Regular Meeting
Odyssey Charter School
6201 Noble Ave. N.
Brooklyn Center, MN55429
November 19, 2003
6:30 P.M.
Members in attendance: Susan Dougherty, Rick Fletcher, Kari Mitchell, Janice Sandberg, Jon Sedey, returning member Dave Rand, and new Board members Lori Bona and Destiny Sparks. Absent: Steve Skramstad.
Ex officio: Andrew Adelmann of Designs for Learning
Note: All votes were unanimous unless otherwise stated. The following items were distributed at the beginning of the meeting: Financial Presentation, Human Resources Committee report, Community Action Committee update for Board; 2002-2003 Odyssey Charter School Annual Report
1.Call to Order and Roll Call – the meeting was called to order by the chair, Sandberg at 6:30, with all members except Skramstad in attendance.
2.Additions to Agenda - Rand requested a change to item 7.1.2 – should reference new board members for 2003-2006 rather than through 2005 (terms are three years).
3.Acceptance of Agenda - Rand moved acceptance of agenda with this change; Mitchell seconded, and the motion carried.
4.Community comment - there were none
5.Consent Agenda - there were no Consent Agenda items
6.Approval of Minutes - Bona noted that the October 15 Minutes should state that due to her candidacy, she stepped down from the election committee to avoid any conflict of interest. Rand moved acceptance of Minutes with this amendment; Sedey seconded, and the motion carried.
7.New Business
7.1 Annual Meeting.
7.1.1 Election Committee report on Board elections - Mitchell presented the report. There were 44 votes cast; community member Dave Rand and parent Lori Bona received the most votes; Odyssey teacher Destiny Sparks received the most write-in votes. Sedey moved acceptance of the election committee report, and destruction of the ballots of this and previous board elections; Sparks seconded, and the motion carried. Sandberg noted, elections procedures should include destroying the ballots after results are accepted.
7.1.2 Instatement of new Board members for 2003-2006: Destiny Sparks; Lori Bona, and Dave Rand were seated on the Board.
7.1.3 Election of Board officers for 2003-2004 - chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer
Board discussed Treasurer role, after which Sedey nominated Skramstad (Sandberg spoke with him; he indicated willingness to serve another term). Mitchell nominated Rand for treasurer; he accepted. There were no further nominations. Sandberg and Dougherty voted in favor of Skramstad for Treasurer; Fletcher, Mitchell, Sedey, and Sparks voted in favor of Rand; Bona and Rand abstained. Rand will be the new Treasurer.
Sandberg called for nominations for Secretary. Sedey nominated Mitchell. There were no further nominations. Dougherty, Fletcher, Sandberg, Sedey, Rand, Bona and Sparks voted in favor of Mitchell for Secretary; she abstained. Mitchell will continue as board Secretary.
Sandberg called for nominations for Vice Chair. Sparks nominated Fletcher; he accepted. There were no further nominations. Dougherty, Mitchell, Sandberg, Sedey, Rand, Bona and Sparks voted in favor of Fletcher for Vice Chair; he abstained. Fletcher will be the new Vice Chair.
Sandberg called for nominations for chair. Dougherty nominated Sedey; he accepted. Sparks nominated Bona; she declined. There were no further nominations. Dougherty, Fletcher, Mitchell, Sandberg, Rand, Bona and Sparks voted in favor of Sedey for Chair; he abstained. Sedey will be the new Chair.
7.2 Annual Reports – the 2002-2003 Odyssey Annual Report, prepared by Designs for Learning, was distributed.
7.3 Committee reports - need to review committee membership; Sandberg asked new members to consider membership on committees
7.3.1 Educational Programs - members are Jeni Holm, Nathan Disch, and Rick Fletcher. They have not been active recently. Bona and Sandberg suggested looking into Dr. Mel Levine’s Developing Minds and Schools Attuned programs, as possible strategies for improving the school and increasing enrollment.
7.3.2 Human Resources - members are Pam M, Susan Dougherty, Janice Sandberg, and Kari Mitchell.
7.3.2.1 Brainstorming session results were distributed. Board reviewed, and discussed HR and finance committees meeting as a group – such a meeting may create a quorum of board members, in which case it should be called a board working session and posted.
7.3.3 Community Action – report was distributed. Sandberg recommended committee meet with administration, before presenting recommendations to the Board.
7.3.4 Finance Team – Board reviewed the Financial Presentation, prepared by Judith Darling Wegner of Designs for Learning. Two desired changes in the report were identified: year-to-date percent column should be in relation to the adopted budget, rather than the projection; and Board wants to see a cashflow statement, by fund, e.g. general fund, food service. After discussion, Board agreed the director would be requested to bring a proposed revised budget to the Board, for action at the next meeting. Sandberg moved this; Sparks seconded, and the motion carried.
7.3.5 Election Committee – Sandberg and Mitchell will ensure the process is documented, for inclusion in board binders.
8.Administrative Report – Mahowald was out due to illness; Mitchell reported based on her notes. Mahowald has addressed three areas of concern expressed by Osseo superintendent Chris Richardson (based on the Annual Report): low 3rd grade test scores; losses in the lunch program; and audit (Osseo school board will want to see this; it will be presented to them in January).
Board also discussed director’s process for delegating work, and the high demand on her time due to behavior needs of students. “Dean of students” role is incorporated in the director’s job description. Board will revisit this issue; Mahowald will be requested to bring suggestions for leadership model revisions to the Board in January.
9.Old Business
9.1 By-laws Update. On Hold --Sandberg to connect with Designs for Learning on this.
Sedey expressed appreciation for Janice Sandberg in her work for the school, also Steve Skramstad.
10.Adjournment - Dougherty moved adjournment; Rand seconded, and the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm.