South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts

164 Bruckner Blvd, Bronx NY 10454 | 718.401.9216 | sbcsica.org | information@sbcsica.org

MeetingoftheBoardofTrustees

Thursday,September18,2014–4:30p.m.

BoardMeetingMinutes-DRAFTStartTime 5:01PM

BoardMembersinAttendance DonaldMattsonPriscillaOcasioCarmenSantosDaliaPeraltaJohnPotapchukAbsentBoardMembers:noneNon-BoardMembers EvelynHeyMaryCorderoStephanieAlvesDeliaGonzalesMichaelLoganRobertMcLaughlinElvisTorres Minutes:I.Welcome-Priscillawelcomestheboardmembersandattendees.Thisisourfirstmeetinginthisnewandbeautifulbuilding.Boardmembersareaskedtoreviewtheminutesfromthelastmeeting.ApprovetheJuly2014BoardofTrusteesMinutesMotionedbyCarmenSantosmotions;secondedby:DaliaPeralta;allinfavor:unanimousMotionpassedII.OperationsReport–StephanieAlves

• Vendorpaymentsareuptodate.• Constructionpaymentsuptodate.• Wehavehad4firedrillsthusfar.

III.Principal’sReport-EvelynHeyEnrollment:470

• Bobinquiresaboutthearearoadsandtheteacherparking–EvelynrespondsthatD.O.T.hasmarkedupwherethespeedbumpswillgo.Thepolicedepartmenthasprovidedcrossingguards,oneonStAnn’sAvenueandtheotheronStAnn’sPlace.Rightnowwehavetoaddsomeplantingsbutwearenotabletoplantinthegroundsincethereisbedrockandrootswontgrab.D.O.Tisreallyworkingwithus.

• Construction:AttheribboncuttingIthinkIreallysaiditall.TheBuildingsdepartmentandexpeditorreallyhavedonesuchawonderfuljobinhandlingthebuild.

• IcontactedapersonIknowfromtheD.O.E.andwasabletogetourmovefrombothlocationsforfree.

• Weappliedforreimbursementfortheremediationthatwasdoneduringconstructionandwegotacheckfor35Kandasecondcheckfor80K.Wewillalsobegettinggetaplaquethatsaysweare“green”.

• Dan,theownerofSignatureConstructionhasgivenusagenerousgiftoffurniturefortwoKindergartenclassrooms.

• HonorableMariaDelCarmenArroyogaveusacheckfor250Kfortechnology.Wewouldliketohavealaptopcartforeverygrade.

• Thebuildingisverytechnological.Wehaveaccesscardsforthedoorandelevator,Mondopads,topofthelinevideopresentationequipmentintheauditoriuminclusiveofbothaudioandvideoconferencing,andaportablesoundsystemandsoundboardthatissuitableforaconcertatYankeestadium.

• IspokewithourExecutiveChefJohnVarastoseeifhecouldtellmethecostoffoodweekly.Wequalifyforgettingallstudentstoeatforfree;wejusthavetokeepcountofhowmanystudentsareeatingmealshere.Wewillgenerateover400Kyearlyfrommeals.Thatfiguredoesnotincludeincomefromthestaffbuyingfood.I’dliketomakesurethattheincomegeneratedfrommealscouldpayforthefivekitchenstaff,andtheConEdisonbill.IamfreakedoutabouttheConEdisonbillandIwillspeaktothebuildingmanageraboutwhathecandotohelplowerthecostofConEdison.

• Bussinghasalwaysbeenanissue.OneofthereasonsthatIpushedsohardtogettheT.C.O.inacertaintimeframewasbecausewewouldnotgetbussingotherwise.LastweeksomeonedroppedtheballatO.P.T.SomeonefromO.P.T.camehereonMondaytocheckoutthebussingsituationandhesaidthathewouldgetitdone.Thereisavariancethatschoolscanqualifyifaschoolconsideredtobeinadangerousarea.Wequalify.Sooncethatapplies,evenmorestudentswillbeprovidedwithtransportation.Bussingisalwaysdifficultbecauseparentsalwaysexpectthatbussesareavailableonthefirstdayofschool.

