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GES Board
APPROVED Minutes
August 10, 2005

The meeting was opened at 4:00 pm.

Members present: Kathryn Nelson-Pederson, Barb Nagle, Patty Nordahl, Suzy Schweig, Nina Simonowicz, Susan Miller

Nina S. read the school’s mission.

All gave a Celebration Sentence.

Nina moved and Suzy seconded to accept the agenda. Additions to the agenda: addition of Policy. All ayes to accept the agenda as amended.

Nina moved and Suzy seconded to approve the minutes of the July 27th board meeting. All ayes.

Treasurer’s Report:
Nina moved and Patty seconded to approve the bills presented. Big dollar items are the bus and insurance.
All ayes to approve the bills.
Implementation grant was discussed by line item including budget, YTD spent, obligations and remaining.

Educators Report:
Suzy reported that the teacher retreat was a wonderful success. Goal setting and curriculum mapping in social studies was some of the hard work the teachers did while they were away.
Kathryn reported that the work that the staff did together team building was very important. 100% of the teachers and staff attended the retreat and followed Laura Medwetz’s agenda, completing the activities she had planned. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency Laura Medwetz was unable to attend.
Patty commented that in writing the next Federal Grant this is an important item to keep in mind.
A strong candidate for Director was also interviewed by the entire staff during this retreat and the staff noted how important it is to have as many educators and staff in the interview process.
Suzy reported that Patsy will contact Voyagers about MAPS testing.

Sponsor Communications:
Barbara brought up the subject about attending the Audubon Center on August 24th and 25th for the Charter School meeting.
Nina outlined the following three scheduling conflicts: 1.there is a regularly scheduled board meeting, 2. it is a student contact day, and 3. our mediator Marcia Cushmore is scheduled to attend a board meeting and work session at GES. The teachers decided at the regular Monday teacher meeting that teacher’s time is best spent in the classroom as this is the beginning of school, so teachers have tentatively decided that Board members and volunteers should go.
However, Suzy stressed that it is our responsibility to attend. Nina will check her home schedule and Patsy would also like to attend.
Barbara questioned what information we should send to Mike Link that will satisfy the requirements to show student performance. The board decided that the annual report, BST, MCA, and MAPS tests would be appropriate, concrete documents showing student progress. A portfolio and a sample report card will also be included. Nina will contact ACNW and let them know we are attending. Barbara will contact Marcia Cushmore to reschedule.

Board Retreat:
Nina brought up the topic that since the last Board retreat she has been thinking about Board Priorities and commitments. What is an ideal Board? These questions may be topics for the next session with Marcia Cushmore.

Committee Reports:
Nina made the motion to accept Tom Resek’s resignation. Patty seconded; ayes all.
The chair thanked Tom for his service to the school, particularly for spearheading enrollment for the 2005- 2006 school year.
Patty will be in charge of extending thanks on behalf of the entire board to those who have served GES

Personnel report:
Suzy reported that the staff felt strongly that the candidate would be a good match as director at GES. Barbara recommended that he meet the entire board since he has not met Patty and Nina.
Board members that did get a chance to meet this candidate listened to those who had.
The board has decided to extend the offer of a third interview with board members and parents.
Susan moved and Patty seconded to accept the staff salary schedule as presented. Ayes all.

Finance Committee:
Patty presented the operating budget and Nina stressed we are very reliant on the purchase order system, and there is very little elbow room in the operating budget. There is much more room in the federal grant budget.
Patty made a motion to use CMERDC for all of our bookkeeping. Nina seconded. Ayes all.
CMERDC will do our bookkeeping within our allowable budget. The PO system will be further refined.
There is a transition problem with payroll that will affect hourly employees because CMERDC needs a week after they first get the payroll info.
This means that hourly people’s check will be affected. Susan will explain this to the three special education paraprofessionals.
The finance committee recommended that we do the following:
sell the bus that has no lift.
hire a plow person for a set cost.
Transportation is over-budget and we need to take the money from another line item
After the board looked over the list , Nina moved to amend the budget that the overage in transportation up to 500 dollars be taken from the cleaning line item. Amy seconded it. Ayes all.

Policy:
There was some discussion about who is the point person for attendance. The need may arise and we will need someone in place to deal with attendance issues.
Also a new tech person will be needed for testing set-up. The tech committee will be asked to find a new tech person.

Meeting Feedback:

All read the Memo of Understanding from ACNW.

Nina moved and Susan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 pm. Ayes all.

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