MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A regular meeting of the Explore Knowledge Academy Charter School Board of Trustees was held on Friday, March 14^th, 2008 at 1711 Whitney Mesa Dr., Ste # 140, Henderson, NV 89014.

Mini-Retreat: Presentation on Community Experience Fund-Raising Program by Camille Wilson

A. Call to Order: President Lauren Scheer called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm and led the flag salute and moment of silence.

B. Organization

1. Roll Call: A quorum was established with six board members present: Ben Childs, Ben Day, Lauren Scheer, Camille Wilson, Dee Anna Carey, and Jill Nelson. Jay Rosen was absent. Others in attendance: Joan Sando, Constance Ewing, Sue Stewart, Danette Green, Clark Price, Abbe Mattson, Calvert Webster, Patrick Quinn, Gwen McFadden, Lorraine Alderman, Mike Wiener, plus several students and parents.

2. Adoption of Agenda: Joan asked to have "Strategic Planning" moved from Reports to New Business so action could be taken at the April meeting, if warranted. Ben Day made a motion to accept the agenda as presented with the change Joan requested. Jill seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

3. Approval of Minutes from February 8, 2008 meeting: Ben Day moved and Camille seconded a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Vote: All ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

C. Reports

Administrators:

Danette Green presented a graphic representation showing the enrollment figures for next year, including returning and new students. She had it broken down by grade levels and buildings so we can easily see how many openings we have. She reported that the marketing techniques seem to be working, including Galleria Mall, flyers, and ads.

Joan reported on the timeline for hiring staff, both returning and new. Returning staff have until March 31^st to indicate whether they wish to return. Current openings are being advertised until April 4^th, including Executive Director, Counselor, Teachers, and Development Coordinator. Qualified candidates will be considered by Community Council on April 14^th and interviews will be scheduled.

Students and Advisors:

Abbe Mattson reported for the students on their Spirit Week, Prom, Pep Rally, "March Twain Month" activities, Art Class, and Prep for NHSPEs.

Abbe reported for the secondary advisors that students are all working hard and in a business-like atmosphere and second semester has started.

PASTE

Joan reported that the PASTE Board and the Advisors are preparing for the 5^th Annual Family Festival on May 9^th. Abbe reported that Project Presentations will take place indoors at Sandhill on the same evening. She also told about the new stage at Sandhill, built by secondary students who were mentored by a volunteer carpenter.

Board Members:

Ben Day: He reported that he had received an application for Joan's position and he had talked with some families about the school. He felt he could do better in promoting EKA in the community.

Dee Anna: She reported about talking with another tenant in the Whitney Mesa restroom who said the teachers talk about the kids and she feels they are sharing confidential information and the kids are always running around in the parking lot, and she had called three board members about it.

Jill: She reported she had a call from her girls' school saying they were trying to get records since July and when she called EKA she was told the records had not been requested. She thinks we should do a better job with this.

Ben Childs: He said he promotes the school by talking to anyone he sees with kids, telling them how much his children like EKA. He complimented Ms. Hall on doing a great job at Community Lane.

Lauren: She complimented Camille on her excellent presentation and her efforts to promote EKA in the community.

D. Public Comments on Agenda Items: None

E. Response to Public Comments: None

F. Old Business:

1. Charter Renewal: Joan summarized the work that has been done on the charter renewal all year and introduced Lorraine Alderman from the CCSD Charter School Office. Lorraine described the process in more detail; then read the three goals for the next three years as stated in the renewal application and asked the board members for feedback on how we are doing on the goals, which included refining our EdVisions model, sustaining enrollment, and providing more opportunities for community involvement.

Lauren: Hosting the EdVisions Summer Institute was exciting. My son has done great here for three years, even built his own computer last year for a project.

Camille: Very impressed with the process of strategic planning and how the staff has included students, staff, parents and community members, plus Mr. Lewicki has done a great job of guiding us in planning the future of the school.

Ben Day: The school's goals are visionary, in nature, and we're at a point now where we can really see the goals being implemented. The first few years we were busy getting organized and had some serious issues, but this year we have made significant growth. We have established the mindset to reach out to the community, so we should continue what we are doing this year and continue to work on community involvement.

Lauren: I think we are a model for other schools on giving students responsibility for learning, on learning how to learn and how to collaborate with other students, not factory model of learning. It's a wonderful model for 21^st century learning.

Dee Anna: I hope the Executive Director will be from EdVisions, trained in EdVisions, not from within, and I hope the strategic plan comes with a building fund.

Jill: My daughter is at another school now and she has read higher levels of literature than her peers because here she was allowed to choose whatever she wanted to read at EKA and she chose Shakespeare and other great works.

Ben Childs: He said he is super, super happy with Clark Price, Director at the Elementary sites.

Lorraine stated that we are on the CCSD agenda for March 27^th and invited everyone to come.

When asked if she had any concerns about EKA, she stated that the two biggest challenges for all charter schools are 1) Highly Qualified Staff and 2) Special Education. She said EKA is doing fine with Special Education now, and is waiting for a report from the State Dept. of Education on whether we will need to create a corrective action plan for HQ. She offered her technical assistance if a plan is needed.

President Lauren asked members whether we should go to New Business or Closed Session. Dee Ann made a motion to do Closed Session for the Expulsion Hearing as the parent and child were waiting. Jill seconded the motion. Vote: All ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

President Lauren adjourned the public meeting at 5:35 pm.

H. Closed Session: An expulsion hearing took place with three board members as an Expulsion Board.

President Lauren reconvened the public meeting at 7:31.

I. Action on Closed Session

President Lauren read a resolution prepared by the Expulsion Board which stated that the student was expelled for the remainder of this school year. Jill made a motion to approve the resolution, Dee Anna seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

G. New Business

1. Budget 2009

Susan Stewart, Director of Finance presented a report from the Finance Committee and explained parts of the proposed budget, based on 572 students. President Lauren requested that each member study the budget and ask questions of the administration before the next meeting.

2. Calendar for 2009: This item will be on Old Business at the April meeting.

3. Strategic Plan: Joan presented the report from the February 23^rd planning session, which included developing a leadership academy, community-based learning projects, and sustaining our enrollment. The Team will meet again on March 29^th and bring a plan for approval at the April meeting. Then on June 11^th at our Pep Rally and Awards Ceremony, we will kick-off the next five years and celebrate with an All-School Assembly.

H. Closed Session: Joan requested a closed session to provide information on the progress for a parent complaint and present confidential information on the PASTE Bank Account.

President Lauren adjourned the public meeting at 7:47 pm.

President Lauren reconvened the public meeting at 7:53 pm

I. Action on Closed Session: no action was taken

J. Public Comments on Non-agenda items:

K. Response to Public Comments:

L. Announcements:

1. Joan pointed out agenda items and other events listed on the calendar. These included budget approval, calendar approval, strategic plan approval, annual review of by-laws, approval of continuing advisors for 2009, and approval of contracts with EMOs and consultants for 2009.

2. Joan stated that the staff has requested the Board change the May meeting as they will all be involved in the Family Festival on May 9^th. Ben Childs made a motion to change the meeting to May 16^th. Jill seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:56 pm.