Regular Meeting
Odyssey Charter School
6201 Noble Ave. N.
Brooklyn Center, MN55429
August 21, 2002
6:30 P.M.
Call to Order A meeting of the Odyssey Charter School Board of Directors was held on Wednesday, August 31st. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. There was not a quorum when the meeting began, and the following minutes are taken from that discussion. There were no actions or motion until there was a quorum.
Roll Call The following Board members were present: Rick Wolf, Steph Dess, Karen Johnson and Lori Bona.
Discussion Update for 6510 Building- Anne will set up a meeting with Karen Johsnon and Excell Academy about the space remaining at the Zane building. She reported that she has not spoken to Mohammed from Imani about renting the Zane space. She mentioned that there was some concern about having to share a restroom. She also mentioned that there would need to be a separate exit.
Lori Bona asked about additional lease aid for the building, and Anne Lindgren noted that Odyssey would need 245 students in order to use the Zane space for student instruction. She added that Odyssey might be able to use it for teacher prep space. Karen Johnson mentioned that no one has marketed the space, and she wondered if Odyssey should approach Sam Thorpe and ask if would be willing to help Odyssey market the building. Anne Lindgren replied that as Executive Director she would not be able to act as a leasing agent- she does not have the time. She would be able to help with the budget, but not with marketing the building. Karen Johnson asked if we could work out a deal with Osseo wherein Odyssey could cover next year any shortfalls with lease payments from this year. She further stated that she was nervous about Osseo knowing that Odyssey has a large deficit in the budget at this point. She added that she believes that if Odyssey were to present Mohammed with a deal soon, he would take it.
Anne Lindgren stated that Odyssey’s current budget is not accurate, and that it is based on projected enrollment of 220. She said that it should be based on our current enrollment. She added that increased enrollment will improve the budget. She said that Odyssey’s next step should be to meet with Excell Academy regarding the two rooms that need to be rented. Steph Dess asked who should talk to Sam Thorpe, and Anne Lindgren stated that she has a good rapport with him. Steph Dess asked if Anne would feel comfortable speaking to Sam Thorpe about marketing the building. Anne said she would be willing to do that, but that she was sure he was only interested in the lease payment.
Karen Johnson asked who would like to be on a Zane building task force with her. Steph Dess stated that she has limited time, but that she would be willing to help as much as possible. Steph went on to ask if it might be possible to get someone like Valerie Kylo interested in the space. Anne Lindgren asserted that Valerie Kylo is not interested.
Subcommittee Reports
Karen Johnson stated that she, Lori Bona, and Anne Lindgren had met regarding Odyssey becoming a K-9 school. She added that one parent of a ninth grade student attended the meeting. She stated that the recommendation of the task force is that starting this year Odyssey designate itself a K-9 school whether we have a ninth grade student in the building or not. She stated that they further recommended that in the future they look fully at all options regarding Odyssey becoming a K-12 school, including administration and academic concerns, and then make a full recommendation. Steph Dess thanked the task force for the time they put into the K-9 issue. Rick Wolf asked what would happen if a ninth grade student asked to be admitted for this year. Karen Johnson stated that ninth grade students would be admitted on a case-by-case basis after a certain point. Anne Lindgren stated that after a month or so there would be no more space available. She added that Odyssey will have to identify itself as having two ninth grade student for reporting purposes. Rick Wolf asked how Odyssey could accommodate two or three ninth grade students. Karen Johnson stated that the teaching staff did not feel this would be a problem and that one room schoolhouses do it all the time. She further stated that if the Board should pass a motion designating Odyssey as a K-9 school, Kari Mitchell would need to call the parents of former students who would be in ninth grade this year to let them know of the change, and to make them aware of the upcoming open house. She went on to say that Kari Mitchell would then need to send letters to all parents of former eighth grade students letting them know that there is limited space available for ninth grade students this year.
Educational Programs:
Anne Lindgren noted that the Educational Programs subcomittee did not determine when they would meet. Steph Dess stated that this was based on Nate Disch not knowing his school schedule.
It was further stated that Steph Dess will be on the Finance Subcommittee, and Jeni Holm will be on the Educational Programs subcommittee.
