9 August 2017, 5:30PM – 1160 N 645 West, Washington, Utah

Agenda Item	Presenter	Questions to answer	Time
Workshop Start	Chair		5:30
Review/Revise Policies	Chair	Global Ends Policy Community Interaction Policy
Strategy Discussion	Chair	Followup Parking/property ideas Dayspring/Full-day kindergarten
Workshop End			6:25
Board Meeting Call to Order	Chair		6:30
Read Vision and Mission Statement	Chair
Approve Minutes from Previous Meeting	Secretary
Public Comment			6:35
Director’s Report Short Celebration Average Daily Membership Academic Report Card Review UPIPS Plan	Director		6:45
Finance Report Monthly Finance Statement Verify New Board Members & Employee Fingerprints and Background checks	Business Manager	How do actual expenses compare to the school’s budget?	7:00
Board Governance Policy Review Open & Public Meeting Training	Chair	Are the following policies clear and do they align with the DMA’s Mission and Vision? Global Ends Policy Community Interaction Policy	7:20
Reserved for Closed Session		As needed
Adjourn	Chair	What did you like about this meeting, what did you dislike, what needs to be changed for the next meeting?	7:30

Vision

At DMA, our vision is to awaken within each child their unique potential that will enable them to make a valuable contribution to society.

Mission

The mission of Dixie Montessori Academy (DMA) is to provide a child-centered, individualized grade K-7 education founded upon the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. DMA will foster a structured environment of freedom and discovery in which each child can reach his or her full academic, social, and personal potential. Graduates of DMA will demonstrate creative thinking, self-discipline, respect, and cooperation, and will build a solid foundation for future success.

 

Global Ends Policy

Board Approved 11 Jan 2014

Dixie Montessori Academy exists to provide a child-centered, individualized grade K-7 education founded upon the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. DMA will foster a structured environment of freedom and discovery in which each child can reach his or her full academic, social, and personal potential. Graduates of DMA will demonstrate creative thinking, self-discipline, respect, and cooperation, and will build a solid foundation for future success.

Philosophy

The learning environment of DMA is based on the Montessori philosophy because of its emphasis on the development of the whole child. Board members will strive to enact policies that agree with the tenets of Montessori philosophy.

Assessment Plan

• Formative and summative assessments will be used to monitor student achievement and progress.
• Annual objectives for each student will be established within the first two months of school at the first parent-teacher-student conference.
• Weekly Work Plans will be created to support the annual objectives by listing the specific actions to be taken each week.
• Rubrics will then be used regularly to monitor the students’ progress.
• Assessment and reporting take place within a structure of explicit alignment between the Montessori curriculum and the required State Curriculum

Educational Program

The educational philosophy and methods of instruction supporting DMA’s mission and distinguishing its program include the following, each of which maps specifically to the Goals & Objectives enumerated in the charter:

• Individualized & Differentiated Learning
• Mixed-age Groupings
• Integrated Teaching & Learning
• Prepared Environment
• Role of Teachers to Observe, Guide & Assess
• Classroom Environment of Respect & Character Education

The Dixie Montessori Academy environment and curriculum will thus be based on the freedom of a highly individualized and self-directed education within the specifically “prepared environment” of vertical (multi-age) classrooms, specialized didactic materials, careful teacher observation and guidance, and a strong commitment to the values of self-discipline and respect. DMA’s educational program will likewise include frequent opportunities for parental involvement, regular and specific assessment of progress, and ongoing web-based reporting.

