Azure Fields Charter High School
Board Meeting
Feb 17, 2026
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Others Present:
Admin:
Carol Ann Gregory
Other Faculty:
Chalice Maddox
Other Community Members:
Members Absent with Notice:
Members Absent without Notice:
LOCATION: Onsite: Venue Workspaces, Suite 100: Large Conference Room, Orem, UT 84057
Virtual Access on Zoom
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86486408822?pwd=CYSgK4eneRC92ZEGbZA5SAyggvYkPP.1
Meeting ID: 864 8640 8822
Passcode: 038148
MINUTES Recorded by: Sara Archibald
TIME
AGENDA ITEM/PERSON RESPONSIBLE
DISCUSSION
ACTIONS TAKEN OR PLANNED
Call to Order
Opening Verse:
Verse Recited by:
Steiner Study - C.J. Swensen
'The Long Spring - Birth to 21' Pg. 102 - 111 of 'Why on Earth: Biography and Practice of Human Becoming' by Signe Schaefer
Board Capacity Building- Susan Merle McDonald
Susan Merle Mcdonald - Charter Board University - Ch. 13 - Pg. 87 - 92
Public Comments
Review of Minutes from Previous Meeting - Sara Archibald
Vote to approve minutes called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Board Business - Susan Merle McDonald
Charter Amendment Proposal (Carol): We need to submit a Charter Amendment requesting to open in Provo District due to options in Alpine District being too expensive.
We can also include a request for an Articulation Agreement with Wasatch Charter School, and update wording in our Governing Bylaws on the same Amendment request.
(Susan) Proposal to edit Governing Board Bylaws to remove Public Relations Officer and set the minimum number of Board members at 7. Quorum to include 3 officers and 2 voting members.
Proposed changes have been emailed to the Board Members, with changes marked in Red.
These changes will be sent to the State Charter School Board in the Charter Amendment Application.
Alysha Milligan has filled out the application to join the Board as a Voting Member.
Alysha will introduce herself.
Alysha is eligible for a 1 year Term, renewable for up to 3 years.
FYI: There is a Summary of Board Duties and Qualifications that has been emailed to the Board and will be added to the Website.
Board Terms begin Aug 2026 (according to the bylaws)
Building Report: Clint Biesinger
Request to Discuss Building Procurement Business in a Closed Session.
Alysha is invited to observe the Closed Session (if her Board appointment is approved)
SY2026-27 Calendar has been sent to the Board for Review: Alpine, Provo, and Nebo District Calendars were consulted.
Discussion:
Draft Discipline Policy and Public Comments Policy have been sent to the Board for Review. Upon Board approval, these policies will be added to our website.
Discussion:
Draft Salary Schedules have been sent to the Board for review. Red Apple approved them for our projected Budget next year and they are competitive to other charter schools they work with.
Discussion
Draft of Contract for Pre-Operational Dean of Pedagogy has been sent to the Board for review. This position will assist with the teacher hiring process and prepare professional development for next school year. They will work with the Pedagogical Lecturer in designing the professional development.
Vote to approve Bylaw Changes called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Vote to Approve Alysha as a new Board Member called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
-If approved, Alysha's Board Service will begin March 2026
Vote to enter Closed Session to discuss Building Procurement Called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Vote to approve 2026-2027 Calendar called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Vote to approve Policies called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Vote to approve Salary Schedules called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Vote to approve Dean of Pedagogy Contract called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Admin Report - Carol Gregory
Marketing and Enrollment: We have had 2 new enrollments, one last week and one this week. We are going out in the community at least one day a week to connect with junior highs, businesses relevant to our program, libraries, and partner programs to spread the word. We are designing signs to be ready when we finalize the building, and posting to social media daily. We have started applying for the community events and farmer's markets in our area. We will be sharing a list of event dates on our website and inviting our founding cohort families and board members to help supervise booths at these events. We are looking at t-shirt and hoodie designs, we have keychains with our dragon mascot, and are looking at engraved mug designs.
CSP Grant: We are making good progress in the CSP Grant paperwork. We may need to call a special Board Meeting Next Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 at 7pm for final Board Approval for the proposed Budgets and CSP Grant review before we submit the final paperwork on Friday, February 27 (3 business days before the March 4 due date). Red Apple is helping with proposed budgets for our first 3 years of operation, showing financial stability after the grant. We will do a final review of those budgets by this Friday and can send a copy to the Board for review.
Hiring Progress: We are ready to start posing job openings for our 8 Core Teachers this week. We will post on our website azurefields.org, k12jobspot.com, and waldorftoday.com.
We have our second Inner-Work Workshop this Saturday. We are inviting faculty from our Partner schools and will be offering contracts for their faculty to join these workshops next school year. These workshops will always be free to our faculty and Board Members, but parents and teachers from other schools will register for $30 a workshop, Register one person for 5 workshops for $120 (buy 4 get 1 free), or Register 5 people for a single workshop for $120 (buy 4 get one free). We will offer 10 next year: monthly September-June. We are working on the calendar of when these will be offered and the themes for each one.
Website Update: We are constantly updating our website. We have been working on the action items from the UAPCS website audit last week and will be compliant by this Friday. We will be adding Board Member Bios to the website and will use the board@azurefields.org email for community members to contact you. We are also adding a form for community members to request a slot in the Public Comments portion of our Board Meetings.
Vote to add a second February Board Meeting to review CSP Grant Application called by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Susan McDonald
Sara Archibald
Marta Barlow
Christian Swenson
Carrie Schippers
Thesa Callinicos
Board Committees Reports - Susan McDonald
Finance Committee Report: (Marta Barlow)
Adjournment
Closing Verse:
Vote to Adjourn Proposed by:
Seconded by:
Vote Outcome:
Verse Recited by:
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
If you need special accommodations to access this meeting, please email contact@azurefields.org
Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
If you need special accommodations to access this meeting, please email contact@azurefields.org
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