June 2007

World Learner School
Board Meeting Minutes
June 25, 2007

Non-Members Present: Randi Shapiro

Parent Forum: No non-board members were present.

Meeting called to order by Sherry Wolfe (Richard Hess was late) at 6:21 PM.

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

Governance: There was a reminder that this is the last meeting of the fiscal year, and so the last meeting of this board. The new board will convene in July, and will elect officers as a first action.

Building Company:

Lease Renewal: There is an opportunity to increase WLS lease aid due to our increased school population. The current lease aid amount is $197,000. The new amount is $220,000. The portion of the lease aid amount for which WLS is responsible is currently $19,000, and with the new lease aid it would be $22,000. Therefore, the cost to the school on a purely cash basis would be $3,000. However, the school would gain $23,000 which it could apply to building repairs.

Deana moved that we accept the change in the building lease to $220,000 per year for the 0708 fiscal year. Patti seconded. All approved.

Flooring: Visit expected in July by John Nielson and technicians. Randi will report on it.

Siding: Same as above.

Roof: Same as above.

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

SBS Contract: Mark made a motion that WLS engage SBS on a two year contract. Alicia seconded. All approved.

Budget 0607: Mark referred to the June 2007 Finance Report (page 7 of the attachment). Section A2 is a proposal for revision of the 0607 budget, containing four specific items proposed.

• A2a: To review each fund category for changes in revenue and expenses with regard to the existing budget;
• A2b: To approve of budget reserve of $3550 (allow for unplanned expenses for remainder of 0607);
• A2c: To authorize the use of fundraising money in the amount of $57,950 to offset the General Fund unbudgeted expenses in the amount of $76,176 in 0607, resulting in a net deficit in the 0607 budget at the end of the fiscal year of $18,246.
• A2d: To approve all budget adjustments as listed on pages 4-6 of the attachment.

Alicia made a motion, and Deana seconded. In the discussion, Deana expressed concern that some parents may have had a different sense of where fundraising money would be spent. There is a need to communicate with the parents about the use of fundraising funds to deal with a budget deficit. Bob will draft a Principal Outreach. All voted in favor.

Budget 0708: The budget draft (page 14 in the attachment) was presented for approval. The changes from the previous draft were as follows:

• $18,000     Include additional revenue from expected 2% state increase in funding;
• $11,500    Lower expenses due to budget cuts;
• $10,000    Lower net expenses due to budgeting for $10,000 in fundraising to cover operations. Additional fundraising above the budgeted $10k, or any fundraising $’s which are designated for other purposes, will be tracked separately;
• $3,000    Additional net expense for building lease. (See policy approved by the board at this meeting, above.)

Deana made a motion to accept the 0708 budget as presented. Alicia seconded. All voted in favor.

Odyssey Reimbursement: Jon made a motion that the board authorize administration to refund the excess Odyssey funds to the people who paid in full for their airfare/hotel costs on the Odyssey in April. Patti seconded. All voted in favor. Liesl and Bob abstained, as they would be among those reimbursed.

There was a discussion about staff sometimes paying for themselves to participate in school sponsored activities such as the Odyssey. Jon and other members will study this issue and report back in July.

Enrollment: Enrollment in 0708 is as follows:

Grant Writing: Randi reported that we have received the grant we had applied for from the Walton Foundation in the amount of $155,000. There are six areas of allocation: 1) salary for the new upper elementary teacher; 2) materials and equipment for the new classroom; 3) science materials for all classrooms; 4) equipment and furniture for middle school expansion; 5) sponsorship for training; and 6) a van. The teachers will be meeting to begin the pleasant work of spending this money.

Fundraising: No report.

Personnel: Bob confirmed that Sarah Hassebroek has been hired to replace Juliet Holder in that lower elementary class. Amy Kent-Schneider has been hired as Sarah’s Assistant. The search continues for a middle school math teacher.

    Sponsorship: Carol Harris has started her three-summers training program in the Twin Cities.

Curriculum/Programs: Summer school is underway.

Building Company: No report.

Building Project: On hold.

OSHA: No report.

Technology: Will be meeting soon.

Communication/Hospitality/Volunteers: No report.

Administrative Tasks and Timelines Review: Reviewed.

Confirmation of date and time of next meeting: July 23, 2007. First meeting of the new board in the 0708 fiscal year. Election of officers to be held.

Jon made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mark 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.