October 20, 2008 – 7:30p.m.
Attendance
Board members in attendance: Mr. Tom Nida, Chair; Dr. Dora Marcus; Mr. Will Marshall; Mr. Brian Jones and Ms. Josephine Baker, Ex-Officio and Secretary
The board meeting was called to order at 7:30p.m by Mr. Tom Nida.
Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved without changes.
Approval of August Meeting Minutes
The September meeting minutes were approved.
Acknowledgement of Elected Officials
Mr. Tom Nida invited elected officials to stand and be acknowledged; there were none present.
Board Chair Announcement
Mr. Tom Nida officially announced the end of the four-year term and resignation of Mr. Anthony Colón and the resignation of Mr. Karl Jentoft. Mr. Nida expressed his appreciation and entertained a resolution to accept with regret the resignations. Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to accept the resignations, and the motion was seconded by Mr. Brian Jones. Mr. Tom Nida requested the PCSB Board to memorialize the resolution with a keepsake to Mr. Colón and Mr. Jentoft. The vote was carried unanimously.
PCSB Committee Appointment
Mr. Tom Nida reported that Mr. Jeff Stout has been nominated by the Board to replace Ms. Eva Rainer
on the Public Charter School Credit Enhancement and Direct Funds Committee for a three year
appointment, under the umbrella of the OSSE and its OPCS Finance and Support. Mr. Will Marshall
made the motion to approve the nomination of Mr. Jeff Stout and Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
Contracts Reviewed
Mr. Tom Nida reported on contracts reviewed over $25,000.00 which were approved by the Finance Committee. Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to accept the report as presented.
Mr. Brian Jones seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Schools Committee
The Public Hearing session of the (DCPCSB) meeting convened at 7:34p.m.
Request to Amend Charter
Next Step Public Charter School
School Representation Present: Ms. Suzanne Espinoza, Principal; Mr. Juan Carlos Martinez, Head Teacher; Ms. Julie Meyer, Executive Director; Mr. Guillermo Laya, Board Member
Mr. Tom Nida explained the process for the Public Hearing of the Next Step Public Charter School to amend their charter to the audience. He reported that the Public Hearing would be recorded by a Court Reporter (Official transcription of Hearing provided by Beta Court Reporting).
The Public Hearing proceedings of the meeting adjourned at 7.56p.m.
Request to Lift Notice of Concern
City Lights Public Charter School
School Representation Present: Ms. Iris Lewis, Executive Director and Ms. Brenda Richards.
PCSB staff member, Ms. Carolyn Trice stated City Lights Public Charter School requested that the PCSB lift the Notice of Concern, as they have met the condition of submitting the Annual Report. Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to lift the Notice of Concern. Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Request to Lift Notice of Concern
MM Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School
School Representation Present: Ms. Iris Lewis, Executive Director and Ms. Brenda Richards
PCSB staff member, Ms. Taishya Adams stated that MM Bethune Day Academy requested that the PCSB lift the Notice of Concern, as they have met satisfactory submission of the Annual Report. Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to lift the Notice of Concern. Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion and
the motion carried unanimously.
Accountability Plan
Thurgood Marshall PCS
School Representation Present: Mr. George Brown, Chair; Ms. Tracy Foster, Chief of Operations; Ms. Alexandra Pardo, Academic Director; Mr. Richard Roe, Board Member
PCSB staff member, Mr. Corey Carter reported that Thurgood Marshall PCS requested to change the status of its Accountability Plan from conditional to fully approved. Mr. Carter noted the PCSB granted conditional status pending establishment of baseline data. Mr. Carter further stated that the school had
revised the language in some areas to clarify the intent of the targets.
Ms. Alexandra Pardo stated the law curriculum theme will include expanded outside participation, parent involvement and surveys to obtain different perspectives on the school climate. Discussion was held regarding projecting five year targets and objectives. Ms. Josephine Baker suggested that the school find
a method to track student alumni. Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to grant full approval of the accountability plan. Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
Accountability Plan
Howard Road PCS (HRA PCS)
School Representation Present: Mr. Earl Murray, Board Member; Ms. LaTonya Henderson, Director of Development; Ms. Tracy Johnson, Board Member; Ms. Valerie Powell, Chief Academic Officer; Ms. Nicole Richards and Ms. Tara Marlow
Ms. Taishya Adams reported that Howard Road Academy PCS has submitted a final draft of its revised accountability plan for PCSB approval. Ms. Adams reported that the revised accountability plan incorporates the additional and only minor changes have been made for the main Howard Road campus. Ms. Adams further noted that HRA PCS has established all of the academic and non-academic objectives targets and collected baseline data in SY 2006-2007 for the Howard Road campus.
The HRA PCS has collected baseline data and established targets for 2 out of 4 academic performance objectives and 1 out of 4 nonacademic performance objectives for their Annex Campuses (G Street and Pennsylvania Ave). Targets and baseline data for the remaining performance objectives will be established
in Spring 2009.
Discussion was held regarding the possibility of merging the accountability plan as for one student body and amending the statistical data performance. Ms. Tracy Johnson commented on the challenges from the takeover and the advantages. Ms. Johnson noted the growth of the school in resolving various issues.
Further discussion was held regarding the school’s funding and fallback disposition plan. Ms. Valerie Powell stated the school is offering an after-school tutoring program in English and Math to increase proficiency levels.
