Board Minutes 1-20-15 - Mountain Village Charter School

MVCS Board of Trustees Monthly Meeting 1/20/14 - Minutes
 Trustees attending: Craig Churchill, Mark Casale, Thea Dodds, Dick Hage, Matt Thornton, Katy
Gautsch, Jamie Hannon (Secretary)
 Also attending: Molly McCahan
1. Call to Order – 5:35pm
2. Review of agenda items
 Matt suggested addition of permaculture discussion to Master Planning Item #4
3. HoS Report (Complete Report in Appendix A)
*Mission Moments
 DISC Training for in-service day. Enlightening exploration of staff personalities and dynamics.
Moving forward toward mutual staff understandings
 Family snowshoe event was a success, including some new families
 Selected recent quotes:
o “I love this school. I am so happy to be here.”
o “I love math... Can I do more math?”
o “I love reading, especially about science.”
 The luge run in the back yard
*Upcoming events
 Coyote Visit from Squam Lakes Science Center, 1/30 (Great support from Audrey Eisenhauer,
Director of Education at SLSC)
 Raising trout in the Bobcats’ classroom
 Planning for Thornton baby arrival
 Spring Equinox Coffee House/Talent Show
*Monthly Priorities/Goals –
 Parent engagement
o Survey development
o February fundraiser – calendar raffle
 Student support
o IEP Meetings (discussion about various student support services)
o 504 Plans as an emerging topic (Matt and Katy will converse, discuss opportunities for
engaging with LR Child Development Clinic to get support with assessments)
 Montessori Compass school software tool will be piloted by one of the teachers
 Development planning
o Major prospective donor dinner this spring, maybe mid-May (develop list, select
location, consider menu…)
 Daily Operations
o New calendar and project management tools
 Look into Whipplehill School Management systems
 Staff team updates
o Culture Document
o DISC
o Team meetings ongoing
o 2015-2016 teacher recruitment discussion
o Reaching out to current team regarding intent for next year
 Community Explorations
o SLNSC
o
Waterville Valley (willing to offer a free bus transport to WV)
 Discussion ensues
o Minus 33 woolens
 Matt talked with Todd, developing children’s clothing line, possible field-testing
or sponsorship
o Iberdrola Renewables
 Reached out, but no response yet
o Bible conference??
 Developing HOS Advisory Team
 Considering Montessori Leadership Institute online leadership training – Tim Seldon
*Needs
 Policies
o Cold weather
o Lightning
 Shed #2 Build
 Light for the sign/”Enrollment Now Open” sign.
 See Attachment B for Recruitment and Enrollment Plan for Enrollment Period 2015-2016
4. Proposed initial visioning meeting toward a master plan facilitated
by Steve Whitman
 Thea will reach out to Steve to look for possible Tuesday dates in February.
5. Proposal by Molly McCahan (and Bryan Felice) to provide a permaculture workshop to the board
(See Appendix C for proposal and diagram)
 6-8 hour workshop educating re: permaculture, then facilitating visioning for the school
through the lens of permaculture
 Discussion regarding the role of the permaculture concept in the visioning and design process,
how it might fit into visioning process
 Conclusion that board will review proposal
6. Describe what Sub-Committees we want established
* Fundraising committee – Would Craig chair a fundraising
committee?
* Conservation committee? Our electric bill has been about
$500/month.
7. 4th grade Housing option (Thea)
 Modular on-site
 Yurt
 Hawkenson/MB Tractor
o Action 1: Thea call MB Tractor’s Realtor/Owner
o Action 2: Mark C. talk with Brian Murphy re: Composting Toilets
* Hiring plan
* Summer program? Will we try to have a 2015 summer program?
 Many ideas, desire for a cost analysis,
1. Consent Agenda (for matters requiring little or no discussion)
* Minutes of 12/3/14 board meeting
 Motion to accept Minutes from 12/3/14 (Dick); Second (Katy); Vote: 6-0-0 MOTION PASSES
* Have all bank forms been signed? Do we want another checking
account to separate out state funds and grant funds.
 Putting $10,000 into account
* Sign 1023 application - done
* Approve payment to Josh Nossaman for pipe insulation.
 Motion to pay as noted (Jamie); Second (Dick); Vote: 5-0-1
2. Executive Session if needed
3. Next Meeting: 2/17/2015
4. Motion to adjourn at 8:28pm
Appendix A
Head of School Report to the Board
1.20.15
Mission Moments
-
DISC training
Snowshoe event
Student quotes“I love this school, I’m just so happy to be here” “I love Math” “I love reading about science”
The luge
Upcoming events
-
Coyote visit coming 1/30
Trout program- February
Open houses- Jan/Feb
Thornton Baby! tbd
Spring Equinox Coffee house- date tbd
HOS Priorities/Goals- January/February:
-
-
-
-
-
Parent engagement
o survey development
o February Fundraiser
Student supporto IEP meetings
o Pilot Montessori Compass
o Volunteers- parent, PSU
o 504 teams
 FAQ’s- Greco
 Use clinic for evals- Lakes Region

Board Development & Budget planningo Major Donor prospects- Dinner
o Committee meetings
o Strategic planning/development- Board retreat
o Capital Campaign design
Daily operationso Systems- new calendar and project management tools
o Policies/procedures
Staff teamo Culture document
o DISC
o Team meetings, and class team meetings
-
-
-
o 4th grade teacher recruitment
Community Exploration
o Squam Lakes Nat Science Center
o Waterville Valley
o Minus 33
o Iberdrola Renewables
HOS Advisory team
o Ali
o Holly
o Laura
o Katherine
o Brandon
o Donna
PD
o Montessori Leadership Institute- M. Foundation
Needs
-
-
Policy
o Weather
o Social Media
SHED #2 build
Transportation
Light for sign + OPEN enrollment sign (Pierre)
504 team support
Attachment B
MVCS STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND ENROLLMENT PLAN
GOAL: Full enrollment for 2015-16. Waitlists at each grade level.
TIMELINE:
Current student re-enrollment period- 1/16-1/31- Intent to re-enroll forms due.
New Student Enrollment Period- February 2- March 2- Online and paper applications accepted
New Student Lottery- March 16th
RECRUITMENT:
Current Enrollment= 40
Need:
16 1st years
?? 2nd years
?? 3rd years
4th years?
OUTREACH:
Open Houses- Proposed dates:
Wed 1/28- 6pm
Sat 1/31- 10am
Mon 2/2 6pm
Thu 2/12- 6pm
Wed 2/18- 6pm
Mon 2/23- 10am
Sat 2/28- 1pm
Word of Mouth Campaign
-
Email/ social media with current parents and stakeholders
Flyers to parents
Key Messages and Talking points
Advertising


ETC sound of Music programs - $80
Chamber of Commerce





FlyersSignage on Billboard
Plymouth Record
Parks & Rec?
Facebook campaign
Feeder program outreach
-
White Mountain Montessori
Blue Heron Montessori
Mid-State Montessori
Watermelon Seeds
Other K?
Town board meetings?
Appendix C Proposal from McCahan and Felice