Maine Charter School Commission Meeting - Jan. 18, 2012

Minutes

The State Charter School Commission held a special meeting on January 18, 2012, at the Cross State Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine. The following members were present: James Banks, Sr.; Richard (Dick) Barnes (9:01); Jana Lapoint; Donald Mordecai; and William Shuttleworth.

Excused: Lynda Doyle and Shelley Reed.

Also present were: Jennifer Pooler, Administrative Assistant, Department of Education.

CALLED TO ORDER:

Chair, James A. Banks, Sr., called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

MOVED by William Shuttleworth, seconded by Donald Mordecai, and unanimously voted by those present to approve the December 5, 2011 and January 10, 2012 minutes as written.

OFFICER'S REPORTS:

Chair, James Banks, Sr.:

  • Review research documents provided by members during New Business.
  • Topics for future agenda items - forward to Jennifer Pooler.
  • He will meet with Sarah Forster to discuss her recommendations on the State Charter School Commission Procedures.
  • Meeting dates thru June 2012 distributed to members and posted on web.

Vice-chair, William Shuttleworth:

  • Nothing to report.

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. State Charter School Commission Procedures
    1. MOVED by William Shuttleworth, seconded by Jana Lapoint, and unanimously voted by those present to TABLE until next meeting.
  2. Consideration of testimony for public hearing on LD 1762 - An Act to Amend and Clarify the Public Charter School Law (January 23, 2012, 1:00 PM)
    1. Add the word "Maine" to the Commission name "Maine Charter School Commission".
    2. Amend terms of office to begin on July 1, 2012.
    3. Jim spoke to Senator Langley regarding per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses (meals, hotel, and mileage).
    4. Explanation provided for strikethroughs in proposed Rule Chapter 140.
    5. Funding questions on student transfers mid-year.
      1. Recommendation that Jim Rier be invited to Feb. 7 meeting to help the Commission work through those questions.
    6. Revisions to proposed Rule Chapter 140 and in LD 1762 address concerns except for items a., b., and c above.
  3. Consideration to join the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA)
    1. Discounted rate for six month membership $250 - due annually in June.
    2. MOVED by Donald Mordecai, seconded by Jana Lapoint, and unanimously voted by those present to join NACSA.
  4. Consideration of dates for public listening sessions (Portland, Bangor, Augusta)
    1. Try to arrange at public schools.
    2. "What are the needs in this region?"
    3. Help to inform the Commission's thinking prior to the RFP process.

Jennifer Pooler to schedule public listening sessions on February 8, 9, and/or 13, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in Portland, Bangor, and Augusta.

Jennifer Pooler will investigate the option of initiating a discussion via a discussion board on the SCSC website for public comment.

  1. Consideration of Draft Budget
    1. Develop two budgets
      1. One thru June 30, 2012
      2. One annual July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013
    2. Executive Director
    3. Professional Development
      1. What NACSA offers - what the Commission needs
    4. Donald Mordecai will draft new preliminary budget proposals
  2. Review recommendations for Executive Director provided by Judith Jones, Maine Association of Charter Schools (MACS)
    1. *Cheryl Clukey - currently on MACS board
      1. Potential conflict of interest by serving on MACS board - Jennifer
        Pooler will run it by Sarah Forster
    2. Matt Speno
    3. *Christina Kenny
    4. *Erica Mazzeo - submitted resume to serve on Commission
    5. Cindy Langley-Wilbur
    6. *Mary Budd

Jennifer Pooler to request resumes from above (four with *) for January 24 and set up interviews for January 25 or 26.

Information to put in request:

  • Research other authorizer documents and draft Maine's documents
  • 30 days consulting @ $300/day plus travel expenses - now thru June 30
  • Access to National resources (NACSA)
  1. Distribution of Sample Documents (Procedures/Applications/RFP)
    1. New Hampshire - DOE
    2. Massachusetts - State Statute
    3. North Chicago CUSD 18
    4. South Carolina - DOE

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Submit Expense Account Vouchers to Jennifer Pooler at the end of the meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  • Question on which of the Commission's documents (procedures, guidelines) need to go through the APA Process.
    • Both the Commission's internal procedures and the application procedures and oversight documents
  • Question on future meeting dates.
    • Feb 7, 2012
    • Mar 6, 2012
    • Apr 3, 2012
    • May 1, 2012
    • June 5, 2012
    • All future meetings will be at the Burton Cross Office Building, Room 500, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT:

MOVED by Donald Mordecai, seconded by Richard Barnes, and unanimously voted by those present to adjourn the January 18, 2012 State Charter School Commission meeting at 11:00 AM.

Respectfully submitted by Jennifer Pooler