April 22: Great River Board Meeting

All board materials are linked here.

Why does the school board start every meeting reading the school mission and the board mission? The board does this to ground its work in the board mission which is different from the school's mission.

School Mission
Great River School, an urban Montessori learning environment, prepares students for their unique roles as responsible and engaged citizens of the world.

Board Mission
The Board of Directors exists on behalf of the public to ensure that Great River School achieves the student outcomes for which it is chartered and provides exemplary stewardship of resources while at all times operating within all required parameters. Accordingly, as the governing body of the school, our intent is to refrain from co-managing.

Karen Anway and Anne Springfield, guides at Great River read the oath of office and were officially appointed to the board to fill the vacated faculty positions on the board.

All GRS Board Meeting agenda items fall into three areas:

• How are the students doing? 
• Is everything occurring appropriately? 
• Board assessment and development 

How are the students doing?

The Student Performance Factors for April were reviewed and discussed.  The Board was especially appreciative of the chart to the left that quantifies the non-traditional work that Great River students do.

The Student Achievement Committee Chair offered recommendations of questions to be added to the student survey that will be administered in May.

Is Everything Occurring Appropriately?
The Finance Report was presented and approved. A request was made to add a column to the report that identifies what percentage of the budget a line item represents.  The school has spent 73.5% of the budget with 75% of the year complete.

A proposed new outdoor environment to be constructed on the East side of the South parking lot was discussed next.  The plans were reviewed. The Board discussed the value of this work and the impact that it might have on other unforeseen building requirements. The total cost of the project will come from the capital improvement fund; this fund must be used on direct improvements to the building or grounds. Great River can not use this fund on any other expenditures; it stays 'with' the building.  The board discussed the value of improving the outdoor area now versus having this fund as a bargaining chip to offer if we were to sell the building.  A motion was made to approve the expenditure on this project, and it was passed.  Start watching the South parking lot this summer to see the work on the outdoor play area start!

Fiscal Year 2016 Budget review began and was tabled for approval at May's meeting so that come suggested changes could be incorporated.  Charter Compliance was discussed; our authorizer's request for different possible scenarios for new/other/improved facilities and the financial goals.  The Resource Committee will develop these and Board Operations will come up with governance goals. The Faculty will develop math, student observation, mindfulness, and independent work goals.

Every month the Consent Agenda, things that require approval but not discussion was passed.  This month the board pulled the calendar from the Consent Agenda for discussion; dates were discussed and updated, and the Academic Calendar 2015-16 was approved.

Board Assessment and Development
Motions to approve amend the Board Operations Mandate, to dissolve FY15 ad-hoc committees, and to amend bylaws to establish three standing committees:  Board Operations, Resources, and Student Experience Committee that serves as the District Advisory Council were all made and approved. The Board is encouraged to fill out the self-assessment shared in the training plan for individual development.

The Board adjourned.

The next Great River Board Meeting will be Wednesday, May 27th at 6PM. This meeting is the Annual Meeting and Board Elections! Families are encouraged to attend!!

March 25: Great River Board Meeting

Great River School Board is opened every month by reading the school mission and board mission.   What is the school mission?

Great River School, an urban Montessori learning environment, prepares students for their unique roles as responsible and engaged citizens of the world.

If you ever forget the school mission, it is located on the front page of the website as an overlay on the scrolling images of Great River students.

The Board Meeting acknowledged Tami Limberg's resignation from the board and honored her amazing service over the past years.

All GRS Board Meeting agenda items fall into three areas:

• How are the students doing?
• Is everything occurring appropriately?
• Board assessment and development

How are the students doing?

The chart to the right was reviewed, and data was requested around the following areas:

• Board Attendance
• Information about what students are doing in the community such as CAS.  Where are they getting non-traditional, out-of-school experiences?
• Sports, theater, extracurricular information (demographics, grade levels, more data about attendance of these programs).

Is Everything Occurring Appropriately?

The Finance Report was approved and the Fiscal Year 2016 budget was tabled for approval next month so that board members could more thoroughly study the budget and line items.

A motion was made and approved for the Resources Committee to review the salary schedule recommendations and compare them to schools of similar size and mission and bring this information back to the board.   

The Consent Agenda, a set of documents that require approval but not discussion, was approved.

Board Assessment and Development

The Executive Committee proposed moving the annual meeting date from April to May 27th and the Annual Board Planning Dates to August 15th and 16th.

The Strategic Plan discussion reviewed all the documents in the folder; the board discussed what items need to be reflected in this plan and how detailed the plan needs to be to uphold our mission as an urban public Montessori school.

A motion to approve the Strategic Plan with the addition of a goal in section 2 to develop a long-range vision based on the eight Montessori principles outlined by the Student Achievement Committee document was made and approved after discussion.

The board adjourned; the next Great River Board Meeting will be Wednesday, April 22nd at 6PM.

February 25: Great River School Board Meeting

Great River School Board is opened every month by reading the school mission and board mission.   What is the school mission?

