Bridges
Academy
Board of Director’s Meeting
Minutes Dated June 2, 2014
Present – Phillip Norman, Beverly Walsh, Charles Briggs, Kristi Eidson, and Melissa Tharpe
Absent – Chris Jones, Wallice Hairston, Dr. Monroe Watkins
Staff Present: Merry Lowe, Shannon Caudill, and Danny Haire
Board meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Kristi Eidson at 5:35pm in the absence of the Board Chair, Chris Jones.
Roll Call
Quorum documented with five out of eight Board members present.
Good News
Junior Appalachian Musician program discussed. Several students at Bridges are interested in learning to play musical instruments, clogging, and singing. Part of the Appalachian Regional Heritage includes a rich culture in bluegrass, country, and gospel music. Many of our students’ ancestors were involved in this rich musical heritage. Our students are interested in pursuing Appalachian musical interests of their own. Funding is being pursued locally including a library grant of $3,000.00 to purchase musical instruments. The results of this grant will be known by June 30, 2014.
Public Forum
No one was in attendance to speak at the public forum.
Board Minutes
One change was made to the May 5, 2014 Board minutes. The name of the local real estate company handling the sale of Bridges Academy property is Blair & Ward.
Motion was made to approve Board minutes on May 5, 2014 as amended.
1st Motion – Charles Briggs
2nd Motion – Phillip Norman
Discussion – It was made clear that the June 23rd Board meeting will serve as the annual Board meeting with election of Board officers being discussed at that time.
Vote – Unanimous
Old Business
Board of Director’s Meeting
Minutes Dated June 2, 2014
Present – Phillip Norman, Beverly Walsh, Charles Briggs, Kristi Eidson, and Melissa Tharpe
Absent – Chris Jones, Wallice Hairston, Dr. Monroe Watkins
Staff Present: Merry Lowe, Shannon Caudill, and Danny Haire
Board meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Kristi Eidson at 5:35pm in the absence of the Board Chair, Chris Jones.
Roll Call
Quorum documented with five out of eight Board members present.
Good News
Junior Appalachian Musician program discussed. Several students at Bridges are interested in learning to play musical instruments, clogging, and singing. Part of the Appalachian Regional Heritage includes a rich culture in bluegrass, country, and gospel music. Many of our students’ ancestors were involved in this rich musical heritage. Our students are interested in pursuing Appalachian musical interests of their own. Funding is being pursued locally including a library grant of $3,000.00 to purchase musical instruments. The results of this grant will be known by June 30, 2014.
Public Forum
No one was in attendance to speak at the public forum.
Board Minutes
One change was made to the May 5, 2014 Board minutes. The name of the local real estate company handling the sale of Bridges Academy property is Blair & Ward.
Motion was made to approve Board minutes on May 5, 2014 as amended.
1st Motion – Charles Briggs
2nd Motion – Phillip Norman
Discussion – It was made clear that the June 23rd Board meeting will serve as the annual Board meeting with election of Board officers being discussed at that time.
Vote – Unanimous
Old Business
- Land Update – Interest in purchasing the Bridges
Academy property was made by Pleasant Hill School. Their interest includes the building of a new
child care center. Interestingly enough,
this organization is currently operating out of a local school. The
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Bridges Academy Board Meeting June 2, 2014
possibility of a property switch is being considered. The current Pleasant Hill School building seems perfect for housing Bridges Elementary students and would solve part of the current need for Bridges to expand. Details, such as water lines, sewer, and related requirements, are being investigated. - Building Needs – Even if the aforementioned land
acquisition were to occur, that transaction would occur in the future. Presently, Bridges is continuing to pursue
the renovation project in the K2 building to provide new classroom space. The possibility of leasing a new modular unit
was also discussed. A new modular unit
could provide up to four new classrooms, including restroom facilities. There is a need for three new classrooms to
be in operation by August 2014.
A call for motion was made by acting Board Chair, Kristi Eidson, regarding the purchase of a modular classroom.
