HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-05-10 BOT MinWESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKSHOP & REGULAR MEETINGS
April 5, 2010
PRESENT: President Laura Wheat and Trustees, Tim Brittan, Larry Corson, Carol Langdon,
Rick Rennhack, and Rebecca Rollins.
ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Chief Executive Officer Thomas Brymer, Attorney Janet Bubert,
Secretary Kelly Edwards, Head of Secondary Mark Garcia, Head of
Primary Jamie Schmitz, PYP Coordinator Terri Watson, DP
Coordinator, Stacy Stoyanoff, Secondary Counselor Sonya Barron,
Administrative Services Coordinator Ben Nibarger, Municipal Court
Administrator Amanda DeGan and Director of Parks and
Recreation and Facilities Troy Meyer.
Workshop Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
President Wheat called the workshop meeting to order at 4:37 p.m.
2. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FROM APRIL 5, 2010, TRUSTEES
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA.
Trustee Rennhack asked questions regarding the proposed Nepotism policy.
Chief Executive Officer Brymer responded regarding the difficulties and possible issues
that could arise in a small organization.
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Is everything occurring appropriately?
(ensuring that operationally inappropriate things are not occurring.)
3. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF BLOCK SCHEDULING.
Chief Executive Officer Brymer and Academy Staff members presented the Block
Schedule proposal, Option B.
Chief Executive Officer Brymer provided background information and experiences while
working with the academy and the variety of student's aptitudes and abilities while
providing all students an opportunity to achieve success.
Head of Secondary Garcia provided an overview model drawing for the current diploma
process and current course offerings. Juniors currently have the option to select
Economics and will be able to take Physics next year. If they could provide additional
IB selections the students could chose their courses to pursue a higher level of
instruction so they could move forward in more areas and personalize their electives.
DP Coordinator Stoyanoff provided a breakdown of Option B and reviewed the
suggested new MYP course offerings.
Head of Secondary Garcia provided an overview of the mini TOK and breakdown of
Option B suggested new DP course offerings and reviewed the new student on -
boarding process that would include pre and post lottery information meetings with
families.
Administrative Services Coordinator Nibarger provided an overview of the financial
considerations of 16 and 18 students per class.
Discussion ensued regarding the options for Higher Level and Lower Level students
integrating into the academy. Head of Primary Schmitz provided an explanation of the
IB understanding that students learn at different levels and there is differentiation in
the class room.
Other secondary considerations were discussed such as recess, lunch, parking, and flag.
Carol asked about including recess for lower grades. The lunch schedule would not
change with the implementation of the block scheduling. Rebecca asked about Seniors
leaving for lunch. Staff indicated that a 30 minute period would be tough for students
to make it back on time.
President Wheat asked if phasing in the classes would defer the new course offerings.
Staff stated yes it would delay the course offerings.
Discussion also ensued with Attorney Bubert if the school could legally identify
deficiencies and set forth a plan for remedial work, if there could be a contingency
requirement for admission and the enforcement ability of the parent student contract
signed prior to enrolling into the school.
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Trustee Corson asked if Staff could create an Option C . The Board would like to review
a scenario that would allow the addition of 5 teachers and phasing in students as if
there were no financial restrictions. Chief Executive Officer Brymer stated it could be
prepared by the next meeting.
President Wheat thanked staff for all the efforts regarding the proposed Block
Scheduling.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, President Wheat adjourned the
workshop at 7:25 p.m.
Regular Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
President Wheat called the Regular meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. with all Trustees
present.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
President Wheat led the pledge of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.
3. CITIZENS' PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS:
Becky Rodgers, 1730 J.T. Ottinger Road, Westlake addressed the Board regarding
suggestions to increase the quality of food offered by the cafeteria and possibly adding
cold and hot service would help alleviate the long line providing more time for students
to eat their lunches.
Karen Osborne, 1803 Millstream Ct., Westlake addressed the Board regarding how the
students compare academically to other ISDs and if adding additional students would
be lowering the academic bar.
Ange Bumgarner, 1700 Imperial Springs, addressed the Board regarding the pursuit of
increasing the number of students in the upper grades. She feels there are issues
regarding overcrowding and that should be resolved before hiring more teachers and
asked the Board consider the original idea of Westlake Academy was the IB and small
class sizes.
Marla Goode, 1405 Lizzy Ct., Keller, addressed the Board regarding the addition of
Block Scheduling for the fall schedule.
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Julie Timmerman,5925 Mahotea Boone Trail, Westlake, addressed the Board regarding
the addition of increasing the class sizes and to bringing on all of the new students at
on -board at once.
