Casa Richard Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
August 17, 2011 Meeting Minutes
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
August 17, 2011 - 3:30 PM - via Phone Conference
Board: , Rita Brincat, Evette Faucette, Pamela Paglino, Cathie
Padilla, Roberta Richard (via phone)
RESA in Attendance: n/a
Excused: Raymond Carey
Staff:
Angela Johnson, James Baroli, Timothy Constant, Terry Lajiness
I. Call to Order
President,
R. Richard, called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.
II. Welcome & Oath of Office
One June 29, 2011, the Wayne RESA Board of Education approved the appointment of
Ms. Evette Faucette to the Casa Richard Academy Board for the term beginning
July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2014.
Ms. Faucette
On June 29, 2011, the Wayne RESA Board of Education approved the re-appointment
of members Ray Carey, Pamela Paglino, and Roberta Richard for the term beginning
July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2014.
An Oath of Office was administered by
Roberta Richard and taken by Evette
Faucette
An Oath of Office was administered by Roberta Richard and taken by Pamela Paglino
An Oath of Office was adminstered by Rita Brincat and taken by Roberta Richard
III.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
A motion was made and seconded (Brincat/Padilla) to accept the Meeting
Minutes of June 15, 2011 and July 20, 2011. Motion carried.
IV. Building and Facility Report
J. Baroli reported that the walls were patched and painted, the floors polished, and that the building was ready to open for the students on September 6th.
Mr. Baroli and Ms. Johnson
attended the hearing for the water bill dispute on Thursday, June 23, 2011,
whereas; the following decision was rendered (via correspondence dated July 18,
2011) from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD):
2.
All accrued late charge
penalties and interests resulting from the disputed bill are cancelled;
3.
That if requested, the DWSD
shall give the Complainant a reasonable payment plan.
Via DWSD correspondence dated July 27, 2011 it was determined that the Academy
was not liable for the disputed bill issued July 29, 2008 in the amount of
$6,333.02, as issued. A credit
adjustment of $1,237.91 was applied to the Academy’s account on May 31, 2010.
An additional credit adjustment of $1,925.87 was also applied, and 60
cents in accrued late fees cancelled.
The remaining balance due was $3,281.64 which was paid in full by the
Academy via check number 4592, on August 8, 2011.
Effective July 1, 2011, section 205 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
requires school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School
Lunch Program to provide the same level of support for lunches served to
students who are not eligible for free or reduced price lunches (i.e., paid
lunches) as they are for lunches served to students eligible for free lunches.
1.
Compare the average price
charged for lunches served to students not eligible for free or reduced price
lunches (i.e., students receiving “paid lunches”) to the difference between the
higher Federal reimbursement provided for free lunches and the lower Federal
reimbursement provided for paid lunches.
2.
If the average paid lunch
price is less than the difference, an SFA must either gradually adjust
average prices or provide non-Federal funding to cover the difference.
Hence,
SFAs will are required to adjust prices or find alternative sources
of funding for paid lunches. As it
is, the Academy
accumulated a minimal shortfall of $7.40.
A recommendation was made by Administration to raise the school lunch
prices from $2.40 to $2.45 to keep us in good standing.
A motion was made and
seconded (Paglino/Faucette) to approve a 5 cent increase to school lunches.
Motion carried.
A discussion ensued
about Michigan being selected as one of three states to operate the Community
Eligibility Option (CEO) for the 2011-2012 school year¾ allowing students to
receive free breakfast and lunch.
Members inquired if the Academy applied to participate.
Mr. Jim gave clarification to the process as follows: any school building
that has a percentage of directly certified students of 40% or more, according
to the data reported in Local Educational Agency Review System (LEARS) report,
or as of April 1, 2011, is eligible. The percentage is calculated by taking all
directly certified students (including homeless, migrant, foster, runaways) and
dividing by the student enrollment (students available to participate in school
meal programs). If the percentage is 40% or more, the school is eligible.
