Center for Advanced Learning
GOVERNING BOARD MINUTES Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Regular Meeting Center for Advanced Learning Public Charter School 4016 South Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 7:00 pm
Recorder: Debbie DePuy
Summary Motions passed: Approved minutes regular meeting June 2. Approved meeting summaries for closed sessions June 2, 16 and 23. Approved resolution to open Broadway Federal account with $20,000. (Copy of resolution attached.) Approved June financials as prepared by Bali Business Management. Approved resolution accepting California School Finance Authority (CSFA) grant award. (Copy of resolution attached)
Handouts: Agenda, Minutes from June 2, 2009, Meeting Summaries from June 2, 16 and June 23, June Financials, Finance Committee Minutes July 21, 2009, Principal’s Report, Resolution to open Broadway Federal account, Resolution accepting CSFA grant award
Calendar: Finance Committee Meeting August 18, 5 pm at CAL Board Meeting, August 25, 7 pm at CAL GRASP board training August 27, 9-1 at CAL School Opens, September 9 Board Appreciation/Welcome-Back-to-School Gathering, tentative date Oct 17, 4 pm, at Deb and Jill’s
Items for Action: See last page
1. The meeting was called to order by Murad Rahman at 7:35.
2. Roll Call Present: Murad Rahman, President, Debbie DePuy, Frank Banales, Evangelina Stockwell, Garth Newberry (arrived at 8 pm) Absent board members: Dafer Dakhil, Kenneth Philips, Alayyi Alim Non-board members and guests: Nadar Ali II
A quorum was established for the meeting CAL Board Minutes 07-28-09 page 2 of 6 3. Comments from the public None
4. Consent Agenda 4.1 Review of Minutes from June 2, 2009
Motion: To approve the minutes from June 2, 2009: Frank Second: Angie Motion carries unanimously
4.2 Review of Special Meeting Summaries from June 2, 16 and June 23
Motion: To approve the meeting summaries from June 2, 16 and June 23: Frank Second: Angie Motion carries unanimously
5. Review Past Items for Action from June 2
6. Finance Committee Report Frank only needs balance sheet each month as he feels it is the finance committee’s responsibility to alert the board if there is any cause for concern in the additional reports such as cash flow. Angie prefers to receive all reports.
6.1 Summary of June Financial Reports CAL retains a robust financial position with $476,975 cash in the bank and total net assets of $576,162. The cost for summer school was $17,500.
Motion: To accept the June financials as prepared by Bali Business Management: Deb Second: Garth Motion carries unanimously
6.2 Budget Update Because of the state budget uncertainties, it has not been possible to draft the 09-10 budget because there are no ADA figures yet. It is anticipated that there will be a budget to present at the next board meeting.
6.3 Line of Credit Nadar has a meeting this Friday with Rose McKesson at Broadway Federal to open an account so that CAL can be considered for a line of credit. Wells Fargo expressed concern at the withdrawal of funds so Nadar will discuss line of credit possibilities with them as well.
Motion: To accept the resolution to open an account at Broadway Federal with $20,000: Deb Second: Frank Motion carries unanimously
7. Principal’s Report If all goes well this week, which includes a sign-off from the landscape architect, planting of 20 trees, and restriping of the parking lot, CAL should have its COO by Friday. CAL Board Minutes 07-28-09 page 3 of 6 CAL was awarded a State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant for $278,100 from the CSFA. CAL will receive $92,700.00 a year, disbursed in monthly installments of $7,725.00 for 3 years. The money can be used to pay for the lease or dispense of debt and could cover about 75% of CAL’s rent for the next three years. One stipulation for receiving the money is that CAL cannot apply for any other facilities grants during this time.
Motion: To pass the resolution to accept the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant: Frank Second Angie Motion carries unanimously
Nadar is going to get bids from 3 food vendors for the coming year. It is a difficult decision to change from this year’s providers, but there have been too many problems with compliance with state nutrition paperwork requirements.
Thirty-two students will have completed the CAL summer school this week. There were 16- second and third graders and 16- fourth and fifth graders with two teachers working with each group. The students were pre-tested at the beginning of the summer and will be tested now to see if gains have been made.
Teachers applying for the three open teaching positions were asked to teach lessons to the summer school students which seemed to work out well for all. Nadar will be making final decisions on the new hires this week.
CAL has contracted with Insight Education Group to provide professional development at the beginning of the year. Following a day of Open Court PD, Insight will provide 3 days of English/Language Arts curriculum training on site that will help teachers align instruction to state standards and integrate the Accelerated Reader program with Open Court while focusing on standards. Insight charges $2000/day. They have a good track record with helping other charter schools improve their test scores.
Nadar is going to re-mail a request that we complete rest of GRASP surveys after checking on Ken’s virus concerns.
API scores will not available until end of Aug. Nadar is thinking about going through the state instead of LAUSD in the future because we could receive the scores sooner.
