The World Learner School

Past Minutes

World Learner School
Board Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2007

Board Members absent: Richard Hess, Deana Siekmann

Non-Members Present: Randi Shapiro

Parent Forum: No non-board members were present.

Meeting called to order by Mark Lokhorst (Richard Hess was absent) at 6:21 PM.

Minutes from the March meeting were read. Jon made a motion to accept the minutes. Patti seconded. All approved.

Governance:

Annual Meeting: Parents voiced approval for the clarity and brevity of the meeting. Alicia asked about the list that is drawn up at the meeting of parents’ suggestions for improving the school, specifically: what sort of processing the suggestions undergo. There was a suggestion to take the list to the teachers as a first step. The teachers will mark the items as doable or not, and keep them on their meeting agenda so they receive attention as needed. The teachers will also bring any of those items to the board level as appropriate.

Family Survey: Randi reminded the board of the requirement and the value of doing the annual survey, and stated her intention to engage JFK Market Research to do the survey again.

Secondary Extension Investigation Team: The directive from the board was to set up a task force which would articulate some questions that would need to be asked and answered, and make a recommendation regarding the extension at some later date. The board was in unanimous support of taking this initial step. The team met on April 4. The discussion focused on extending to 9th grade, with the subsequent consideration of higher grades as well. There was much interest in the idea. Several of the people attending the meeting took on research tasks, and will report back to the team at the next meeting, which is scheduled for May 2.

Finance: Randi summarized the current financial documents, and reviewed current reports (attached).

Budget: Mark gave an update on the budget (a summary, with graphs, is attached), and will bring another advanced draft to the board in May.

Enrollment: Current enrollment is as follows:
    Lower Elementary:     83
    Upper Elementary:    50
    Middle School:        17
    Total:                     150

Grant Writing: No report.

Fundraising: All board members are encouraged to come to the Shindig and to encourage others to do so as well. There are some beautiful cards for sale, made from students’ artwork. Michelle Frommelt has ordered some pens to go with the cards.

Personnel:

Sponsorship: Bob confirmed that the staff support offering sponsorship for training to Carol Harris. Her role and the timeframe of her work at the school will be determined in the coming weeks, and reported to the board in May.

Compensation for Non-Exempt Employees in Extended Activities: Bob presented a revised proposal, having had input from legal counsel, for this policy. Patti made a motion to accept it as written. Sherry seconded. All voted in favor, except Henrik, who abstained because of a possible conflict of interest.

Curriculum/Programs: Bob gave a summary of the middle school Odyssey, which was a trip to Washington, DC, and which just ended April 22.

Building Company: Randi related three important repair needs on the building:

Flooring: Repair is needed on the floor, which is cracking, primarily in Juliet’s and Teresa’s rooms and the hallway in between.

Siding: Repair needed on the southern and western portions of the building.

Roof: Repair is needed on the roof over the elevator shaft (it’s leaking).

Sherry suggested that we consider fundraising to raise the money to make these repairs.

Randi and Henrik will contact John Nielson and describe these problems to him, and have him submit a proposal for advising on these repair projects and possibly managing the engagement of a construction firm to do the work.

Building Project: The current project is on hold, due to the discussion underway of long-term configuration, including that regarding extension of the program into the secondary level. Deb Rathman, project architect, has been notified that the project is on hold. Randi will also notify John Nielson, our owner’s representative.

OSHA: No report.

Technology: Beth’s computer either needs to be repaired or returned and replaced. Bob will work this out with Henrik.

Communication/Hospitality/Volunteers: No report.

Administrative Tasks and Timelines Review: There were suggestions to add Annual Fund Letter in October (and to print the letter in a high-quality, classy manner), Planning Pre-Program Weeks in May. There was also a suggestion to have more of a public display of Montessori, namely, a picture or pictures of Maria Montessori and quotes from her work.

Confirmation of date and time of next meeting: May 21, 2007 (May 28th is a holiday).

Patti made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Liesl seconded. All approved.

Respectfully submitted by Bob Ruud, Board Secretary. These minutes are distributed electronically to board members who have email, on paper to those who don’t. A paper copy is filed in the master file in Bob’s office. A copy is also available in the WLS office.