Regular Meeting

Odyssey Charter School
6201 Noble Ave. N
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

December 19, 2007 6:00 PM

Odyssey Board Mission:
The purpose of the Board, on behalf of Odyssey Charter School membership, is to create sustainable conditions in which Odyssey Charter School achieves desired results for students, parents and staff in a financially responsible manner.

Members in attendance: Mike Auld, Tim Hedberg, John Sedey, Steve Skramstad, Rochelle Gredvig, Kari Mitchell, Adam Conn, Heather Wincek. Ken Wright attended as an ex-officio member. Lorrie Semmelink, business manager; Jeoffrey Reed, Dean of Students; Jalene Rosengren, grade 4-5 teacher; Jackie Huegel, auditor

  1. Call to order and roll call at 6:07 p.m.
  2. Additions to agenda: VII.B.i;VIII.C;VIII.D
  3. Sedey motion and Hedberg second to accept agenda. With the following additions: 6.2 changed to 6.3. Motion passed.
  4. Hedberg motion and Conn second to accept minutes from November meeting with the following amendments: Spelling correction from Vice Char to Vice Chair; Arena is not leaving altogether, they are moving most of their program but will be retaining some space in the Orchard Lane building. Motion passed.
  5. Community Comment: None
  6. Presentations and special reports
    1. Auditor Jackie     presented the audit report from the 2006-2007 school year. She reported deficiencies in the areas of segregation of duties, preparation financial statements and budgeting. Sedey motion and Hedberg second to accept audit as presented by Jackie Huegel from MMKR. Motion passed.
    2. Jalene Rosengren, grade 4-5 teacher and DAC, presented recommendations from the Lead Team regarding data for annual goal setting. There was discussion about including or excluding data from special education students, and the suggestion was made that testing data from special education students be broken out versus included in the general data. The Lead Team recommends the continuation of the goals as they stand, with the possible exception of the math goal, which they suggest perhaps should be lowered with the hope that it may become a goal that is attainable this school year.
    3. Ken Wright     presented the directors report and the metrics for the month of November. Wright also presented a draft of an organizational chart for Odyssey. Hedberg asked if the Accelerated Transition Program (ATP) should be included in the draft. Wright added that perhaps OSBO could be included as well.
  7. Old business
    1. Pledge of Allegiance     Sedey motion and Hedberg second to accept the Pledge of Allegiance with the following amendment: correct the capitalization of pledge of allegiance in I, and pledge in IV. Motion passed.
    2. Accelerated Transition Program     Conn asked Auld if there had been any more community comment about the program. Auld reported there had been only positive feedback about the program. There was discussion about hoping to increase enrollment to 162 after break in the hopes of not having to cut staff. Hedberg asked Alfred if he could guarantee that students will come if Odyssey moves forward with the ATP. Alfred stated he could not guarantee numbers, and asserted that marketing was the key to getting students to come. Hedberg motion and Sedey second to move forward with the ATP as outlined in the document titled “Project Planning and Monitoring Form” prepared by Ken Wright. Friendly amendment by Conn that the board authorizes the expenditure of up to $5,000 before the January board meeting with the proviso that benchmarks are presented at the January meeting. Motion passed. Discussion about the motion included Skramstad reiterating his support of the program and Wright advising the board that they need to move ahead with confidence if the program is to be successfully marketed.
  8. Committee Reports
    8.1 Community Action Committee      Mike Auld reported that project night and chili cook off were discussed. The benefit for the Thomas family was also discussed. The next event is the winter Carnival on February 8. All efforts of this committee will be focused on making this event a success. Ken Wright added that he had discussed with CAC a software system that will allow up to 25 community members to have input during the budgeting process.
    8.2 School Improvement Team/Lead Team      This team was represented by Jalene Rosengren when she presented the team’s recommendations for annual goals.
    8.3 Recruitment and marketing was discussed under agenda item 11.2.
    8.4 Sedey reported for the finance committee.     He reported the fund balance is projected to be $128,000. This amount does account for the expected decrease in special education revenue. It does not account for the decrease in enrollment the school is experiencing this school year; the budget was based on 170 students and there are currently 159 enrolled. Fluctuating enrollment was discussed, and it was decided that the desired number of enrolled students at this time is 163-165. Hedberg calls for cautious optimism.
  9. Consent Agenda
    1. Payment of bills, including payroll. Motion by Conn second by Wincek to accept consent agenda. Motion passed.
  10. New Contracts     None
  11. New Business
    11.1 Authorization to Recruit and Contract for Accelerated Transition Program.      There was discussion about marketing the whole Odyssey program versus marketing only the ATP. There was discussion about the hiring of recruiter, and it was determined that this position would be a consultant position rather than a staff position. Wright would like up to $5,000 to engage a consultant. The money will be spent contingent upon consultant meeting benchmarks. Hedberg expressed his concern that perhaps all options weren’t being considered with regard to the recruiting position and with regard to marketing. Hedberg urged Wright to use due diligence as he proceeds with engaging a consultant for the ATP. Conn motion and Sedey second to table discussion of 11.1 until after discussion of agenda items up through 11.7. Motion passed.
    11.2 Northport Elementary closing     There was discussion about Northport Elementary closing at the end of this school year. There are 443 students enrolled at Northport. Marketing approaches were discussed, and it was decided that a soft approach would be best. Sedey stated he was concerned about an aggressive approach to marketing at this time would seem predatory, particularly if we were to market for this school year. It was suggested that $1,200 be used by the Ambassador Team to begin marketing in the Northport attendance area.
    11.3 The sense of the board was that Odyssey should stay K-8 at this time. The discussion was tables until further notice.
    11.4 The parent survey reflected a desire I the community for the school to move toward K-12.
    11.5 Conn motion and Wincek second to designate Park Midway Bank, 2300 Como Ave , St. Paul, MN 55108 as the official depository for Odyssey Charter School for savings and checking accounts and for the establishment of an appropriate line of credit. Motion passed.
    11.6 Board meetings will be moved to the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
    11.7 The board will use the same form as the staff for the semiannual evaluation of the director.
    11.1 Ken Wright clarified that this position is the same position referred to in agenda item 7.2.
  12. Update on board work session The group did not meet.
  13. Auld motion and Conn second to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m.