CSAC Minutes -  September 15, 2005

 NC Charter School Advisory Conference Call

State Board of Education 7^th Floor Meeting Room

NC Department of Public Instruction

 

September 15, 2005

 

Draft Minutes

 

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

 

Welcome/Agenda Overview:	As CSAC members began to call in for the conference call, a few members were not online; so Matthew Lanner called them to add them to the numbers. While additional members were being contacted, Jack Moyer then gave a brief overview of the agenda for the September 22, 2005 regularly scheduled CSAC meeting.  The agenda includes appearances by Two Rivers Community School, Rowan Academy, and East Winston Primary School.   Following the overview of the next meeting, the process for the meeting was discussed by Chairman Fedewa and Jack Moyer.  The sub-committee chair was to proceed down their list alphabetically discussing any problems noticed.  So that everyone will receive all the self-studies, a CD will be created and mailed to each member of the CSAC.
Subcommittee of Jackie Jenkins’ schools:	Kate Alice Dunaway, the sub-committee chair, led the discussion for the following schools:   Casa Esperanza – no questions or concerns surfaced Community Charter – a few questions were raised on their certification numbers.  The school is not asked to appear before the CSAC but their consultant will gather the correct figures. Francine Delany – no questions or concerns surfaced Gray Stone – no questions or concerns surfaced *Highland Charter – no questions or concerns surfaced *John H. Baker – no questions or concerns surfaced *Learning Center – no questions or concerns surfaced *Mountain Discovery – no questions or concerns surfaced Sterling Montessori – the number of late PMRs and SARs along with missing accountability data led to the recommendation for this school to appear before the CSAC on September 22, 2005. *Summit Charter – no concerns or questions surfaced   *JoAnne Woodard did not receive copies of these self-studies, so she will immediately be sent copies of those reports.  If she noticed any major issues, that will be brought to the attention of the CSAC.
Subcommittee of Joel Medley’s schools:	John Geil, the sub-committee chair, led the discussion for the following schools:   Academy of Moore County – no concerns or questions surfaced Bridges Charter – 3 of their 7 board members are also paid employees of the school.  The sub-committee wanted the consultant to speak with the school about broadening their board size to correct this issue. Carter G. Woodson – the school’s action plan addresses the SIMS reporting but the school had a large number of questioned costs.  Karen Frazier will contact this school to see if appropriate corrections have been made. Chatham Charter – the Office of Civil Rights complaint has been withdrawn, so no other concerns or questions surfaced CIS Academy – no concerns or questions surfaced Downtown Middle – Karen Frazier will contact this school to see if appropriate corrections have been made to their audit findings. Exploris Middle – no concerns or questions surfaced Grandfather Academy – no concerns or questions surfaced Laurinburg – their schedule is different than that of other schools Magellan Charter – no concerns or questions surfaced Visions Charter – no concerns or questions surfaced
Subcommittee of Carl Pridgen’s schools:	Alfred Bryant, the sub-committee chair, led the discussion for the following schools:   Ann Atwater – the missed renewal cycle of last year, EC concerns, and enrollment decreases over time led to the recommendation for this school to appear before the CSAC on September 22, 2005. Arapahoe – no concerns or questions surfaced Central Park – no concerns or questions surfaced Children’s Village – no concerns or questions surfaced Lakeside – the low test scores, improper certification numbers, and differentiation between faculty and student ethnicity led to the recommendation for this school to appear before the CSAC on September 22, 2005. Maureen Joy – no concerns or questions surfaced Orange Charter – no concerns or questions surfaced Rocky Mount – the consultant is to gather additional information from the school in the self study and report back to the CSAC:  SIMS reporting, K-2 assessments, Section B question 4 unanswered, and certification numbers. Sallie B. Howard – no concerns or questions surfaced Quality Education – the drop in student enrollment from first ADM to last ADM led to the recommendation for this school to appear before the CSAC on September 22, 2005.
Brief Review:	The CSAC briefly reviewed the schools that would be asked to appear at the next meeting (Ann Atwater, Quality Education, Lakeside Charter, and Sterling Montessori), and the Office of Charter Schools will contact them about their meetings.
Adjournment	Completing all business, the meeting was adjourned.  The next meeting is September 22, 2005 at 11am.

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