March 16, 2009 – 7:35 P.M.

 

Attendance
Board members in attendance: Mr. Tom Nida, Chair; Mr. Will Marshall; Dr. Dora Marcus;
Dr. Darren Woodruff; Mr. Don Soifer; Mr. John “Skip” McKoy; and Mrs. Josephine Baker,
Ex-Officio and Secretary

Board members excused: Mr. Brian Jones (The attached proxy vote provided to Mrs. Josephine Baker)
Mr. Tom Nida called the board meeting to order at 7:35 P.M.Dora Marcus;

Acknowledgment of Elected Officials
Mr. Nida called for any elected officials to stand and be recognized. None were present.
 
Approval of Agenda
Mr. Nida stated that the two proposals to revise the Charter Amendment and Expansion/Replication policies of the Public Charter School Board (PCSB) have been removed from the agenda for further review. The agenda was approved as presented by all Board members present.
 
Approval of February Meeting Minutes

Mr. Nida presented the February 23, 2009 meeting minutes for approval. Mr. Don Soifer moved that the minutes be approved, and Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by six (6) Board members present and one (1) proxy vote entered by Mrs. Josephine Baker on behalf of
Mr. Brian Jones. The motion carried unanimously.  
 
Contracts Reviewed
Mr. Nida reported on contracts reviewed over $25,000 by the Finance Committee.   Mrs. Josephine Baker entered a proxy vote on behalf of Mr. Brian Jones.  The  report was  accepted as presented by six (6) board members present and one (1) proxy vote from Mr. Brian Jones. 
 
SCHOOLS COMMITTEE 
 
Request to Change NCLB Performance Tier Designation
Options Public Charter School (PCS)

PCSB staff member Ms. Carolyn Trice stated that in accordance to the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) tier designations; in May 2008, the PCSB issued sanctions established within the Restructuring Policy to cease expansion of Options Public Charter School’s (PCS) enrollment to grades 9 through 12, and suspend the implementation of a vocational program. Ms. Trice reported that findings from the recent PCSB Compliance, Special Education, Restructuring Monitoring Review, and the Program Development Review changed Options’ NCLB status from “high risk” to “moderate”, indicating that Options has developed the internal capacities to correct the weaknesses identified in the 2007-2008 school year. Options PCS is requesting that the PCSB lift the sanctions in order for Options PCS to expand its High School program of rising tenth graders to the eleventh grade . Options PCS is also asking for approval to start a vocational program for the approaching 2009-2010 school year.
 
Dr. Vincent Montgomery stated that Options PCS is ready to commence the vocational program to include day and evening elective courses, and that curriculum has been prepared with the core subjects.
Dr. Montgomery indicated that the school is in discussion with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) regarding use of funds for the onset and physical phase of the construction.
 
Dr. Marcus questioned if the offering of the vocational program will cause a turnaround in the culture of the school, and translate to the staff and student body. Dr. Montgomery noted that as part of an in-school suspension program, the school has added a Behavioral Specialist to advise staff and serve as a mechanism for support to its instructional program.
 
Mr. Will Marshall pointed out the importance of the school to make progress towards restructuring and test score improvement to satisfy the mandates of the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) Act.
Dr. Montgomery commented that the school has resources in alternative assessment DC CAS testing. He further stated that through outside sources and assistance from St. Coletta’s PCS, the goal is to make safe harbor with improvement every year.
 
Mr. Don Soifer expressed his concern on the issues of reducing the suspension rates and classroom placement. There was discussion about the school’s in-school suspension program and, attendance and truancy results.
Dr. Montgomery commented that an internal reporting problem, not recording student attendance on a daily basis, caused the inaccurate capture of attendance data. He mentioned that the school has put in place, as an intervention tool prior to suspension, an alternative learning center, whereas students are referred anywhere from one day to a week.
 
Mrs. Josephine Baker asked the Board for clarification regarding the action on the table. Mr. Nida explained that the Board is considering two proposals:
 
1) Lifting the sanctions and granting the school the permission to expand its High School program of rising tenth graders to the eleventh grade; and, 
 
2) Proposal for Options PCS to start a vocational program for the High School students for the upcoming school year
 
Mr. Will Marshall moved to lift the sanction and grant Options PCS expansion of its current tenth graders to the eleventh grade.  Mr. Nida pointed out that the school is to cease enrollment of any additional students in its high school program and that only current tenth grade students will be allowed to enroll in the expanded eleventh grade level.  He further stated that action is deferred on the expansion for enrollment of the twelfth grade students. The motion was seconded by Mr. John “Skip” McKoy.  Mrs. Josephine Baker entered a proxy vote on behalf of Mr. Brian Jones. The motion passed unanimously with six (6) Board members present all in favor and one (1) proxy vote from Mr. Brian Jones. Mr. Marshall and Mr. McKoy recapped their concern of the school concentrating on improving DC CAS testing data and the Restructuring status in accordance with the NCLB designation tier.
 