 

 

Community Interaction Policy

Board Approved 11 Jan 2014

The Director shall maintain organizational practices which provide ethical, safe and commonly accepted applications for all individuals within the school community

 

Treatment of students, parents, and community

The Director shall maintain policies which promote timely, organized and respectful treatment of all Dixie Montessori Academy community members

Accordingly, the Director shall:

1. Elicit information for which there is clear necessity.
2. Use methods of collecting, reviewing, transmitting, or storing information that safeguards confidential information.
3. Have policies in place which address safety, security and school accessibility.
4. Have a comprehensive internet use policy in place to include:
   1. Appropriate access of sites and material
   2. Appropriate transmission of material
   3. Compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (47 U.S.C. & 254)
5. Have appropriate policies and procedures governing extended curricular and extra-curricular travel, field trip activities, and student transportation.
6. Establish a wellness policy fostering a healthy nutritional atmosphere.
7. Provide a policy for effective handling of grievances promptly and responsibly.
8. Ensure all stakeholders of Dixie Montessori Academy work together in an advisory capacity to provide students with educational experiences that meet the Board’s Ends.
9. Implement a homework policy designed to accomplish the school’s outcomes while taking into consideration the numerous outside demands on students.
10. Provide for controls to ensure compliance with all regulatory, federal and state requirements.

Treatment of Staff

The Director shall provide for policies and procedures which protect employee rights with regard to Equal Employment Opportunity as outlined in Federal Statute.

Accordingly, the Director shall:

1. Clarify rules and processes for staff.
2. Provide for effective handling of grievances or concerns.
3. Protect against wrongful conditions and preferential treatment.
4. Include position specific job descriptions, salary and compensation plans for all positions.
5. Include a personnel performance evaluation system that ensures the ends of the school are met.
6. Provide for hiring qualified staff
7. The school will not employ an individual whose license has been revoked or is currently suspended by the Utah State Board of Education or whose license has been revoked or is currently suspended by another state Board of Education.
8. Provide for termination and/or separation procedures.
9. Provide policy regarding staff travel to fulfill their official duties or to attend seminars, conferences or other professional or educational activities benefiting the school.
   1. Director travel requires prior Board approval.
   2. Acquaint staff with their rights under this policy.
10. Provide for staff emergency and safety training.
11. Provide policy for grieving to the Board when:
    1. Internal grievance procedures have been exhausted, and
    2. The employee alleges that Board policy has been violated.

 

Open and Public Meetings Act- Quick Summary

Utah Code Title 52, Chapter 4    (Source: https://goo.gl/Ror241 )

Open Government:

• Government exists to aid in the conduct of the people’s business
• Government must take actions openly
• Government must deliberate openly

Public Body:

• Convening of a public body with a quorum present for matters under the body’s jurisdiction or advisory powers
• All meetings are open to the public unless closed in accordance with the act
• Electronic information presented by an individual on an item on an agenda shall be provided to become part of the public record (S.B. 169)

Public Notice of Meetings:

• Not less than a 24-hour public notice is required (agenda, date, time, and place)
• Post the notice:

• with the principal office of the public body
• on the Utah Public Notice website
• Agenda must include topics with reasonable specificity to notify the public,
• No final action can be taken on a topic not listed on the posted agenda

Meeting Minutes:

• Written minutes and an audio recording must be kept of all open meetings
• Written minutes must include: date, time, and place; members present and absent; record of votes; names of people providing comments and a short summary of comments; and other information regarding what occurred, as requested by a member

• Minutes must be approved by the public body, and pending minutes must be available within 30 days of the meeting (if it is a state public body)

• Recording must be complete, unedited, and properly labeled and available to the public within three days of the meeting

Emergency Meetings:

• The 24-hour notice may be disregarded for an emergency meeting
• Must give the best notice practicable, including time, place, and topics to be considered
• Must attempt to notify all members
• Majority of members must approve holding the emergency meeting

Closed Meetings:

• May only be held for certain specified items and, in most cases, requires a 2/3 vote to close
• A quorum must be present to hold a closed meeting
• Permitted closed meeting topics include:
• discussion of character, professional competence, or health of an individual;
• strategy sessions for collective bargaining, litigation, water rights, or sale of real property;
• security and criminal misconduct;
• certain ethics complaints;
• trade secrets (S.B. 179);
• and certain procurement information (S.B. 179)
• A recording must be kept of a closed meeting with some exceptions

Electronic Meetings:

• A meeting convened through electronic media may only be held if the public body has adopted a rule or ordinance governing the use of electronic meetings

• The chair must then determine if sufficient equipment and connections are available to allow remote participation