Board Meeting Dates

I.

Call to Order

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of November 13, 2012 (Discussion/Action)

II.

Consideration for Approval of Administrative Recommendation to Renew Charter for  Albuquerque Talent Development Secondary Charter School for Five Years with One Condition; also to Approve a Name Change Request to Albuquerque Talent Development Academy (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Eddie Soto, Mark Tolley

A.

Public Forum

III.

Consideration for Approval of Administrative Recommendation to Renew Charter for Corrales International School for Five Years with One Condition (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Eddie Soto, Mark Tolley

A.

Public Forum

IV.

Consideration for Approval of Administrative Recommendation to Renew Charter for El Camino Real Academy for Five Years with One Condition (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Eddie Soto, Mark Tolley

A.

Public Forum

V.

Consideration for Approval of 2013-2014 Traditional School Year Calendar (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Andi Trybus

VI.

Distribution of Policies and Procedural Directives to be Discussed at the January Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting (Discussion)
Presenter: Carrie Menapace

A.

New Debt Management Policy and Procedural Directive
Presenter: Carrie Menapace

B.

Section I. Instruction Board Policies and Procedural Directives
Presenter: Carrie Menapace

VII.

Future Topics: Various topics will be presented as time allows.

VIII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Tuesday, January 8, 2012, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo-Martin Community Room.

IX.

Adjournment

I.

Call to Order – the meeting was called to order at 5:05 by Dr. David Peercy, chair.  It was decided agenda item VI. A would not be presented at this meeting.  It would be brought back in January.  Also agenda item VI was moved up on the agenda becoming item II.

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of November 13, 2012 - David Robbins motioned for approval of the agenda as amended and the minutes of November 13, 2012.  Lorenzo Garcia seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

II.

(III.) Consideration for Approval of Administrative Recommendation to Renew Charter for Albuquerque Talent Development Secondary Charter School for Five Years with One Condition; also to Approve a Name Change Request to Albuquerque Talent Development Academy – Mr. Tolley began by saying there were actually five (5) schools up for renewal this year.   La Cultural Charter decided to go with Public Education Committee (instead of APS).  Gordon Bernell Charter has been issued an extension to January to get in more facts. Following were the remaining three charter renewals.

The APS administration recommended that the Albuquerque Talent Development Secondary Charter School renewal application be approved for a term of five years with one condition.  The condition placed was that this charter school complies with New Mexico Statute 22-8B-4.2.  Mr. Tolley read the new law.  The new statute states that on or after July 1, 2015, a new charter school shall not open and existing charter shall not be renewed unless the charter school:

• Is housed in a building that is owned by the charter school, the school district, the state, an institution of the state, another political subdivision of the state, the federal government or one of its agencies or a tribal government; or subject to a lease-purchase arrangement that has been entered into and approved pursuant to the Public School Lease Purchase Act (Chapter 22, Article 26A NMSA 1978) or if it is not housed in a building described in Paragraph 1 of this subsection, demonstrates that:  the facility in which the charter school is housed meets the statewide adequacy standards developed pursuant to the Public School Capital Outlay Act and the owner of the facility is contractually obligated to maintain those standards at no additional cost to the charter school or the state; and either: public buildings are not available or adequate for the educational program of the charter school; or the owner of the facility is a nonprofit entity specifically organized for the purpose of providing the facility for the charter school.

The school has been found in full compliance with New Mexico charter school law and APS requirements.  The renewal application has been reviewed by the APS Charter/Magnet School Department and staff from other appropriate APS departments.  The recommendation to approve this charter renewal with APS is based on the application’s evidence of financial viability, satisfactory facilities and strong governance council determined to make changes to improve the school.

Mr. Tolley said this school currently was negotiating a lease with the owner.  The board had renewed the charter last year for a year to show academic progress, which they have done.  They have shown improvements in the Standards-Based Assessment and the Short Cycle Assessment. The school also requested a change to the initial charter, which was changing its name to Albuquerque Talent Development Academy.  Romie Comphor, principal of the school, thanked Mr. Tolley and his department for all their help and the improvements they had made. Mr. Tolley introduced Dr.  Bruce Hegwer of the Coalition of Charter Schools.  Mr. Hegwer said they supported all three renewals.  Discussion and questions from the board members followed in regard to:  lease purchase, lease agreement amount, capital master plan, enrollment, MOU with APS and Ideal NM.  Congratulations were given by Ms. Maestas to Ms. Comphor for turning around the school.  Mr. Esquivel asked why the school renewed the charter through APS and not the state.  Ms. Comphor said she always had been a proud retired APS administrator, and the charter office always had been so helpful.  Kathy Korte motioned for approval.  Analee Maestas seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

A.

