Multicultural Academy Board of Directors Regular Meeting Minutes February 26, :30 pm

Transcription

1 Multicultural Academy Board of Directors Regular Meeting Minutes February 26, :30 pm I. Meeting Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 2:33 p. m. at 5550 Platt Road, Ann Arbor. II. Roll Call, Present: Dr. Samaha-President Richard DeBacker-Secretary Shafik Khalil-Vice President Absent: Yameen Jaffer-Treasurer Also Present: Randa Furrha-Principal KC Farha-UMC LaTasha Mitchell-Board Recorder Yasser Farha-Public Pat Sweeney-Croskey Lanni Pat Vector-BMCC Angie Luck-UMC Vince Buccirosso-UMC Ammar Hamami-Parent Approval of Agenda A motion was made by Richard Debacker and supported by Shafik Khalil that the agenda be approved. Motion passed unanimously. III. Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Richard DeBacker, and second by Shafik Khalil to approve the January 24, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes. The motion passed unanimously. IV. Correspondence None.

2 Reporting A. UMC Report Sam's Club Membership A representative from Sam's Club will come to a meeting and go over the two types of memberships that they offer and answer any questions. They will also sign the school up at that time if needed. Planning Committee Recommend to the board that a planning committee be formed for the school year budgets. Epicenter All documents have been submitted as required. Playground Playground repairs are currently taking place and an inspection will follow. Purchase Order Meetings take place twice a month with Crosky & Lanni to review all purchase orders and any payroll questions. February Due Date Date Submitted Board Agenda-February (5 days Before Meeting) N15 2/15 Approved Board Minutes & Attachments January (10 Days After Approved) 3/5 March Due Date Date Submitted Board Agenda March (5 days Before Meeting) 3/22 MSDS Spring DS4061 3/15 Approved Board Minutes & Attachments February (10 Days After Approved) 4/9

3 B. Principal's Report Professional Development: Professional development was presented on MEAP and NWEA data, Common Core State Standards, and Performance Tasks on the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Educated staff on legislative changes in teacher evaluations and what it means for Multicultural Academy. MDE/MEGS/Bay Mills accreditation: Winter announced site visit 2 was a records check, everything went well and no red marks. Count Day was on February 13. The Academy has 284 students enrolled, 282 students were present on count day and 2 students are being tracked. The 6 Cent Certification application for Multicultural Academy was reviewed. Based on the analysis of the documents provided, it was recommended the application be approved. Curriculum Coordinator/High School Advisor is working on the following items: Informally observed several teachers and provided immediate feedback to benefit instruction and curriculum. Created curriculum and provided resources for the Teacher Profession/Educator Workplace class in addition to Project Based Research class. Met with lead teachers weekly to discuss and improve curriculum. Organized and led Career Day for high school and middle school students. Reviewed teacher lesson plans and provided immediate feedback for improvement in their plans. Created HS advisor PowerPoint to present to students on becoming college ready and what it takes to get in to college and go to the college of their choice. Met with several students to discuss future plans and expectations for success in their current classes. Weekly grades sent to staff each Monday evening. Scheduled students for with Michigan Virtual and Keystone Credit Recovery. Met with administration to go over the Weekly Grade Policy. Met with student regarding his MI Virtual class. Contacted his parents to update them about the class. Contacted the MI Virtual teacher to discuss the student's progress. Updated all student checklists reflecting their Semester 1 grades. Restructured student checklists to include a testing results page. Developed policies for staff to review with students for Study Hall, Credit Recovery, and MI Virtual The Plan for 9th graders was ordered. Called My Dream Explorer representative to get information to set-up the program for HS students to work in. Called Career Cruising to get information regarding their program. Title I Coordinator is working on the following items: Met with the Title I staff individually to check on how things are working and who needs additional training in running records. School improvement: working with the staff on Ed Yes helped plan the PD for February. ELL Teacher is working on the following items:

