Board Members Attending: Katharine Dixon, Kyle Peck, MarkToci, Margaret Hopkins, Ann Bolser

Community Members Attending: Brian Rowan, JalynnWoleslagle, Andy McKinnon, Donna Fischer

I. Call to Order

Kyle called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM.

II. Open Discussion

Mark encouraged the school to continue working on publicity. He had contacted several newspapers and radio stations about the Penns Valley service project but could not get any response. Margaret suggested that we write up press releases ahead of time. Kyle congratulated Mark on the successful service trip.

There were some questions about travel restrictions for the Washington D.C. trip. MJ recently received a fax that confirmed that the travel restrictions have been lifted. The staff will be handling all other questions about the Washington D.C. trip.

Andy read a letter about his concerns about specific structures of the school (library, assistant teachers, student discipline, meeting standards). In response, Kyle read an excerpt from the school's bylaws that clarified what the Board is responsible for: assessing overall school performance, approving budget and personnel recommendations, and other items as requested by staff. Staff should handle curriculum and day-to-day operations. Mark said that the school would still try to expand the library. Kyle added that lack of student discipline at the school may be one thing that is pulling it down and that this should be handled carefully. Mark agreed and said that the school should focus on helping teachers form relationships with kids and that will help to reduce discipline problems. Kyle said that we need to handle the future changes with heavy discussion and with respect to maintaining consensus. Andy has also noticed that student behavior is an area for student learning. He believes that this form of learning is as viable as regular academics. Kyle said that there needs to be a balance between that form of learning and regular academics.

Margaret requested that the role of the Board, the CAO and overall school governance be analyzed as part of the school changes this summer. Mark disagreed and said that we have never given having a CAO a chance. Kyle believes that we should examine the delineated responsibilities of the CAO in the bylaws. The bylaws have the CAO as subservient to the teachers. Mark thinks that teachers have been overwhelmed because of trying to carry through on decisions, not because of making decisions. Mark would like the teachers to point the school in a direction and have the CAO help make it happen. Margaret believes that the entire decision-making process needs to be examined from Board to CAO to Staff. Kyle proposed that this discussion happen after the school year is over in a special work session. Donna suggested that this meeting happen in July after more staff is on board.

III. Routine Approvals

A. Approval of the Minutes

Mark moved and Kathryn seconded approval of the April 25, 2002 Board Meeting Minutes. The motion was approved.

Brian noted that the March 19, 2002 minutes were not approved at the last Board meeting. He distributed copies to members in attendance. Mark moved and Kathryn seconded approval of the March 19, 2002 Work Session Minutes. The motion was approved.

B. Payment of the Bills

Ann will be checking in with Kosta to see if he is interested in continuing on the Finance Committee. Mark moved and Katharine seconded payment of the bills. The motion was approved.

IV. Student Advisory Committee Report /Questions

No student representatives were present at the meeting. Since the current students representatives will be graduating before next meeting, another student (Luke Schreifer) will be invited to attend Board meetings over the summer. Luke finished second to Corey for the student representative voting during the school year.

V. Finance Committee Report

Ann updated the Board on the Finance Committee's activities. The Finance Committee has met with Margaret. Also, Ann mailed the monthly budget report to the Board members. There are no major changes from previous month. Margaret asked Ann if the Finance Committee would be integrating a capital fund in with the budget. Ann said that the Finance Committee would be recommending a capital fund when the budget is finalized.

VI. Communications

Kyle received a letter of resignation from MJ Hogan, effective June 30, 2002. Kyle read the letter:

May 23, 2002

Dear Board Members,

Since beginning at the CLC I have been asked to take on a wide variety of responsibilities that have been challenging, rewarding, and ever changing. Over the course of the 2 1/2 years I have felt a valuable part of a staff of talented and dedicated people who care deeply about children. As important to me, or maybe more importantly to me, has been the connection I have felt with the larger CLC community, specifically the students and the parents. I have valued the genuine, mutual relationships that I have developed within the community and I am grateful for the opportunities for and experiences of those connections that my role here has created.

CLC is at a turning point and is moving forward with new leadership and in new directions. As part of this process, my role and responsibilities have and will continue to change in ways that I do not believe utilize my talents and abilities or are fulfilling to me. As a result, I am submitting this letter as my formal resignation effective June 30.

As I move on from CLC in order to find a job that allows me to better use my gifts, know that I am grateful for having had this experience and I wish the school the best of luck. I will truly miss the people, especially the students, and hope to remain connected to CLC in some capacity in the future.

