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Entity: Salt Lake Arts Academy

Body: Salt Lake Arts Academy

Notice Title: Salt Lake Arts Academy Final Minutes
Notice Tags: Schools
Meeting Location: 844 South 200 East
via Zoom
Salt Lake City  UT  84111
Event Date & Time: January 22, 2021
January 22, 2021 03:00 PM
Description/Agenda:
                Salt Lake Arts Academy
Governing Board Meeting MINUTES - Approved 2-19-21
January 22, 2021, at 3:00 p.m.
https://zoom.us/j/97188638508
 

Board Members Present
Anneliese Booher, Denise Begue, Jennifer Goldman-Luthy, John Bakken, Julie Livers, Leanne Hawken, Lon Huntsman, Matt Nelson, Melissa Block, Rob Scott, Suyin Chong

Board Members Excused
Tatiana Mixco

Staff Present
Jennifer Burrow Sanchez, Jen Guillory, Katy Andrews, Moni Schwaerzler, Holly Winn, Kevin Lee, Lamar Holley, Norma Iglesias, Elizabeth Wilson, Nate Rickett

Others Present
Jan Nystrom, Deborah Candler, Melissa Brink, David Vernon, Jodi Geroux, Anne Cook, Sheila Sawka (auditor), Emily McMillan, Katherine Zavodni, Somebody Beck

Note: Attendance of participants joining during the Zoom meeting may not be recorded above
 


Welcome						Lon Huntsman   		      	3:00

Motion:  To move Financial Discussion to Item #1 so Sheila can go early
John Bakken moved to approve
Denise Begue seconded
Motion approved unanimously 

(Note:  The Financial Discussion occurred first but is shown below in Item #6)


Approve Minutes of Governing Board Meeting 12/11/20	All    	        		3:05
(No discussion)

MOTION: To approve Minutes from the December 11, 2020 Governing Board Meeting 
John Bakken  moved to approve 
Rob Scott seconded 
Motion approved unanimously 


New Policies					Anneliese Booher, Rob Scott	3:10
(Vote may be taken)

'At-Risk' Student Definition
Katy - Possible factors include absenteeism, course failures, disciplinary issues, displaced living/homelessness, English language learner, low test scores
Based on State's qualifiers
Markell has identified other factors based on data (discussion)
We are tracking students in all categories with goal of making progress
Katy - Purpose of definition is to report at state leve.l
Asking Board to approve this definition; our plans to support kids at risk of failure address these issues and more.
Lon - How to integrate other metrics Markell has identified?
Markell - We are doing these other things already, just not including in this report
Lon - So we are over and above what state is requiring.

MOTION: To accept definition of 'At-Risk Student' as students with any factors listed above
Julie Livers moved to approve 
Leanne Hawken seconded 
Motion approved unanimously 

Grievance Policy
Tabled for future meeting

Harrassment Policy
Tabled for future meeting


Return to In-Person Scenario Discussion	Katy Andrews / All			3:20
(Vote may be taken.)

Teacher Vaccine Update
Since December 11 meeting, all teachers have begun to be vaccinated

Proposed Scenario for Consideration
Katy - (Slide show, in handouts)
Grateful for the opportunity to bring this to you today
Have developed a plan to return students to classroom that address SLArts' core values
- Value and back up teachers and their health
- Offer what our kids need
- Balance what different families need
Also surveyed families by grade to commit to in-person or remote learning; still in Cohorts
Most families plan to return
- About 30% 5th graders plan to stay remote
- About 20-25% 6th-8th graders plan to stay remote
So about 300 people in-person; too many to physically distance, but fine for cohorts
Help kids make transition - kids are nervous about in person experience
- Focus on rebuilding our community in advance
- Also support kids remaining remote
Propose 4-day period with same cohorts; supported by Faculty and Administration
2 days in person, synchronous math and humanities 4 days per week, and arts
Pause non-arts electives
Continue remote Fridays; may offer remote classes on Fridays
Shorten day to eliminate lunch and significantly reduce risk of transmission
Solidify schedule by mid-Feb

John - Good news to get kiddos back in building; why pausing electives?
Katy - Arts are a core class here, so that will be kept; additional arts/electives will be paused
Some teachers will be teaching simultaneously in-person and online
Will redeploy electives teachers to support core teachers
Begin in-person about March 1
JenBS - Our goal is to try to keep the same teachers; depends on numbers
Katy - Teachers are ready to get back in building and will be vaccinated; we are set on this
JenGL - Addresses concerns getting kids back in school; unforeseen circumstances could change plan, e.g. new strains of virus; need to keep eye on it; if we see in person spread we may need to close
Katy - For our school size -- 15 cases means all remote again
question:  raining or snowing?
Katy - Everyone bring a parka for snacks in bad weather!  We will figure out details to stay safe
Leanne - Rapid testing/rapid return strategy possible?
Katy - Great idea - Planning committee is morphing into a 'now what' comm; creating and implementing safety protocols is next on list
Everyone will need to use Healthy Together app prior to school each day; adults doing currently
Very strict about following protocols; will send students back to remote if not complying
Lon - Some parents would like more time in person, but there are limitations
Everyone must do their part to engage in safe behavior wherever you are
Most spreading occurs outside of school; school can be a safe, controlled environment
After school / at home must still be safe; and also keep ICUs from being overrun!
Katy - Beginning of day is check-in time so kids are heard and can process - we have all been through trauma!  we will process together
Nate - We will talk about how to be social when we are socially distanced!
Katy - We will develop mental health support for remote kids - a critical part of our community
Lon - Every change requires significant planning and retooling - plus burnout; our teachers care deeply about our kids and the education process and the emotions - putting in a lot of work