Mr. Brian Jones made the motion to conditionally approve the accountability plan pending establishment of performance objectives for remaining targets and baseline data in Spring 2009. Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Dr. Dora Marcus stated that full approval can
be granted once satisfactory targets and baseline data are met for the remaining performance objectives.
Accountability Plan
Tree of Life PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Patricia Williams-Ofari, Executive Director
Ms. Taishya Adams reported that Tree of Life PCS submitted a revised accountability plan and is requesting conditional approval. Ms. Adams noted that Tree of Life PCS is requesting a change in the internal assessment tool measuring student improvement in reading and math from Gates-McInitie (never
administered to students) to the Renaissance Learning Assessments (STAR Reading/Math/Early Childhood). Tree of Life PCS purchased the Renaissance Learning Assessments in January 2008 and administered the assessments in March 2008. Ms. Adams stated they will develop academic growth
targets for this assessment in Spring 2009. She stated that in addition, Tree of Life PCS requested a change to the five-year target for the parental involvement performance objectives from “at least 70%” to “at least 50%” of parents will attend teacher/parent conferences.
Ms. Josephine Baker advised that the assessment have the capability to track growth in both reading and math. Mr. Nida noted that using baseline targets as one category can cause problems in tracking growth. Discussion was held and Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion for conditional approval. Mr. Will Marshall
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Dr. Dora Marcus stated that full approval can be granted once satisfactory targets are established for the measures where baseline data does not currently exist.
Accountability Plan
MM Bethune Day Academy PCS
School Representation Present: None
The request to approve MM Bethune Day Academy’s Accountability Plan was tabled until the November 17th public board meeting.
Accountability Plan
Nia Community PCS
School Representation Present: Mr. Vernard Howard; Rev. Willie Wilson, President BOT; Ms. Wunan Dansby, Interim Executive Director
Ms. Taishya Adams reported that Nia PCS is requesting conditional approval of its proposed accountability plan. Academic performance objectives address the areas of reading and mathematics for all student learning levels and are measured by the state assessment and internal assessments. Nonacademic performance objectives address service learning, attendance, character development, as well as parent/guardian involvement and satisfaction. Nia has established targets and baseline data for 2 out of 6 academic and 1 of out 6 non-academic objectives in SY 2006-2007. Targets and baseline data for the remaining performance objectives will be established in Spring 2009.
Ms. Josephine Baker questioned the proficiency expected based on projections according to the baseline percentages. Discussion was held regarding Nia including an Enrichment program in their accountabilityplan. Mr. Brian Jones noted that the school enrichment program will need to focus on strategies that
reference education diversification and hands-on experiences. Discussion was held regarding the need for possible intervention for student records. Further discussion was held and it was suggested that, the school revisit their math curriculum and instruction for the possibility of elevating protocol targets.
Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion for conditional approval. Mr. Brian Jones seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Dr. Dora Marcus stated that full approval can be granted once satisfactory targets are established for the measures where baseline data does not currently exist.
Accountability Plan
Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS
School Representation Present: Ms. Linda Moore, Executive Director; Ms. Patricia Galace; Mr. Franklin Wassner, Strategic Intervention Program Coordinator Director
PCSB staff member, Dr. Sean Coleman reported that Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS requested conditional approval of the final draft of its accountability plan. The academic targets address math, English, French and Spanish proficiency. Non-academic targets address community service, student and parent satisfaction, and attendance. Dr. Sean Coleman stated that regarding the DC-CAS for reading and math objectives, staff and the school disagree on the approach of assessing the targets. The school proposes to use a growth model while staff recommends that the school incorporates measures by percent proficiency on the assessment.
Discussion was held regarding Elsie Whitlow Stokes’ proposed growth model and the possible conflict in integration into the pilot accountability plan to the growth model and performance management framework currently being established by the PCSB for all charter schools. Mr. Marshall voiced his
concern of the school’s growth model superseding measures adopted for all other charter schools. Further discussion was held and the decision was made that Elsie Whitlow Stokes will in the interim of the establishment of the PCSB’s growth model, use their proposed growth model developed in the accountability plan. Once the growth model and framework is instituted by the PCSB, Elsie Whitlow
Stokes’ growth model in their accountability plan must reconcile with the PCSB to measure performance.
Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion for conditional approval noting that if necessary, Elise Whitlow Stokes will tweak their proposed growth model process as requested by the PCSB. Mr. Brian Jones seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Full approval can be granted once satisfactory
targets are established for the measures where baseline data does not currently exist.
Accountability Plan
Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS (LAMB)
School Representation Present: Ms. Diane Cottman, Executive Director; Christina Encinas, Principal
Dr. Sean Coleman reported that LAMB PCS requested approval of the final draft of its accountability plan. Dr. Coleman stated that the academic targets address English and Spanish literacy and mathematics proficiency. Non-academic targets address student attendance, student and parent satisfaction, and
social-emotional and conflict/problem resolution. Discussion was held regarding the dual language model and the percentage of bi-literacy immersion.
Mr. Will Marshall made the motion for conditional approval. Dr. Dora Marcus seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Dr. Dora Marcus stated that full approval can be granted once satisfactory targets are established for the measures where baseline data does not currently exist.
Public Comments
Mr. Nida opened the floor for public comments and there were none.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35p.m.