Present: Daniel Seydel, Ed Jefferson, Josephine Howell, Rev. Harriett Walden, Phyllis Yasutke (arrived at 5:50 pm), Rob Van Tassell

Transcription

1 Firs Place Scholars Minutes for the Board Meeting On October 28, 2014 Present: Daniel Seydel, Ed Jefferson, Josephine Howell, Rev. Harriett Walden, Phyllis Yasutke (arrived at 5:50 pm), Rob Van Tassell At 5:35 pm the meeting was called to order by Chair Seydel. Chair Seydel asked for a motion to approve the agenda. At that time Rev Walden made a motion To remove Daniel Seydel as Chair and as member of the Board of Directors of First Place effective immediately. Ed Jefferson seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. During the discussion Chair Seydel asked to make an announcement and then after some discussion Chair Seydel announced her was resigning. He thanked the school parents, volunteers and staff for the opportunity to serve. Chair Seydel then stood and told the Board to do what they needed to do and then left the room. Rev Walden called for the question and the motion passed. Next Board Member Rev Walden then assumed the floor and read a resolution: To nominate Previous Board President Dawn Mason to the First Place Scholars and First Place Family Services Board and to serve as Board Chair. This action is to take place immediately. Mr. Jefferson seconded. No discussion, question was called and the motion passed. Dawn Mason then stepped forward from the audience and assumed the chair previously occupied by Dan Seydel. She thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve. Mr. Jefferson then made a resolution to add Dawn Mason as an authorized signature on all business accounts and that Dan Seydel be removed immediately from Wells Fargo, Bank of America and all other financial accounts owned by First Place, First Place Scholars and First Place Family Services and that no further financial transactions are to be authorized by Daniel Seydel after 7 PM tonight. Discussion ensued and included a friendly amendment by Rob Van Tassell to also include Ed Jefferson as signature Rob Van Tassell then asked Stephen Nielsen, of Puget Sound Educational School District (PSESD) who was in the audience if the motion was complete and he added that it might also be wise to add all documents as needed. The amendment including both the above points was then seconded by Rev Walden, question called and the amendment passed. Rob Van Tassell then read the amendment aloud as follows: Whereas, board members have a fiduciary responsibility for the daily operations including finances, budgets and cash management of First Place Scholars School and First Place Family Services, the board is resolved as follows:

2 Resolved, that Dawn Mason, acting in her capacity as Board President, has her signature placed on all bank accounts and financial transactions. And that Ed Jefferson, acting in his capacity as a Board member also be added as an additional signer to all bank accounts of First Place Scholars and First Place Services. In addition the board authorizes both Ed and Dawn to sign any other necessary documents as needed. Further resolved, that Dan Seydel, former Board President, be removed immediately from all First Place Scholars bank accounts including Wells Fargo and Bank of America and any and all other financial accounts owned by First Place, First Place Scholars and First Place Family Services, and that he approve no further financial transfers, transaction or other banking and financial activities occurring after 7 PM, October 28, All agreed that this was the intended resolution. Question was called and the motion/resolution was passed. Dawn then asked for a motion to approve the Sep 30 and Oct 14 minutes as submitted and distributed at the meeting. Rob made the motion, Ed Jefferson seconded. After some discussion the question was called and the motion passed with the minutes being approved as submitted and distributed at the meeting. There was no Board Chair report. Chair Mason then asked School Leader, Evie Livingston to have a seat with the Board upfront, and let her know that was where she was to sit now and at all future Board meetings. Mrs. Livingston then presented her report covering staffing update, socioemotoinal learning programs and PBIS, unfilled staffing, Special Ed compliance, web access and tech access. Evie also requested time with the Board to review the budget and staffin levels. Guests Cornell Feist with Board on Track was not present. Libuse Binder was also not present although it was noted that her organization has scheduled training for all new and existing board member for Saturday November 15 from 1-5 pm. Such training is required and all board members are expected to attend. Committee Reports: Governance No report Finance Rob Van Tassell introduced Stephen Nielsen, CFO of PSESD, to present and discuss financial results for First Place Scholars. Mr. Nielsen then introduced himself and let us know he will be presenting financial reports to the Board once a month. He then distributed financial reports including the annual budget, financial narrative and financial results dated October 26, This month s report is not complete as PSESD has not yet captured all the transactions from the the transition period during the months of July and August as First Place transitioned First Place Board Meeting Minutes 2

