INTERNATIONAL SPANISH LANGUAGE ACADEMY
ISLA BOARD MINUTES
March 27, 2007
CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:08 PM
ISLA BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Karen Terhaar (Start-Up Coordinator), Jenny Brockman, Rolf Brombacher, Helen Gavin, Lily Johnson, Kerry Krawczyk-LeMieux, Mark Mathison, Patrick Peters, Molly Quinn
HOPKINS REPRESENTATIVE: Michele Luke not present tonight
VISITOR(S): none
ISLA BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Melody Brombacher, Angie Cabrera
MOTION TO APPROVE PREVIOUS BOARD MINUTES
Kerry moved, motion seconded and passed.
MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT’S AGENDA
Patrick moved to amend agenda to move 6B to executive closed session to discuss negotiations for lease space. Mark seconded, motion passed.
START UP COORDINATOR’S REPORT
FACILITY
Patrick and Mark reported.
Colliers Brokers – we changed brokers. Colliers did request that if one of the four properties they presented were leased that Colliers would get full commission
Walsh - Jamie Wellik works for Walsh, has worked with charters and has experience in this area. Currently actively working with him. Letter of Engagement indicated that we could be working with him for the next 12 months. No binding language, for instance requiring a fee. Understanding that it stated that we would not be working with any other brokers.
State Department – Karen has been in contact regarding fire regulations and religious imagery regarding possible lease sites.
FINANCE
Rolf, Helen and Jenny reported.
Jenny received report from Josh, passed out balance sheet, etc. It is a typical debit/credit accounting report. They discussed 80% left in budget at end of year. As we get into operations we would like a quarterly budget or monthly. Josh will be present at next meeting.
We would like to have reports before meeting in order to be able to review them and address any questions. Jenny will request that he e-mail the reports to everyone prior to Board meetings.
Jenny went through budget originally done by Angie to understand the details. She will contact Charles Speiker for clarification on any questions.
Question as to what adjustments need to be made at this time to reflect more accurately what our financial needs will be, for example, 4 teachers versus 5 as noted in the original budget.
The funding from the state for start up was in jeopardy but has now been reaffirmed at $50,000 yearly for 2 years.
Now that it looks as though facility questions will possibly be decided within the next month, we have a better handle on number of teachers needed per space available.
Adjust budget to what extent? Jenny is looking for specific direction. Enrollment could be affected by mass mailing of 1800 Hopkins District students that will be sent out next week. We are looking at 1 Kinder teacher and 1 teacher each for 1st and 2nd with a possible 3rd/4th combination for a 4th classroom teacher. Adjust benefits portion to reflect appropriate numbers for us. We will wait until closer to next month to get more accurate enrollment numbers. Special Ed could be adjusted from 1.0 for first year to .5 given our projected numbers.
SALARIES AND BENFEFITS
Rolf provided info per MACS. Gave outline of 72 charter schools salary and benefits expense. Discussed possible salary indicators and distribution of pay regarding duties, experiences, etc. When budgeting, do we look only at per pupil funding or do we rely somewhat on planning grant/start up money. Are we eligible for Q-comp? Karen has not heard that funding has been taken away but something to check out. What is it? Performance pay. Hopkins was first to apply for it – contact someone at Hopkins who has experience with this. First question, is money available to Charter schools for Q-comp? Yes, but Karen thinks that it wasn’t available to us this year for some reason. Need to begin looking at possible grants – need someone to be able to research grants and write grants. Karen is not allowed to use her time as start-up coordinator to pursue grants. In order to get funds for some grants we first need to be registered with attorney general as a charitable organization. We are incorporated as a non-profit. Karen did sit down with Josh regarding 501c3 and there are still some questions. Mark has contacts regarding answers to our questions. We are not obligated to be a 501c3 but in order to take donations that are tax deductible we must be a 501c3. We need to check out specifics regarding collecting donations as to whether or not we can take donations regardless of tax deductible status.
Rolf contacted someone with knowledge of average monthly costs per employee with ball park numbers for health and dental for an average annual/monthly cost per employee – 2 options.
Until we present specific information regarding the employees stats we cannot sign on to an insurance organization, therefore we can simply state that we will be providing health benefits but need to determine the percentage we will offer – choosing the organization once we are capable of negotiating given our employee numbers.
We need to determine which parts of the budget are non-negotiable and adjust benefits offered according to available budget.
By our next Board meeting personnel committee will formulate a salary outline to present at the next Board meeting in order to be able to provide information for hiring/interviewing.
Board can determine tonight possible percentage of benefits package.
Important to begin from day 1 with a performance piece incorporated into salary structure.
What type of bonus could we introduce that would motivate and acknowledge excellence within our school community?
To do:
Set interviewing timeline and guidelines.
Create salary outline.
Complete director and teacher descriptions and applications.
Advertise and hire director.
Advertise and hire teachers.
MOTION
Patrick moved that personnel committee develop a recruitment process for developing a comp package that is competitive award recruitment commence
Seconded and passed.
9:36 Karen declares an executive session
No members of the public are present.
NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 7:00pm, Crystal City Hall
MOTION
Patrick moved that the Board authorize the facilities committee to negotiate terms for lease of space for any and all possibilities with properties discussed during the closed session,
Mark amended that the Board direct the Start Up Director to decline the offer of Hopkins for space in Eisenhower.
Lily seconded, motion passed.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
Mark moved, seconded and passed at 10:48pm.