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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-11 BOT MinWESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKSHOP & REGULAR MEETINGS March 10, 2011 PRESENT: President Laura Wheat and Trustees, Clif Cox, Carol Langdon, and Rick Rennhack. ABSENT: Tim Brittan OTHERS PRESENT: Workshop Session 1. CALL TO ORDER Superintendent, Tom Brymer, Board Secretary Kelly Edwards, Secondary Principal Rod Harding, Primary Principal Jamie Schmitz, Administrative Services Coordinator Ben Nibarger, Municipal Court and Special Projects Director Amanda DeGan , Finance Director Debbie Piper, and Assistant to the Superintendent Ginger Awtry. President Wheat called the workshop meeting to order at 4:42 p.m. 2. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FROM MARCH 10, 2011, TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING AGENDA. Superintendent Tom Brymer gave a brief introduction to all of the consent agenda items, expanding his discussion regarding Item c.; the resolution to support making education a priority in the current Legislature's budget deliberations. Mr. Brymer briefly reiterated the importance of this issue and the significance of the Academy joining a larger support group with other school districts. President Wheat asked for further explanation about Item d, the State waiver for the snow/ice days. PYP Principal Jamie Schmitz explained that we are submitting waivers for the additional three days missed due to inclement weather in February. TEA requires that every school district make up a minimum of two days and those are scheduled on our school calendar in advance. Mr. Schmitz stated this waiver is requesting that we receive TEA funding for all 5 days as the other three instructional days that were missed will be made up incrementally throughout the remaining school year. Additionally, the BOT Minutes 03/10/11 Page 1 of 5 teacher contract days that were missed will be made up by holding Professional Development make-up days on Saturdays. Trustee Rennhack asked if the surrounding school districts were also requesting this waiver and Mr. Schmitz answered affirmatively. 3. REPORTS a. Secondary Leadership Team recommendations for expanding the Language B component within both the MYP and DP. President Wheat asked if the Trustees had any questions regarding any of the listed reports. Trustee Rennhack asked a question about how the Language B expansion relates to the projected funding shortfall by the State. Superintendent Brymer answered that this plan relates to the Board's desires to move forward with the Option B expansion which included adding an additional language. While the administrators are making those plans now, it was decided that this would be built into the scenarios presented later today and this position will be filled by existing faculty. Trustee Cox complimented this report stating this is exactly the kind of report that the Board desired to receive in order to summarize and streamline information to better govern. All trustees concurred that it was well understood and written. Trustee Langdon asked about our choice of the second language offering and is curious to know if it is the best choice for the demand in the business world. Discussion ensued about the various language options and the best ones to offer to our students, what is in demand now and keeping track of these demands through the years, possibility to add more languages in the future, what are college students taking now, and what type of language demands are we hearing from our students and parents. 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Presentation and Discussion of Various Multi -Year State Funding Forecast Reduction Scenarios for Westlake Academy. Superintendent Brymer provided a presentation and overview of the forecast as prepared by Staff. Discussion ensued regarding the possible time frame of the impact from the Legislative session, the max number of students, vacancies for new students and Westlake residents, the number of classes teachers currently teach and would need to teach and the need to produce multiple budget scenarios. Superintendent Brymer stated there was no action necessary at this time and he Would provide a status update in April. BOT Minutes 03/10/11 Page 2 of 5 b. Presentation and Discussion of Westlake Academy Facility Plan Options by Mr. Peter Hayes of Project Management Services, Inc. Superintendent Brymer introduced Mr. Peter Hayes and Eric Goodlove from Project Management Services, Inc. Mr. Hayes and Mr. Goodlove provided a presentation and overview of facilities planning and growth model options for the Academy. Discussion ensued regarding the various options proposed, organization of staff and faculty, efficiency models for the proposed campus layout, state funding and construction cost and the organization structure of other charter schools. Note added to the record - Mr. Hayes was contacted last year and this study was funded by a grant from the Hudson Foundation. c. Discussion of board of trustee governance as illustrated in Dr. Brian Carpenter's Charter School Board University.• An introduction to effective charter school governance; Chapters 16-17. The Board reviewed and discussed the questions in Chapters 16 and 17 as they relate to the academy. S. BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION - Schedule an item regarding the proposed facilities planning model provided by Mr. Hayes during a future meeting and/or strategic planning session. - Schedule a strategic plan retreat. - Present the current financial situation with the cost of construction for the proposed planning model as discussed and to include a Municipal Complex. - Review offering an additional language such as Mandarin Chinese. 6. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, President Wheat adjourned the workshop at 8:41 p.m. BOT Minutes 03/10/11 Page 3of5 Regular Session 1. CALL TO ORDER President Wheat called the Regular meeting to order at 8:42 p.m. with Trustee Brittan absent. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE President Wheat led the pledge of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags. 3. CITIZENS' PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS No one addressed the Board. 4. CONSENT AGENDA a. Consider approval of the minutes for the meeting held on February 7, 2011. b. Consider approval of the minutes for the meeting held on February 28, 2011. c. Consider approval of Resolution 11-05, in Support of Making Education a Priority in the Current Texas Legislature's Budget Deliberations for the Next Biennium. d. Consider approval of Resolution 11-06, Requesting a waiver for Missed Instructional Days. MOTION: Trustee Langdon made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Trustee Rennhack seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 3-0. S. BOARD CALENDAR - Trustee Meeting April 4, 2011 - Town Offices Closed April 22, 2011 (Good Friday) - WA Senior Dinner June 2, 2011, Petroleum Club, Fort Worth - 7:00-10:00 p.m. - WA Graduation June 4, 2011, Hurst Convention Center - 2:00 p.m. 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - None BOT Minutes 03/10/11 Page 4 of 5 7. 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 Cox seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 3-0. President Wheat adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m. APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON APRIL 4, 2011. ATTEST: Kelly dward , Board Secretary zdz=.[.J�'.4— xlb� Laura Wheat, Board President BOT Minutes 03/10/11 Page 5 of 5