001All right, welcome everyone. Thank you for attending. Um, this is our multi-board meeting. Um, Dominique, have you um confirmed? Uh, I can confirm that the meeting is being recorded. Um, can you confirm we have a forum? >> We do. >> Okay. Welcome to the Metro Lena Rial Scholars Academy board meeting. Can you please read the state mission statement? >> Sure. Regional spons provides a differentiated challenging and applicable learning that's of course distinctive intellectual, social and emotional needs uh to give their children enable them to form meaningful relationships. >> Thank you. Meetings will be broadcast to the public via Zoom webinar form. This medium is a secure forum for engagement as it requires attendees to register limits in their activity. Removes the ability to communicate without permission and does not promote anonymous participation, comment or annotation.
002Registration will require submission of the first and last name and an email. Um, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly board meeting on 820 5 2025. >> So move. Thank you, Dominique and Danny. Um, I will um all those in favor of approving the minutes from 8:25, all say I. >> I. I. >> Um, those who do not approve the minutes say nay. The motion has the approval has passed unanimously. I'll entertain another motion to approve the minutes for the special board meeting on 912 for the open and close sessions. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dominique. Thank you, Danny. All those in favor of approving the special board meeting on 912 2025s for the open and close session say I. >> Nay. >> Um all those who
003do not approve say nay. >> Eyes have it. The motion to approve the minutes has been passed unanimously. I will um entertain a motion to adopt today's agenda. So move. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> All those in favor of today's agenda, please say I. >> I. >> All those none in favor say nay. The eyes have it. The agenda has passed. So this will be our first opportunity for community conference. The public is welcome to speak limited to three minutes per speaker. Topics should not cover private, confidential, or personal information. The board will not respond or enter into a dialogue on topics discussed. At this time, you may indicate your desire to participate in community comments by raising your hand using the Zoom controls through application reference. I don't see anyone's hands up. We
004will move on. Miss, you want to share um your page report with us? >> Um yeah, good. Yeah, so we won't have our final for like the county each county student money because tomorrow is the 20th day of school. So we'll probably get that hopefully by the end of September to understand where our funding is. So these are all numbers right now for each grade level. Our total student number is 396. We are at every grade and we have a weight listed every grade. Um we're opening admissions for next year September 29th. So that will be through the website. We have plans for Tuesday tours which will be in person and information sessions, virtual information sessions for um applicants or interested families and then all the information on the website's updated. It will be updated
005at by the opening of September 29th. Um >> do you need any one of us who are new things? >> We might. >> Okay. me. Um, I will hopefully let you know soon because we have a new staff committee, the event planning committee, which will help organize what we need. So, you can look at that, figure it out. Um, we have finished our beginning of the year standardized testing, which is third grade, it's called the bog, beginning of grade reading test. That's from the state. And then um I read which we do K through eight math and reading those are done. Um and we will be sharing those results at parent teacher conferences on October 6th. Um our bus program is running well. Today was our first day actually couldn't run our own route because
006our bus needed our bus the bus we own needed um we have to look at the starter but we needed to look replace the batteries. That's all done. So, it's raining again. It ran this afternoon. It just didn't drop this morning. Uh, and the last would be that we do have to pick a vote on the parent. >> Yeah. >> That's a mistake. >> I just ask a question. Um just on the on the parent handbook if any like relevant hallmark from any update that it might worth noting >> um the parent one that I don't think there was anything significant the parent student one they just really quickly so I would we just acknowledge feed Yeah, >> there were updates to like the names of the >> Yeah, all of that was updated or
007any policy uh updates or anything. Yeah, because everything >> I remember were touching on the attendance form, but then I just wasn't sure whether it was parent handbook material or policy material. >> Um, so the attendance was from um a policy policy. I think we had to put in a little bit of different wording into the handbook. >> It's just the wording. I mean, yeah, I just don't >> Yes. >> Um I think it still the same practices like uh procedures that we've been following. I just think they changed some wording and I know what it was. It was something about retention after like a significant amount of abstin. >> Yeah. in a solely to solely absences. Yeah, that was a statewide. So, we changed the wording on that. >> It wasn't displaying. >> It
