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