Debra Ziegler, 14000 Allen Trail, Roanoke, addressed the Board regarding Block
Scheduling and the addition of an entire class per grade for next year.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Consider approval of the Board of Trustees meeting held on March 1, 2010.
b. Consideration of Resolution 10-02, Approving a Nepotism policy.
c. Consideration of Resolution 10-03, Approving a new 403(b) administrator
through the Region XI Benefits Cooperative.
d. Consideration of Resolution 10-04, Adopting a policy relative to the use of
academy facilities for non -school affiliate groups.
e. Consideration of Resolution 10-05, Adopting of the Primary Assessment and
Reporting Policy.
f. Consideration of Resolution 10-06, Authorizing the CEO of Westlake Academy
to enter into an agreement with Parker School Uniforms as the Academy's
preferred vendor for shoes.
Trustee Rennhack asked items a and b be removed for discussion.
Trustee Corson asked item f be removed for discussion.
MOTION: Trustee Brittan made a motion to approve items c, d and e of the
consent agenda. Trustee Corson seconded the motion. The motion
carried by a vote of 5-0.
MOTION: Trustee Brittan made a motion to approve the item a amending the
minutes as discussed. Trustee Langdon seconded the motion. The
motion carried by a vote of 5-0.
MOTION: Trustee Rennhack made a motion to approve item a of the consent
agenda. Trustee Rollins seconded the motion. The motion carried by a
vote of 5-0.
Discussion ensued regarding the policy and the effects of hiring relatives could
have on a small organization.
MOTION: Trustee Brittan made a motion to approve item b of the consent agenda.
Trustee Rollins seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 3-
2. Trustees Corson and Rennhack voted in opposition.
MOTION: Trustee Corson made a motion to approve item f of the consent agenda
adding language that families are not required to purchase uniforms
from Parker Uniform. Trustee Langdon seconded the motion. The
motion carried by a vote of 5-0.
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5. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE
WESTLAKE ACADEMY SENIOR CLASS OF 2010.
Head of Secondary Garcia, DP Coordinator Stoyanoff, and Secondary Counselor Barron
provided and update on the graduation ceremony, the number of graduates and
colleges they will be attending.
Counselor Barron provided a College application update showing that 100% of the
Senior Class has been accepted to at least one college and collectively the class has
been offered over $2,300.000 in scholarship monies.
DP Coordinator Stoyanoff provided an overview of the Senior Class stating 21 of the 24
seniors will be sitting for all of the IB exams and faculty predicted 71% of the students
will pass the IB exams. He also mentioned that the month of April is designed for
students to study for the IB exams and scores would be available for viewing in July.
6. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 10-07, ADOPTING THE 2010-2011
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
Chief Executive Officer Brymer asked that this item be removed to be reviewed again
with staff and the faculty.
MOTION: No Action
7. DISCUSSION OF THE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DASHBOARD REPORT FOR THE
QUARTER ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2010.
Chief Executive Officer Brymer provided an overview of the dashboard.
8. CONSIDERATION RESOLUTION 10-08, ADOPTING A FIVE (5) YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY.
Court Administrator DeGan provided a presentation and overview of the revisions made
to the plan.
Discussion ensued regarding the timeline of implementation, presenting updates to the
board, times to review the complete plan, adding additional benchmarking opportunities
and financial feasibility information.
MOTION: No Action
9. DISCUSSION OF BOARD OF TRUSTEE GOVERNANCE AS ILLUSTRATED IN DR.
BRIAN CARPENTER'S AN INTRODUCTION TO EFFECTIVE CHARTER SCHOOL
GOVERNANCE, CHAPTERS 1-2.
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10. BOARD CALENDAR
- Bandana Bonanza
May 1, 2010
- Election Day
May 8, 2010
- Board Meeting
May 10, 2010
- New Board Trustee/Council orientation
May 12, 2010
- Texas Charter Schools Association Conference
May 12-14, 2010
- Westlake Academy Graduation
May 23, 2010
- Decoration Day
May 31, 2010
- Board Meeting
June 7, 2010
- Board Budget Retreat — Off Site
June 18, 2010 (Friday 9:00 — 1:00)
- Board Meeting (adoption of budget)
August 16, 2010
11. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Rick Rennhack Home Schooled children participating in WA sports.
MOTION: Trustee Brittan agreed to place the item on a future agenda.
Carol Langdon A student parking lot with student only access off of
Ottinger Road.
MOTION: Trustee Corson agreed to place the item on a future agenda.
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12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, President Wheat asked for a motion
to adjourn.
MOTION: Trustee Rennhack made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee
Rollins seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.
President Wheat adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON MAY 10, 2010.
ATTEST:
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Kelly ,Edwards, Board Secretary
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Laura Wheat, Board President
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