Great River School, an urban Montessori learning environment, prepares students for their unique roles as responsible and engaged citizens of the world.

If you ever forget the school mission, it is located on the front page of the website as an overlay on the scrolling images of Great River students.

All GRS Board Meeting agenda items fall into three areas:

• How are the students doing?
• Is everything occurring appropriately?
• Board assessment and development

How are the students doing?
Great River had a very successful J-Term;  $6387 in revenue was raised and the students' plays were amazing.  This year Great River invested in more computers to administer standardized tests so that there is less classroom disruption when standardized tests are given.  As a public school, Great River is required by law to administer these tests. There are 27 standardized tests scheduled across all grades at Great River; a traditional district would typically administer 48 tests.  Great River, while following all Minnesota Statutes, administers significantly fewer standardized tests.

The Student Achievement Committee has met and is inspired by the work of nine students who are regularly gathering every Wednesday to draft an updated Student/Parent Handbook. The committee is working on how to assess students' impressions of their experience at Great River and discussed best methods for completing this analysis.

The Pedagogy Leadership Committee reported that most of this board committee's goals were met or were well underway.  In the March Board meeting, a decision will be made whether or not to continue this committee of the board.

Is everything occurring appropriately?
The Finance Report noted 58.2% of our budget is expended with 58.3% of the year complete.  Our current budget is based on 413 enrolled students, and our actual enrollment is 417; there will be a budget surplus if we continue on this trend, and our enrollment numbers stay the same.  The fiscal year 2016 budget revisions were discussed, and it was noted that in March's board meeting a draft of the budget will be shared for board review.  The fiscal year 2016 budget will be based on a projected 1% increase in revenue from the State of Minnesota.

Wendy Swanson-Choi from NEO, Great River School's authorizer, was in attendance to support the board and answer questions about the NEO Performance Framework: a document NEO prepared and shared with the board.  This document reviews NEO's indicators for charter schools and gives Great River feedback around each of the indicators.  Wendy noted that NEO is willing to extend Great River a five-year authorization, the longest available,  pending follow-up on strategic planning details; specifically three to five year facility/space/enrollment scenarios.  Great River is discussing a three-year authorization with NEO because of the value placed on NEO's partnership and input; that discussion will continue in the following weeks.  The enrollment numbers for the academic year 2015-16 were approved in preparation for the enrollment lottery to be held on March 5th, 2016.

The board approved combining the Development, Facilities, and Finance Committees into one committee named the Resources Committee since these goals were so strongly integrated and the people serving on these committees were largely the same teams. Community members are welcome to serve on any of the board's committees!  Review the Great River School Calendar for times and locations of Committee Meetings.

The board approved a budget expenditure for upgrading campus security to include entrance cameras and entrance improvements.  The Capital Improvement Account was discussed in the context of partnering with CSDC, Charter School Development Corporation, to further the mission of Great River School.  The Policy Committee's report was tabled to next month to add time to agenda. The Great River School summer program was pulled out of the Consent Agenda, and the board approved the program with the direction that should be revenue neutral.   The rest of the Consent Agenda, a set of documents that require approval but not discussion, was approved.

Board Assessment and Development
The Executive Committee report was approved, and the board's discussion focused on the Strategic Plan Draft.  Committees confirmed that they would each take the strategic goals their work impacted and develop an action plan.  These action plans are to be drafted and in board folder by March 18th in preparation for discussion at the next board meeting.  The Board Operations and Board Development Plan were tabled until next month in order to adjourn at 8:45.  The Board Meeting Reflection discussion covered two points. First, the enrollment numbers discussion needs to be scheduled in the fall board meetings and not close to the enrollment lottery. Second, in order to have a better reflection on how the board meeting went, the board needs to be holding that discussion at 8:20 PM.  The board adjourned.  Next Board Meeting is March 25, 2016 at 6PM in the A3 Upper Commons at Great River School.

January 29: Great River School Board Meeting

Great School Board is opened every month by reading of the school mission and the reading of the board mission.  Although you may be familiar with the school mission (hint: it is on the front page of the website as an overlay on each photo) but what is the board mission?

Board Mission:
The Board of Directors exists on behalf of the public to ensure that Great River School achieves the student outcomes for which it is chartered and provides exemplary stewardship of resources while at all times operating within all required parameters. Accordingly, as the governing body of the school, our intent is to refrain from co-managing. Read more including board parameters and vision here.

Board Members and guests gathered on January 28th at 6PM for the first meeting of 2015.  Note:  All Board documents can be reviewed in detail here at any time.

All GRS Board Meeting agenda items fall into three areas:

• How are the students doing?
• Is everything occurring appropriately?
• Board assessment and development

How are the students doing?

MCA math testing scores were in focus; Great River 7th & 8th-grade scores are somewhat lower than MN state averages; by 11th grade the scores increase and are higher than state averages.  The math department is working with this data and developing recommendations.  The Board discussed that when Great River accepts new 7th graders, the MCA score data from previous schools do not arrive with the student; previous schools are not required to provide them.  If the state does mandate the sharing of previous MCA scores, Great River will be able to track student progress; this would allow Great River to measure the progress of incoming students.

