November 18, 2007 Special Meeting

Retreat Session of the

Board of Trustees Meeting

November 18, 2007

 Minutes

 In attendance: 

Kay O’Dwyer, Cynthia Canavan, John McEnaney, Cathy Vaucher, Pam Wheaton Shorr, Chris Fauci, Nina Cullen-Hamzeh.  .  Not Present: Dr. John Sullivan, Emil Ronchi and Robert Sousa

Also present was Dr. Albert Argenziano, Interim Managing

Location:  Mr. Sigler’s Room at the Marblehead Community Charter Public School, 17 Lime St, Marblehead MA 01945

The Chair, called the Executive Session to order at 7:22 P.M. 

Ms O’Dwyer stated at the outset that the meeting would end promptly at 9:00 PM.  She began the meeting with an overview of her intention to complete short term goals  for the Board to achieve by the end of the 2008 Fiscal Year (June 30, 2008).  She asked that we not ‘wordsmith’ the goals tonight, but to agree on the broad definition of each goal, with the intent to asking Committees to refine the goals and identify specific objectives. 

There was extensive discussion about potential goals and board identified the following potential goals:

  • Grades and communities served
  • Financial solvency and stability
  • Identify key changes to the Charter
  • Determine a leadership model
  • Getting word out re: what differentiates MCCPS
  • Developing objective/evaluative measures/assessment of leaders
  • Attracting non-parent Board members
  • Improve credibility
  • Get more members of the general (non-school) community involved in school
  • “Founders” – establish Board w/ monetary ties
  • Address concerns of faculty
  • Attract and retain great faculty
  • Buy building
  • Consider salary scale to address salary compression
  • Consider staff perks, i.e. sabbaticals, educational stipends, etc.
  • Reconsider make up of the waiting list
  • Establish Board maintenance and communications practices
  • Develop approaches for seamless transitions for a high functioning board
  • Upgrade the product for kids – put more money in the classrooms
  • Spruce things up in the building
  • Develop a Board road-map for Charter renewal – accountability plan & strategic plan

Trustees agreed to further refine these goals at future meetings.

Ms. Vaucher moved and Ms Shorr seconded a motion to adjourn.

Yeas: 6 Nays: 0  Mr. Fauci did not vote  Motion Passes

The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:17

Respectfully Submitted

John T. McEnaney

Clerk