July 20, 2009 - 7:35 P.M.
Attendance
Board members in attendance: Mr. Thomas Nida, Chair; Dr. Dora Marcus; Mr. Will Marshall; Mr. Don Soifer; Mr. John “Skip” McKoy; Dr. Darren Woodruff
Board members excused: Mr. Brian Jones, Vice Chair and Mrs. Josephine Baker, Ex-Officio and Secretary
The Board meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Mr. Thomas Nida.
Acknowledgment of Elected Officials
Mr. Thomas Nida called for any elected officials to stand and be recognized. None were present.
Approval of Agenda
Mr. Thomas Nida presented the proposed agenda for the July 20, 2009 meeting. Mr. John “Skip” McKoy moved that the agenda be accepted as presented, and Mr. Don Soifer seconded the motion. The agenda was approved as presented by all members present.
Approval of June 15, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Mr. Thomas Nida presented the June 15, 2009 meeting minutes for approval. Dr. Dora Marcus moved that the minutes be approved, and Mr. Don Soifer seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by all members present.
Contracts Reviewed
Mr. Thomas Nida reported on contracts over $25,000, which were reviewed by the Finance Committee. The motion was made by Mr. Will Marshall to accept the report as presented and, Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion. The motion passed, and the report was accepted as presented by all board members present.
SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
Request to Approve Accountability Plan
Hope Community Public Charter School (PCS)
School Representation Present: Mr. James Kemp, Chair, Board of Trustees; Mr. Mike Depass, Regional Director, Imagine; Dr. Claudia Sims, Head of School, Tolson Campus
PCSB staff member Dr. Robert Mayo reported that Hope Community Public Charter School (PCS) has submitted its accountability plan. Dr. Mayo noted that the academic targets address different stages of literacy, mathematical reasoning, and problem solving in terms of both competence and gain. He indicated that the nonacademic targets address student attendance, school climate and parent satisfaction. Dr. Mayo stated that Hope Community PCS is requesting full approval of its final draft Accountability Plan. Dr. Dora Marcus moved to approve the Accountability Plan and Dr. Darren Woodruff seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by all board members present.
Request to Operate in a New Location
Howard Road Academy (HRA) Public Charter School (PCS)
School Representation Present: Mr. Earl Murray, III, Board Member and Ms. Nicole Richardson, Principal
PCSB staff member Ms. Marissa Mikoy reported that Howard Road Academy PCS submitted a draft copy of a Letter of Intent to obtain the lease for the property located at 2405 Martin Luther King Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C., which is under contract negotiation. Mr. Thomas Nida noted for the record his written recusal (attached) on the vote regarding Howard Road Academy’s request. Ms. Marissa Mikoy stated that Howard Road Academy PCS request to relocate to a fourth campus located at 2405 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. The site will house the school’s seventh and eighth grade students.
There was discussion about the space accommodations of the additional building for the fourth campus and potential future growth. Mr. Will Marshall made the motion to approve Howard Road Academy’s request to operate in a new location. Mr. John “Skip” McKoy seconded the motion. The motion passed by board members with five (5) votes in favor and one (1) recused vote from Mr. Thomas Nida. Ms. Marissa Mikoy added that prior to the opening of the new facility; the PCSB staff will conduct a pre-opening visit to document the site’s readiness.
Request to Operate in a New Location
Two Rivers Public Charter School (PCS)
School Representation Present: Ms. Becky Skinner, President, and Ms. Jessica Wodatch, Executive Director
PCSB staff member Ms. Marissa Mikoy reported that in May 2009, Two Rivers PCS requested approval to relocate part of its student body to a second campus located at 1234 4th Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Ms. Mikoy stated that the school has submitted all necessary documents to meet the requirements for relocation and that the property will accommodate the Middle School. She also indicated that the size of the facility will provide space for eighty, six and seventh graders in the Fall of 2009, and space for up to one-hundred and fifty students in sixth through eighth grades in school year 2010 and beyond.
Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion for approval of Two Rivers Public Charter School’s request to operate in a new location. Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously by all board members present. Ms. Marissa Mikoy added that prior to the opening of the new facility; the PCSB staff will conduct a pre-opening visit to document the site’s readiness.
Proposal to Issue a Notice of Deficiency – Attendance and Truancy 3rd Qtr
Options Public Charter School (PCS)
School Representation Present: None
There being no school representation present, action was deferred until the August 17, 2009 public Board meeting.
Proposal to Issue a Notice of Concern – Attendance and Truancy 3rd Quarter
KAMIT Public Charter School (PCS)
School Representation Present: Ms. Leatin Brooks, Secretary of the Board and Ms. M. Saugktakhu Richey, Principal
PCSB staff member Dr. Robert Mayo reported that according to the D. C. Public Charter School Board’s Academic Year 2008-2009, KAMIT PCS’s third quarter attendance falls below the required thresholds with an eighty-four percent attendance rate, and a thirty-five percent truancy rate. Dr. Mayo noted that KAMIT PCS’s leadership is present to give an overview of their interventions which will; a) speak to their attendance issues,
b) share any documented intervention attempts, and c) verify the timely legally required truancy referrals to agencies.
Ms. M. Saugktakhu Richey stated that intervention processes have been identified to address the attendance and truancy issues. Ms. Richey noted actions taken by the schools as; the implementation of an Incentives Committee, preventive tiers to track instances of absence, revision of parent notification, and a timely reporting method to submit referral forms to the courts.
Following discussion, the decision was made by the Board to maintain the current Notice of Concern for KAMIT PCS and that the PCSB staff will continue to monitor the school’s attendance and truancy targets.
Proposal to Issue a Notice of Probation – Attendance and Truancy 3rd Quarter
Academia Bilingue de la Comunidad (ABC) Public Charter School (PCS)
School Representation Present: None
There being no school representation present, action was deferred until the August 17, 2009 public Board meeting.
Request to Approve Technology Plans
KIPP DC Public Charter School (PCS) and Booker T. Washington Public Charter School (PCS)
Dr. Dora Marcus, on behalf of the Technology Committee, reported that the Technology Plans for KIPP DC PCS and Booker T. Washington PCS were reviewed by the Public Charter School Board’s Technology Committee. Dr. Marcus stated that the criteria for both of the Technology Plans were met and addressed the objectives and targets. The PCSB Technology Committee is requesting the approval of the plans.
Will Marshall made the motion to approve the Technology Plans for both KIPP DC PCS and Booker T. Washington PCS. Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by all board members present.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.