Explore Knowledge Academy

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A meeting of the Explore Knowledge Academy Charter School Board of Trustees was held on Friday, October 12, 2007, 4:30 pm at 1711 Whitney Mesa Dr., Ste # 140, Henderson, NV 89014.

A. Call to Order: President Lauren Scheer called the meeting to order at 4:48 pm and led the flag salute and silent meditation.

B. Organization

1. Roll Call: A quorum was established with five board members present: Ben Day, Camille Wilson, Dee Ann Carey, Lauren Scheer, and Jay Rosen. Jill Nelson was absent and excused for a family matter. Others in attendance: Joan Sando, Constance Ewing, Clark Price, Sue Stewart, Abbe Mattson, Deni LaBree, and Kristin Timmons.

2. Adoption of Agenda: Jay moved to approve the agenda and Camille seconded the motion. Vote: All "aye", none opposed. Motion carried.

3. Approval of minutes from meeting on September 29th, 2007. Jay moved, Camille

seconded a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Vote: All "aye", none opposed.

Motion carried.

C. Reports/Presentations

1. Administration

• Board Affidavits and Information from NDE on Governing Bodies: Joan presented copies and highlighted information. She asked the board members to get the affidavit notarized and back to her within ten days so she can send them to the State Dept. of Ed.

• Administrators Meetings and Trainings: Constance Ewing reported that EKA administrators had attended the following workshops or meetings: Charter School Leaders Meeting with Lorraine Alderman and Jack Gordan, NASA Annual Law Workshop, SASI Training, and the upcoming Language Arts Standards Curriculum workshop. Sue reported that she and Danette had attended a workshop on NRS 387.303 reporting and that she is working on the external audit as well.

• Parent Conferences: scheduled for Oct. 29^th to discuss PLPs with parents and sign 4 year plans

• Testing: NHSPE for grade 12 Reading and Math retests and 11^th-12^th grade Writing Proficiency Exams on Oct. 31^st

2. Students: none in attendance

3. Advisors: Abbe Mattson reported on the Student Council plans to attend a regional workshop for small schools, their bank account has $700, and they have started planning the Prom.

Field trips planned are libraries, Tropicana's Bodies and Titanic shows, and Shakespeariance. The 30 days are complete and progress reports are being prepared for parents. Ms. Davies is doing a Theater Arts Seminar which will culminate with a program created by the kids on Dec. 6^th. In response to a question, Ms. Mattson said Project Foundry is being used by all secondary advisors and was recently upgraded to send bulk emails and store projects. It is creating uniformity among advisors and we are using funds to turn it into our grade book.

4. P.A.S.T.E.

Kristin Timmons announced the names of the new officers and reported that the external audit is being completed.

5. Board Members

D. PUBLIC COMMENTS on agenda items:

E. Response to Public Comments:

F. Old Business

1. Clarification of role between PASTE and EKA

Joan said she and Kristin had discussed waiting and working with the new officers, but had no information at this time.. Ben made a motion to table this discussion until the next meeting, Dee Anna seconded the motion. Vote; Ayes; Ben, Dee Anna, Camille, Lauren, Opposed: Jay

2. Appointment of Board Member:

Jay moved to appoint Mary Reutten. There was no second.

Dee Anna moved to appoint Julie Wignall. There was no second.

Lauren asked to open the discussion with a ten minute time limit. Camille moved, Jay seconded a motion to open discussion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried. Ben asked if the subcommittee had met and the answer was no. After discussion about the need for three people with a Nevada teaching license and all three current members with licenses are in the last year of their terms with two not eligible to run again, Jay made a motion to vote to appoint Mary Ruetten. Camille seconded the motion. Vote: Ayes: Ben, Jay, Camille, Lauren, Opposed: Dee Anna, Motion carried.

Camille made a motion to ask the other three candidates to work with the Executive Director on determining a role to involve them in the school, i.e., as an advisory committee to the board. Jay seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

3. Strategic Planning:

Connie and Joan explained that a planning committee needs to start planning the dates, times, locations, facilitator, etc. for the strategic planning process.

Ben made a motion to form a strategic planning committee. Jay seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

Jay made a motion to appoint himself and Camille to the committee. Camille seconded. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

Joan and Connie are responsible for completing the committee and getting the process started.

4. Proposal from LL Bradford:

Jay made a motion to approve the LL Bradford proposal. Ben seconded the motion. A discussion was held to clarify what the proposal covered, the purpose of the request for the proposal, and where the funds would come from. Sue explained that we already have two audits each year, one in May by CCSD and one in the Fall by LL Bradford. Basically, the proposal included a report of financial statements limited to information presented by the EKA management and not an audit or review of those statements, nor an opinion or any other assurance on them.. The amount of $2500 per interim plus $175-$300 per hour for board meetings seemed excessive. Joan recommended that we get three bids if we want to pursue this idea. Jay rescinded his motion.

Jay moved that we do not accept the proposal. Camille seconded. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

G. New Business

1. Charter Renewal

No new information was available so President Lauren requested that it be on the next board agenda under Old Business.

2. Signing Bonuses for Teachers

Lauren explained that decisions on items under New Business should only be made if there is a good reason like an emergency or a timely issue and this is a timely issue. Joan reported that the application is due on November 5^th to NDE if we wish to participate in this program. The application requires board approval and provides $2000 as a bonus to new teachers in Nevada. There is no cost to the school. Jay moved we apply for this program, Dee Anna seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

Lauren asked that this item be placed on the annual board calendar and Joan presented a revised calendar showing it as an item for October. Lauren also asked that Joan take the word "draft" off the calendar and replace it with the date that she updates it.

3. Maintenance Contract for Sandhill and Community Lane

Joan presented a contract for Harris Home Improvement to maintain the facilities at Sandhill (for items not covered in our lease with CLC) and Community Lane. This contract takes the place of the funds budgeted for a maintenance person on staff. The idea is to prevent big problems by solving smaller ones. The contract is dependent upon appropriate licenses and insurance by Harris Home Improvement.

Dee Anna moved to make the maintenance contract an emergency situation so it could be voted on immediately and not wait until the November meeting. Camille seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

Dee Anna moved to approve the contract with a request to monitor the work by the second week of each month and create a wish list if there was work left undone. Jay seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

4. Mini-retreats

Joan, Connie, and Lauren had discussed this idea and presented it as an option to consider for the continuing education and team-building of the board and administration as a team. Board members and administrators would take turns picking a topic to present in 15 minutes or less at the beginning of each board meeting. There was consensus that this would be a good idea to try. Joan has many resources on governing boards that are available for others to use.

H. CLOSED SESSION for Expulsion Hearings of two students.

President Lauren adjourned the public meeting at 6:14pm for a closed session.

I. ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION

President Lauren reconvened the Open Meeting at 6:21 pm.

The student who had been investigated for possession of illegal substances on campus had withdrawn so no action was taken on his case.

The student who had been investigated for use of illegal substances on campus had been invited to the hearing but did not attend. Jay made a motion to expel this student, and Ben seconded the motion. Vote: all ayes, none opposed, motion carried.

J. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

K. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT:

L. ANNOUNCEMENTS & AGENDA PLANNING:

Lauren adjourned the meeting at 6:25pm

Next Meeting: Friday, November 9, 4:30pm