Public Forum – Two students spoke:  Cheyenne & Madison.  Cheyenne said she had turned her grades around from her freshman year when she was failing and credited the school for helping do this.   Madison said she also had turned her grades around and was now the student council president.  They both thanked the board for the renewal.

III.

Consideration for Approval of Administrative Recommendation to Renew Charter for Corrales International School for Five Years with One Condition - Mark Tolley introduced Elsie Fierro, principal of the school.  Administration’s recommendation was to approve the renewal application for five years with one condition.  The condition placed was that this charter school complies with New Mexico Statute 22-8B-4.2. The school has been found in full compliance with New Mexico charter school law and APS requirements.  The renewal application has been reviewed by the APS Charter/Magnet School Department and staff from other appropriate APS departments.

The recommendation to approve CIS charter renewal with APS is based on the application’s evidence of financial viability, satisfactory facilities and strong governance council determined to make changes to improve the school.

The school runs a primary International Baccalaureate (IB) program and expressed an interest in working with the Sandia High School IB program.  The board members thanked them for their effort and partnering with APS and working with Sandia High School.  David Robbins complimented the school on what they had done.  He also asked for a discussion in regard to what was working in order to adopt those things into APS.  He encouraged them to work with the chief academic officer, Shelly Green.  Ms. Fierro said all were welcome to visit anytime.  Discussion followed.  Kathy Korte motioned for approval.  Analee Maestas seconded the motion. More discussion followed in regard to the use of two languages in the school and the lease purchase agreement.  Dr. Peercy called the question.  All indicated they were in favor of approval.

A.

Public Forum - Three people spoke:  a mother of two students who said her sons were learning amazing things, not just facts and numbers.  She liked the small school environment.  Jennifer Salisberry of the school’s governing council spoke saying they definitely wanted to partner with Sandia High School.  Another parent spoke saying he was an attorney and former teacher.  His first grader was able to read in both English and Spanish.  He was amazed at the IB process.  He said the teacher/student relationships were outstanding and the teachers were incredibly committed.

IV.

Consideration for Approval of Administrative Recommendation to Renew Charter for El Camino Real Academy for Five Years with One Condition – Mark Tolley introduced the principal, Pam Green.  Administration’s recommendation was to approve the renewal application for five years with one condition.  The condition placed was that this charter school complies with New Mexico Statute 22-8B-4.2.  The school has been found in full compliance with New Mexico charter school law and APS requirements.  The renewal application has been reviewed by the APS Charter/Magnet School Department and staff from other appropriate APS departments.  The recommendation to approve ECRA charter renewal with APS is based on the application’s evidence of financial viability, satisfactory facilities and strong governance council determined to make changes to improve the school.

Mr. Tolley said he was happy to bring the renewal forward, because the school had struggled for many years because of problems with grants and personnel.  They had shown improvement (after the board gave them a year to improve).  The board members commended Ms. Green on her leadership and efforts in turning around the school.  Mr. Garcia said the efforts that were undertaken were appreciated and showed determination.  Discussion followed regarding the 2011 audits, emailed issues, test results and instructional audits.  Kathy Korte motioned for approval.  David Robbins seconded the motion.  All indicated they were in favor of approval.  David Robbins asked Mr. Tolley about the summary format being used.  Mr. Tolley said they would be reporting in a uniform way along with the state when the state form is available.; he explained the new process.

A.

Public Forum – no one spoke.

V.

Consideration for Approval of 2013-2014 Traditional School Year Calendar – Ms. Korte urged the board to vote on option 2A for the calendar.  Ms. Trybus stated administration’s recommendation was 2A after gathering input from the public.  Discussion regarding Veteran’s Day followed.  Lorenzo Garcia motioned for approval.  David Robbins seconded the motion.  All were in favor of approving option 2A.

VI.

(II.) Distribution of Policies and Procedural Directives to be Discussed at the January Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting – Ms. Menapace told the board members that she would be distributing a flash drive containing all the instructional polices as well as procedural directives.  She asked that they look at them and provide feedback.  The policies would be posted on the APS website the next day for input.  There are two procedural directives that may be delayed. There was discussion in regard to the index used for the policies.  Ms. Menapace said they did use the National School Board Association’s index.

A.

New Debt Management Policy and Procedural Directive – this agenda item was removed from the agenda and will be brought back in January, 2013.

B.

Section I. Instruction Board Policies and Procedural Directives – no discussion.

VII.

Future Topics: Various topics will be presented as time allows.

VIII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Tuesday, January 8, 2012, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo-Martin Community Room.

IX.

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m.