Of the governing board

AGENDA

OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

The Learning Excellence Foundation of East Broward, Inc.

D/B/A

IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL AT NORTH LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY
June 10, 2014

6:00 pm

Located in Room 108

1. 
   Call to Order – Roll Call
   

The Governing Board Meeting for the Learning Excellence of East Broward County, Inc. was called to order at 6:11 pm by Ms. Melvern Atencio. Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman, Ms. Evelyn Graves, and Ms. Julie Klahr, Board Attorney. Ms. Joyce Ferguson was not present.

2. 
   Notice of Public Meeting
   

The meeting was properly and publicly noticed. The meeting was announced via Parent Link, morning school announcements, a banner was displayed on the front gate, and an agenda was posted outside the office.

3. 
   Executive Summary
   

Academic Growth

Despite the low third grade FCAT proficiency scores, Imagine North Lauderdale’s projected 2014 school grade is a B! Ms. Kelly reviewed the detailed school grade calculation with Board members. Overall, the school exceeded 75% of the School Improvement Plan goals. Imagine North Lauderdale’s biggest strength is the percentage of students who achieve learning gains in both reading and math. Ms. Kelly also reviewed the 2014 SAT-10 learning gains with the Board. Overall, 64% of students within K-5 achieved reading learning gains and 86% of students achieved math learning gains.

Shared Values

Various tasks forces have planned and facilitated outstanding year-end events that have positively impacted parent satisfaction, including Kindergarten Graduation and the Fifth Grade Banquet. Several teacher leaders are serving on the 2014-15 Planning Task Force in order to consider ways to retain teachers while maintaining the enrollment and academic growth that our extended learning day has allowed.

Positive Character Development

Imagine North Lauderdale’s 2013-14 Character Self Evaluation was shared with the Board. The narrative highlights various positive character development initiatives implemented across campus for the year. Positive Character Development Committee members self-reflected and to determine a grade of A-. The official grade, which will be announced by Imagine’s National Character Team, will be available in July.

Parent Satisfaction

Imagine North Lauderdale’s Family Survey and Title I survey results were shared with Board members. “I volunteer at the school” and “Teachers communicate with me regularly about my child’s progress” were again Imagine North Lauderdale’s biggest opportunities for improvement. Next year, Imagine North Lauderdale will provide translated versions of the weekly progress reports in order to address this concern. Additionally, a Creole-speaking ESOL Paraprofessional or a parent volunteer will be available to translate at each 2014-15 Family Learning Night. Title I survey responses indicate the school needs to use monthly Family Learning Nights to more clearly communicate information on the Florida State Standards.

School Development

In order to impact staff retention, Imagine North Lauderdale staff members are exploring the possibility of opening a staff daycare. Economic sustainability and licensing requirements are obstacles that may prevent this dream from becoming a reality. Adding an Early Childhood program to Imagine North Lauderdale’s campus would meet a community need, however, so Ms. Kelly will be meeting with Donna Lehn and Mrs. Vernon to discuss pros, cons, requirements, and how the staff daycare would fit into the campus’ overall need for an Early Childhood program.

Economic Sustainability

Imagine North Lauderdale’s 2014-2015 Capital Outlay Plan was recommended for approval. Additionally, Ms. Kelly is in the beginning phases of planning for the 21^st Century Grant application.

4. 
   School Improvement Grant Update – final spending phases, summer professional development and performance pay stipends
   

5. 
   School Improvement Plan Update
   
   1. 
      How Imagine NL will Target Students: Imagine North Lauderdale’s instructional staff members will participate in biweekly data chats in order to disaggregate data and form intervention and enrichment groups. Groups will be fluid, with progress monitoring data reviewed on a biweekly basis. Intervention and enrichment activities will be data-driven and students will move from group to group, as justified by data. Imagine North Lauderdale has followed a similar process throughout the past three years and learning gains for all categories of students have been the campus’ biggest strength.
      
   2. 
      Use of Title I, Part A Funds – The 2014-15 Title I funds will be used to cover the salaries and fringe benefits for two full-time instructional coaches (Ms. Ashley Sweeton and Ms. Stacey Arbogast). Remaining funds will cover a portion of a third coach’s salary (Ms. Samia Said).
      
   3. 
      General Information – comparison of goals to actual (met 88% of goals)
      
   4. 
      Parent Input – In order to increase the amount of parent and stakeholder input, Ms. Jai Matthews will assist Ms. Kelly in planning and marketing quarterly Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings. During PAC meetings, Imagine North Lauderdale’s Instructional Leadership Team will seek stakeholder advice in order to ensure the campus’ instructional program continues to evolve.
      
