Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees

February 25, 2008

Minutes

In attendance: 

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

Also in attendance, Dr. Albert F. Argenziano, Interim Managing Director  

Location:  Charter Hall at the Marblehead Community Charter Public School, 17 Lime St, Marblehead MA 01945

The Chair, Ms Kay O’Dwyer opened the meeting at 7:50 AM. She began by recognizing Ms Vaucher, Chair of the Governance Committee to review the proposed By Law Change.

With the Chair’s permission, Ms Vaucher removed from the table the motion after acknowledging that notice of the proposed amendment met the 15 day requirement per Article X of the By Laws.

Decision:  Ms. Vaucher moved and Ms Canavan seconded to amend the Article II, Section 1 of the MCCPS By Laws (dated Jun 1, 2007) include “The Board of Trustees shall include at least one current Teacher, and one parent of a current Charter School student as members.” so that the entire paragraph will read: 

Section 1: The Board of Trustees (hereinafter the Board) shall consist of at least nine (9) Trustees and not more than fifteen (15) Trustees.  In alignment with the School's Charter, "MCCPS is to be a teacher-led, student-focused school, staff members will be an integral part of every aspect of school operations."   Marblehead Community Charter Public School Teachers and staff members (hereinafter "Teachers") are encouraged to serve on the Board.  The Board of Trustees shall include at least one current Teacher, and one parent of a current Charter School student as members. Teachers can hold up to three of the seats on the Board.  The Teacher Trustees will comply with the State Conflict of Interest Laws, M.G.L.  268A. The Chief Staff Person, as an ex officio member of the Board, is not considered a "Teacher" for the purpose of this limitation.  All Trustees shall have identical rights and responsibilities, except where otherwise determined in these By-Laws.   The Board is a public entity and its members are each considered special state employees pursuant to Massachusetts law.  The Board holds the charter from the state and is responsible for ensuring that the policies of the School:

(a)  comply with all applicable laws and regulations; and

(b)  ensure that the school is an academic success, organizationally viable, faithful to the terms of its charter, and earns charter renewal.  

The Clerk noted that as a proposed By Law amendment, this motion requires 2/3 vote of all trustees, which would be six affirmative votes.

Ms O’Dwyer, Yes; Ms Canavan, Yes; Ms Vaucher, Yes; Mr. Ronchi, Yes; Mr. McEnaney,  Yes; Mr. Sousa, Yes; Ms Cullen Hamzeh, Yes; Mr. Sousa, Yes.  Mr. Fauci did not vote    Eight “Yes” - Motion Passes

Ms Vaucher noted that she would forward the Trustee approved amendment to the Department of Education for final approval, and would keep the Board apprised of the status of the State approval. 

Ms. O’Dwyer recognized Ms Shorr to discuss the Interim Academic Director Assessment Document. Ms Shorr provided the Board of Trustee draft copies of an assessment rubric for school leadership, as well a draft copy of a Head of School Job Description, which are both attached.    There were extensive discussions about the structure and categories covered in the evaluation tool, and how best for the Trustees to utilize the rubric to its greatest effect. 

Decision: Mr. Ronchi moved and Mr. McEnaney seconded that the Board of Trustees adopt as an evaluation guideline the tool provided by the Personnel Committee, to assist  in determining if the terms of the contract have been met and to evaluate the job performance of  Interim Academic Director for the current school year.

Yeas:  7 Nays: 0 Abstain 1 Ms Cullen Hamzeh abstained, Mr. Fauci did not vote Motion Passes

Action Item:  Board of trustees to hold a Special Meeting on March 27^th 2008 for the sole purpose of conducting the assessment of the Interim Academic Director.

The Clerk notified the Chair that Charter Hall would not be available to Trustees beyond 10:00 AM.  The Chair called a recess at 9:43 and notified the Board to reconvene in Dr.Argenziano’s office by 9:50

The chair reconvened the meeting at 9:51 in Dr.Argenziao’s office.

Action Items:  The Trustees will receive copies of the job description from Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s Contract, Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s self assessment, and results from the Faculty Survey, and from the Parent Survey by March 24, 2008.

Action Item:  Trustees to review the assessment tool and begin formulate thoughts and opinions to prepare for evaluation discussions to be held at the March 27^th meeting.

