CLC BOARD MEETING MINUTES

June 26, 2003

 

Board Members Attending Kyle Peck, BrianRowan, Jalynn Woleslagle and Peter Swan.

 

Community and Teachers Attending: Denise Kochersperger, Kosta Dussias,

Mark Toci, Donna Fischer, Linda Bergeman, Julie Danna, DavidBurns, John Tucker, Dorothy Blair, Heidi Fletcher, Barbara Bliss, KimberlyCassidy-Miller, Web Miller, Nan Miller,

Elisabeth Tucker.

 

I.         Call to Order

            KylePeck called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

 

II.        Open Discussion

            PeteSwan opened the discussion

 

I.              Approval of Minutes

Brian Rowan, Secretary of theBoard, handed out copies of the previous agendas for May15, 30 and June 5,2003.

 

Kyle Peck requested that theattendees read the minutes.

 

A.  Minutes of May 15, 2003 were read.

Kyle Peck motioned to accept theminutes.  Brian Rowan alerted themeeting to the typing inaccuracy in the minutes regarding items C and D.  The description for item C was repeatedfor item D.  It was clarified thatthe sentence above the line item C, “Brian suggested asking teachers forinput on the timetable for staffing decision.” Should have been underitem C.  Item D had the correctinformation.

 

Kyle Peck motioned to accept theamended minutes for May 15, 2003. 

Pete Swan seconded.

No discussion was pursued.

Motion approved.

 

B.   Minutes of May 30, 2003 were read.

Pete Swan motioned that theminutes be accepted. 

Brian Rowan seconded.

No discussion ensued.

Minutes for May 30, 2003,approved.

 

C.  Minutes of June 5,2003, were read.

Pete Swan motioned to accept theminutes.

Tom Walker seconded the motion.

No discussion.

Minutes for June 5, 2003 wereapproved.

 

II.            CFO/Finance Committee Report

Kosta Dassias handed out copies ofthe 2003-04 Preliminary Budget 98 Student Enrollment.  Thisreport showed the projected income and expense for the upcoming school year aswell as the past 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and the 2002-2003 projected income andexpenses to compare the budget as comparisons to the 2003-2004 projected budgetand expense with 98 students.  Kylestated that this is a working budget based on conservative numbers. 

           

            Kostafurther explained that there was a “one time” capital expenditurethat will not             beincurred again, the purchase of the School building.

 

Kosta also reported on the fourloans incurred by the school.  1stmortgage, 2nd mortgage and two additional loans, one for computersand one for building renovation. The loan for the computers will be paid in September 2003 and theBuilding renovation loan will be paid in October of 2004.  2006 will be when the 1stand 2nd mortgages are due. Our equity for these loans is the enrollment of students and the carefulcaring of our loan balances.

 

Kosta requested help on the financecommittee.  He needs help in longterm, strategic planning.

 

Kosta also reported that he hascontracted to have an audit of the school’s finances and that will happensometime this summer.

 

Kyle Peck motioned that the budgetbe accepted.

Brian Rowan seconded the motion andthe budget was accepted.

 

III.          Communications

No communications were broughtforward nor discussed.

 

IV.         Action Items

A.  Approval of Medical Benefits for Winnie Bolinsky

Kyle Peck and Pete Swan request that Winnie Bolinskybe able to be covered by the Center Learning Community’s Family MedicalBenefits plan for the next four months (July, August, September andOctober).  Kyle and Pete willdefray the costs for the months of July and August out of their ownpockets.  Pete feels that the totalprice of the medical benefit will be $530.00 a month.  He suggests that the school picks up $130.00 of the benefitsfor the first two months and he and Kyle will pay the other $400.00.  The school will pay the full amount forthe last two months. 