• Staffing:AsacharterschoolwehavealwayshadteachersleavebecauseofthedreamofworkingforNYCD.O.E.Thatisespeciallythecasewithbilingualteachers.Wehadthebiggestexitoffirstgradeteachersthisyear.

NewhiresreportedbyDeliaRodriguez,DirectorofHumanResourcesJohnVaras–ExecutiveChefWilliamCepin–SousChefJasonOrtiz–ChefAssistantFriggeStHelen–FacilitiesManagerDerekRollins-HeadCustodianJesseniaCaro-TeacherYhairaCastro–TeacherNancyLevier–TeacherMarianaPerez–TeacherMelissaRich-Capuder–Musicteacher

Wehaveonevacancy;wearestilllookingforanArtteacher

• Afterschool&extracurricula:Myseasonedteacherswilldotheregularacademicafterschool

program.Thecouncilwomanhasalsogivenusagrantforamusicprogramtocometoourschool.Iamalsobrininginanartprogramforafterschool.

IV.VictoryFinancialReports–PaulAugelloisnotinattendancethisevening.Hehasemailedhisreporttotheboardmemberspriortothemeeting.Hewouldlikeyoutopleaseemailhimifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns.

V.VictoryEducationPartnersReport–MaryCorderoEnrollment/OrganizationMatters

AsperSchool–September18,2014NumberofELL’sstudents:pendingduetobeginningoftheyearscreeningandtesting.NumberofTitleIEligibleStudents:pendingduetobeginningoftheyearscreeningandtesting.NumberofSpecialEd.Students:25

Curriculum/Instruction• TitleIProgramisincompliancewithallfederalandstatemandates. Academicintervention

servicesarebeingprovidedtostudentsandappropriatedocumentationismaintained.Assessments

2014-2015AssessmentSchedule:• NYSEDELAGrades3-8:April14-16• NYSEDMATHGrades3-8:April22-24• NYSEDScience4thand8thgrade:

o May20-29thperformanceassessmento June1-WrittenAssessment

Compliance:• TheConsolidatedApplicationwassubmittedbeforeAugust30,2013.• AnnualComprehensiveReporttoauthorizerdueSept19,2014• Thefirstpartofthe2013-14AnnualReportwassubmittedbyVictorytoNYCDOEand

NYSEDonAugust1.TheProgressTowardGoalssectionwillbeduetobothonNovember1.AccordingtoNYSlaw,theAnnualReportmustalsobepubliclypostedonschoolwebsites.

• TheSchoolSafetyandtheEducationalClimatereportonlastyear'sincidentreportswillbeduetoNYSEDSeptember26.ThisreportincludestheViolentandDisruptiveIncidentReportsummaryandreportingonincidentsthatfallundertheDignityforAllStudentsAct.

Governance• UpdateregardingPendingformalapprovalofsubmittedamendments

o Changeinenrollment• JohnPotapchuk–approvedbyNYCDOE(letterinfolder)• DiscussconversationwithNYCDOEre:Bylaws:#ofmeetings• RatifyConflictofInterest&CodeofEthicsforthe2014-2015schoolyear• Therewasaresolutiontoincreaseenrollment.Maryhassubmittedthepaperwork

andwastoldthatthereisaholdonituntilNovember-December.Marywillresubmittherevisiontothecharteratthattime..

• ThereisasectioninthebylawsthatneedstoreflectthatwehaveonemeetingpermonthfromSeptuntilJunewhileschoolisinsession

• BoardattorneyMichaelLoganreadstheresolutionfortheamendmentofsection8ofbylaws.(BylawswerelastamendedinApril).