4 Tilte III teacher and the parapro continue to work with students individually and in small groups to improve English proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Beginning to give students practice activities for the ELPA test (beginning in March). Ordered all of the ELPA tests, and have requested the appropriate exemptions for Special Ed. students. Ordered and received the MME/ACT tests for the 11th graders. Conducted the pre-test session for the 11th grade students. Continue to screen new ELL students as they enter our school, communicate with parents, and make appropriate accommodations. The high school ESL class is currently focusing on different text structures (i.e., how to recognize them with signal words), and we will soon be practicing writing the different text structures. Created a schedule for the ELPA test, and continue to communicate with classroom teachers to find the best possible accommodations and/or modifications for each student. Lead Teachers and Mentors are working on the following items: Met with staff or corresponded through about questions and concerns the staff had. Sent out reminders for important dates, and update websites and grades. Attended weekly meetings as grade level (HS, MS, combined) to discuss any needs or questions. Middle school discussed MEAP and NWEA data to make new groups and we also worked on filling out retention forms. Meeting with K-5 teachers to discuss their informal observations Designed and led a team-building activity during our Professional Development Day Presented a K-5 Assembly to staff and students on the grant "Fuel Up to Play 60" which I applied for and received free to the school. Organizing another Spirit Wear Order drive for the spring, in which staff, students, and family can purchase clothing to further promote school spirit and advertise for our school in the community. Met with Mrs. Mitchell to plan for PBIS celebration assemblies for the students. Weekly meeting with administration regarding teaching, curriculum, and school events. Administrative Assistant is working on the following items: Continual completion of CA-60s. Continual update of security procedures (alarms, front door etc.) and procedure manual. Continual update of exits and enters as they happen for enrollment. Continual update of immunizations for MICR Constant attention to building security and safety as it pertains to the building and students. Continual maintenance of communication between Multicultural Academy and Universal management. Timely completion of newsletter, s and tasks assigned by principal. Constant attention to attendance, this month also as it pertains to completing Count day paperwork. Process timesheets in a timely manner. Continual mindfulness of supplies as they need to be ordered.

5 Assistant Principal of Student Affairs Discipline is working on the following items: Continuing to serve as the disciplinarian for M.A.. Meeting with students regarding disciplinary concerns. Multicultural Academy will join in an effort to contribute to the nation-wide effort to urge our government to implement gun control. We will work with State Representative David Rutledge in an effort to do this. Our Students will write essay's on this topic and the winners will visit our state capitol an meet with our State Rep. Facilitating parent and student meetings to discuss student academic and behavioral progress and or concerns and possible retention. Participated in Child Study Team: We are continuing to evaluate recommended students and developing strategies to help them academically and behaviorally. Met with MS teachers to discuss any concerns related to students. Performing uniform sweeps on a daily bases. Also continuing to be visible in the academy, performing walk-throughs and class room visits on a routine basis. Submitted Building Safety Plan to our local law enforcement agency as requested. Serving as member of the Pittsfield Township/Multicultural Academy Taskforce. Our first meeting was held Feb. 14th Processing all new applications to determine admittance to the Academy. Continuing to aid in resolving parental concerns where transportation is involved. Assisted in implementing cell phone communication system for all bus drivers. Continuing to assist in the management of the front office as needed. Continuing to resolve parental concerns with transportation as they are presented. Pre-School updates: Governor goal is to have all preschool be able to attend preschool year before school paid by the state. WISD is asking for schools that have been approved with PQA of level 3 or above (MA is approved) to add more classrooms to their school. We will be given 32 slot for next year instead of 27. This will mean we will not be able to accept 3 and 4 year olds who have been paying tuition. WISD said they would help direct us to other programs in funding if we would like to continue with adding another classroom for tuition including 3-year-old program. They feel we could apply for grants from the Success by Six and DHS (Department of Human Service). Alan the director from the WISD said he would come and talk to the board on the new changes that are coming in Early Childhood and how public and Charter schools can benefit from them. We would like to forecast a budget with expenses for how much we could afford to move the preschool into another area for the school to establish a early childhood program (early childhood is term that follows PreK-2 d grade.) They are asking for planning for the future (next two to three years) to increase in establishing Early Childhood Establishment, as the need will be great for preschool with the state paying cost. We will also be working on moving our ranking of PQA to a level 4. The PQA is our school plan we have for preschool in making it a highly qualified program. The process will be writing our goals for all the 65 units covered in the area. We currently have a Specialist that works with us as well as resources for the WISD but next year we will be required to have WISD audit our PQA plan and will charge 6000 for each classroom. Having two will be an increase of $12,000 we will see the change on next year budget. Judy Darling will be meeting us from Teacher Strategies on Thursday Feb. 28 th. She is an early childhood specialist (PreK-2 d Grade) and will meet with myself, Principal and Lead teacher to