8. Chair’s Report Murad talked with Bilal and heard their disappointment and frustration with having to ask CAL to pay for the modifications required to obtain the COO. Unanticipated cost overruns in getting the building ready for occupancy left them with no funds to spare. They have been frustrated and would like to work with us to promote the school moving forward. They suggested forming a joint committee that would work on some shared projects such as a charter school soccer league and a scholarship fund. They suggested that Bilal and CAL go over lease agreement to clarify responsibilities. If costs come up in the future that were not covered in lease, a Memorandum of Understanding could be drawn up. They look forward to future collaboration.
9. Strategic Planning Report/Debrief Murad enjoyed the strategic planning session on July 24. It was the first activity he has participated in with Cecilia Sandoval, and he thought we are very fortunate to have her expertise. He felt CAL Board Minutes 07-28-09 page 4 of 6 confident in everything she lead and thought others had a productive time as well. Frank thought it was a great session, and he enjoyed meeting staff and being able to have some conversations.
The SP committee will meet in a couple of weeks to work on the wording of the vision statement and goals as well as discuss dissemination plans for parents and staff. Nadar will email some suggested dates and times.
10. Other 10.1 Board Welcome-Back-to-School Event The board would like to build on the community being generated by strategic planning and also express support and appreciation for the staff and faculty as the year begins. Deb and Jill have offered their home for a gathering. The tentative date is Oct 17, 4 pm.
10.2 The first CAL baby has been born. Congratulations to kindergarten teacher Inez Hernandez and baby Nicolas.
11. Next Board Meeting: Aug 25, 7 pm
12. CLOSED SESSION: Update on principal’s contract
13. Adjournment at 9:30
Items for Action:
1. Nadar: Email possible strategic planning dates to SP committee.
2. Murad: Forward Angie’s comments on principal’s contract to attorneys
3. Nadar: Resend email to board on completing all GRASP surveys, contact GRASP about virus warning
4. All: Complete additional G.R.A.S.P board surveys other than Governance and Performance log in at www.coretca.org click on the G.R.A.S.P Dissemination Project (top right of page) Click on School Surveys Find CAL and enter password: charter31
5. Deb: Work with Nadar on web update/virtual file cabinet (this summer).
Old business: 6. Nadar: Talk to Robert Bravo about 1’s and 2’s on LAUSD Evaluation. CAL Board Minutes 07-28-09 page 5 of 6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNT FOR
CENTER FOR ADVANCED LEARNING
As evidenced by my signature below, I certify that the following are correct and complete copies of the resolutions duly adopted on ____July 28, 2009______by the board of directors of Center for Advanced Learning an educational corporation duly established and operating under the laws of California, with its head office located at, 4016 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90011, in accordance with applicable law and the Institution’s chartering documents. I also certify that such resolutions have not been modified, remain in effect, and are not in conflict with any provisions of the Institution’s certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or chartering and/or licensing statutes or requirements:
RESOLVED, that the Principal/Director, Nadar Ali II, be authorized and directed to open a bank account for the Corporation with Broadway Federal Bank, in the City of Inglewood, CA, which hereby is authorized to honor the deposits of the Corporation, and checks drawn against such deposits signed by Debbie DePuy, Murad Rahman or Nadar Ali II, as long as there funds in the account.
The undersigned, Debbie DePuy, certifies that he/she is the duly elected Secretary of this Corporation, and that the above is a true and correct copy of the resolution that was duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors, which was held in accordance with State law and the Bylaws of the Corporation.
Dated: ______
______President
______Secretary
______, Director
______, Director
______, Director
______, Director CAL Board Minutes 07-28-09 page 6 of 6
A Resolution of the Center for Advanced Learning Board of Directors Recognizing and Accepting the Terms and Conditions of the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Program Grant Award
WHEREAS, on June 30, 2009, the California School Finance Authority (Authority) awarded a grant to Center for Advanced Learning (CDS Code: 19-64733-0115139) under the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program (Program) (CFDA#84.292D).
WHEREAS, grant funds are to be used for the immediate needs of the designated project and must be obligated and expended by the dates specified in the grant agreement (Cal. Code Regs., Title 4,§10185).
WHEREAS, the grant program is to be administered by the CSFA and implemented by the Schools in accordance with the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program Guidelines, as approved by the CFSA on June 30, 2009, and issued on July 16, 2009;
WHEREAS, based upon the direction in CFDA #84.282D, the CSFA has apportioned $278,100.00 of the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program Funds to CAL through a grant award of State funds for the 2009-10 fiscal year funding cycle and a 36 month period thereafter to implement the Program.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that CAL affirms its participation in the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program and accepts the grant award of CFSA funds to implement the Program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that CAL commits to follow all Program requirements, including those set forth in the 2009 State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program Guidelines;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CAL Board hereby authorizes and directs the Principal to implement the State’s local Program in cooperation with eligible parties.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CAL Board hereby authorizes the Principal to execute on behalf of CAL a grant agreement with the CSFA, and all other necessary documents to implement and carry out the purposes of this resolution.
July 28, 2009 ______( Debbie DePuy) Date Board Secretary