Mr. Tom Nida reported that Board action on Options PCS’s request to offer a vocational program has been deferred pending review of the DC CAS test score results and development of  vocational curriculum.
Mrs. Josephine Baker stated that since the vocational  program is not a part of the charter nor included in the school’s main curriculum, the school must submit a Charter Amendment. There was discussion about offering the vocational program, separate from the charter, as an evening elective course. Mr. Nida agreed that the school could offer elective courses as part of an evening community vocational program not associated with its charter. 
 
Proposal to Issue Board Action for Attendance and Truancy
Options Public Charter School (PCS)

School Represnetation Present: Dr. Charles Vincent, Chief Operating Officer and Dr. Donna Montgomery, Executive Director

  PCSB staff member Dr. Robert Mayo reported that Options Public Charter School’s second quarter  attendance rate targets for the 2008-2009 school year falls slightly below the required thresholds showing attendance rate at 84.40% and the truancy rate at 7.00%. The School’s Committee is proposing that the Board issue a Notice of Concern to Options PCS requesting that the school address the attendance and truancy issues, and present an improvement plan at the April Board meeting. Dr. Darren Woodruff moved to issue a Notice of Concern to Options PCS and Mr. Don Soifer seconded the motion. Mrs. Josephine Baker entered a proxy vote on behalf of Mr. Brian Jones. The motion passed unanimously with six (6) Board members present voting in favor and one (1) proxy vote from Mr. Brian Jones. 
 
Proposal to Issue Board Acation for Attendance and Truancy

Young America Works (PCS)

School Prepresentation Present: Mr. Michael Gallion, Chair; Ms. Nadine Evans, Admissions Director; Mr. Richard Strong, LLC, Literacy Consultant; Dr. Searetha Smith-Collines, President-CS Consultants, Curriculum Development Consultant; Ms. Janie Boyd Member

PCSB staff member Dr. Robert Mayo reported that Young America Works Public Charter School’s second quarter attendance rate targets for the 2008-2009 school year falls below the required threshold at 75.38% and truancy at 46%. The School’s Committee is proposing that the Board issue a Notice of Deficiency to Young America Works PCS requesting that the school address the attendance and truancy issues, and present an improvement plan at the April Board meeting.
 
Ms. Nadine Evans spoke about the collection of attendance and truancy data and the change in the approach to obtain the data. She indicated that a system has been established by the school in an effort to capture and accurately report the information. There was discussion about the extent of increased truancy rates and its affect on the school’s educational program. Mr. Nida commented that there is not sufficient evidence of monitoring, referral, or corrective action taken by the school to enforce the requirements of the truancy and attendance policy. 
 
Mr. Michael Gallion noted the school’s graduation rate and mission. He provided correspondence sent to Mr. Tom Nida in response to the Board’s request to address issues concerning attendance and truancy. Mr. Gallion also gave a brief overview of the efforts of the school to correct the deficiencies and invited the Board and staff to a tour of the school. Mr. John “Skip” McKoy mentioned that the school’s mission is fine and stressed that the main concern is that one-half of the student population is not present on a quarterly basis.
 
Mrs. Josephine Baker questioned how, with the significant increase of the school’s truancy rate and being in its fifth year of operation, the student population is being served overall. Dr. Searetha Smith-Collins presented strategies that the school will take to address the issues: 1) responsive review of the comprehensive academic program, 2) strengthen and align the assessment monitoring systems, 3) target the below basic achieving students through instructional and curriculum programs, 4) review of a multi-tiered model intervention and monitoring process, and 5) research of alternative ways to approach attendance and truancy rates. Mr. Richard Strong explained that a collaborative effort is being made to provide school-wide delivery of a system framework, instructional and curriculum development, and best practices to decrease truancy rates.   Mr. Nida asked the PCSB staff to schedule a one-on-one meeting with the Public Charter School Board and Young America Works Board, consultants and leadership before March 25, 2009. The purpose of the meeting is for Young America Works’ Board to define specific action plans to establish and maintain the required quarterly attendance and truancy rates.
 
Based on the new attendance and truancy policy, Mr. Will Marshall moved that the Board issue a Notice of Deficiency to Young America Works PCS for having failed to establish and maintain the required attendance and truancy rates for the second quarter. Mr. Don Soifer seconded the motion and Mrs. Josephine Baker entered a proxy vote on behalf of Mr. Brian Jones. The motion passed unanimously with six (6) Board members present voting in favor and one (1) proxy vote from Mr. Brian Jones. Ms. Janie Boyd expressed her standpoint about the Board’s views of the school. The Board acknowledged her comments and thanked her for the concern.
 
Public Comment
Mr. Nida opened the floor for public comment. There was none.
 
The meeting was adjourned by Mr. Nida at 9:05 PM.