School Board Meeting Minutes & FY21 Budget Proposal: June 30, 2020

Mountain School Board Meeting Minutes

June 30, 2020

1:30 PM

Mountain School

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

Board Members Absent: Bryan Cooperrider

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

1.	Call to Order/Welcome by Renee Fauset: The meeting was called to order at 1:45 pm by Renee Fauset.
2.	Adoption of Agenda:   Mark made a motion to adopt the June 30 agenda. Sandra                                      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 by Sandra Dihlmann:  No additional disclosures, or updates, of conflicts to report.
5.	Action Item:  Approval of May 20, 2020 School Board Meeting Minutes by Renee Fauset:  Sandra made a motion to adopt the April 16 minutes. Mark seconded the motion.  The motion was approved by all Board members.
6.	Action Item: Approval of June 1, 2020 Mountain School Special Board Meeting Minutes by Renee Fauset: Kathy made a motion to adopt the June 1 minutes. Sandra seconded the motion. The motion was approved by all Board members.
7.	Agenda Item: Discussion of Proposed FY21 Budget by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler:   Vanessa presented a statement of income and expenses for the 19/20 fiscal year and for the 20/21 fiscal year. The Board provided feedback on several items and asked that the feedback be carried over into the budget. Considerable uncertainty due to the pandemic has made the budget difficult to prepare. Directions from the Governor and the State Board of Education and from CDC and local officials change fairly frequently. In turn, there are unknowns as to what the coming school year will look like and what sort of precautionary measures the school must take.  There was agreement to stay current and in compliance with these directions.
8.	Agenda Item: COVID Update by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler: Meetings with Charter DirectorsScreeningCleaning/DisinfectingEducational Logistics—In Person and DistanceBuilding ModificationsStaffingCompensation   There was a lengthy discussion on these topics with significant input from Gina and Audra. The discussion was similar in many respects to that about the proposed budget since addressing COVID 19 concerns will largely drive the budget for the FY 21 fiscal year.  Recent Executive Orders from the Governor and guidance from the Dept of Education were reviewed with the Board. Survey(s) of parents will be done in the near future. Advantages and disadvantages of conducting the school 1), entirely face-to-face, 2) entirely via distance learning, or 3) by a hybrid of those two models was discussed.  The form that seemed to make the most sense for the students, parents, staff, and to administer was the hybrid model with the classes being split into a morning and afternoon cohort with each cohort assigned some distance studies each day. There was also discussion about purchasing Swivl technology in order to provide teachers with mobility in the classroom and recordings via Zoom for students who taking classes remotelyIrrespective of how school is conducted, it will be in compliance with applicable directives.
9.	Action Item: Approve Administrative Staff Salaries for FY21 by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler:  A motion was made by Mark to approve the administrative salaries as presented. The motion died for lack of a second.
10.	Action Item: Approve Proposed FY 21 Mountain School Budget by Vanessa Fitz-Kesler:  Discussion continued consistent with agenda items 8, 9, and 10 above. A number of changes were requested by the Board.  Teacher salaries for next year will be the greater of what FUSD pays, or an increase of two percent. Kathy made a motion to approve the proposed budget, with changes.  The motion was seconded by Mark.  The motion was approved by all Board members.
11.	Agenda Item: Sign Vouchers:  Done
12.	Agenda Item: Next meeting dates by Renee Fauset: The next meeting will be July 9 at 1:00 pm at Mountain School.
13.           14.	Future agenda items to consider by Sandra Dihlmann Budget and COVID 19 updates.  Statement on Racism/Discrimination.Future Board members.Administrative staff salaries.   Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 5:48 pm by Renee Fauset.

Dated: June 30, 2020

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL BOARD

_________________________________     Renee Fauset, President

________________________________       Sandra Dihlmann, Secretary