HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-16 BOT Min WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
August 10, 2016
PRESENT: President Laura Wheat, Trustees: Alesa Belvedere, Carol Langdon, Rick
Rennhack and Wayne Stoltenberg.
ABSENT: Michael Barrett
OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent Tom Brymer, Assistant to the Superintendent
Amanda DeGan, Executive Director Dr. Mechelle Bryson, MYP
Principal Dr. Andra Barton, Student Services Administrator
Jennifer Furnish, Finance Director Debbie Piper, Registrar Ange
Bumgarner, Executive Director Dr. Shelly Myers, DP
Principal/Coordinator Stacy Stoyanoff, Director of Human
Resources &Administrative Services Todd Wood, Director of
Facilities and Parks & Recreation Troy Meyer Director of
Communications Ginger Awtry, Communications Specialist Susan
McFarland, and Director of Information Technology Jason Power.
Work Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
President Wheat called the work session to order at 6:37 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
President Wheat led the pledge of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.
3. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ON THE REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA.
No additional discussion.
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4. REPORTS
a. Report of international teachers and a review of the immigration status of non-
permanent residents employed at Westlake Academy.
Trustee Stoltenberg asked to discuss this report further and requested HR Director
Wood to provide status of the immigration process.
Discussion ensued regarding the immigration process, length of the process,
differences in visas and using a local Attorney.
Trustee Stoltenberg asked for an update during the next meeting.
b. Report regarding Faculty Turnover for the 2015-2016 School Year including
Student/Teacher ratios.
President Wheat congratulated Dr. Bryson and staff regarding this year's low
turnover rate. Brief discussion ensued regarding current and new staff being poised
for greatness and how WA turnover rate compares with other ISDs and charter
schools as well.
S. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Presentation and discussion regarding IB, AP, STAAR, ISA and AAPPL student
assessments completed during the 2015-16 school year.
Dr. Bryson, Dr. Barton, Principals Stoyanoff and Harding, and Student Services
Administrator Furnish provided a presentation regarding Testing and Assessments.
Discussion ensued regarding the passage rates, areas of improvement, number of AP
Scholars, legacy teachers, Washington Post's challenge, curriculum alignment,
phasing world scores, bi-annual ISA testing options, and 2016-2017 goals.
b. Presentation and discussion regarding a proposed policy amendment for policies 6.01
and 6.03 Assessment and Grade Reporting Policy Secondary— Middle Years Program
and Diploma Program; Weighting of Grades.
Dr. Barton summarized staff's recommendation regarding the proposed amendment.
Discussion ensued regarding students'GPA, ranking, related quality points which
factor in to student's transcripts and how colleges look at this data.
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c. Presentation and discussion regarding 2016 International Mindedness Educators
Symposium (IMES) and Summer Student Travel.
Dr. Bryson provided an overview and update regarding this year's symposium and
the locations of various student group travels over the summer.
Dr. Bryson stated that the IMES attendance doubled this year with 60 educators in
attendance, representing 7 countries. She added as early as next month, WA staff
will be working to build up global participation for next year and will begin dialogues
and collaboration with international educators. Additionally, she shared IBO
requested to retweet our WA IMES tweets and to cover the symposium and tweets in
an upcoming issue of the IB World magazine. Teachers will discuss how this
information will be applied in their classroom at upcoming meeting and students will
provided a report to the Board regarding their international.
Dr. Bryson listed the various student groups traveling over the summer and the
countries visited. Staff sponsors and students will present reports to the Board in the
coming months.
6. BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION
President Wheat summarized notes taken for future staff follow-up with the Board for
the following areas:
- Keep close eye on exam results and how it affects our WA national rankings in order
to provide early messaging to parents
Feedback from students regarding classes at mid-year
Progress on PYP Science and related STAAR exam prep
Staff decision on ISA &AAPPL testing frequency in future
Update on immigration status for international staff members
IB Diploma ceremony recognition for those graduates receiving IB Diploma
Further conversations with Deloitte regarding previous talks on regular engagement
with current WA students and hosting a possible dinner for WA IB Diploma recipients.
In closing, brief discussion ensured regarding clarification for Trustee Langdon about
special education support/services agreement provided by Birdville ISD.
7. ADJOURNMENT
President Wheat adjourned the work session at 8:36 p.m.
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Regular Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
President Wheat called the regular session to order at 8:36 p.m.
2. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Dr. Bryson announced that TEA approved the renewal application of Westlake's Charter
through 2026, briefly discussing comments received and how staff addressed those
comments.
President Wheat called attention to items listed, specifically two upcoming events for WA
staff and event she and her husband will be hosting.
3. CITIZEN COMMENTS
No one addressed the Board.
4. CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed below are considered routine by the Board of
Trustees and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of
items unless a Board member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be
removed from the general order of business and considered in its normal sequence.
a. Consider approval of the minutes from the June 6, 2016, meeting.
b. Consider approval of the minutes from the June 13, 2016, meeting.
c. Consider approval of Resolution 16-09, Approving an Amendment Policy 6.03 -
Assessment and Grade Reporting Policy Secondary— Middle Years Program and
Diploma Program and Rescinding Policy 6.01 Grading System.
d. Consider approval of Resolution 16-10, Amending the Attendance Policy.
e. Consider approval of Resolution 16-11, Amending the Westlake Academy
Personnel Manual for the 2016-2017 school year.
f. Consider approval of a Resolution 16-12, Authorizing the Superintendent to
Execute a Contract with the Education Service Center Region it for various
Business and Student Support Services for the operation of Westlake Academy.
g. Consider approval of Resolution 16-13, Approving an Insurance Bid from Box
Insurance Agency property/casualty insurance products and services for FY 2016-
2017 in the amount of$127,168.00.
h. Consider approval of Resolution 16-14, Adopting a Grant Management
Procedure Manual.
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i. Consider approval of Resolution 16-15, Approving a Shared Services
Arrangement for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Students with the Birdville
Independent School District— Regional Day School Program.
MOTION: Trustee Rennhack made a motion to approve the consent
agenda. Trustee Langdon seconded the motion. The motion
carried by a vote of 4-0.
S. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 16-16,
APPROVING THE AMENDED YEAR-END BUDGET FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2016 AND ADOPTING THE
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2017.
Dr. Bryson and Director Piper provided a presentation and discussed highlights regarding
new School year's revenues and expenses including the current year's estimated
adjustments, trends, and service level adjustments.
Discussion ensued regarding State funding, proposed cases legislature beginning and
end of school days, affects to attendance, Blacksmith funding trends, staffing and
recruitment trends, Strategic planning, balanced scorecard perspectives, student
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enrollment budget forecast assumptions, class sizes, current registration numbers,
Student attendance trends, initiatives to increase our 97% attendance rate, holding State
- funding flat until new biennium, monitoring legislative actions and the 5 year forecast.
MOTION: Trustee Stoltenberg made a motion to approve Resolution 16-
16. Trustee Belvedere seconded the motion. The motion carried
by a vote of 4-0.
6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No future agenda items.
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7. ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business before the Board, President Wheat asked for a motion to
adjourn the meeting.
MOTION: Trustee Rennhack made a motion to adjourn the regular session.
Trustee Langdon seconded the motion. The motion carried by a
vote of 4-0.
President Wheat adjourned the regular session at 9:08 p.m.
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2016.
ATTEST:
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Lau Wheat, President
Ginger ry, Acting Board SOcretary
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