Work Session
Odyssey Charter School
6201 Noble Ave. N.
Brooklyn Center, MN55429
April 9, 2003
Call to Order NA
Roll Call The following Board members were present: Jeni Holm, Rick Fletcher, John Sedey, Kari Mitchell, Janice Sandberg, Steve Skramstad, and Susan Dougherty.
Acceptance of Agenda NA
Approval of Minutes NA
Community Comments NA
Consent Agenda NA
Old Business NA
New Business Finance
Janice Sandberg stated she would like financial statements from Judith Darling at least one week before each board meeting. She added that Judith was planning to have the budget done by the first week in May.
Education
Janice Sandberg stated Steph Dess has joined the education subcommittee.
Audit
Mary Beth Frank and Ed Kossmann explained that the state had asked for more financial information about Odyssey. They went on to explain that the state was attempting to get more information about what would help struggling charter schools stay afloat. The state is trying to ascertain what support is needed from CFL, MACS, our sponsor and other interested parties. They explained that the state had asked for some financial documents as well as minutes from board meetings from the last year.
Janice Sandberg asked how Odyssey could avoid this situation in the future and Mary Beth Frank stated the fund balance should be kept at an acceptable level in the future.
Mary Beth stated she had given the state Janice Sandberg’s and Jeni Holm’s names as contacts for the more information.
Leadership
Janice Sandberg stated she had met with David Alley from Designs for Learning to discuss several leadership models. The models were based on several different student enrollment scenarios.
There was discussion about expanding the role of the social worker. There was discussion about expanding her hours and her activities throughout the school.
John Sedey stated the leader of the school must carry the vision and a good leader is not necessarily a good manager. He went on to say that some tasks can be outsourced, but leadership is one task that can not be outsourced. He added the board needs a leader they can trust and the school can’t be governed by committee.
Janice Sandberg stated she preferred a leadership model that included a director and a business manager. She stated she would like to bring this option to the board for a motion at the next meeting.
It was stated that Odyssey should market the position of director as a leadership position rather than a manager.
It was suggested the leadership team be elected by staff so it is not such a top down model.
Adjournment:The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Next meetings:Regular meeting to be held Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:30pm.