 

Opened to Discussion: Donna askedabout the legality of keeping Winnie Bolinsky on the medical plan when she hasresigned.  Kyle answered that noone at the CLC resigns since they are all bound for only one year at a time, soWinnie’s contract will be over at the end of June.  He requests that Winnie be kept on theschoolbooks until October for Family Medical Health Plan purposes.  Barb Bliss asked for an explanation ofthe Family Medical Health Plan. Kyle, with Pete’s help explained that the state of Pennsylvaniamandates that every school provide their employees with a health plan to coverthem while they are employed.  Itwas then asked by Dorothy, how we can keep supplying the medical benefits forWinnie when she no longer works for the school starting July1, 2003.  Pete wasn’t sure how thelegalities worked but both he and Kyle want assurance that since Winnie is inpoor health and unable to work that the Board keeps Winnie employment in placefor four more months with the Family Medical Plan in place.  Kosta explained that a precedent hasbeen set with the schools acceptance of the Paternity/Maternity leave.  Barb Bliss asked if we have to grantWinnie her extension on her contract. Kyle answered in the affirmative.    John Tucker suggested that since Winnie is tooill to work or to apply for work, perhaps granting the medical benefit would bethe “human” thing to do.

 

Pete Motioned and Brian Rowanseconded.  The motion was passedand accepted.

 

B.   Resignation of Winnie Bolinsky

Kyle requested that the Board accept the resignationof Winnie Bolinsky as a member of the CLC School Board.

Pete Swan motioned and Brian Rowanseconded.  Winnie’sresignation accepted.

 

C.  Parent Representative’s Resignation

Kyle motioned that the Board accepts PeterSwan’s resignation.

Brian seconded and the motion wasput up for discussion.  NoDiscussion and the motions was voted and accepted.

 

D.  New Parent Representative Installation

Kyle Peck announced that the Parents had voted JohnTucker as their representative on the CLC School Board and that he wanted tomotion that the Board accepts that decision.  Brian Rowan seconded and there was a call fordiscussion.  No discussion and JohnTucker was accepted as the Parent Representative to the Board.

           

E.   Resignation of the Parent Representative Alternate

Kyle reported that Janice Ascolese, ParentRepresentative Alternate requested to resign, and he motioned that the Boardaccepts the resignation.

Brian seconded and the motion wasaccepted.

 

F.   New Parent Representative Alternate Installation

Kyle motioned that in DarleneFink’s absence that the Board accepts the Parent’s vote thatDarlene Fink becomes the Parent Representative Alternate.

Brian Rowan seconded themotion.  A call for discussion wasissued and there was none.  Darlenewas accepted as the Alternate Parent Representative.

 

G.  Resignation of Teacher Representative

Kyle announced the proposedresignation of Jalynne Wolslagle, the Teacher Representative to the Board andmotioned to accept.

Brian seconded the motion.  There was a call for discussion. Kylerequested that it be noted that he has pronounced Wolslagle correctly. Therewas no discussion so the motion was accepted.

           

H.  Teacher Representative Installation

Kyle announced the vote of theteachers’ to install Linda Bergaman to the Board and made a motion to doso.  Brian seconded themotion.  There was no need for discussionwhen called, therefore, the motion was accepted.

 

I.     Teacher Representative Resignation

Kyle announced the intent of Brian Rowan to resignfrom serving on the Board and motioned the Board to accept.  John Tucker seconded.  There was a call for discussion.  There was no discussion and the votewas to accept the motion.

 

J.    New Teacher Representative Installation

Kyle Peck announced the vote of the Teachers groupto install Julie Danna to the Board and motioned to accept.  John seconded the motion.  There was a call for discussion, therewas none.  There was a vote toaccept.

 

K.  Resignation of the Community Representative

Kyle Peck tendered his resignation as CommunityRepresentative.  Linda Bergemanmoved to accept.  Julie Dannaseconded the motion.  There was acall for discussion.  There was nodiscussion.  It was voted and themotion to accept carried.

           

L.   Election of New Community Representative

Julie Danna motioned to have Heidi Fletcherinstalled as the new Community Representative.  John Tucker seconded. There was a call for discussion. No discussion ensued.  HeidiFletcher was accepted as the new Community Representative to the Board.

 

M.  Electionof Board Officers

Heidi motioned that John Tucker be installed asSecretary of the Board. 