Enrollment:
Anne Lindgren stated that people inquire about enrollment all the time and that our numbers change all the time. She stated that our enrollment is currently at 240 students. She stated that we are at full staff. She went on to say that she is noticing more ELL students. She said that we had a licensed ELL teacher last year but we do not have one this year. She said that the position has not been posted, but Karen Johnson is interested in the job. She stated that the staff has been meeting and that Odyssey is ready for the new school year. She added that Rick Wolf will be helping with team building before the school year begins.
Anne Lindgren went on to say that Odyssey has had a much more intimate relationship with the Osseo school district this year. She said that she has been having conversations with different member of the Osseo administration. She said it has been a very positive experience. She mentioned that she is concerned about Odyssey’s relationship with Osseo changing from charter and sponsor to leaser and lessee.
Start and End Times:
Lori Bona stated that several of the board members have gotten email and calls regarding Odyssey’s start and end times. She then asked Anne Lindgren to comment on that.
Anne Lindgren stated that we contract our bus service with the same company as the Osseo School District, and our routes piggyback off Osseo’s routes. She stated that Odyssey gets better rates with this arrangement. She stated that there was flexibility at one time, but Osseo had made the decision to reduce their paraprofessionals’ hours. This results in an earlier dismissal time for Osseo students and a later dismissal time for Odyssey. She went on to say that the issue has become nonnegotiable because Osseo is doing prep time at the end of the school day rather than the beginning of the day. She stated that we still have the option of seeing how much it would cost to have our own two buses from Osseo. She added that she wasn’t sure how advisable it would be to alter our start and end times yet again.
Steph Dess asked how this issue has affected enrollment. Lori Bona said that it had not effected enrollment as far as she knew.
Anne Lindgren asked if the Board would like administration to investigate bussing options. Karen Johnson said that it may be cost prohibitive.
Steph Dess stated that administration could investigate other bussing options, and then pass information regarding expenses to the community.
New Business There was discussion regarding the election of board officers. Steph Dess reported that absent Board member Jeni Holm has expressed that she wished to nominate Karen Johnson for Board chair, and Steph Dess as treasurer. Lori Bona stated she would support that nomination. Steph Dess asked if anyone would like to nominate someone for vice chair.
There was discussion regarding consensus versus Robert’s Rules of Order as well the duties of the Board secretary.
Board Member Arrival Lyle Clemenson arrived at 7:30 p.m., creating a quorum.
Consent Agenda Motion by Karen Johnson, seconded by Lori Bona to accept the consent agenda. Motion passes unanimously.
Additions to Agenda There were no additions to the agenda dated August 31, 2003.
Acceptance of Agenda This agenda item was not moved on.
Approval of Minutes Steph Dess mentioned that her email address is wrong in the minutes dated July 31st, 2002. Motion by Karen Johnson, seconded by Lyle Clemenson, to accept the minutes dated July 31st, 2002. Motion carries unanimously.
Community Comments There were no comments from the community.
New Business
The Finance task force, the Human Resources task force, and the Educational Programs task force all passed.
Designation of Odyssey as K-9
Motion by Karen Johnson , seconded by Steph Dess, that Odyssey Board of Directors approve that Odyssey designate itself K-9 at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year. The motion carries unanimously.
Karen Johnson recommended the formation of a task force to look the issues involved in Odyssey becoming a K-12 school.
Lyle Clemenson asked who would like to be on the K-9 task force. He said that he would volunteer after November 5th, 2002. He went on to say that he would like to set a time in which to discuss how the process will begin.
Anne Lindgren asked if that would be appropriate with the upcoming mayoral elections. Lyle asked if after December 15 or after the first of the year would be acceptable. It was agreed that the task force would begin to meet after the first of the year.
Board Officers
Motion by Rick Wolf, seconded by Lyle Clemenson, that Karen Johnson be appointed Board Chair, Lori Bona be appointed Vice Chair, Steph Dess be appointed Treasurer, and Nathan Disch be appointed Secretary. Motion carried unanimously.
The task force assignments were tabled to the next regular Board meeting.
Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Next Meeting The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for September 18th at 6:30 p.m.
Spotlight On Odyssey The board was shown the video about different learning styles.