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Minutes of the
School Board Meeting
Date:
June 4th, 2007
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Place: Middle School Assembly Room
Meeting called by: Ann Walton
Meeting Type: Regular
Board Attendees: Michel de Knoop, Anne Williams, Ann Gauvin-Walton, Philip J. DeCosse, Sung-kyu Kwak, Tracey Koehlmoos, Sonia Kabir, Diane Lindsey
Absentees: Michelle Bowen, Eileen Devitt
Others present: Walter Plotkin, Brian Brumsickle, Tom Pado, Julia Alden, Stacie Rissmann-Joyce, Pete Janda, Raquibul Husain, Uma Tambay, Diane Brocco, Ihsan Kabir, Natalie Wilhelm, Stephen Augeri, Ian Hogg, Bob Bieniek,
Scribe: Diane Lindsay (Board Secretary) |
Agenda
Opening
Action Items
Information Items
Executive Session
Adjournment
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Meeting called to order at 5:04PM. Agenda and minutes were motioned for approval and approved with all in favor and none opposed. |
Action Items
Bank Operations: SY 2007-08
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Each year the Board President and Treasurer must sign bank papers making them signatories on the school’s checking account.
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Mr. Husain stated that the bank would not permit the school to make any amendments to the bank specimen document. In the discussion that followed, the Superintendent stated that the bank was unwilling to ensure that school checks had two signatures before cashing them. It is the school’s responsibility to have two signatures on checks before submitting them for payment. Most banks, including the school’s, in the United States scan checks mechanically as opposed to having them scanned by individuals as had been the case in the past.
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The Treasurer suggested the possibility of seeking a bank outside of the United States, which might accede to the school’s statutory/policy requirements. The Finance Committee in the coming school year can address this.
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They approved and signed the bank specimen document as presented.
Facility Use Rates 2007-08
- The Business Manager presented a proposal for rates to be charged to outside groups for use of the school facilities. The Board passed the proposal as presented, although there was some discussion that preceded the vote. Some board members commented that the rates seemed quite low, while others suggested that if the rates were lowered even more it might stimulate more full usage of the facilities. There were questions raised also about the Board’s involvement in the setting of the facility use rates. A question arose as to whether there is a Board Policy requiring rates to have Board approval. A question was also asked regarding the Superintendent’s discretionary authority to modify rates when it seems appropriate. In the past the Superintendent has agreed to modify rates for non-profit organizations to encourage and promote the use of the facility in order to benefit the school and wider Dhaka community.
Information Items
A. Student Council Report (Attachment 4)
Ihsan Kabir, the Student Council Representative presented a written report at the meeting.
B. PTA Report
- The PTA representative to the meeting raised the following questions: What is the policy for advertising vacancies in the school? Can parents apply for those positions?
- There is a desire that has been expressed in certain parts of the school community to regularize the hiring process and to make it more transparent.
- The superintendent reported that some positions are advertised overseas, while others are advertised locally. He suggested that with the appointment of a Human Resources officer for the 2007-08 school year, hiring practices would be reviewed and made public.
C. Superintendent’s Report
- The visa for the incoming Elementary School Principal was discussed. The Superintendent and the Ambassador’s Representative were to meet to discuss ways to move the process forward.
D. Enrollment Status: May 2007 (Attachment 6)
- Board members expressed concerns about space for the high school. The issue of class size and the optimal size for the high school will be an issue addressed by the strategic planning process in the 2007-08 school year.
E. Operational Audit Report Attachment 9
- There was a brief discussion on the Operational Audit Report that was completed during the 2006-07 school year. The issue of library security was addressed. The school administration and librarians are discussing ways to enhance security, while at the same time maintaining a comfortable feel in the school.
F. Strategic Planning Update
- The strategic planning consultant, Dr. Ana Coghlan was going to continue to review and analyze the data collected during the Appreciative Inquiry Process. She had already met with the admin team and was going to proceed with the analysis over the summer vacation. In the coming school year, the Board and Administration will use the information to develop a strategic plan. The Board agreed to use the extensive information gathered, as the basis for decision making in the development of a strategic plan.
- The superintendent presented the CV of a consultant, who is also a school parent, who he recommended to the Board to serve as the Board’s consultant for the development of the strategic plan. The Board requested the Superintendent to advertise the position and collect CV’s from other interested consultants. The Board will make a final decision on the consultant at the August Board meeting. The selected consultant will oversee the Board/Admin Strategic Planning session scheduled for September 8, 2007.
G. Board Committee Membership for 2007-08
The following committee assignments were agreed upon:
- Finance Committee: Michel De Knoop, Sonia Kabir, Michelle Bowen
- Policy Committee: Philip DeCosse, Tracy Koehlmoos, (Ambassador’s Representative)
- Program Committee: Diane Lindsey, Anne Williams, Ingrid Wibom
The Board thanked and bid farewell to the departing Elementary School Principal and Curriculum Coordinator.
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Adjournment
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