6 discuss new strategies schools are using for all day kindergarten. Judy is considered high qualified in her field from the WISD. Items for the Board: None for this month Parent /community involvement and school events: Career Day was very successful. Multicultural Academy Committee: (MAC/PAC) C. Financial Report The financial report was lead in review by Pat Sweeney. The lunch program is running efficiently. To date we have paid for our program. Pat Sweeney stated that this is different from other schools as most schools do not have a lunch program that raises enough revenue to support the program. A motion was made by Richard DeBacker that the financial report be approved. Shafik Khalil second it. The motion passed unanimously. CAO Report The CAO informed the board that in terms of parking renovations we have the following options: 1. The lot has become an issue. In order to extend the lot we have to build additional drains This is very costly at an estimated cost of about $350,000. This option would require that an underground retention pond be built. 2. Another option would be to move the retention area to the back of the field. The approximate cost for this option would be $100,000. This allows us to extend the current lot over the old retention area. The CAO stated that knowing this we have the finances issue and who will pay for it. We would get more than one bid. Also if our landlord pays for this project we would adjust the lease terms to reflect some of the cost. Shafik Khalil suggested that we seek advisement from our attorney to determine what the best step is to move forward with this project. Dr. Samaha stated that we would not start this project until June. D. Public Comments

7 None. None. E. Board Comments F. Scheduled/ New Business 1. Proactive Engagement Academy/Township- Multicultural Academy and Pittsfield Township have united to form a taskforce. This taskforce will work collaboratively to provide information and resources to the Academy and the surrounding communities. 2. Proactive Engagement/Community-It was decided that an open discussion with the community regarding safety issues in our schools would be an excellent way to proactively engage in meaningful dialogue with the Pittsfield community. It was also determined that a town hall meeting style would be appropriate for this type of event. 3. MEAP-MA has the highest gains for 5 and 6 grade in reading in the county. 4. Web site-amir is maintaining the website. We also want to add the pre-school it. 5. Board Member Interview: The Board interviewed a new board member. The Academy will forward the application to Bay Mills tomorrow. 6. Board Member/Yameen Jaffer: We will be sending Yameen Jaffer a letter excusing him from the board. 7. Through the Pittsfield Township/MA Taskforce collaboration it was decided that we would have a member of the Pittsfield township department apply as a board member. We will have an individual's name at our next Taskforce meeting. 8. Security and Safety Update: We have updated our security measures and school safety is excellent at the Academy. 9. The PA System: This will be installed 2/27/13 starting at 9:30am. 10. Chckpoints-Clock: Dr. Samaha suggested that we put a clock at the 7 entrances in the building. 11. Main Entrance: We have a 30 second delay at main entrance when the door is open. Security is on task to ensure that the building is secure even during these times. 12. Two-Way Radio: Each time a teacher goes out on the playground they take a radio with them so that any emergencies or needs can be communicated to the office if necessary. 13. Robotics Presentation: HS Science students are involved in robotics program. This is an excellent way to showcase the talent at Multicultural Academy. The students are learning a lot about science and engineering and will showcase their robot in a statewide competition.

8 - Confirmation of Next Meeting March 22, Adjournment Richard Debacker made a motion to adjourn. Shafik Khalil second. Meeting Adjourned at 3:20p.m. Proposed-minutes respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary Date: 3 107ci 13 Approved by the Board of Directors at its 3 al,01, 13 meeting. SL7,, 113 Date