School Board Meeting Minutes: April 16, 2020

Mountain School Board Meeting Minutes

April 16, 2020

2:30 PM

Mountain School

Board members Present:  Jason Aulwes, Bryan Cooperrider, Sandra Dihlmann, Renee Fauset, Katherine (Kathy) Lampros, Mark Neumayr.

Non-Board Members Present:  Vanessa Fitz-Kesler, Gina Andress and Audra Morales,

1.	Call to Order/Welcome:    The meeting was called to order at 2:42 pm by Renee Fauset.
2.	Adoption of Agenda:  Mark Neumayr made a motion to adopt the April 16 agenda.  Kathy Lampros seconded the motion.  Approved by all Board members.
3.	Call to the Public by Renee Fauset: There were no members of the public in attendance.
4.	Disclosure of Conflicts:  No additional disclosures, or updates, of conflicts to report.
5.	Action Item:  Approval of March 31, 2020 Mountain School Board Meeting Minutes Mark Neumayr made a motion to adopt the March 31st Minutes.  Jason Aulwes seconded the motion.  The Motion was Approved by all Board members.
6.	Agenda Item:  Quarterly Reports   Treasurer Jason Aulwes reviewed the quarterly financial documents with the Board.  Jason noted that everything appeared to be in order and tracking very well with the budget.  There were a few questions about the Profit and Loss statement pertaining to Professional and Legal and Audit expenses that were answered by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler and Audra Morales.
7.	Agenda Item: Review recommendation from John Faccone to postpone paying employer portion of FICA through December 31, 2020, per the federal coronavirus stimulus act.  Repayment of half due December 2021 and the other half in December 2022. Executive Director Vanessa Fitz-Kesler explained that FICA payments for the next three calendar quarters will amount to a total of approximately $24,000. Changes in Federal law allow these payments to be postponed but it will be easier and less expensive to make the payments in accordance with the normal schedule.  This will be revisited if the State stops making regular payments.
8	Agenda Item: Change in snow days on calendar. Director Vanessa Fitz-Kesler shared that Mountain School’s snow days originally scheduled for April 27, 28 and 29 were unused this year. The calendar is going to be changed so that the three snow days will instead be May 26, 27 and 28, which means that the last day of school will be May 22, 2020.
9.	Agenda Item: Follow up, regarding Mountain School’s Educational Plan during school closure. Principal Gina Andress discussed extensively the progress Mountain School staff, students, and parents are making. Some teachers are doing outstanding work, others are less comfortable with the manner of teaching COVID 19 has required, but all are doing well.  Virtually all students are participating in the educational offerings and the majority are performing all assignments. Gina is confident that the Guidelines presented at the March 31 meeting are being followed and that students are progressing well.  The State Department of Education has explained how it will measure progress in meeting the Educational Plan and that the Guidelines are consistent with how the Department will be proceeding.  Final grades for students will be those earned as of the end of the winter trimester with explanatory notes as appropriate.  4th and 5th grades have been doing Zoom meetings daily.  Parental feedback has been positive and parents seem very appreciative of the School’s efforts. A Learning Management System, perhaps Classroom Dojo, is going to be implemented over the next several months.  Efforts to be ready for the fall are ongoing and the next year is expected to be challenging.  Aides are being trained to deal with the current and expected environment and all are expected to return to work in the fall.
10.	Agenda Item: Discuss Prop 301 merit pay allocations for spring 2020.  Extra work that has been and is being performed in order to receive Prop 301 merit pay is being documented.  There is approximately $17,000 to $20,000 available for Prop 301 merit pay.  The administration has been extremely pleased with how the staff has responded to the COVID 19 challenges and there was a discussion of providing additional merit pay to staff and the administrative team.   11. Agenda Item:  Discuss budgetary considerations for FY21, with the consideration of potential Coronavirus implications continuing into the next school year.  In addition to what was discussed previously, connectivity needs and other technology costs are being reviewed.   12. Agenda Item: Sign Vouchers. Vouchers were signed 13. Agenda Item: Review May board meeting date. May 21, 1:00 pm at Mountain School, COVID 19 allowing and with appropriate social distancing and sanitizing. 14. Future agenda items to consider. Budget, COVID 19 update, and update to items 9, 10, and 11 above.   15. Adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 5:06 pm.

Dated _______ of April, 2020

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL BOARD

_________________________________                                          ____________________________________

Renee Fauset, President                                                                   

Sandra Dihlmann, Secretary