008doesn't like does I think it did list some possible consequences, but it wasn't like this. Yeah, it was like a m like from like a from a must to a should or like a more softer something like that to that effect I think. >> Right. Yeah, that thank you for remembering that. I just not because I was going over for the governance and I remember we talked about it but I wasn't sure and then for purposes of us acknowledging if there was anything worth noting anything sounds like >> yeah that the parent student one I think was stayed very much that was probably the only change other than names of people >> okay >> thank you >> any other one you want to discuss Um, I'll ask a question. I love seeing the intros in
009the newsletter last week. Number two, I think those were the two remaining open positions. Was it this week or today, the first day? >> Uh, they started last Wednesday, just like orientation type of thing. So, they um have been here a couple days, but not jumping into roles just yet. just kind of getting acclimated to the school and everything they're going to be doing. >> Yeah, >> I would guess actually tomorrow they're one of them is going to start with the rules tomorrow. The other one probably Wednesday. Okay. >> And we're fully stacked at this point is >> yes will be right now there. Yes. >> Any you want to do? >> Sure. So on the governance front, we met right away September 8th, so there was a lot to jump at uh from different
010places. Um I was also getting up to speed with the committee in general. Um we talked about the need to uh look at our board's bylaws. Um it was referred to us by council that there was an opportunity to look at them considering that the the ones we have now were are are have been there since our inception. So there were some opportunity there more so to adapt to our current practices. Um so that was referred back to the policy committee. So we'll be working on that. Um we talked about um an opportunity to review our annual calendar calendar. Thank you Malik. Thank you Enrique. So there has been a board calendar of activities and there was just an opportunity to reconcile that to the make sure that we're our duties were remained on track.
011That's how um the the the task about approving the parent handbook came about. So if you know having those activities Julie noted um you know we could have caught that um that we you know these activities are happening in in a in a regular organic cadence um because you would we would have typically done this in July the the handbook. So thank you Malik for noting that. Um we also talked about and referred a couple of policies u opportunities back to the policy committee. Um when we go over that part of the agenda you'll notice that it is it is getting busy. Um but all good stuff. Um we talked about the attendance policy hence why I had recall that from the policy handbook discussion. So that was in terms of overall updates. Um moving
012on to personal personnel and staff as you heard from Muno really none. Um an update now um at the meeting we did discuss about the two openings and hence why we had to um do the special meeting. So thank you for um commentating that and now we have full slate. So that's exciting. Um and moving on to the last part of my the section of this agenda the board recruitment. um no update yet in terms of new board nominations coming in. So really the takeaway here is um encouraging using every tactical every tactic that we can um to promote this other than our standard um newsletter. So maybe this to you Miss Gun to the extent there's an opportunity where we could somehow reach our parents class chat. Um maybe asking the staff whether there's
013a way we know or maybe like a parent the like the list of the parents I mean class parents and maybe through them we >> staff looking to maybe think about it or include it in newsletters bring it up in staff meetings um and everyone on board on the boards who also do the same >> the name. >> I already put it in the WhatsApp chat. So like if everyone puts it on their Yeah, I did that. And then >> um another good one was the the tears and something for kindergarteners. Um I I've had opportunity to to meet parents new parents there and and boys but you know new parents are maybe not the best but some of them were had other you know they were tenure parents so so and that takeaway there
014is to the extent um we can use any other tactic we welcome any um ideas there other than that that's it for the governance update. >> Thank you. any extensions from >> questions. >> Sorry, I haven't read super carefully the nomination, but is there any specific skills that you're recruiting for? >> Question. Great question. >> No. Um, we were so looking for someone that was dedicated to helping the school. Um, that being said, we'll always take advantage of, you know, people that have an employment background or a teaching background or administration or legal background. I think those things do help. Um, we potentially we'll be losing some of our lawyers um soon. So, I I do think that having lawyers have helped um and anyone with a finance background also helps. overall >> we don't