Linda Bergeman seconded and the Board voted toApprove.

 

Julie Danna motioned to accept Heidi Fletcher asChairperson.  John Tucker secondedthe motion.  The Board voted andaccepted the motions.

 

Heidi brought forth the discussion that to be anOfficer of the Board there was no need to be a Board Member.  These were positions that did not voteon the Board but carried out the corporate functions.  Heidi motioned that the positions of President, Vice President-Treasurer,and Secretary be handed to other Community Members.  John seconded. The motion was passed.

 

Heidi motioned that Kosta Dassias be elected to bethe President of the Corporation. John seconded.  After a callfor discussion, the Board and Community voted to accept Kosta Dassias as thePresident of the Corporation.

 

Heidi motioned that Elisabeth be the Secretary ofthe Board/Corporation instead of John Tucker.  John Tucker seconded. The motion was passed.

 

Heidi motioned that Barbara Bliss be accepted as theTreasurer of the Corporation.  JohnSeconded.  The discussion was that thisposition would be responsible to make sure that Audits were conducted and theBooks kept opened for Board and Community inspection. The motion waspassed. 

Barb Bliss accepted. 

 

At this point the resignedBoard Members exited, except for Pete Swan.  The Board and the Community thanked the previous Board fortheir service.

 

V.           Information/Discussion Items

 

A.  Responsibility for Development Proposal

Pete Swan took the floor to explain the newDevelopment Proposal for the land surrounding the CLC since he was involvedwith the negotiations regarding the proposal with Galen Dreibelbis.  The Board and Community expressedappreciation for his help and sharing of knowledge. 

 

Pete informed everyone that when the CLC negotiatedto purchase the building from Galen Dreibelbis, Galen was selling the Buildingand 10 acres for 1.6 million dollars. The CLC negotiated a deal where the building and three acres of landwere purchased for 1.1 million dollars. This sale included ownership of half of the parking lot and the legaluse of the other part of the parking lot for perpetuity.  Galen Dreibelbis retains legal rightsto the far side of the parking lot and the ability to use the whole parking lotfor perpetuity.  Both the CLC andGalen Dreibelbis agreed to the mutual upkeep and use of the parking lot.

 

Galen Dreibelbis is now ready, evidently with theproceeds from the sale of the church Building to the CLC, to develop the landsurrounding the CLC.  To build thetownhouses he is proposing, Mr. Dreibelbis will need the use of his half of theparking lot for a drainage ditch. This is unacceptable to the School since itwill create a hazard for the children as well as taking valuable space neededfor Buses to enter, turn, drop-off and pick-up students and exit.

 

When questioned about the verbal and writtenagreement to let the CLC use the parking lot, Mr. Dreibelbis explained that hehad made an agreement with himself (the self that owned the building and 3acres and the self that owned the rest of the land) that the use was only untilhe started to develop the land.

 

Linda Bergeman asked how hard we want to fight thisproposed construction. 

Pete indicated that we would probably need to go tocourt and up to now,

Terry Williams has been acting as the attorney forthe school, pro-bono, but since going to court will involve a considerableamount of time and work, we will need funds to pay him.  Going to court may not be feasible dueto the amount of money needed without a guarantee of a win. 

 

Galen Dreibelbis has notified the school he will bestarting to construct soon.  It wassuggested that although Mr. Dreibelbis feels he owes the school nothing, it benoted that he may be willing to negotiate with the school if the representativesof the school meet with him immediately.

 

A committee was formed with Kosta Dassias (who hasthe agreement of sales for the school), Tom Walker and David Burns (who haveexpertise in construction), Barbara Bliss (who will be checking into legalitieswith Ferguson Township), and John Tucker as Chairperson of this BuildingDevelopment Committee as the Board Member responsible to the Board.

 

This entire committee will be contacting Mr.Dreibelbis to discuss what we feel his responsibility is to the school:

 

                              Maintainsafe and easy access for buses

 

Regrade and reseed theland in front the School and along College Avenue (this land originally hadbeen a drainage area).