Motion was made to pursue the purchase of a modular classroom.
1st Motion – Phillip Norman
2nd Motion – Melissa Tharpe
No discussion
Vote – Unanimous
Strategic Plan
A presentation was made by Danny Haire, assistant principal, regarding the strategic planning process. Mr. Haire possesses extensive experience related to strategic planning gained from various work experiences with United Way funded agencies in the past. Mr. Haire presented a hand-out related to strategic planning ideas (attached). The Strategic Planning process will include the following:
- Meetings of
stakeholders organized into focus groups
- Focus groups will
originate three to five goals to be prioritized by the Board Strategic Planning
Committee
- The Strategic
Planning period should be three to five years with a scheduled and documented
annual review
- Preliminary
activities as part of the planning process, will include correspondence with
NCDPI with description of how Bridges Academy will execute the three top
priorities of:
- Establishing measureable goals
- Drafting a strategic plan, and
- Identifying our school wide curriculum and
instructional delivery tools and providing sustained training on those for our
teachers. This initial information needs
to be provided to the Office of Charter Schools (OCS) by August 2014.
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Bridges Academy Board Meeting
June 2, 2014
- The Strategic
Planning Committee will set a deadline for completion of the strategic plan.
However, planning is an ongoing process and the strategic plan may be amended
annually and upon any type of emergency need
- All plan
specifics must be stated according to the following:
- Long term goals (3 to 5 years)
- Short term objectives (start up to 1 year)
- Outcomes related to goals and objectives
Each item documented in items 1-3 must be measureable in nature.
Bridges Academy is fully committed regarding follow through with each goal and objective. Goals and objectives should be challenging, but realistic, in nature.
New Business
Personnel
Motion was made to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters @ 6:05pm.
1st Motion – Phillip Norman
2nd Motion – Melissa Tharpe
No discussion
Vote – Unanimous
Staff members were invited to stay in the closed session. Mrs. Merry Lowe presented her recommendations for potential employees to fill vacant positions. These recommendations included the positions of 1st/2nd Grade teacher, Speech/Language position, and EC Compliance Case Manager. One resignation was reported.
Motion was made to come out of closed session at 6:15pm.
1st Motion – Phillip Norman
2nd Motion – Beverly Walsh
Discussion – Voting will occur after the closed session has ended
Vote – Unanimous
Motion was made to accept recommendation for the 1st/2nd grade teaching position.
1st Motion – Phillip Norman
2nd motion Charles Briggs
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Bridges Academy Board Meeting
June 2, 2014
No discussion
Vote - Unanimous
Motion was made to accept contract with Palmetto Professional Therapy Services, Kerri Duncan, for Speech/Language pathology services.
1st Motion – Charles Briggs 2nd Motion – Melissa Tharpe
No discussion
Vote – Unanimous
Motion was made to accept recommendation for the EC Compliance Case Manager.
1st Motion – Beverly Walsh
2nd Motion – Phillip Norman
Discussion – This position will be a 70% (140 days per year) position dedicated to EC Compliance and not teaching. This position will run through December 2014 and will be re-evaluated at that point.
Vote – Unanimous
Annual Meeting
The Bridges Academy annual meeting date is Monday, June 23, 2014. Agenda will include a final budget vote, election of Board officers, and a discussion of current Board members’ intentions to continue their Board participation.
Motion was made to approve the June 23rd Board meeting as the 2013-14 annual Board meeting.
1st Motion – Beverly Walsh
2nd Motion – Charles Briggs
Discussion – The Bridges Academy By-Laws state that the Bridges Academy Annual Board meeting will occur in June of every year. The school fiscal year technically runs from July 1st until June 30th of each calendar year.