015we don't turn away anymore. >> Yeah, >> those are some known areas where we like to have overlap because people do. So if we had to choose a I agree those are the ones but we do not turn anyone away. you're willing to support the school in the strategic initiatives, we are love to have you. >> Yeah. Well, >> thank you, please. >> Yes. Um, so the first item here is the CD investment ladder. So as you guys may recall from prior years of um certificates of deposit for um that we're using to invest in surplus mobile or school accounts and um basically are invested in uh sen that uh are for a certain amount of months and then when they expire, we roll them over into a new part. So we have them in
016a longer structure which means that every two three months they want to fires and then uh we renew it at some point. So over the summer with the transition, there were two that expired and um we just recently last week actually before the Fed uh decreased interest rates, we were able to secure the two CDs that expired over the summer and renewed them. So we're back on my ladder structure. We're back on track and that's what working well. And uh Heather, which is our new finance manager or director, finance director. She is um in charge of your second item, Mr. 43B. So this has been a hot topic um over the summer and then starting this year there's been multiple inquiries coming from staff um yeah if they qualify not qualify if they can take
017money out etc different questions around those so we've encountered some uh difficulties working with our provider on that and uh we also um revolutionary ones that that are could make this hard to administer in the future and could bring on additional audit requirements for the school. So, we're looking to come up with some um um you know, a list of potential ways to improve that plan. So some recommendations on um how to improve the plan and uh so those are things that are being looked at right now. Um the third item it's our financial statements. So yeah if you could please go to the statement page here. This is the final income statement for the school as of the end for the 2020 425 202. Okay. >> Okay. So, this is as of the end
018of June of last year. This is sort of where we ended the books, but we just the books. I just wanted to give you a quick overview of where we ended the year. So, for total revenue, we have four columns here. So, the first column, it's our final budget. So, as you know, we um make budget amendments throughout the year. So, this was our final budget as of the end of June 30th. And then we had our factuals come in. That's our second column. And then we have the dead is our third column. And the percentage is the fourth um percentage change. So we ended the year at 4.78 million for revenue. Um that is um only a little bit under what we estimated in our project. Um, so that's all good as long as
019we are and and we're we're on 100%. So we want this number to be 100% or more. And then um under expenses, we can see our total expenses. At the bottom, we have payroll and non-payroll. The majority of our expenses are on the payroll with salaries, wages. This is our highest line item here. And um we came a little bit under budget for total expenses. So that's good. We want this number to be at 100 or less. So if we scroll down a little bit, we can see our total surplus position was 172,000. Um so that's uh money, you know, that was left unused, right? And then um when we do the accounting for depreciation and capitalization that went down to -12,000 and um that's pretty much question 85%. Explain that to me. Should we
020quantity% of that? That's a good question. I would have to unless we so federal money we get in our brand. It's um different numbers roll. It stays in that same line item. You can't use it for anything else. that was situation but >> yeah I had the same questions for later on basically now we're going to take this information and this is broken down into a lot more granular I think um the final committee Miss Hun and Heather are going to put together now what the the adjustment are going to be for the new budget for 2025 26 or year. So we're going to dive into these numbers and try to figure out what needs to be adjusted and what and uh the first set of adjustments that we're going to or budget amendment that
021we're going to make is this right here. some information that we already know from the SP addresses. We're going to start creating a line item for the revenue of those fixed assets which are the two boxes. So we're proposing a change for 114,900 for that piece of the sale and then the corresponding expense based on the fact that we're um running those two rules calculating as follows. So these are uh estimates that we're going to put in for now and then we're going to um for now these are um six line and we would like this to be voted on today so that which is folk can create these line items and when the actual swim in they can book them to the read financials. >> Well, the bill >> and so this is um