3 from private school to public school charter. Stephen also pointed out that the budgeted revenue is less than budgeted expenses and the gap must be closed with outside resources such as gifts, grants and other means of fund raising. Chair Mason then commented that raising funds is not unusual to First Place as First Place has raised millions in the past. The Chair stated that plans are being made for fundraising efforts. Stephen emphasized that the board pay close attention to enrollment. Stephen also reminded the Board that the state caps the amount of Special Education enrollment at 12.7%. This means that if student enrollment for Special Ed exceeds about 13 students the school will be reimbursed for all students above those 13 at the non-special Education rate. Rob concluded the Finance Committee report that the Committee had met with PSESD to discuss roles and responsibilities of staff, consultants, PSESD, transaction responsibility within First Place, the overall financial reports of First Place including transactions of the school, family services and other lines of business within the overall Agency. An additional meeting is needed that will include the auditors, PSESD, and the Finance Committee. Chair Mason then allowed for a public comment period and asked if there were any present who desired to speak. Several people came forward and spoke. Chair Mason then asked if anyone was willing to make a motion regarding a professional services contract to conduct grant writing with Dian Ferguson. Specifically a grant for $200,000 from the City of Seattle to the Family and Education fund. Rob Van Tassel then moved that a professional services contract not exceed $2000 with Dian Ferguson for a grant of $200,000 from the City of Seattle Family and Education Fund. Such contract will be charged to the budget line item professional services and is to be executed jointly by both the school leader and the Board Chair as reviewed by the Finance Committee. Seconded by Rev. Walden. No further discussion, question called and motion passes. Next, Ed Jefferson moved and Rev Walden seconded, to accept the slate of new Board candidates as made available on the handout. The handout was made available to all Board members and all in attendance. The names and brief statement of qualifications include: Evelyn T Allen background includes a Masters of Science in Management. Ms. Allen brings previous Board leadership, First Place Community Partner and experience in housing. Hannah Getachew background includes a bachelor of science in design and engineering, Safeco Programmer Analyst and web development, project leadership. Dr. Linda Whitehead- Ed. D, Education leadership, BA in Special Education, Superintendent of Marysville School District, Deputy Superintendent of Marysville over HR and Organizational Development. First Place Board Meeting Minutes 3

4 Cordell Carter M. Sci., J.D. JD from University of Notre Dame Law School, Chief of Staff and Director of Operations, Office of the President, US Programs for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; DC Education Workforce Strategy Consultant; National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Supervised Finances, Human Resources, Technology and facilities. Anisa J. Matson RN a community health nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Seattle U, Providence Home Services, Pediatric Home Health Discussion included extreme appreciation and gratitude of such a greatly qualified and talented slate of candidates. Question was called and motion passed. Leah Kayo presented materials related to Special Education policies and procedures. She reviewed the materials and drew the Board s attention to several policies. Chair Mason asked for clarification of how the policies and procedures being presented were developed, who reviewed them and timeline. Leah Kayo stated that the policies and procedures being presented to the Board at this moment were just approved that afternoon by OSPI. Chair Mason then asked if the policies and procedures being presented had been presented to the School leader. Leah responded no, they had not been reviewed or presented to the School Leader. She stated that to her understanding was that she reported to Linda McDonald and she received her direction from Linda McDonald and she presumed that Linda wsa cooridnating with the School Leader. After further discussion of some of the handouts Chair Mason then requested that Ms Evie convene the Academic Excellence Committee to review and then if appropriate recommend Special Ed policies and procedures as required for compliance with the First Place Charter School contract and for approval and adoption by the First Place Board. Next Chair Mason inquired if there was anyone willing to make a motion to amend the First Place By-Laws to effectively change the number of Board members required from a range of members to members? Rob Van Tassell, in response, made the following motion: We the First Place board are resolved to amend our By-Laws as follows: Strike the number of Board members required from and insert The motion was seconded by Rev Walden, light discussion followed, the question was called and the motion passed. Chair Mason then called for the Executive Session and clarified the unlike the Agenda the only reason for going into Executive Session is to discuss personnel matters related to former interim director(s). The Board would not be discussing a matter involving a fund development vendor. After a brief recess the Board then convened to Executive Session at 7:50. At 7:50 the Board reconvened in the public venue to resume the meeting. The Chair then entertained a motion from Ed Jefferson to adjourn, the motion was seconded by Rob Van Tassell. No discussion, question was called and the motion passed. First Place Board Meeting Minutes 4

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