MOTION: To adopt the proposed 4-period return to school plan
Jennifer Goldman-Luthy moved to approve 
Rob Scott seconded 
Motion approved unanimously 


Requests to Speak									3:50
Persons requesting to speak to the Governing Board in an open meeting need to sign up prior to the start of the open session of the board meeting, by emailing Lon Huntsman, chair, at alonzo.huntsman@slarts.org. Resolution of questions or responses to proposals should not be expected at this meeting; staff or others may be asked to research and/or prepare materials and solutions for a later time. Up to fifteen minutes in total will be scheduled for persons requesting to speak. Three minutes will be allotted for individual requests and five minutes will be allotted for group requests. If we receive more requests than the allotted time permits, those requests may be scheduled for the next board meeting. Your concerns may be submitted in writing to the principal's office for distribution to the Governing Board at any time.

No requests to speak


Committee Updates									4:15

Finance					John Bakken / Moni Schwaerzler
Presentation of the Revised FY21 Budget - Vote Expected

Sheila (auditor) - Has been auditing SLArts for 10+ years
Loves working with us; we do a great job
They look at Moni's books - all money in and all money out; all accounts to ensure accuracy
Also do compliance testing for state
Some testing has changed because of fraud at other charter schools
Opinion of report:  Financial statements of SLArts are materially correct
Only one thing not clean involving about $2200
Everything else is very clean - Moni does a fantastic job
Bond covenance - we changed to new bond so it's monitored closely
All bond requirements met
Debt covenance projected to be met through end of school year
Lon - We were worried about some of these numbers, but we have 1.8% ratio cf required 1.15%, so we are in good shape
Personal responsibility to disclose information to bond holders; Moni has taken steps
We have retired previous debt, built addition, and still dropped debt service by $70k
Thanks to finance comm - John Bakken, Jim Kreeck (past), Rob Scott, Matt Nelson, Moni

Moni - (Share screen, in handouts)
Short version of budget - reviewed updated numbers
Balance sheet - reviewed
Bond holder conference this morning and we are in good shape
After 2020/21 'We are going to be so resilient we can turn the whole bloomin' world around!'
Lon - Looks good; those on Finance comm have spent a lot of time hashing through all these things; we are in good shape
Lon - Moni is very careful about all terms

MOTION: To adopt new budget with new line items
John Bakken moved to approve 
Matt Nelson seconded 
Motion approved unanimously

Development and Community Outreach		Katy Andrews

Annual Campaign and Challenge Grant
Within hairs' breadth of meeting $75k goal to unlock $25k challenge grant
Plus another $1000 challenge grant

Admissions/Enrollment update
Ambassadors came to school today to train for tours
Good attendance at tiny open houses
Lottery to be run on February 19
Please invite people to apply
Numbers are a little low; but this is the time most applications usually come in
We anticipate full enrollment

Principal Search Committee				Julie Livers
Progress Report

Julie - 19 applications, several very good
Educators with adminisration license
Starting interviews with top picks 2nd week of February
Great batch of applicants - very optimistic!
Katy wants this moving ;)
Faculty input, great committee
Lon - Quality and caliber is very strong!
question:  how many interviews
Julie - Plan to interview 3-5; beyond those is a very strong 2nd tier
Very impressive pool!


 The Board may move into closed session to discuss items allowed under the Utah Open and Public Meetings Law. A separate Zoom link will be sent to Board members, and the closed session will be recorded per the Open Meetings law. The Board may take Action during the closed session, which will be recorded per the Open Meetings law.   	

	No Closed Session needed.

MOTION: to Adjourn meeting
Julie Livers moved to approve 
Lon Huntsman seconded 
Motion approved unanimously



Upcoming Meetings

Board Meeting, February 19, 2021, 3 p.m. via Zoom.
Admissions Lottery closes February 19.
Board Meeting, March 19, 2021, 3 p.m. via Zoom.
            
Notice of Special Accommodations: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Jen Guillory at 801-531-1173. .
Notice of Electronic or telephone participation: NA
Other information:
Contact Information: Jen Guillory
(801)531-1173
jeng@slarts.org
Posted on: February 22, 2021 08:19 PM
Last edited on: February 22, 2021 08:19 PM

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