Natasia Cooper

The meeting included standard opening items and compliance information regarding the Sunshine Law. Key discussion topics revolved around the upcoming Board Retreat, specifically Board Interview Preparation and a review of Mission and Key Design Elements. Resources for Renewal Preparation were also addressed, and there was an introduction of a guest from Empire Charter Consultants during the Public Participation segment.

The meeting included a Hearing on Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying (HIB) for the period of January 1 to June 30, 2025, reviewing reports, investigations, and disciplinary actions. An academic update was provided to the board. Committee reports covered school finances, facilities construction progress at 350 Grand St., and activities of the Trustees Committee. The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the November 19, 2025, meeting, approval for numerous new staff hires and training days, acceptance of several staff resignations and terminations, approval of one-time payments/bonuses, salary adjustments, and the acceptance of October financial reports. The board also certified accounts as of November 30, 2025, approved a bill list, gross payrolls for November and December, student travel for various activities, a grant award, contracts including executive coaching and subscriptions, and approved calendar changes such as canceling a PSAT/SAT practice test.

The meeting included a review of the Data Dashboard, featuring monthly suspension statistics. A potential consultant, Shannon Mason, presented an overview of her proposal for Executive Team Optimization, which the board discussed. Committee reports covered school finances, facilities (including construction updates), academics, culture, and talent initiatives, and trustee activities, such as efforts to add graduates to the board. Significant actions included the approval of numerous staff hires and resignations, approval of staff travel for professional development, budget adjustments, approval of the bill list and gross payrolls, and an increase in the bid and quotation thresholds due to the School Business Administrator possessing a Qualified Purchasing Agent certificate. The board also approved several contracts, student field trips, fundraisers, facility use requests, calendar changes, and accepted two grants related to workforce development and mental health support services. Finally, the appointment of a new member to the Board of Trustees was approved.

The Board of Trustees meeting included a review of the Data Dashboard by the CEO, focusing on monthly suspensions. Committee reports covered school finances, facilities, and ongoing construction updates. Key actions included the approval of various staff hires across salaried, non-salaried, and substitute roles, as well as the acceptance of several staff resignations and approval of medical leave for one employee. The Board approved one-time payments/bonuses, staff training days, salary adjustments, and staff travel for professional development. Financial matters involved approving the bill list, gross payrolls, budget adjustments, and certifying accounts for October 31, 2025. Additionally, the Board addressed findings related to HIB reports, approved several contracts, confirmed student fundraisers, and approved several changes to the academic calendar.

The meeting commenced with standard opening items, including a Sunshine Law compliance check. Key discussions involved a Talent Presentation by the CEO and a review of the Data Dashboard, including monthly suspensions. The board entered an executive session to discuss an individual staff matter. During committee reports, the Finance and Facilities Committee reported on school finances, facilities updates including construction status, and exploration of options to lower staff health coverage costs. The Academics, Culture, and Talent Committee addressed chronic absenteeism rates and planned interventions. The consent agenda covered numerous items, including the approval of minutes, acceptance of donations, approval of various salaried and non-salaried staff hires, acceptance of resignations and terminations, approval of training days and performance bonuses for staff, approval of EMBARK program stipend payments, approval of staff name/salary adjustments, approval of budget adjustments, and approval of the bill list and gross payrolls. The board also approved calendar changes, the scholar handbook, and changes to the employee handbook, in addition to approving student fundraiser proposals.