Board Meeting Minutes

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September 15, 2008 – 7:40p.m.

 

Attendance
Board members in attendance: Mr. Tom Nida, Chair; Mr. Anthony Colón, Vice Chair; Dr. Dora Marcus; Mr. Will Marshall; and Josephine Baker, Ex-Officio and Secretary

 

Board members excused: Mr. Brian Jones; Mr. Lawrence Patrick

 

The board meeting was called to order at 7:40p.m by Mr. Tom Nida.

 

Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved without changes.

 

Approval of August Meeting Minutes

The August meeting minutes were approved with the vote to amend the minutes to reflect the commencement and adjournment of the Public Hearing; and the commencement and adjournment of the Public Board Meeting.

 

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 resignation of Mr. Lawrence Patrick, III effective to date, September 15, 2008.  Mr. Nida entertained a resolution to accept with regret Mr. Patrick’s resignation. Mr. Karl Jentoft made the motion to accept the resignation and the motion was seconded by Mr. Anthony Colón.  Mr. Tom Nida requested the PCSB Board to memorialize the resolution with a keepsake to Mr. Patrick.  The vote was carried unanimously with regret.

 

Contracts Reviewed

Mr. Tom Nida reported on contracts reviewed over $25,000.00 which were approved by the Finance Committee. Mr. Karl Jentoft recused himself from the review of the contracts for Capital City Public Charter School and Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School.  The report was approved as presented.  

 

Schools Committee

 

Annual Reports

Ms. Jacqueline Scott-English noted that The School Reform Act of 1996 (§ 38-1802.04(b)(10)) and PCSB policy establishes that each school is to report its previous school year’s performance by September 1st of each year and failure to submit an Annual Report is a violation of the charter. 

 

Ms. Scott-English reported the following schools failed to submit their annual reports: 1) City Lights, 2) Young America Works, and 3) Mary McLeod Bethune (who submitted their report late evening on September 15th).  She further stated that delays in receiving schools’ Annual Reports can impede the ability of staff to conduct comprehensive Program Development Reviews.  She also reported that data from the Annual Report is used by staff and external consultants as a primary source of information during the review process scheduled to begin on October 1, and it is imperative that the PCSB receives the reports on a timely basis.  As these schools are in violation of their charter due to the exceptional tardiness of the reports, despite efforts to grant requested extensions, the Schools Committee is proposing that these schools be required to submit their Annual Reports no later than Monday, September 22, 2008 to avoid further action.

 

Discussion was held regarding the context and quality of the Annual Reports, past performance indicators, timelines and report driven Program Development Reviews.    Mr. Tom Nida advised that separate motions be made pertaining to the three schools;

The motion was made by Dr. Dora Marcus to approve the Issuance of the Notice of Concerns as stated above and the motion was seconded by Mr. Will Marshall.  The motion voted approved by a majority vote.  Mr. Anthony Colón and Mr. Karl Jentoft opposed the motion.

 

Accountability Plan

Capital City PCS

School Representation Present:  Ms. Anne Herr, Executive Director

 

Ms. Monique Miller reported that Capital City PCS is requesting approval of their final draft of its proposed accountability plan.  Academic targets address the areas of reading, writing, oral skills, and mathematics. Non-academic targets address student, parent and teacher satisfaction as well as parent participation. 

 

Ms. Miller noted that baseline data were established for many of the proposed targets during the 2005-2006 school year.  Ms. Monique Miller stated that the school’s new campus and new assessments will require establishment of new baseline data.  Ms. Miller noted that the school has established baseline data for many of the targets, but will be opening an upper school campus serving students in grades 6 – 9 in fall 2008.  She further pointed out a concern with the school leadership setting an annual performance range and target at the new upper school stating new baselines must be established to accurately measure the new site’s progress

 

Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to conditionally approve the accountability plan pending establishment of new baseline data for the new upper school.  Mr. Anthony Colón seconded the motion and the motion carried with a majority vote.  Mr. Karl Jentoft recused himself from the vote. Full approval can be granted once satisfactory targets are established for those measures where baseline data do not currently exist. 

