Board meeting minutes August 2015
Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy Governing Board
August 19, 2015
Minutes
Board Members Present: Annette Zinky, Russ Rothamer, Laurah Hagen, Rand Jenkins
Staff Members Present: Laura Kelly, Jelenann Salyers, Mike Levin, Sarah Buss
Call to Order: Annette Zinky called the meeting to order at 4:06pm
Approval of Consent Agenda: Annette called for a motion to approve agenda. Russ made a motion to approve, Laurah seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Information Items:
ED Laura Kelly updated board on July 2015 financials. Discussed need for local relationships for better connections for accounting advice and guidance. Possibility of transitioning from ADI to a local accountant who knows the role FALA plays in the community. Discussed benefits and challenges of this potential transition.
ED clarified accounting items in financial statements with Annette.
Discussion of strengths and contributions of new financial coordinator on the FALA staff.
Board expressed concerns over July financials prepared by ADI, consistent trend of lack of responsiveness and professionalism.
Jelenann, dean, reported on academy. Mike Levin, theater teacher, is taking students on a field trip. Dean expressed concern over scheduling for state-mandated vision and hearing screening, came together at last minute. Student handbook was rewritten; board needs to approve. Significant changes include updates to loss of credit policy for students, students are required to make up minutes in order to earn credit. Behavior matrix was updated to reflect a progressive response to discipline issues. SPED director and high school math teacher positions are still open. By law, FALA is covered with credential requirements for now with the staff member currently in the position. Math substitute will stay through the end of the month, Laura and Jelenann have tried all their resources to find a new teacher. Reports that should have been submitted prior to Jelenann’s arrival were not submitted; she feels 99% confident that the school is caught up now based on her work completed over the summer. Enrollment is right at what was estimated and budgeted for.
Annette asked about policy for admitting a few extra students to account for attrition. Jelenann clarified that the high school is overloaded while the middle school has room for new students, and the high school classrooms are not large enough to accommodate more students. There are not additional students waiting to be accepted to the middle school.
Annette commented that the new order of the handbook includes policy and procedural notes before the FALA Habits of Heart and Mind, requested the mission of FALA and the habits be placed first in the handbook. Jelenann agreed to move habits and mission to the front. Jelenann requestsed board to read the new handbook so we can support her administering from it.
ED Laura Kelly gives report. ED requests possible changes to how board meetings operate. Requests that meetings include discussion and brainstorming on issues facing the school. ED updated board on new FALA website, requests board revise bios. Discussed fundraising ideas involving public performances, piggy-backing onto what is already happening performance-wise. Mike discussed upcoming performance of Pippin in partnership with Circus Baccus and Arial Arts. Board agreed to identify specific names for possible membership in board.
Russ moved to go into executive session. Rand seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Rand moved to adjourn the meeting. Russ seconded. Motion passed unanimously.