November Meeting Minutes

NCA Parent Faculty Association
Meeting Agenda
November 19th, 2009 7 p.m.

Location: United Methodist Church 5420 Southside Blvd. Nampa, ID
(Directions: From 12th Ave heading toward Melba turn left on Greenhurst Rd then turn right on Southside Blvd the church will be on the left side of the street.)

* Please note daycare will be available and donations will be accepted. We want to provide this service at all PFA meetings and if we offer an incentive (money) to students, they will continue to provide this service.

Called to order 7:10pm

Welcome & Thank You’s-Christine Plummer - Thank you to Amber for all her hard work. At our next meeting we would like to show appreciation to the church for their donating the facility. Thanks to April who helps set up things here at the church. Thanks to Teachers and EA’s who are in attendance; Susan Beard, Jill Richardson, Teresa Hatsidakis, and Jolynn Morriss.

Presidency Reports:

President-Christine Plummer- The PFA now has a standing meeting with Headmaster the 2nd Thursday of the month. Next meeting will be December 10, 2009.

Treasurer-Julie Gilster - We have $9684.03 as of bank statement dated 10/30/09. Sales are $16, 238.55 this includes Boise’s Best, T-shirts, and decals.

Secretary- JoLynn Morriss –minutes read from September 24, 2009 meeting.

PFA Council Reports:

Introduce Council Members in Attendance-Christine Plummer- There is a current listing on the website of some committees in need of leadership. Current committees in need are: PFA Newsletter done quarterly, grant collection, social event coordinator, student event, fundraising, and snack day,

Fundraising- sweatshirt sales-Christine Plummer-Mercedes Conception is now heading this committee. $4987 has been raised; this does not include the donations. T-shirt sales are at $457. Sweatshirts are now being sold for $24 and $26. A phone call has been placed to Farmstead Maze to find out how much NCA made.

Social Committee-JoLynn Morriss- Winter social event has been cancelled so that all focus can be on the Christmas concert. Mr. Marvosh will let us know his needs and we will post them on the blog/Google Group.

Teacher Appreciation- December gifts-Pam Kruck -not in attendance- PFA Presidency encourages parents to recognize their children’s teachers, with a small token of appreciation.

Uniform Swap- Kristine Hendrickson – There will be a tote to leave uniforms in. Attach an index card to clothing. No need to be present to sell items. Clothing and shoes will be sold. Items need to be in good condition. After New Year we will try to have the uniform swap at the academy. A current list of items will be emailed prior to the PFA meeting. Items that are donated will be sold and proceeds will go to the uniform fund.

Kaleidoscope Art Program- Erin Taylor-The program was wrote specific for NCA but is modeled after the PTA Reflections program. Please review document on the Google Group files and send corrections or suggestions to Erin. This is a cultural arts program that can be implemented in the classroom or independent. On December 3rd we will discuss and vote this in. There are 25 pages total for this document. We will start this program after winter break.

Old Business:

*By-laws- changes and vote-Christine Plummer - changes to: Article 7 Section 2 and 5, Article 8 Section 5. Motion to accept the by-laws as they have been amended, Susan Beard motions, Erin Taylor 2nd, motion carries.

*Standing Rules-changes and vote-Christine Plummer - Changes to election, check fee, and PFA rep position, motion to accept standing rules as amended, Jill Richardson motion, Diane Baily- 2nd, motion carries.

* Budget-update and vote-Julie Gilster- Motion to accept the budget as written, Jill Richardson motion, Gordon Dye 2nd, motion carries.

New Business:

Open Presidency Position Nominations- Christine Plummer, Open positions for VP and PFA Rep. A nomination for PFA Rep was self nomination by Erin Taylor. She has five children at academy, attended the charter start up, studied classical education, feels it is important to voice what our children need and give them the best education they can get. She did attend the state charter commission meeting on November 12th. No nominations for VP.

Introduction of New Board Members- Mike Moffett at a board meeting

Commission Meeting Update- Erik Makrush- has been a board member for 3 weeks. Notice of defects- Letter sent to parents, 7 different categories in the notice, employment were big issues for Latin and Media Specialist. Temporary licenses will be issued December 3rd, and then defect will go away. Title 1 math teacher is needed. This would be for 8th to 12th grade math only. This is for students who are 2 grades or more below, only have 13 students. HM Bush has interviewed at least 2 people and in the process of hiring one of them. We will then be able get the Title 1 funding. Audit will be taking place 7-8th of December. Question was asked do we still need parent groups. Christine to email Mr. Makrush about setting these groups up. Next board meeting will be the 23rd of November. Public Records law is another defect. All boards have to have open discussions, sometimes emails are sent; just have to make sure that these meetings are set up accordingly to the law. Also working on how do we deal with public email requests? The press uses this lot, now we have policies and procedure that are in place. Question if we are modeling core values by staff and board. We have the opportunity to show them we do abide by these rules and we are striving for this. At all board meetings the NCA creed, mission, vision, are read first and it helps to get in the right state of mind. Testimony to this is the recent food drive of over 5000 food items that were donated by the students. Another defect is the employment of individual in administration without endorsement. Board is now defining the role of the director of operations. Education law attorney Amy White has been working with the board and knows how policies should be set up and to help set up board and administration. Board is not renaming the position to just fit the person. It is changing the position to be the position, not to fit a specific person. These positions will be defined for years to come. Susan Beard asked about boundaries being set so that if need be that non administration can say wait I can’t do that. Also asked was how stable is our student population? 500 students as of last count. Prior to start of school we were told that we would lose about 10% in a year that is typical. Commission can do what they like and notice of defect anyone they like. Commission as a whole wants us to succeed. Rep. Steven Thain is going to be at the academy on Monday to see how we are doing. We are under the commission and a good relationship with the commission needs to be put into place now. Concerns about student stress because of what the press is saying. Defect about stability of finances. Items are being moved to cover items this is to be expected the 1st year because we do not have a proven budget to start with. Things usually get moved by all companies the first year, because more is spent in one area and not as much in the other. Paragon is helping with grants; want input from the parents, and currently working a timeline to come into compliance. December 14th will need to get information to the commission. Paragon is working with the academy as they have about $2 million invested. Foundation with them is still good, building depends on the budget. Cuts are coming from the at the state level, we will know more February/March 2010. The BOD is looking at options to expand what we currently have.

Stand Up and Be Counted-Susan Beard- contact her about voicing how things are really going. Speak up about voicing passion about the academy. Will work with Mr. Makrush and might be writing letters, guidance will come from him.

Fundraiser at carwash, give card out when they use it and NCA get $1, Erik will email information.

Adjourned 9:16 pm

* Items requiring votes, in order to vote on items one must be a member of the PFA.