However, Districts with direct certification rates between 40 and
62% may be required to pay, from sources other than federal funds, the costs of
serving breakfasts and lunches that are in excess of the federal assistance
received, including federal cash reimbursement.
Based on last year’s data, out of 76 students
receiving free and/or reduced lunches, only 29% of the Academy students were
categorized as eligible; hence the Academy did not apply.
Because Mr. Baroli feels the school should meet the criterion, he will
have further discussion with State representatives to try to get approval of 62
½ percent eligibility; therefore, approval was requested to pursue the CEO
option, if financially viable, and if eligibility status was granted.
A motion was made and
seconded (Paglino/Faucette) to approve pursuit of the CEO option, if financially
viable. Motion carried.
A motion was made and
seconded (Padilla/Faucette) to approve the Building and Facility Report.
Motion carried.
V.
Principal’s Report
A.
Johnson reported that representatives from Boisvenu & Company (our Auditing
Firm) were working on-site today; and that we anticipate receiving a preliminary
audit report by next week.
According to the Department of Education’s new school information system (www.mischooldata.org)
the Academy made AYP for the 2010-2011 school year!
Although student scores were not proficient, they have made progress. The
Academy must make AYP for two consecutive years to
obtain Phase 0 status; therefore, we will continue to execute the school
improvement plan, and check with RESA to see if we can continue to
utilize their Coaches.
1.
School Improvement Plan
2.
School Data Analysis Profile
3.
SES Choice Transfer Letters
4.
Annual Education Report w/ cover letter
(being mailed to parents and posted online 9-19-11)
The 2010-2011 Annual Education
Report (AER) was distributed, reviewed, and discussed by those present.
Members asked for additional time to review the said report and will
submit any recommendations to Administration by Thursday, September 18, 2011.
A motion was made and seconded (Paglino/Faucette)
to approve the 2010-2011 Annual Education Report (pending forthcoming Board
recommendations). Motion
carried.
Teachers are returning to work on Monday, August 22nd, and will engage in two full days of Professional Development (PD) Training to share knowledge gained at various summer workshops at RESA. Six teachers participated in 1 to 3 workshops throughout the summer and found them to be very beneficial.
RESA’s Pre Fall Conference originally scheduled for August 29th was rescheduled; therefore, faculty will partake in an in-house PD activity on August 29th.
Nineteen students graduated in
June, eleven are already going to college, or will be attending in the fall.
At the end of June the Academy had 43 students on the waiting list for
the 2011-12 school year; phone calls were made, and letters sent to their
parents regarding the summer registration process. Thus far, we have 16
new students enrolled¾79
total, and we anticipate 59 of our current students will return.
There were two open houses held in July, and one
hundred promotional flyers distributed in the Hart Plaza vicinity today.
Although enrollment is low, it remains average
for this time of year.
Administrators met with Monica
Archibald, President, Instant Assistant, Inc (R) to review her proposal to
design a new website for the school. The
approximated cost to design and deploy the new site is a discounted price of
$600; the estimated timeline to get the site in place is 30 days. Those present
emphasized the importance of updating the site regularly and keeping information
current, once it is finalized.
Kudos were extended to Roberta
and Catherine for registering for RESA’s Board Training on August 31st.
Ms. Evette was extended an invitation to attend.
A motion was made and
seconded (Brincat/Richard) to accept the Principal’s Report.
Motion carried.
VI.
Finance
Report
None, the Audit Report will be given at the Board’s meeting on September 28th,
2010.
Those present inquiring about
T. Yoe’s recent resignation, discussed recruiting a new board member with a
financial background.
P.
Paglino reported that Bill Rooney’s son was struggling with brain cancer.
M.
Michalzuk reported that there were 3 applicants that came to the school due to
the new signage.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:13 p.m.
Casa Richard Academy
BRIDGING THE GAP ~ EMPOWERING A NEW GENERATION
