning curriculum, debt reduction, and education of the special needs students, the Performance Development Review, truancy rates, and the role of the Board.
Mr. Matthew Ward stated that the school has engaged a general consultant to review and address curriculum issues. He noted that, in terms of debt reduction and sustainability, the school has set up an Oversight Committee to review and research services. Mr. Craig Edelin reported that the school now has a seven member Board of Trustees to function as oversight of the school, and that a list will be provided to the PCSB. Ms. Aminyah M’Backe’ stated that the school’s special education coordinator is closely working with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the D. C. Public Schools (DCPS) in a full inclusion program. She reported that the school is also offering counseling and special therapy services to the students. Ms. M’Backe further indicated that a new curriculum coordinator is working on the D.C. standards. Mrs. Josephine Baker commented that the curriculum and the improvement of education of the special needs students are some of the same concerns as last year.
Mr. Marshall noted that although the school’s mission is very compelling, the truancy rate and Performance Development Review, after two years, has proven to be unacceptable.
Ms. M’Backe’ provided to the PCSB members for review, a written response to the Notice of Concern about truancy. She also presented an attendance and truancy prevention letter.
Mr. Don Soifer questioned the current validity of the Certificate of Occupancy of the school for both the residence and facility. Following discussion, Mr. Nida pointed out that the school is not in compliance and is in need of a full Certificate of Occupancy.
Dr. Dora Marcus moved to approve the proposal to revoke MEI Future Academy PCS’s charter effective June 30, 2009. Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion, and the motion passed with all Board members present voting in favor. Mr. Nida advised that the PCSB will provide written notice to MEI Futures Academy PCS’s Board of Trustees stating the reasons for the proposed revocation, will give notice of the school’s right to request a hearing.
Proposal of Notice of Concern - Attendance and Truancy
Young America Works PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Nadine Evans, Director of Admissions
PCSB staff member Dr. Robert Mayo recalled that at the January public board meeting, the PCSB requested that Young America Works PCS develop procedures and policies to address and meet the attendance and truancy requirements. Dr. Mayo reported that the information was received prior to tonight’s public board meeting. Ms. Nadine Evans stated that a truancy officer is assigned to students with more than 15 percent unexcused absences. She indicated that phone calls, notices, and meetings were arranged with parents to discuss truancy. Mr. Nida pointed out that the major issue is that Young America Works PCS has not referred truancy reports of students under the age of 18, who are out for a given number of days, to city agencies for Superior Court intervention. Mr. Nida advised that this is a legal requirement, and failure to do so is automatic grounds for noncompliance of the charter law which requires Board action.
There was discussion about the serious problems revealed by the Performance Development Review (PDR). Mrs. Baker spoke about the concern of the PDR curriculum standards results
showing limited and inadequate instruction evaluations. She stated that there was not a strong curriculum course program from the vocational aspect and that the courses listed were somehow not evident to curriculum standards skills.
Following discussion by the Board regarding all issues, Mr. Nida pointed out that the PCSB decided to defer all issues until the March 16th Public Board meeting. Young America Works PCS Board of Trustees must provide a comprehensive list addressing all problems revealed from the PDR. The Board of Trustees must also respond to how the truancy issues will be addressed and resolved. Dr. Dora Marcus moved to defer board action for Young America Works PCS until the March 16, 2009 public board meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Brian Jones, and the motion was passed by all Board members present.
2009 Premilinary Charter Review Analysis
William E. Doar Jr. (WEDJ) PCS for the Performing Arts
School Representation Present: Ms. Julie Doar-Sinkfield, Executive Director;
Ms. Nadia Casseus-Torney, Director of Program Accountability; and Ms. Mary Robbins, Director of Academic Programs
PSCB staff member Dr. Sean Coleman reported that the PCSB deferred the decision to place WEDJ PCS on Charter Warning status allowing sufficient time to review the school’s recalculated accountability plan data. Mr. Nida recused himself from the vote and any discussion, unless his comment was needed by the Board. He also provided a written statement to Mrs. Baker (attached) documenting his recusal.
Dr. Coleman stated that recalculation of the academic targets data, by PCSB and WEDJ, showed that the school met 72.5% proficiency. There was discussion about the 0.5% missing academic target not meeting Average Yearly Performance, and mixed performance targets which four out of seven were missed. Dr. Marcus questioned the school’s accountability plan and the school’s request for the change in measurement using America’s Choice assessment tool. Mrs. Baker noted that its accountability plan would need to be amended to reflect the new element, and the data reviewed by the Board before acceptance of the plan.