Decision:  Chair moved and Mr. McEnaney seconded that the Board adjourn to executive session under exception three of the Open Meeting Law, MGL Chapter 30 Section 11A1/2, “to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation.”

Ms O’Dwyer, Yes; Ms Canavan, Yes; Ms Vaucher, Yes; Mr. Ronchi, Yes; Mr. McEnaney,  Yes;  Ms Cullen Hamzeh, Yes; Ms Shorr, Yes; Mr. Sousa, Yes.  Mr. Fauci did not vote  Motion Passes

The Chair noted that the Board did not expect to return to open session at the conclusion of the Executive Session.  The Chair also invited Dr Argenziano to join the Trustees in Executive Session. 

The Chair adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 10:00 AM

Respectfully Submitted

John T. McEnaney

Clerk

Assessment Rubric for School Leadership

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 Head of School

Job Description

The Head of School (“HOS”) is the chief executive of the Marblehead Community Charter Public School (“School”) and is responsible for implementing policies established by the School’s Board of Trustees (“Board”).  The HOS is directly accountable to the Board and is responsible for keeping the Board informed.  Subject to the budgetary guidelines adopted by the Board, the HOS is authorized to take such actions as may be necessary for proper conduct of the School.  The HOS will be assessed annually on his/her performance using multiple measures. The HOS shall perform the following duties:

1. Supervise the School’s financial, development and administrative operations.

·        Work with FinCom to provide Board with detailed operating budget and regular updates on finances.

·        Maintain operations within the budget, and lead the faculty, staff, and the MCCPS community in efforts to provide an annual operating surplus.

·        Increase and/or maintain enrollment numbers.

·        Develop and manage new sources of income, in tandem with the Foundation and FinCom.

·        Develop a long-term visionary budget and development plan and present to the Board prior to the end of the second trimester (timeframe?).

• Oversee school’s physical plant, including security, safety and general maintenance.

·        Oversee employment, including hiring and firing of staff.

·        Administer discipline with students and staff as necessary.

·        Create policies and procedures and disseminate to the community through the Student Handbook and other materials. 

3. Supervise the School’s educational direction and vision.
   
   • Evaluate and modify existing instructional programs and approaches and make recommendations for expansion, modification, or discontinuance.
   • Develop new initiatives that address opportunities for student learning.
   • Create short and long-term educational vision and implementation plans.
   • Develop ongoing professional development for staff and stay current on trends and developments in curriculum and instruction.                                                                                                    
   • Assess, develop and effectively utilize the abilities and talents of staff to enhance curriculum instruction efforts. Administer/oversee MAP program.

• Actively participate in teaching functions within the School (do we still want to include this in job description?)

• Approve textbooks, technology and other curriculum materials.                                                               

4. Oversee the School’s governance and compliance with the Charter and all relevant State and Federal regulations.
   
   • Report to the Department of Education and other state, local and federal government agencies, as required.
   • Maintain compliance with the Charter.
   • Serve as an Ex-officio member of the Governance Committee.

• Implement the Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Board.
  

5. Lead an organizational structure that is consistent with the School’s philosophy and mission of community. Develop and maintain ties to the community and create a positive image for the School.

·        Serve as the primary public representative and spokesperson for the School.

·        Communicate regularly with parents and other community members about the School.

·        Actively foster relationships with community organizations; develop and maintain role as educational leader in community.

·        Work with the Community Relations Committee on public outreach and publicity; maintain proactive relationships with the press.

·        Work with the PTO to define, create and maintain a consistently supportive environment for volunteerism at the School.

·        Work with the staff and the student body to define, create and maintain a consistently supportive environment for staff and student involvement at the School and in the workings of the school.

·        Work with the Foundation to develop and foster ongoing relationships with community members and businesses.  

6. Serve as the School’s representative on the Board.

·        Serve as liaison between the Board and the staff.

• Serve as a member of Standing Committees and Task Forces as requested by the Board.
• Work to achieve the annual School and HOS goals established by the Board.
• Meet regularly (at least bi-weekly?) with the Board Chair.
• Develop and foster a ‘service’ atmosphere in the community that encourages staff and community memners to work with and on the Board.

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