CSAC Minutes -  April 14, 2005

 NC Charter School Advisory Committee Meeting

State Board of Education 7^th Floor Meeting Room

NC Department of Public Instruction

 

April 14, 2005

 

Draft Minutes

 

Attendance/CSAC	Tannis Nelson Sandy Carmany Richard Clontz Kate Alice Dunaway Ben Currin Michael Fedewa JoAnne Woodard	Nancy Farmer Alfred Bryant Sandy Carmany   Absent:  John Geil, Simon Johnson, Arlene Ferren, John Crowder, Tony Cozart, Kathy Taft
Attendance/SBE/DPI	Office of Charter Schools      Jack Moyer, Director      Matthew Lanner, Admin Asst.      Jackie Jenkins, Consultant      Carl Pridgen, Consultant      Joel Medley, Consultant      Karen Frazier, Finance	Attorney General’s Office      Laura Crumpler SIMS Consultant      Scott Douglass

 

 

Welcome Approval of Draft Minutes:	In the interest of time, Sandy Carmany, voted by the committee to serve as interim chair, initiated the meeting until Chairman Fedewa could arrive.
Charter School Updates:	Jackie Jenkins shared a brief summary of her school visits (Mountain Community, Thomas Jefferson Classical, Lincoln Charter, Crossroads, Community Charter, and Community Partners) sharing the success and facility upgrades of these schools.  Further, she announced the bestowment of two awards to the social studies teacher at Metrolina Charter.  Carl Pridgen summarized his visits (New Century, Lakeside, Research Triangle Academy, Haliwa-Saponi, Maureen Joy, Omuteko Gwamaziima, and A Child’s Garden) and presented the schools that he will be visiting soon.  Joel Medley summarized the success and struggles of his school visits (Franklin Academy, New Dimensions, CIS Academy, Crossnore, Grandfather, and Bridges).
Update on the League of Charter Schools:	Kate Alice Dunaway shared information on the NC Honors Choir, the NC Teacher of the Year program, and how both will be incorporated into the annual charter school conference.  Charter School Day is going to be May 4th and a luncheon will begin at 11 am.  The Office of Charter Schools staff and members of the CSAC are invited to attend as well.
CSAC Visitations:	Richard Clontz and Kate Alice Dunaway commented on his site visits to individual schools (New Dimensions, Union Academy, Crossroads, Metrolina, Carolina International, Sugar Creek, Queen’s Grant, Laurinburg Homework Center, and Laurinburg Charter).  He also extended many thanks to Matthew Lanner for his hard work in the Office of Charter Schools as administrative assistant.  They commented that Laurinburg Charter’s facility needs serious development for the kid’s benefit.
Approval of the Minutes	Upon Chairman Fedewa’s arrival, a motion was made to approve the minutes from the March 10, 2005; and they were approved unanimously.
Update:  East Winston Primary School	Sylvia Simmons, principal, and Mikal Muhammad, chairman of the board, represented East Winston in this discussion.  Mr. Muhammad began to answer the questions: (1) Who sent the c.o.?  The secretary of East Winston (2) How was it acquired?  From a lady at the YWCA and it was placed in his file by accident (3) Under what rationale was it submitted to the Office of Charter Schools?  OCS called and the secretary sent it by going through his files.  He stated that they went to the inspections office and get a certificate of occupancy, but they explained the process to get the c.o. along with the associated costs.  Upon determining its expense, they moved to another building.   Mr. Moyer recalled a meeting they had back in August, and Mr. Muhammad asked how to move into a new facility.  Mr. Moyer explained that the school had to submit a c.o.; and Mr. Muhammad understood.  Mr. Moyer then asked why they moved into the facility with knowledge that the building did not have the appropriate zoning.  He denied meeting with Mr. Dockery in October, and further stated that no one from East Winston met with the Winston-Salem Inspectors until after this situation began in February 2005.   Mr. Muhammad stated they were in the building from November 2004 until February 2005 without a valid certificate of occupancy.  According to Mr. Muhammad, the move from the original facility was due to money not being allotted at the appropriate time.  This time was the third late payment for the school, which led to a breach of contract and loss of the facility.  Mr. Muhammad did admit that they moved into a new facility without filing the certificate of occupancy.  The landlord stated that she would find it, so they moved with that thought in mind.  Mr. Moyer again questioned why they moved anyway.  Mr. Muhammad stated that he did not understand what a certificate of occupancy was.  He claimed that he did not understand the certificate of occupancy had to be in hand before moving; and Mr. Moyer reminded him that he is responsible for the material in the charter agreement, which he signed.  He stated that he has subsequently learned about these matters and would make a better effort in the future.   Laura Crumpler explained the viewpoint of the State Board of Education, in that, these proceedings appear to show impropriety on the part of East Winston to merely draw down their allotment funding.  Chairman Fedewa pointed out that drawing down funds under a false certificate of occupancy borders on criminal behavior.   The school is located at 2850 New Walkertown Road with a temporary certificate of occupancy, and they are presently serving about 40 children (14 children have left the school during this transition).  They can remain in the present facility until the end of the school year.  Regarding next school year, they are seeking to raise enrollment and remain at the same facility.   Why were they in possession of a certificate of occupancy for a building they were not planning to occupy?  East Winston explored various locations and acquired this document; so, the submission to the Office of Charter School was an honest mistake.   When asked by Mr. Moyer, with all this knowledge of the certificate of occupancy, why they planned to move without notifying the Office of Charter Schools; no response was offered.  In fact, Mr. Moyer discovered this move from a phone call by a reporter in Winston-Salem.   Sylvia Simmons claimed that nobody came to help from the Office of Charter Schools and that they have not been treated fairly.  Chairman Fedewa explained the charter agreement and how the consultants work through this process.  Mr. Moyer also explained how he has worked with them to provide their needs.   The motion was made to end the discussion because enough information had been collected to report to the State Board of Education.
Sub-Committee Work:	Jackie Jenkins explained the process for sub-committee work.  The two committees then broke apart and began their review applicants for review.
Sub-Committee Reports:	JoAnne Woodard reported for group B. Academy for Classical Education is recommended for interview. Charlotte Education is not recommended (board is not representative of community, by laws issues). Nevin Center is not recommended (board is not representative of community). Elevation is not recommended (transportation concerns, LEA concerns, and incomplete application). Roxboro is recommended for interview. Institute for Cultural and Technological Studies is recommended for interview.   A motion was made to accept the recommendations of the committee, and the motion carried.   Alfred Bryant reported on Group A. Dunford School is not recommended because of application issues. Davidson Secondary School is recommended for interview. Winston-Salem Suzuki is recommended for interview. River School is not recommended (business plan did not match the concept…dues had to be paid…and conflict of interest throughout). Contemporary School is not recommended (concerns with eligibility criteria, executive salaries too high, violation of open meetings law, etc.). Pathway School is not recommended A motion was made to accept the recommendations of the committee, and the motion carried.   The five schools will all be interviewed on May 12, 2005, the next CSAC meeting, beginning at 10:30am.  A short lunch break will separate the two sessions.
Fiscal Report:	Karen Frazier did mention that she is in process of balancing certifications with expenditures; and thus far, no red flags have been raised.
Adjournment

Minutes submitted by Joel E. Medley, Consultant, Office of Charter Schools.