Board meeting minutes March 2015
Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy Governing Board
March 26th, 2015
Minutes
Board Members Present: Annette Zinky, Laurah Hagen, Stephanie Stackhouse, Rand Jenkins
Staff Members Present: Laura Kelly, Jelenann Selayers
Guest: Alena Hlohinec, Taylor Smith
Call to Order: Annette called the meeting to order at 4:18pm
Approval of Consent Agenda:
January 14th, 2015 Agenda
Annette made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes. Rand seconded. This motion passed unanimously.
Information Items:
Laura gave overview of P&L statements from January and February. Discussed challenges of categorizing expenses due to the individual credit cards being used. Discussed why certain budget lines, such as travel, show up in several categories of the budget. Classifying is out of the hands of the administration when the teachers make their own expenses, and turn in receipts two months later. Expenses are now being channeled through Laura and Jelenann only, so the expenses are booked in the right categories, using the same methodology and reasoning. Laura suggests getting a treasurer on the board, or as a volunteer, who could give input into budgetary questions.
Discussed State Equalization funding; appreciate the payment schedule they’ve created so FALA can anticipate deposits. Laura said that how money is budgeted to each department is being reviewed.
Laura updated board on negotiations with Mangum Wall.
Board discussed budget documentation they would like Laura to send before each meeting.
Rand motioned to approve financials. Stephanie seconds. Motion passed unanimously.
Discussion of proposed changes to bylaws. Discussion of inclusion of parents (or parents of alumni) and impact into the culture of the school. Parents of current students who are involved on the board can impact the dynamics between teachers and that parent, especially in challenging conversations relating to their child, and in the sensitive nature of the content covered in board meetings. Board decides not to vote on the bylaws to give Laura more time to research impact into staff support.
Changes are approved but the bylaws will be ratified after the rewrite is complete.
Rand moves to approve section 5.1 (a) and (b), Stephanie seconds the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Discussion of Calendar for 2015-2016 academic year; it aligns with FUSD.
Rand moves to approve calendar, Stephanie seconds. Motion passed unanimously.
Discussion of board needs. Stephanie reviewed skills represented on the board currently, based on matrices that were collected on hiring. Current board has skills represented, but several gaps in knowledge also exist. The Treasurer role needs to be filled with someone with expertise; Stephanie will consider taking this on. Discussion of development of a board member pipeline. All board members will recommend and vet potential new members, keeping in mind the sensitive chemistry of board makeup required for optimum performance.
Jelenann, Academic Dean, reported on fall calendar. There are a few staff positions available, and there are already excellent referrals to fill them.
Laura, Executive Director, reported on her observations from the first 2 months. Discussed opportunities to increase support of staff, safety of students, and relationships with administration as decision-making partners.
Annette motions to adjourn at 5:54 pm. Rand seconds. Laurah approves.