022going to be one of these two budget amendments we'll have this year. Um, as Lilian I just said, this is really just because of the big dollars and line items so I'll call it. So just be prepared to have another budget conversation, but this is just a quick one just to cover these the finalization of the bus and also include uh >> yeah I thought we were like that at the end of the day sell the two we were going to try to like two years spend the revenue or I think I don't know. I don't know what >> you mean. So, >> it was that the busing contract >> is a two-year boss contract. So, we're effectively using the same, you know, subsidizing >> because we're also adjusting. We looked at if we kept
023the budget the same in the new school year what the two years would cost of that. So that's probably why. >> Okay. >> In the evaluation process, we talked like two years, but yeah, this has to be adjusted for this year, >> right? Everything's different. >> No came over. >> Okay. So there will be um depreciation of the projected or there will be you know other implications. So these are like the most critical ones of the one we know in the expenses on that we're going to have so we can go through so we can unless unless any other questions. >> Quick question. This is not specific to the budget on the CDs. The comment was more so for awareness because we're on that schedule. >> Yeah. >> Waterfall or whatever slept or whatever you
024want. There we go. I was like incremental something. So we don't need to vote on it. It was more so for awareness. >> Absolutely. And um I think everything you were going to look into to confirm that we didn't have to move because we did vote on it last year I believe for the entire year and I think the question came up during the finance committee whether we needed to again for that but we weren't sure because I guess we would have to go back to the next meeting but the the idea uh originally was let's all vote and agree that this is our structure going forward. I'm not sure if we said anything maybe we didn't about whether you know how long is that >> I don't think it would be a bad idea
025because you're not supposed to find changes I think investment is something important that we should all be cognizant of so I think to >> can someone please correct Do you know what the process would be now since we finalized the agenda? Do we need to vote to amend the agenda to add a vote to do this? >> Do it next what? >> Next meeting because then I can mean >> I can bring the ladder. Yeah. Then then I can bring the glad and you know explain it and then we >> Yeah. prepared to to move, but we'll also confirm what language we need to include just >> know that it's everything. >> We can add that to the annual. >> Yeah. >> Like let's say like an October October meeting >> the schedule >> the
026latter was that the word that we not ago. Yes. >> All right. Any other questions for finance before we go to vote on the budget? >> So, we entertain a um a motion to move on the proposed budget amendments as uh recommended by the finance committee. >> Moved. >> Thank you, Dar. Thank you again. Um all those in favor of approving the budget amendment as proposed by finance committee please say I. >> I. All those who do not believe the same name. >> Yeah, sure. So the first committee meeting is on the first Thursday or each month right after the drop off time in the morning and so we had the first meeting last month we talked to few projects. So for the fence project it's nearly completed and there are few games left to
027be installed and Mr. Marino is monitoring the vual system to determine the next steps for the ongoing maintenance in the future and Muniel and Mr. Marino have a few small operational need for the building. So this should fall on the general operation expenses for the technology part. So Mr. looking into the options for the P system to get the multiple trans points and finally Muno been has been working identifying the types of spaces needed within the building to facilitate the operations and classes. She will share the list of these yeah with the class the future. 500 days. >> Thank you. >> One question you might not know. I thought they were expanding and jacking over the playground. You know where all the time is that supposed to be coming. So yeah, we just hit the
028other day and saw someone like so go and they stay around. Any questions for pass away? I never knew could be so excited about a pencil for a while. [Music] Start off the policy committee of course here. Lots of new changes. Uh let's be communication. [Music] Um actually that emotional bunch of some of you may have seen the conversations in the news about the children being or students during you know during educational time. So that was because and we need to because our wireless communication will be good and the students would be able to do where the students would be able on a building or a very So one basically attempts on the agenda uh you know requirements um with apparent but uh the key issue is that um to that um it's the ability
