Dixie Montessori Academy
Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes for May 14, 2014
53 N. Main, St. George Utah
Board Members in attendance: Kevin Groke, Tracy Mitchell, Julie Wand, Michael Currie, Jacqueline “Jacque” Newman, Michael Wand, Brian Poe
Others in Attendance: Heather King
Call to order at 7:12pm by Kevin Groke
Training-Kevin Groke- Module 15
Reading of vision statement by: Tracy Mitchell
Reading of mission statement by: Kevin Groke
Review minutes from previous meeting-Jacque Newman
MOTION: Kevin Groke proposes we accept minutes as written.
Brian Poe Seconded
Voting is unanimous
Finance-Brian Poe Benefits packages are about wrapped up. We have full quotes back from the companies. Michael Wand requested to meet this week to nail that down. Brian sees the service aspect as a tipping point for consideration. We made the first payment for Montessori materials to Dayspring Montessori. The grant monies will pay the other portion. We need to follow up with Josh Beecher on status of unemployment reporting to the State. Risk Management Services needs to be addressed now that the benefits package is finalized. Vista and Valley use Squire as provider for Risk Management, we need to reach out to get general idea of cost for budgeting. There is a request for Julie to bring in the B.A. to committee meetings to get up to speed on all the financials and reporting. We are getting bids for are phones, fax, inventory control. There is a mandatory State of Utah training next week for the Director on the Accreditation Process. We will take it to committee to discuss logistics. There is much discussion on payroll, taxes, leasing company.
Assunta Hardy- former governing board member entered into meeting at 7:41pm
Facilities- Tracy Mitchell. There are questions coming from the site contacts such as, do we have monies available to upgrade on items, is there room in the budget for adjustments and so forth. Gary Took has been doing very well at keeping the site monitored and clean. Site visit for the Board is set for this Friday at 8am. Tile, carpet and office items have all been picked out with the Interior Decorator. We are on task to hit the budget and on time for the building. We need to work with Michael Glausser on the contingency plan so we have that in place for notice to parents.
We need to look at the Legislative book of the law changes so we can have an answer on whether or not we can push the start date for the school. Marlies is still saying 180 days.
Marketing & P.R. – Mike Currie. The Facebook videos of the site construction have been great for marketing. We are on track to have 410 students for the October 1st count deadline for the State funding.
Break at 8:14pm
8:22pm back in session
Teacher Development- Julie Wand. There were two teachers that did not return the offer. Julie has started interviews to fill those positions. Not all assistants have been hired. ARL and First year teachers are going to affect our accreditation. The Parent Education nights have been great. Attendance has been good.
Accountability- Brian Poe there has been 13 people sign up for the Parent Teacher Volunteer Organization. There are 12 different committees. The carpooling committee is one that would be great for someone to own and take on. There are National carpooling sites that can manage the organization of it. Cost is fairly reasonable for those. Burn Down charts discussion on status of each committee. Kevin will put together an email of a skeleton idea for Board Performance reviews. Employee handbook is almost done. The policies and procedures are done with the exception of the HR section. Discussion commences on topic of what policies are the responsibility of the Board to vote on for the handbooks and at what point does the responsibility fall on the Director to create school policies and procedures that take care of the Board policies created. Kevin will write a policy for the Safety Handbook and the Teachers Handbook for the next board meeting vote.
What needs to happen before Julie steps down from the Board to take over fully as Director? She is officially on payroll in June. There is discussion on various loose ends she has of her Board duties.
MOTION: Tracy Mitchell proposes that Julie Wand be dismissed as official voting board member and take over as Director for Dixie Montessori Academy effective May 31, 2014.
Michael Wand seconded
Voting: unanimous with the abstained vote for Julie Wand.
Special Orders:
List of policies and procedures that are required for insurance premiums. We will look at the items that we do not currently have in practice. We need to review the policies yearly. Julie Wand will write the policies for the Board to vote on.
Formal notice for Pre-K Childcare leasing out space at DMA. The board has to set the requirements of what parameter goes in the space. Notice needs to be submitted to the Department of Workforce Services as well as posted publically for a time as required by State code.
MOTION: Brian Poe proposes that we post notification to the places specified in the code for renting a surplus kindergarten room at DMA to a full day Montessori based full day kindergarten and preschool for the required 5 day time frame or as required by state code.
Jacque Newman seconded
Voting unanimous with the exception of Mike Currie’s dissent
Adjourned at 9:56pm
Audio Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8qxeyz9ajtjdzc5/2014-05-14%20Meeting%20Audio.mp3