VI.Resolutions(Fullresolutionbelow):AmendingBylaws–numberofmeetingperyearMotionedbyDonaldMattsonmotionstoaccepttherevisedbylawsasreadbyMichaelLogan:Discussion:noneSecondedbyCarmenSantosallinfavor;unanimousRollcall:DonaldMattson-yes,PriscillaOcasio–yes,JohnPotapchuk-yes,CarmenSantos–yesandDaliaPeralta-yes.RatifyingCodeofEthicsresolutionasdiscussed.DonaldMattsonmotionstoadopttheCodeofEthicswithoutchanges,Second:DaliaPeralta,allinfavor:unanimous.RatifyingConflictofInterestResolutionasdiscussed.MotiontoacceptDaliaPeralta;Second:DonaldMattson;allinfavor:unanimous.(Fullresolutionbelow)BoardchangesOctober’smeetingdatefromOctober16thtoOctober23rd.VII.PTOReport-DaliaPeralta

• ThePTOmonthlymeetingwillbeheldonWednesday,September24,2014at8:30AMandtheParentBookClubwillbethesamedayat9:00AM.

• WehavetwoFundraisingonefromTheFundFactoryandtheotheronefromCherrydaleCompany.(Daliahandsoutthefundraisingbooklets)

• TreasurerReport:

Expenditures:Transportation:$30.00(PTOpresident,boardmemberandmeetings)Pizzapartyforthe4thgradeclass-$40.00RefreshmentsforPTOmonthlymeeting:$50.00Miscellaneous:$30.00(tablecloth,utensils,etc.)PurchaseofSnacksforsale$1.00or50centsFundraising-$200.00atBJ’s.Transportation&Parking-$20.00Coffeeforteachersandmilk:$25.00Expenditure:$395.00Available-$1826.00(bank)PettyCash-$350.00(PTODues)WearehavingCurriculumnighttomorrownightK-2and3-5PMMondayeveningfrom5-6PMVIII.NewBusiness

• TerraNovaisastandardizedexamthatweusedwithourearlychildhoodgrades.TheStatesentoutanewmandatethatprohibitsschoolsfromusingstandardizedassessmentsintheearlychildhoodgrades.SowewillnolongerbeusingTerraNova.Wearehappywiththatbecausewefeltthatwedidnotseetoomuchvalueinthisexam,additionallyitplacedundulystressonthestudents.Wewereforcedtousethesetypesofassessmentswhenwefirst

startedourCharter.Historicallytheresultsfromthesetypesofstandardizedinterimassessmentswerepartofourperformanceandgrowth.Thisisnolongerthecase.Schoolsarebeingencouragedtouseinformalassessmentstogatherdata.WewillneedtoamendthechartertoreflectthatSBCSICAwillnolongerbeutilizingtheTerraNova.[VotetotaketheTerraNovaoutoftheCharter]Resolutionbelow.

• PotentialBoardMember:PriscillaintroducesElvisTorrestotheboardasapotentialboardmember.Mr.Torres’resumewassharedwiththeBoardviaemail.Hehasafinancialbackgroundandiscurrentlyemployedbyanon-profitorganization.Mr.TorresaddressestheBoardofTrusteesandrespondingtoquestions.

MotionbyPriscillaOcasiotogointoexecutivesession;SecondedbyCarmenSantos;allinfavor:unanimousExecutivesessionstarts:6:23PMMotionbyDonaldMattsontoendexecutivesession;Second:CarmenSantos;allinfavor:unanimousExecutivesessionends6:33MotionbyCarmenSantostoacceptElvisTorresasaSBCSICABoardMember,pendingsubmissionofdocumentationandapprovalofNYCDOE;SecondbyJohnPotapchuk;allinfavor:unanimousMotionpassesMaryremindstheboardthatsincetheynowhave6boardmembers,theywillneed4boardmembersinattendanceforquorumataBoardmeeting.It’sbesttohaveanoddnumber,theBoardneedstoaddamember.Nowthattherearemoremembersinplacetheboardcanstarttoorganizeanddevelopthevariouscommitteessothattherecanbeacommitteereportateachmeeting.IX.Adjournment:Motion:DonaldMatheson;Second:JohnPotapchuk;allinfavor:unanimousIX.Upcomingmeeting:Thursday,October23,2014MeetingEndat6:43PM

SouthBronxCharterSchoolforInternationalCulturesandtheArtsSBCSICAResolutionsforSeptember18,2013