   5. 
      Program Effectiveness (project data) – Imagine North Lauderdale uses several instructional programs that have impacted instructional effectiveness. Impactful programs include: Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI), Wilson Fundations, Istation, FASTT Math, Inquiry Circles, STEM, FCAT Boot Camp, and FCAT Crunch intervention and enrichment groups
      

6. 
   Parent Involvement Plan Input and Update
   
   1. 
      Imagine North Lauderdale’s 2014-15 Parent Involvement Plan (PIP) was presented to the Board for approval. Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman made a motion to approve the 2014-15 PIP, as amended. Ms. Evelyn Graves seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
      
   2. 
      The 2014-15 Parental Involvement Funds will be used to purchase student agendas (used daily), Wednesday Home/School folders (used weekly), and refreshments for monthly Family Learning Nights.
      
   3. 
      Parent Survey Results – The 2013-14 Title I survey results were used to plan monthly Family Learning Nights and spend Parental Involvement Funds in a manner that supports parent needs.
      
   4. 
      Development/Discussion of an Evaluation Process – The PIP Review form was reviewed with Board members and used to compare the total number of participants in 2013-14 Title I Parent Involvement events. The PIP Review Form, along with the Title I Parent Survey data, was reviewed by Board members. Overall, Board members commented that the number of participants at 2013-14 events increased, but there is still a need to increase parental involvement in 2014-15.
      
   5. 
      Parent Activities – Ms. Melvern Atencio suggested adding an event that is targeted to increase grandparent and/or senior involvement. Additionally, Ms. Melvern Atencio suggested parents be invited on campus to learn computer literacy skills. Ms. Kelly agreed that placing a higher emphasis on educating parents would be a new involvement technique that could further boost parent involvement and attendance at monthly events.
      
   6. 
      The Board’s suggestions of a grandparent event and a higher emphasis on community literacy will be incorporated into the 2014-2015 PIP.
      

7. 
   Approval on the Extension of the Facility Allocation provision in the Operating Agreement Amendment
   

The Extension of the Facility Allocation provision in the Operating Agreement with Imagine Schools Amendment will not require an increase in the facility allocation for the current year, but will result in a 4% increase per year in forthcoming years. Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman made a motion to approve the proposed Second Amendment to the Operating Agreement, subject to review by counsel. Ms. Evelyn Graves seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

8. 
   Approval of 2014-2015 School Parent Compact
   
   1. 
      Review of Current Compact: Ms. Kelly reviewed the 2013-14 and 2014-15 School-Parent Compact with the Board. Although Board members did not make suggests to revise the Compact, they provided several suggestions to increase parent and student buy-in to, and compliance with, the Compact. Consequently, Ms. Kelly will ensure that home/school communication in 2014-15 references the stakeholder roles and responsibilities, as detailed on the Compact. Additionally, members of the Parent Choice Committee will use monthly Family Learning Night events to educate parents on the purpose behind various statements within the Compact, in order to increase buy-in.
      
   2. 
      Development of 2014-2014 Parent Compact: The Compact was collaboratively developed by staff members serving on the Parent Choice Committee. A sample document, provided by Broward County’s Title I Department, was used as a guide.
      
   3. 
      Parent input, as written within the Title I Parent and Imagine Family surveys, was used to define and clarify the roles of stakeholders mentioned within the Compact.
      

9. 
   Approval of May 13, 2014 Minutes
   

Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman made a motion to approve the May 13, 2014 minutes, as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Evelyn Graves and was unanimously approved.

10. 
    Approval of Revised Performance Pay Criteria
    

Ms. Kelly presented updated SAT-10 and FCAT data, and reviewed the SIG budget for performance pay. During the May meeting, Board members voted to award performance pay to staff members with 85% of students making learning gains. Upon reviewing concrete and updated data, and considering budgetary limitations, Ms. Kelly asked Board members to reconsider performance pay criteria to align it with the School Improvement Plan (SIP) expectation that 70% of students within each classroom make learning gains. Modifying the criteria would result in two additional teachers qualifying for performance pay in math and nine additional teachers qualifying in reading. Additionally, the Board discussed increasing the principal performance pay bonus to the maximum amount, as was paid to Broward County School Improvement Grant (SIG) principals. Ms. Evelyn Graves made a motion to lower the teacher performance pay criteria to 70% learning gains. Rena-Rae Kaufman seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman made a motion to maximize the performance pay bonus available to the principal. Ms. Evelyn Graves seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

11. 
    Approval of Venture Design Services Contract
    

Ms. Evelyn Graves made a motion to approve a 2014-15 Venture Design Services Contract that will provide social workers for attendance interventions, assistance with health screenings, and benchmark assessment testing, subject to legal review. The motion was seconded by Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

12. 
    Board Input
    

There was no additional Board input.

13. 
    Public Input
    

There was no parent input.

14. 
    Dates of Future Meetings
    

An upcoming Board meeting is scheduled for August 5, 2014 at 6:00 pm.

15. 
    Adjournment
    

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm by Ms. Melvern Atencio.