029to also teachers to permit wireless devices to be used um if need be um for educational purposes. scenes. There's also two other extensions to the regular list of ways that during the day those are in. And then the other thing that they require within the most no ability to confiscate and that penalties will uh policy of prison. So uh that's the uh that's the movement that we'll be working on in the next meeting but because of the deadlines look at it every year and if there's an event that October 1 but so that we can do those things we look the policy uh during the next council meeting and and bring it in to the board for you will be put over. I don't know saying first read is this the first read of that
030where I knew the law see the material basically well finally is the obviously uh do next possibly maybe what does what does educational article, you know, talk about, you know, with the the details about thereafter we would have to come back to it every year. >> Yes. With what the statute said. Yeah, >> I'm just noting for the county. Let me change it again because >> because the next one on here is the So it's reference maybe issue regarding that we have a policy policy.9 which was also attendance and it discussed the um the ability to withdraw uh from the movement to my understanding And uh implementation of the plan is to decide whether uh individuals can take monies out and if they don't which can then based on its involvement increases the requirements that
031particular believe it's once that number exceeds 100 voluntary members of the plan then there are additional volume requirements and uh if we're able to uh to remove this policy or delete this policy which can't be made and the people can't leave and the the enrollment sum increases then I mean we remove this policy then the ability to withdraw and come on would increase. So we're looking at it now because we need to think about legalization that I mean when people with withdrawal with when employee gets withdrawal like what does that mean to the send of liquors? Uh are there going to be communication back and forth? Are they going to be able to go and go over to other places? that that's a conversation that we should definitely make sure the finances are virtually served
032by the day. just between now and the next meeting. So the recommendation is we delete or um limiting time just want to make sure between now and October that any consequences of changing this are going to be what are the what is the burden that school may have to have. So just want to make sure that that conversation is going in the next month and then you mentioned is also beed amended rather. So and to to be clear plan the planning documents um do not have this stipulation. So the only thing that's binding that stipulation is in our policy itself. >> Do you know policy? >> It seems to be an old policy where when we updated the plan in 2018 I think that was the date we were >> the last. >> Yeah. The
033current were in when we adopted that plan it this stipulation was not part of it. probably below former plan. >> So we think was part of the former >> original 2008 plan maybe not original but 2008 plan that is a legacy that just needs to be corrected but we if we abolish this then we can get TIA correct to fix their systems because they actually have it wrong in the systems which doesn't follow the paper plan. So it's kind of like two errors that don't make it right. Yeah, I get it. >> And I did try and look at the agenda minutes to see if there were any. >> Okay. It's unclear just a little bit. >> See, it could have been initially done that way because for a plan to be viable, you need
034do need to scale. So, it I don't think it's unusual for these plans to have a policy like this when they're very small. But once they get to size, >> why would >> that's a different matter to begin with. Yes. I don't know. I would argue this doesn't need to be in the uh school policy, >> right? Exactly. >> It's an operational >> especially since these things change and like to the point where we are right now the majority of the participants in the plan. So this is our first read of this correct. So >> we use a what do we would consult this with like thinking to reach out to alr that's what I was like yeah that's that was the advice from the finance committee to reach out to all HR to >>
035yeah like to pardon me Um but it wasn't >> administrator like you be able to give some guidance too on this one that internal policy >> there's been all sorts of attempts >> with I think they're more of like on like the technology side not on how you monitor your participants and I into place with with participants that kind of like direct >> I would say I mean where do we get our information from to give our employees >> a plan to figure out >> modernize the plan management of Any other questions on the next are running [Music] on finalizing all of those. They are the uh acceptable use policy and the reviewing class policy. new policies that um are currently uh topics of no we have to address uh day and night and incorporating