Thank you,

Mary Jo Hogan
Coordinator of School Services

 Margaret wanted to know how MJ's resignation would be announced to the CLC community since the minutes would not be available for another month. Donna suggested that the Board should have formal letters from everyone who is not returning next year. Ann agreed and will contact non-returning staff that have not submitted letters of resignation. Jalynn cited that the entire CLC community does not know about all of the staff that is not returning. Ann will make sure that the returning and non-returning staff will be publicly announced in next week's Friday Folders. Jalynn said that MJ is planning on writing a letter for tomorrow. Ann noted that she is reviewing all global communications. Overall, the school would like to make sure that the process is consistent. Kyle suggested that we wait a week to communicate all the non-returning staff. Ann will do this if Winnie cannot write a formal note to the entire community. This will include announcements for Joe, Theresa, MJ, and Mike. Each of those people will have an opportunity to put a note in the Friday Folders for their students. At the end of the discussion, Kyle summarized the following options. Option 1 is for Winnie to write the letter tomorrow. Option 2 is for Winnie to write the letter next week. Option 3 is for Ann to write the letter next week. MJ's letter will be sent in Friday Folders along with the letter from Winnie or Ann. We will attempt to make option one happen, but if that is not possible, options two then three will be employed.

VII. Action Items

There were no action items on the agenda.

VIII. Information / DiscussionItems

A. Student Enrollment / Waiting List Decisions

Kyle received an email from MJ that said she was asked by Ann and Winnie to start accepting students before class configurations are made. MJ wanted the Board's clarification since the Board had previously decided that an ordered waiting list should be made until class configurations were determined. Kyle recited the Boards responsibilities and deferred the issue to the staff. Mark said that he would like to hear Winnie's thoughts so the Leadership Team can make a decision. Mark said that the Leadership Team would make a decision on Tuesday.

B. Teacher Search Process Update

MJ sent an email to Kyle with concerns about the teacher search process. Ann asked if discussion of the teacher search process is the domain of the Board. Kyle said personnel is definitely the Board's responsibility. Kyle reviewed the bylaws and clarified that the Board is not responsible for overseeing the search process but is responsible for approving the recommendations of the search committee. Still, Kyle said that a staff member had brought the following issues up to the Board, so they were discussed.

a. Composition of the Search Committee

The Search Committee is currently comprised of Mark, Donna, Ann, and Winnie. The committee is also looking at adding a parent. Ann and the parent would be non-voting members (consultants). Kyle read the hiring process policy from last year (not yet approved by Board) as a guideline for this year. Margaret didn't understand how having a parent as only a consultant supported the "inverted hierarchy" described in the school's bylaws. Referring back to the hiring process policy, Ann said that she would rather have Winnie's input on it before the Board approves it. Kyle will put the hiring process policy for discussion in the June Board meeting. Margaret argued that the current search committee does not have any policy backing it. She asked where parents fit in the search process, and Mark said that they have a representative on the Board. Margaret feels that selecting a parent for the Search Committee without opening it up to the entire community is not appropriate. Mark disagreed and expressed his belief that each person on the committee needs certain experience. Margaret argued that there are several parents with education backgrounds. Mark also wanted to make sure that the parent on the search committee spent time in CLC classrooms. Donna suggested a call for a parent with specific qualifications (including spending time in classroom). Kyle suggested that Ann should make the final decision on which parent serves on that committee. Mark will create the qualifications. Jalynn cited the March 19th minutes that said the assistant teachers would be represented. This was tabled after Winnie was hired. Currently there are no plans to have an assistant teacher on the committee. Mark asked if adding or subtracting people would make the committee more powerful in selecting good teachers. Kyle also cited how it would affect stress levels. Margaret is concerned about how the rest of the staff is feeling about the process. Mark said that he has spent a lot of time trying to make people happy and is now focused on doing what is best for the school. Margaret would like to have people "buy in" to what is being done. Kyle suggested that we look at the policy at the next meeting. Ann will bring a version of the hiring process policy to the next meeting. Margaret requested this ahead of time. Also, Margaret would like the parent representative position to be posted to all parents.

b. Openness of the Process

The current method is that the search pool is not available to all staff. Kyle said that since there is no policy that cannot be argued. This will be discussed as part of the hiring process policy in June.

c. School visits / prescreening?

Last year, applicants were brought in to see the school in action. MJ was concerned as to why this had not happened this school year. Currently, the Search Committee is focusing on finding viable lead teacher candidates. The general consensus was that the Search Committee would not be able to determine those candidates in time before the end of the "normal" school year (excluding field trips and conferences).

C. Online Parent Survey

Kyle reported that the online parent survey was not done yet, but a quick one-item questionnaire (about the 2-year or 4-year teacher cycle) will go out in the Friday Folders tomorrow. Kyle wondered how to prevent people from responding to the survey more than once. Kyle suggested that the survey not be anonymous, so that we could follow up with parents who had concerns and so that we can ensure that each parents opinions are represented only once. Mark agreed. Kyle will get this done by Tuesday or he will bring in doughnuts.

D. Comprehensive School Reform Grant Update and Discussion

Kyle will also get this letter written by Tuesday.

E. Exit Interview

Kyle has been talking with staff members that are leaving and would also like to talk to parents. Kyle will coordinate this process with Winnie, and he will try to start this process soon.

IX. Adjournment

The next meeting is scheduled for June 27th. Margaret suggested that Winnie be asked if she is open to another meeting in June in case decisions need to be made.

Katharine moved and Mark seconded to adjourn the Board meeting at 8:37 PM. The motion was approved.