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