036um whether that noted uh last meeting that CMS had an initiative attempted to uh because in our next policy meeting we'll begin conversation Technically I don't know if it'll be a quick matter or it is a bit of a poor with the teachers regarding um the implementation of an AI policy uh there the possibility then receive their handbook and definition of danger and so it's you know it's not uh we can look at our CMS but it's like some of a different issue. So uh just note that if it's not read in October something that be working on if any of you to uh replace this are dealing with uh AI and how it's applied to share that as well the kind of community conversation all of our lives will get changed as always to
037share that The next meeting is tomorrow morning for everyone and that is any other question I'm meeting um just in a meeting with Miss Julie to go over that posting like the process of posting once we approve and posting on the website. I think we have a little bit of a lag. Um we attempted to meet on Friday um we had a miscommunication. She missed like some of them will we we were meeting this Friday. about keeping open to help in getting that um you have so many examples here. CMS initiative by community conversations uh are talking a and of itself they most incorporated um we were doing last year I forget the name of the that we might ask. >> So, it's almost like there it's it's a twopart conversation that uh that you
038know there's a side and then social media. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, you know, like this is like such a specific cause, but we just move that we >> Sure. Yeah. It's new, but it's going fast and we got to stay in front of it just so teachers have direction, too. And it's not right now. They're just doing what they think is best, the teachers, but it's probably different from room to room, which probably should be, but we should just have a general practice. >> Yeah. And then the the first getting them ready for us so they can be we can kind of have that for too like it's not what the high school is doing or college is doing. Exactly. out there without experience. >> So like what they just suggest to do what
039they do. part of the conversation not just for students but also like what's appropriate for activities to use and know how you mentally show your use of to dispose of the aloation I wonder if there's um like an opportunity for like there's doesn't member meet like do like round tables of school faculty where this maybe can be brought up I I don't some very I'm sure this could be a topic of sometimes talking about what they're doing or thinking right on to educational excellence. Oh, >> committee meets our meeting. October 14:15 a.m. And uh generically change from my last development science course which means I'm in middle school or language and administration. And then also there's a consuming uh which is equitably humanity. Are there any highlights on the parent survey hearing? >> Not yet.
040>> And I think there were some other agenda items that we added during our um that take off meeting that the board had back in I want to say August. Do we revisit those educational think? [Music] >> Yeah, sure. Yeah. [Music] >> Okay. Do you want to? >> So um the express machine information like we needed to use our students from transportation lunches field or things that were suggested. What we need to know is what is needed for students and think about what you know with the foundation to some work on creative some pieces of legislation that we are watching consuming books and media and um you know what uh we we need to collection policy and you have um just a school that just to make sure school movements and religious Any questions? >>
041No, I guess I'll just note that on the calendar the PTO was was interested on >> PTO wants it. >> Yeah, the PTO is looking for that and the EDS package will make I think that's what it is. I just want to make sure I put the correctly. So it's economically disadvantaged students just to >> Thank you. Any questions before getting on the DVI committee? >> So how did I find out [Music] that it would just look at all Um, anything you want to talk about? >> Um, child we will have our first meeting our first typically our meetings are Monday. Um unless you talk to the entire committee as well. Um foundation we are conducting interviews foundation manager and we hope to hire somebody very soon. Uh the AGC campaign annual living campaign is
042set to kick off in October and now we have just collective lead which is campaign. Do we need any support during the long festival? I know we typically have um it's a big initiative during fall festival for the agency. Do you need board support? Uh I'm not sure if we're going to give any art support just because we have the trustee but I will definitely channel as we do we do we will maintain this will be the Second opportunity for community comments subject to lines reference earlier. There's anyone in attendance that would like to make a community comment. Please raise your hand. No hands have been raised. There is no closed session for today. So with that I will entertain a motion to end today's to adjourn today's meeting. >> All those in favor of
043adjourning today's meeting say I. >> I. >> Those who don't want to adjourn today's meeting say nay. All right. Today's meeting it is adjourned.