Vote – Unanimous
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Bridges Academy Board Meeting
June 2, 2014
Director’s Report
EOG – EOG score sheets will be scanned on Thursday, June 5th in Wilkesboro. Results will be made known on Friday, June 6th. Every student completed the EOG exam process so that our participation rate was 100%. No misadministration’s occurred. Proficiency rate results will be calculated internally. Growth rate results will be made available to schools, by the NCDPI, in September of 2014. The current EOG rating scale is 1 to 5, with ratings of 3 to 5 being considered as passing.
State Consultant
The Bridges Academy state consultant, Dr. Thomas Miller, has resigned his position with OCS. This is unfortunate for Bridges because Dr. Miller was extremely knowledgeable regarding
Bridges history and related challenges. Dr. Miller was also keenly aware of the details related to the Bridges transformation into a new Charter school. Dr. Miller was extremely supportive of long term goals, short term objectives, and measureable outcomes being discussed in current strategic planning activities. These plans and objectives will guide Bridges Academy into the future. We are unsure who will be our next state consultant at this point in time.
Other Business
- The third grade “Read to Achieve” program was briefly
discussed. Bridges chose the “Portfolio
System” to enhance the reading of third graders. Third grade students must pass the EOG
reading portion at the third grade level, or be promoted by progress documented
in the reading “Portfolio System”, to be promoted to the fourth grade. Students who fail reading will be considered
for participation in a Summer Reading Camp here during the 2014 summer period.
- Extend student recruitment into Alleghany County. A Board discussion was held concerning a
request from the Office of Charter Schools (OCS) to investigate the recruitment
of students from the southeast section of Alleghany County. There are no Charter schools geographically
located to provide services to lower Alleghany County. Several topics were discussed including
transportation costs and possible routes, time students would spend on the bus
ride before and after school, and Bridges ability to provide the requested
services to Alleghany students.
After further general discussion, a motion was made by the Board to allow administrative staff to investigate the possibility of extending recruitment of students into lower Alleghany County.
1st Motion – Charles Briggs
2nd Motion – Melissa Tharpe
No discussion
Vote – Unanimous
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Bridges Academy Board Meeting
June 2, 2014
- Strategic
Planning activities were further discussed.
It was decided to hold a Strategic Plan Committee meeting on Monday,
June 16, 2014 at Bridges Academy.
- Current Bridges Academy
location – Discussion topics were brought forward regarding the current Bridges
location. With expansion ideas being
entertained, and the possible purchase of a new modular unit, the idea of
surveying property lines and related tree removal was discussed.
Motion was made to secure bids to clear land so property lines could be clearly identified.
1st Motion – Beverly Walsh
2nd Motion – Charles Briggs
Discussion – Property boundaries should be clearly identified before expansion occurs.
Vote – Unanimous
- An announcement was made that Board Chair, Chris Jones,
has secured a new job in the Raleigh area for school year 2014-15. Mr. Jones will be the principal of a large
Charter school. Board members were
adamant that Mr. Jones remain on the Bridges Academy Board. Mr. Jones has been a great leader as Board
Chair. He is knowledgeable regarding
non-profits, charter schools, and education in general. He was a direct link between Bridges and
Wilkes County schools, especially with the Wilkes Early College. Mr. Jones has expressed interest in remaining
on the Board. The Bridges By-Laws state
that Board members must be a resident of Surry, Wilkes, or Yadkin
counties. At present, Mr. Jones is still
a resident of Wilkes County as he owns property there. It may be difficult for Mr. Jones to carry
out the duties of Board Chair, including important signatures that may need
immediate attention. Several ideas were
discussed including the possibility of Mr. Jones continuing to be a Board
member, but electing another Board member to serve as Chairperson. These ideas will be discussed in detail at
the June 23rd annual Board meeting.
Motion was made to adjourn by Vice Chair Kristi Eidson at 6:45pm.
1st Motion – Phillip Norman
2nd Motion – Melissa Tharpe
No discussion
Vote – Unanimous
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm.
Minutes submitted by Danny Haire
Minutes transcribed by Kimberly White
Minutes approved by _______________________________ Date _____________________