Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees
March 27, 2008
Minutes
In attendance:
Kay O’Dwyer, Cynthia Canavan, Dr John Sullivan, John McEnaney, Cathy Vaucher, Pam Wheaton Shorr, Emil Ronchi, Christopher Fauci, Nina Cullen-Hamzeh Not Present: Robert Sousa
Also in attendance, Dr. Albert F. Argenziano, Interim Managing Director
Location: Community Room at the
The Chair, Ms Kay O’Dwyer opened the meeting at 7:09 P.M.
The Chair began by highlighting that the focus of meeting was to provide an evaluation of the Interim Academic Director, Ms Nina Cullen Hamzeh. She then outlined the items that go into the evaluation rubric and tools use by the Board to conduct their individual assessments, including individual observations, and faculty and parent surveys.
Ms O’Dwyer recognized Ms Shorr to walk the Board through the process for completing the Interim Academic Director evaluation this evening, again reiterating the source material for the including citing the “Assessing Educational Leadership” book by . . . as a basis for the rubric, and incorporating some of our own material. The rubric was provided to Ms Cullen Hamzeh to complete her own self assessment which has been provided to the Board. Individual Trustees also are to consider their own observations, as well as faculty and parent surveys.
Next, Ms Cullen Hamzeh was recognized who provided an overview of the situation she walked into, and the efforts that she took to rebuild trust within the community and to incorporate the large new population from a variety of communities. She particularly cited her accessibility, openness and transparency as key parts to her efforts regain trust in the community. She acknowledged that it has been a long, hard year of full days, but that it was necessary to rebuild the school community and trust. Further, she cited the challenges of continuing to assimilate students on a weekly basis, and the strain that it placed on the staff. She addressed several specific challenges that she and the staff have faced throughout the year, particularly those highlighted in the two surveys that the Board is using as an assessment tool. She completed by sharing with the Board some of the key lessons that she has learned in the role.
Ms Vaucher suggested that unfilled out copies of the evaluation rubric be provided to the audience in attendance so they better follow with the discussion. The Chair concurred and limited copies of the rubric were provided, and are attached here.
The Board began by discussing the first category for evaluation – Management, Decision Making, and Organizational Leadership -- Reporting and Documentation. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
Discussion continued moving on to Management, Decision Making, and Organizational Leadership – Organizational Environment. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. There was significant discussion about the comments in the Parent and Faculty surveys and how to integrate them into the various categories of the rubric.
The chair called a recess at 8:45. The Chair reconvened the meeting at 9:00
There was continued discussion on the work environment and the positive nature of it this year. Discussion continued about how to consider this feedback.
The Board moved on to Management, Decision Making, and Organizational Leadership – Constructive Disagreement. There was limited discussion about the feedback in this area and the sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Exemplary in this category.
Moving on to Management, Decision Making, and Organizational Leadership – Personal Improvement: The Chair noted that there were no prior evaluations to compare to, so we would not be determining a job performance rating in this category. The Board noted however that she has taken personal initiative to secure additional training and licensing through investing time and effort in the Leadership Institute. Additionally, the Board noted that she clearly put enormous effort into a large role for her this year that is a stretch given the circumstances of assuming the role -- timing, crisis nature of the environment, and effectively performing two roles.
The Board continued with Management, Decision Making, and Organizational Leadership – Decision Making Structure. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
Next the Board took up the category Management, Decision Making, and Organizational Leadership – Vision and Strategic Priorities. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
The Board began the Student Achievement Category by discussing Student Achievement – Academic Goal Setting. There was discussion about how Ms Cullen Hamzeh has applied the philosophies of the school’s educational approach and the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
Moving along to Student Achievement – Continuous Student Improvement. There were some questions about exactly what this category meant and how to evaluate this particular category. After some discussion, it was noted that the offerings for this year have expanded and generally improved the educational environment for the students. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
The Board began the Faculty Development Category by discussing Faculty Development – Faculty Development. There was discussion about how the distinction among the various sub-categories of Faculty Development. After clarification, the Board discussed Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s strengths and weaknesses in this arena. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
The Board continued the Faculty Development Category by discussing Faculty Development – Staffing. . There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
The Board continued the Faculty Development Category by discussing Faculty Development – Professional Development. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
Then Chair called a recess at 10:20. The Chair reconvened the meeting at 10:30.
The Board began the Personal Characteristics and Professional Demeanor - Category by discussing Personal Characteristics and Professional Demeanor – Resilience. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Exemplary in this category.
The Board continued the Personal Characteristics and Professional Demeanor Category by discussing Integrity. There was quick and general agreement among the Board about that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Exemplary.
The Board continued the Personal Characteristics and Professional Demeanor Category by discussing Emotional Self Control. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Proficient in this category.
The Board continued the Personal Characteristics and Professional Demeanor Category by discussing Legal and Ethical Behavior. There was quick and general agreement among the Board about that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Exemplary.
The Board continued the Personal Characteristics and Professional Demeanor Category by discussing Student Safety. There was discussion among the Board about the strengths and weaknesses in this particular area. The sense of the Board is that Ms Cullen Hamzeh’s job performance is Exemplary in this category.
Decision – Ms Canavan moved and Dr. Sullivan seconded that Board authorizes the chair or her designee to enter into negotiation with Ms Cullen Hamzeh for purposes of entering into an employment contract for the 2008 -2009 academic year.
Yeas: 5 Nays: 0 Abstain 3 Mr. McEnaney, Ms Vaucher and Ms Cullen Hamzeh abstained. Mr. Fauci did not vote Motion Passes
Ms Vaucher moved and Ms Shorr seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 Abstain 0 Mr. Fauci did not vote Motion Passes
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 10:55
Respectfully Submitted
John T. McEnaney
Clerk
