School Board Meeting Minutes: April 20, 2021

Mountain School Board Meeting Minutes

April 20, 2021

4:00 PM

Mountain School

311 W. Cattle Drive Trail
Flagstaff, Arizona 86005

Board Members Present:  Bryan Cooperrider, Sandra Dihlmann, Renee Fauset, Katherine (Kathy) Lampros, Mark Neumayr

Board Members Absent:  Jason Aulwes, Kimberly Khatibi

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

1. Call to Order/Welcome by Renee Fauset: The meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m.
   
   
2. Action Item: Adoption of Agenda by Renee Fauset: Mark Neumayr made a motion to adopt the April 20 Agenda as proposed. Kathy Lampros seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

• Call to the Public by Renee Fauset: There were no members of the public in attendance.
  
  
• Disclosure of Conflicts by Sandra Dihlmann: No additional disclosures or updates of conflicts to report.
  
  
• Action Item: Approval of March 30, 2021 Mountain School Board Meeting Minutes by Renee Fauset: Kathy Lampros made a motion to approve the March 30, 2021 Mountain School Board Meeting minutes. Bryan Cooperrider seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

• Action Item: Mountain School Bylaws-rename the 4^th Amendment to the bylaws as the 3^rd Amendment to the bylaws by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: Mark Neumayr made the motion to table this action item. Bryan Cooperrider seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

• Action Item: Approve updates to the Mountain School Mission that is on file with the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, to reflect and match the mission statement currently in use by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: Kathy Lampros made the motion to adopt the proposed mission statement as updated. Bryan Cooperrider seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

• Action Item: Approve the revised budget for FY21 by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: After a short review of the changes to the budget, notably decrease in ADM and increase in income from Enrollment Stabilization Grant (ESG) and Payroll Protection Program (PPP), Mark Neumayr made the motion to approve the revised Mountain School budget for FY21. Bryan Cooperrider seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

• Agenda Item:  Financial Statements by Kathy Lampros: Kathy reviewed the following Mountain School financial statements:
• Quarterlies ending March 31, 2021
• Income and expense updates for FY22

1. Agenda Item:  Auditor considerations for the future by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: John Faccone was unable to attend the meeting.  The Board reviewed the original plan to seek new auditors after 3 to 5 years. Mountain School will remain working with the currently-employed auditor, but will be accepting proposals from prospective auditors during the next audit cycle.

1. Agenda Item: ASBCS (AZ State Board for Charter Schools): 5-year review follow-up and findings by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: Overall, the April 1, 2021  5-year charter board review was positive. Some of the strengths noted by ASBCS include:
2. Board minutes and agendas
3. Facility documentation
4. Teacher salary postings
5. Dashboard links

Compliance Items to address, which began immediately following the review:

• Changes to enrollment packet
• Fingerprint clearance card discrepancies
• Distance learning plan Enrollment policies
• Alignment of Mission statement
• Parent Volunteer policies

1. Agenda Item: Working session for FY22 budget by Kathy Lampros: Kathy gave an overview of the draft budget for FY22, with a small increase projected in state revenue and a need to continue to pursue more competitive teacher salaries.  Kathy reviewed the draft Profit and Loss statement from July 2020 through February 2021.

1. Agenda Item: Review change in employee benefit structure and offerings for FY22 by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: Vanessa reviewed the proposed Mountain School employee benefit structure for FY22 with the Board that will include 4 tiers of coverage for medical, dental and vision insurance, along with the opportunity for pretax deductions.  

1. Agenda Item:  Director’s Report by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler:
2. Staffing update for 2021/2022
3. Internet update—Fiber option & cable construction
4. Teacher & Principal evaluations waived 2020-2021
5. Communications update
   
   
6. Agenda Item: Sign Vouchers Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: Vouchers were signed by Board members.

1. Future Agenda Items by Sandra Dihlmann:
2. Principal evaluation process
3. Director’s contract and renewal
4. Compensation and teacher equity discussions
5. Annual strategic planning session
6. Working budget session for FY22
   
   
7. Agenda Item: Next Meeting Date by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler:
8. Next meeting is on May 18, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at Mountain School

1. Action Item: Adjourn meeting by Renee Fauset: Mark Neumayr made the motion to adjourn the April 20 Mountain School Board Meeting. Sandra Dihlmann seconded the motion.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

Dated: _______________of April 2021

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL BOARD

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Renee Fauset, President

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Sandra Dihlmann, Secretary