                                                           

Appropriate fencingcompletely around the new grassy play area continuing along the back facing thenew construction, continuing      

along the shortened parking lot(to protect children from cars from the Highway, newly constructed housing anda drainage ditch),

                                               

A sidewalk along College Avenuefor the safety of the children walking way from the school in case of a fire.

 

Township need to requested to giveeasement rights to CLC for perpetuity.

 

Heidi motioned that no action be taken until the committeehas had a chance to research and meet and this discussion tabled until thattime.

Julie seconded the motion.

 

B.   Composition / Expansion of Board

Heidi opened discussion regarding models of theBoard that have been discussed previously (Elisabeth handed information on thetwo discussed models).  Heidi thenproceeded to explain the handouts. One was a common model of both a profit and non-profitcorporation’s Board where committees and CAO report back to the Board onhow the corporation is running with the Board being an Oversight entity. Theother Model included that the Teachers’ would have vetoing power over theBoard.

 

Dorothy has research the FriendsSchool model and brought the research to this meeting.  She cited that the Board needs to bemade up of at least 11 to 13 members. She will email her findings to Denise Kochersperger.  Dorothy stated that we should err onthe size by having more members than less to give a broader level of expertiseand decision making information,

 

Denise Kochersperger also hasresearched the Mount Nittany School’s Board model and gave her report.  They too have a larger Board but theBoard is made up totally of Parents.

 

Heidi motioned to delay voting onan expanded Board until fall-a time to be determined- when more people will beable to participate.  Johnseconded.

 

                 It was motioned to extendthis discussion to a Special Meeting of the Board 

                 where the BuildingDevelopment Committee will also bring their information for

                 discussion by HeidiFletcher.   John Tuckerseconded.

 

C.  Staffing for Next Year

Kosta stated that in his budget, he has placed fourclassrooms, four lead teachers and four assistant teachers.  The discussion ensued stating thatteachers must be in place if there is to be any ability to recruit effectivelyand also that this is the time that teachers are interviewing.  Further discussion revealed that allteachers would not have a contract at the end of June.  There was a question as to whether itwas feasible to extend a contact to all teachers from last year.  It was then stated that JalynnWolslagle, Brian Rowan, Pat Zimmerman and Jonathan Cohen have tendered theirresignations.

 

It was motioned that DonnaFischer, Lynn Mona, Julie Danna, Mark Toci, Denise Kochersperger and KellyKennedy’s contracts be renewed with negotiations for salary to beconducted.  Also the motionincluded the rehiring of Tammy Benz as School Secretary, Kosta Dassias asBusiness Manager and Jean, Linda Bergeman and Maggie Getz are rehired asSpecials Teachers.  All salariesare to be reviewed and negotiated if necessary. Heidi Fletcher put this motionforth and John Tucker seconded. The motion was accepted.

 

A new motion was put forth byJulie Danna that a Hiring Committee of Mark Toci and Donna Fischer (expertiseon the value of a teachers’ abilities),

Kosta Dassias (expertise in how muchthe school can afford to pay for services), Web Miller (asked as a person withexpertise in hiring and negotiating and a person with no vested interest in theamount of salary extended).  JohnTucker agreed and seconded. Unanimously  accepted.

 

VI.         New Business

Heidi Fletcher proposed that we hold a SpecialBoard Meeting next Wednesday, July 2, 2003, for the purpose of Discussion onseveral items:

1.    The information from the Building Development Board.

2.    Composition/Expansion of the Board.

3.    Establish Committees

Julie Danna seconded themotion.  Motion accepted.

 

Heidi Fletcher also proposed andmotioned that there be an Executive Session of the Board on Personnel toWednesday, July 2, 2003, after the regular session of the Board.  John Tucker seconded and the motion wasaccepted.

 

X.           Adjournment

Heidi Fletcher, Chairperson of the Board, asked ifthere was any other new business to be discussed.  None was brought forward.  At 9:50 p.m. the Chairperson adjourned this session of theBoard.