Following discussion from the Board, the motion was made by Dr. Dora Marcus that the WEDJ PCS is not a candidate for Charter Warning. The motion was seconded by Mr. Will Marshall. The motion was accepted and approved with recusal of one (1) Board member, Mr. Tom Nida. All other five (5) Board members present voted in favor.
Dr. Darren Woodruff advised that in the strategies to redesign the accountability plan this year, the structure will need to include academic subjects, doubled-coaching staff, a full academic team to review data, purchase of a data system to enhance and monitor data, mid-year conferences with parents, and additional resources and time. Dr. Marcus commented that the PCSB staff would monitor what is being done.
2009 Charter Review Analysis
EagleAcademy PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Davene White, Chair; Mr. Ronald Hasty, Principal; and Ms. Cassandra Pinkney, Founder and Executive Director;
PCSB staff member Carolyn Trice reported that based on an analysis of Eagle’s fifth year accountability plan performance, Eagle met the academic and organizational performance standards for governance, compliance, and fiscal management for the Charter Review. Based on the Charter Review framework, Eagle Academy PCS did not meet the nonacademic performance standards. The school is a candidate for Charter Revocation. Mr. Nida recused himself from the vote and any discussion unless his comment was necessary from the Board. He also provided a written statement to Mrs. Baker (attached) documenting his recusal. Ms. Trice reported that the most recent Program Development Review took place in the fall and measurable growth was
noted although there are areas that continue to have a need to be addressed. Mr. Nida asked if the school’s performance declined. Ms. Trice responded that although the school experienced fluctuating academic performance over the years, there was no decline in performance.
Ms. Trice further stated that even though re-enrollment rates did not reach 75%, each year the school met enrollment, and re-enrollment had no impact on the school’s financial viability.
Ms. Cassandra Pinkney reported that the school’s current enrollment is at full capacity of 330 students with a very transient population.
Following board discussion, Mr. Nida suggested that Eagle Academy PCS’s charter status remain full continuance. Dr. Dora Marcus moved that Eagle Academy PCS’s charter status remain full continuance. Dr. Darren Woodruff seconded the motion and the motion was passed by all board members present.
2009 Charter Review Analysis
Washington, Math, Science & Technology PCS (WMST)
School Representation Present: Mr. James “Mitch” Mitchell, Board Chair, and Mr. Mark Holbrook, Principal
PCSB staff member Dr. Jackie Boddie reported that based on the analysis of Washington Math Science and Technology (WMST) Public Charter School’s Charter Review, the school met the academic, governance, and compliance performance standards for the Charter Review. Mr. Nida recused himself from the vote and any discussion, unless his comment was needed by the Board. He also provided a written statement (see attached) to Mrs. Josephine Baker documenting his recusal. Dr. Boddie stated that the school also met the nonacademic performance standards, and is not a candidate for Charter Revocation.
Mrs. Josephine Baker questioned the physical education section of the accountability plan.
Mr. Mark Holbrook noted that space for a facility is an issue. He stated that the school is networking with the Taft Center and community groups regarding allocation of space so that WMST can offer a full physical education program. Mrs. Baker questioned whether WMST’s board has considered merging space with Hyde PCS since it has a larger building. Mr. Holbrook stated that he will contact the appropriate person at the Taft Center to see if acquiring space is a possibility.
There was discussion about a plan to improve Advanced Placement (AP) test scores. Mr. Mark Holbrook stated that there is a plan to move to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; the framework is set up to interface with the IB Exam. He stated that the IB Exam will look at the internal and external assessment tools. Mr. Mitch Mitchell stated that the Board has invested in AP training until the actual transition to the IB program. Mrs. Josephine Baker advised the Board that once the Board anticipates when the program change will occur, WMST will need to amend its charter and accountability plan.
Following discussion from the Board, the motion was made by Mr. Will Marshall that the school is not a candidate for Revocation and its charter status will remain Charter Continuance. The motion was seconded by Mr. Brian Jones. The motion was accepted and approved with recusal of one (1) Board member, Mr. Tom Nida. All other five (5) Board members present voted in favor.
Public Comment
Mr. Nida opened the floor for public comment. There was none.
The meeting was adjourned by Mr. Nida at 9:05 PM.