09182014.1TheBoardofTrusteesmotionstoapprovetheJuly2014BoardMeetingMinutes.Motionedby:CarmenSantos;Secondedby:DaliaPeralta;allinfavor:unanimousMotionpasses09182014.2TheBoardofTrusteesmotionstoamendtheCharterbyremovingtheuseoftheTerraNovaassessmentintheearlychildhoodgradessupportedbyNovember2013memorandumbyCommissionerKing.Motionedby:DonaldMattson;Secondedby:JohnPotapchuk;allinfavor:unanimousMotionpasses09182014.3APPROVINGANDAMENDINGTHEMEETINGPROVISIONOFTHEBY-LAWSWHEREAS,theSouthBronxCharterSchoolforInternationalCulturesandtheArts(the“Institution”)operatesacharterschoolpursuanttotheStateEducationLaw;andWHEREAS, the New York State Education Department requires the Board of Trustees of theInstitutiontomeetmonthlyduringtheInstitution’sschoolyear;andWHEREAS,theBoardhasdeterminedthattheMeetingsprovisionoftheBy-Lawsshouldbeamendedto reflect theNewYork StateEducationDepartment requirement ofmonthlymeetingsduring theInstitution’sschoolyear.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INSTITUTION ASFOLLOWS:Section1. Meetings.TheBy-LawsareamendedbymodifyingtheMeetingsprovisioninSection8asfollows:“TheBoardofTrusteesshallmeetatleastmonthlyduringSBCSICA’sschoolyearandasappropriateoverthesummerrecessondatestobedeterminedinadvancebytheBoardofTrustees.”Section2. ThisResolutionshalltakeeffectimmediatelyMotionedbyDonaldMattsonDiscussion:noneSecondedbyCarmenSantosallinfavor;unanimousRollcall:DonaldMattson-yes,PriscillaOcasio–yes,JohnPotapchuk-yes,CarmenSantos–yesandDaliaPeralta-yes.Motionpasses09182014.4RATIFICATIONOFTHECODEOFETHICSWHEREAS,theSouthBronxCharterSchoolforInternationalCulturesandtheArts(the“Institution”)operatesacharterschoolpursuanttotheStateEducationLaw;andWHEREAS, the Board recognizes that sound, ethical standards of conduct serve to increase theeffectivenessofschoolBoardtrusteesandtheirstaffaseducationalleadersintheircommunity;andWHEREAS,theBoardalsorecognizesitsobligationundertheGeneralMunicipalLaw,toadoptacodeofethicsconsistentwiththeprovisionsoftheGeneralMunicipalLaw,settingforththestandardsofconductrequiredforallschooltrustees,officersandemployees;andWHEREAS,theBoardhasdeterminedtoreviewandadopttheInstitution’s“CodeofEthicsforSchoolTrustees,Officers,andEmployees”onanannualbasis.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INSTITUTION ASFOLLOWS:Section1. CodeofEthics.TheCodeofEthicsattachedasExhibitAisadoptedforthe2014–2015schoolyear:Section2. ThisResolutionshalltakeeffectimmediately.MotionedbyDonaldMattsonDiscussion:noneSecondedby:DaliaPeralta,allinfavor:unanimousMotionpasses09182014.5RATIFICATIONOFTHECONFLICTSOFINTERESTPOLICYWHEREAS,theSouthBronxCharterSchoolforInternationalCulturesandtheArts(the“Institution”)operatesacharterschoolpursuanttotheStateEducationLaw;andWHEREAS, the Board recognizes that sound, ethical standards of conduct serve to increase theeffectivenessofschoolBoardtrusteesandtheirstaffaseducationalleadersintheircommunity;andWHEREAS,theBoardalsorecognizesthedefinedprohibitedconflictsofinterestforschooltrustees,officersandemployeesundertheGeneralMunicipalLaw;andWHEREAS, the Board has determined to review and adopt the Institution’s “Conflicts of InterestPolicy”onanannualbasis.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INSTITUTION ASFOLLOWS:Section1. Conflicts of Interest Policy. The Conflicts of Interest Policy attached as ExhibitA isadoptedforthe2014–2015schoolyear:Section2. ThisResolutionshalltakeeffectimmediately.MotionedbyDaliaPeraltaDiscussion:noneSecondedbyDonalMattsonallinfavor;unanimousMotionpasses