The Student Achievement Committee reported about working with students and the inspiration of hearing from students on the importance of the Great River community to the students; the student survey also reflected this.  Great River students clearly value the importance of community! 

The Pedagogy Committee reported on their work and about how the committee may transition from a board committee to a school working group in the future.

Is everything occurring appropriately?
Finance Report and FY16 Budget revisions were approved with discussion of some budget line items. Policy Committee reported on recommendations around faculty computer use. The Consent Agenda was approved.  Charter renewal was discussed; it was top of mind for the board because the authorizer Novation Education Opportunities (NEO) completed their site visit on Monday of this week.

Board assessment and development
The Executive Committee reported on planning work with incoming Head of School, Katie Ibes and Sam O'Brien, current and continuing Head of School.  A decision was made to have four open Strategic Plan Working Group meetings to prepare the plan for board review next month.

November 19th: Great River School Board Meeting

GRS Board Members and guests gathered on November 19th, 2014 at 6PM.  All Board documents can be reviewed in detail here at anytime.

All GRS Board Meeting agenda items fall into three areas:

• How are the students doing?
• Is everything occurring appropriately?
• Board assessment and development

How are the students doing?
This month the board devoted an hour to review and to weigh in on the work done by the Strategic Planning Committee; Great River's Strategic Plan is 'owned' by the entire board. The top themes for the strategic plan were discussed and voted on; more will be posted about these themes very soon.  The next step is to turn these themes into measurable goals.

Student Performance was reviewed in the context of academic honesty, wellness, work completion, and mathematics. These categories were established with our authorizer during our last authorization process.

Is everything occurring appropriately?

Great River School is under budget and the fund balance is up; great news!  A budget revision and finance report was approved.

The draft of reauthorization documentation is with our authorizer.  This is work to be proud of; most charter schools are not prepared for reauthorization two months early!  Kudos to Great River Leadership for this work.

Board assessment and development
The Board participated in financial training led by Treasurer Eric White; diving in on how to read the financials.  Oath of office was administered.

After reflections on the meeting, the meeting was adjourned.

October 29th: Great River School Board Meeting

GRS Board Members and guests gathered on October 29th, 2014 at 6PM.  All Board documents can be reviewed in detail here at anytime.

All GRS Board Meeting agenda items fall into three areas:

• How are the students doing?
• Is everything occurring appropriately?
• Board assessment and development

How are the students doing?

Great River students are well prepared for college:

The board reviewed student performance factors specifically:  ACT, PLAN, EXPLORE, IB Results and Great River School MMR (Multiple Measures Rating).

View of what happened in October at Great River School 'By The Numbers.'

Is everything occurring appropriately?

• GRS is currently under budget.
• The annual audit is complete and GRS received the best available opinion from our auditing firm Abdo, Eick, and Myers: Unmodified Opinion. 
• The Search Committee recommended the board approve hiring Katie Ibes as Pedagogy Leader for Fiscal Year 2016; the board unanimously voted to approve the Search Committee's recommendation.
• The Annual Report is complete and was discussed.
• The board reviewed surveys completed by staff, parents and students and discussed how these survey results will inform the work of the Strategic Planning Committee as it gets underway.

Board assessment and development

• The board discussed opportunities to make the meetings even more efficient.

September 24th: Great River School Board Meeting

GRS Board Members and guests gathered on September 24th, 2014 at 6PM.  All Board documents can be reviewed in detail here at anytime.

How are the students doing?

• Board reviewed student performance factors document and discussed the importance of collecting the data and using the data to ensure we are constantly improving.
• Board reviewed the International Baccalaureate Action Plan noting the strong overlap between IB goals and Montessori goals.

Fall Experiences by the Numbers

Is everything occurring appropriately?

• Finance Report was reviewed noting the good news that GRS' lease aid was approved to get retroactive payments owed to GRS earlier than anticipated which will benefit our cash flow.
• Wendy Swanson-Choi of NEO, GRS' authorizer, presented to Board and answered questions on GRS's charter renewal process.  NEO's evaluation process will assure GRS meets MDE standards and we will know term length of our charter renewal by April 2015.
• The Search for a Pedagogy Leader was discussed noting there is one highly qualified candidate who has applied.
• Charter compliance was reviewed in conjunction with the World's Best Workforce work; World's Best Workforce is a Minnesota Department of Education program with the goal of making sure all schools are meeting these goals:
  All children are ready for school.
  All third-graders can read at grade level.
  All racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed.
  All students are ready for career and college.
  All students graduate from high school.
• Consent agenda was approved; a consent agenda is a list of documents reviewed by the board before the meeting and that do not require discussion.

Board assessment and development

• Two committee mandates were approved to continue the work already started: Student Achievement Committee and Strategic Plan Committee.
• Board reflected on the meeting noting how helpful it was to meet with Wendy Swanson-Choi.