Great Bay eLearning Charter School Minutes

October 18, 2007 – 4:30 PM

Tuck Learning Campus, 2^nd Floor, Room 227

(Note: different meeting room)

 

Present:          Roy Morrisette, Lucy Cushman, Linda Henderson, Kent Chamberlin, Patty Lovejoy,
Ben Hillyard, Bill Perkins and Anne Sloan

 

Absent:            Sara Baer-Sinnott and Patty Lovejoy

 

Administration:           Arthur Hanson, Steve Kossakoski, Peter Stackhouse and Nathan Lunney

 

Guest:             Natalie Timmons, President/CEO of ComCoach Design and Marketing

 

 

1.   CALL TO ORDER:  Chair Morrisette called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1.1  Introductions: None at this time

 

2.   NON-PUBLIC SESSION: None at this time

 

3.   APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEE: None at this time

 

4.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3.1  August 16, 2007: Motion by Ben Hillyard, seconded by Lucy Cushman and unanimously voted to approve the August 16, 2007 minutes as presented.

 

5.   VISITORS

 

6.   Public Relations Initiative: Dr. Kossakoski introduced Natalie Simmons of ComCoach Design and Marketing sharing that she is present to review the PR information she has developed for GBeCS, especially concerning “communications strategy”.  Anne Sloan arrived.  Ms. Simmons reviewed information she had previously shared with the board regarding possible PR methodology for GBeCS (see Attachment #1 pdf).  The trustees discussed the next steps for GBeCS regarding PR, noting that getting the word out of the school to the students at the Cooperative Middle School is still a goal.  Means to access the non-traditional students at CMS included sharing GBeCS student success stories, hosting a breakfast for respected opinion leaders in the community, making public aware of the college acceptance success with the first GBeCS senior class, guidance counselor from GBeCS meeting with other elementary and middle school guidance counselors, bringing students to GBeCS to meet current students, etc. Another thought was to create a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) brochure to share with schools, community, etc.  Nathan arrived.  It was noted that to distinguish between various charter schools (i.e., GBeCS and Seacoast Charter) would be done by creating a “uniqueness” around GBeCS that targets your audience and sets it apart from other schools.  Using the UNH Survey Center to assist with FAQ was suggested.  Trustees noted that next steps would be forming a trustee subcommittee with parents involved and continue this PR momentum.  Anne as a parent is willing to go forward with this and feels another parent Martha Holland Sutherland would volunteer.  Ben noted he would be on the committee as a trustee on committee.  Peter feels that a big concern he has heard from parents is that they do not understand “charter” schools and long term viability of them given all the media attention on those that have closed of may be closing due to lack of funding.  It would be important to have a fact sheet on the GBeCS. 

 

7.   BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL

7.1 2007-2008 Budget – Nathan Lunney: Nathan reviewed the financial handouts explaining the white sheet (see Attachment #2A pdf) is year end summary for quarter ending June 30, 2007.  The backside of this sheet (see Attachment #2B pdf) is the Revenue and Expense Report and this is approaching $7,000 per student compared to about $12,000 per student at EHS.  The green sheet (see Attachment #3 pdf) is aid that was granted to each charter school in 2006-2007.  With the additional $24,000 that came after closing on green sheets, GBeCS now has a bank balance of $194,000+.  The yellow sheet (see Attachment #4A, 4B, 4C pdf) breaks down the current budget we are operating with.

 

8.   GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE: None at this time

9.   SUPERINTENDENT'S/ADMINISTRATION’S REPORT 

9.1  Principals Report – Peter Stackhouse:

      9.1.1 Opening of School and Enrollment: Peter reported 100 students as of today with 12 students from out of district - two students who had been in district and moved out and returned; 66 males and 34 females and 31 students with IEP’s (no 504’s).  EHS’s average for students IEP’s including 504s is about 20%; still receiving a lot of interest.  Since school began this year, five students left – two in Adult Ed program; one is home schooled and one student just disappeared.  We have five pending applications and 6-7 phone calls that may become pending applications.  Regarding curriculum, all seniors are taking a college prep to assist with the application process and all attended the UNH College Fair.  A couple of college reps have visited the school and he recapped recent school activities and on-going school projects.  Exhibition Night will be November 20^th.

     

10.  EMPLOYEES: None at this time

 

11.  BOARD REPORTS

11.1Review of Policies: Motion by Linda Henderson, with second by Anne Sloan and unanimously voted (Cushman was out of room) to accept the following policies as approved: EHAA – Computer Security, E-mail and Internet Communications; EGAD – Copyright Compliance; GCB – Professional Staff Contracts; JLCH – Do Not Resuscitate Orders; KDC – Website Publishing Policy and KDC –R – Website Publishing Policy.

 

12.  BUILDING AND GROUNDS: Superintendent noted his appreciation to Dick Wendell for the excellent job he and his crew have done renovating the cafeteria at TLC in making it available for both breakfast and lunch for all students/staff and TLC entities.  They deserve a ton of credit for all their hard work on this project. 

 

13.  PUPIL RELATED MATTERS: None at this time.

 

14.  OLD BUSINESS: None at this time.

 

15.  NEW BUSINESS: None at this time.

     

16.  ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Linda Henderson, seconded by Anne Sloan and unanimously voted to adjourn at 6:03 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by,

 

Sally Boyd, Secretary