 

Accountability Plan

Roots PCS

School Representation Present:  Ms. Bernida Thompson, Founder and Director; Mr. Winifred Wright, Program Manager

 

Ms. Taishya Adams reported that Roots PCS has submitted a final draft of its proposed accountability plan and requests conditional approval.  Ms. Adams stated that the academic performance objectives address the areas of reading, writing and mathematics for all student learning levels and are measured by state and internal assessments. Non-academic performance objectives address attendance, character development, as well as student, parent and teacher satisfaction.   Ms. Taishya Adams explained that Roots PCS has established targets and collected baseline data in SY 2007-2008 for 2 out of 6 academic performance objectives and 2 out of 4 non-academic performance objectives.  She indicated targets and baseline data for the remaining performance objectives will be established in the Spring 2009.

 

Dr. Dora Marcus made the motion to conditionally approve the accountability plan pending establishment of performance objectives for remaining targets and baseline data in Spring 2009.  Mr. Will Marshall seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  Full approval can be granted once satisfactory targets and baseline data are met for remaining performance objectives. 

 

Accountability Plan

City Collegiate PCS

School Representation Present:  Mr. Mark Reford, Principal

 

Dr. Jackie Boddie reported that City Collegiate PCS is requesting conditional approval of their draft Accountability Plan for the 2008-2009 school year.  She stated that City Collegiate’s non-academic performance objectives include targets related to attendance and parent participation in school-related events and activities.  Dr. Jackie Boddie noted that the school is proposing using indicators to determine proficiency in reading, numeracy, social studies, science concepts and processes.  Dr. Boddie stated the school will also administer internal assessments to measure academic performance.  She further stated that baseline data will be established for a majority of the 10 targets during the 2008-2009 school year and baseline data for attendance has been established based on the 2006-2007 attendance report.

 

Dr. Dora Marcus pointed out that in deciphering the baseline data in reference to the percent of attendance, no data is provided to compare against the annual targets which do not meet the standards.  Discussion was held regarding other measurements used to track student performance, progress and attendance to construct an essential comprehensive free-standing model.   Further discussion was held regarding the absence of substantial data in each category necessary to set benchmarks.  Mr. Tom Nida suggested that considering the above, conditional approval be deferred until the October 20, 2008 meeting.  He requested the PCSB Program Manager work with the school and that City Collegiate’s Board Chair and board member(s) attend the October meeting.

 

Accountability Plan

Options PCS

School Representation Present:  Mr. Glenn Swanson, Chief Operating Officer; Ms. Laura Loessner, NCLB Officer

 

Ms. Carolyn Trice reported that Options PCS has submitted an accountability plan that addresses the school’s mission as well as the conditions of its restructuring plan and baseline data has been established for all except two of the targets which will be established in Spring 2009.  Ms. Trice indicated that the academic targets address the areas of reading, math, and attaining mastery of IEP objectives.  She stated that the non-academic targets address attendance, suspensions, professional development, student behavior, family involvement, and parent and student satisfaction.

 

Discussion was held regarding the absence of baseline data and annual targets. Mr. Karl Jentoft pointed out that goals have not been specified in measuring the new population.  Ms. Josephine Baker questioned the collection of benchmark data to set goals and prediction of targets based upon projections.  Further discussion was held regarding testing, trends and analysis of the data. Mr. Tom Nida asked that the request be deferred until the October 20, 2008 meeting pending amended and additional baseline data.  He requested that the Program Manager work with the school in establishing the additional data.

 

Accountability Plan

Two Rivers PCS

School Representation Present:  Ms. Jessica Wodatch, Executive Director

 

Ms. Marrisa Mikoy stated that Two Rivers encountered challenges in implementing and managing their Accountability Plan.  Ms. Mikoy stated that The Brigance, the assessment used by Two Rivers, assesses a finite number of discrete skills and has afforded them little or no opportunity to demonstrate growth since their second grade year.  

 

Ms. Marrisa Mikoy reported that Two Rivers PCS is requesting a revision of its Accountability Plan by modifying the language of several academic targets.  Ms. Mikoy stated the targets would measure students using the language “X% of students will demonstrate grade-level readiness by scoring at or above grade level” rather than “X% of students will demonstrate one year of academic growth”.  She further stated that the revised Accountability Plan will include performance objectives and measures that speak to the DC-CAS.

 

Discussion was held regarding the need for the change in calculating growth indicator measurements and assessments.  Dr. Dora Marcus agreed that The Brigance has surpassed its capacity to measure growth.  Dr. Marcus made the motion to approve the Accountability Plan with the requested revisions and the motion was seconded by Mr. Anthony Colón.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20p.m.