APPROVED 06-02-2025

Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee Meeting (Monday, October 21, 2024)

Generated by Nikkol Sipes on Tuesday, October 22, 2024

1. Charter School Oversight Committee

A. Call to Order

Ms. Truesdell called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

B. Roll Call

Members Present: Patti Truesdell, Chair, Tim Daugharty, Kari Dendurent, Assistant Superintendent, John DeVolld, Administrator, Soldotna Montessori, Cody McCanna, Administrator, Aurora Borealis, Eric Waltenbaugh, Administrator, West Homer Elementary (attended virtually), Austin Stevenson, Administrator, Soldotna Elementary, Dawn Grimm, Administrator, Kaleidoscope (joined the meeting at 9:18 a.m.), Liz Hayes, Executive Director of Finance
Members absent: Kyle Darbonne, Administrator, Fireweed Academy
Others Board members present: Penny Vadla, Kelley Cizek, Dianne MacRae, Zen Kelly (attended virtually)

C. Approval of Agenda

The October 21, 2024 Charter School Oversight Committee meeting agenda was approved as presented.

D. Approval of Notes 10-14-2024

The October 14, 2024 Charter School Oversight Committee meeting notes were approved as presented.

2. New Business

A. Aurora Borealis Charter School Renewal Application

Ms. Dendurent read the purpose of the Charter School Oversight Committee throughout the application process. She also identified areas in the renewal application that the committee requested further information and clarifications. Mr. Cody McCanna introduced the Aurora Borealis APC members presenting with him which included Daniel Mahr, Chair, Jamie Miller, Vice Chair, and Darren Henry, member. Mr. McCanna and the APC members present spoke to the Aurora Borealis Charter School Renewal application and addressed comments made by committee members during the October 14, 2024 committee meeting. Mr. Mahr posed a question regarding special education funding. Ms. Hayes spoke to this funding for ABC. Mr. Mar addressed lunch not being provided at ABC. As well as addressed the transportation for ABC and included out of bussing area students. Ms. Miller spoke to low income families and curriculum within ABC. Mr. Henry spoke to personal experiences of IEPs in ABC. Mr. Mahr presented ABC's Annual Review Forms submitted within the last two school years. Mr. McCanna spoke to the ABC parent student handbook and placement procedures and some updates made. Ms. Dendurent posed clarifying questions in regards to changes and revisions within the application being brought forward. Ms. Truesdell spoke to the October 14 meeting and committee intentions. Mr. Holland spoke to the renewal application. Ms. Morgan addressed her questions from the October 14 meeting and her intentions. The committee unanimously approved the ABC renewal application be placed on the November 4, 2024 work session to be reviewed by the full board. Mr. Daugharty spoke to the importance of school funding that supports student success, including parent engagement, and truancy.
Ms. Truesdell called a recess until 10:30 a.m.

B. Tułen Charter School Application *REVISED

Mr. Kyle McFall provided the committee with the revised initial Tułen Charter School application and additional supporting documents. Ms. Dendurent commented on conversations that she has had with Finance, Human Resources, Transportation, and Elementary Education regarding staffing, budget, transportation/nutrition, and curriculum within the application. She also recommended that the application be moved forward to the work session. Ms. Grimm posed a question regarding start end times, and hours intended to be provided in a school day. Mr. McFall and Mr. Lyon spoke the transportation piece. Ms. Dendurent spoke to the hours in the school day. Mr. McCanna read the state statute regarding minutes required in a day for instructional time. Ms. Dendurent spoke to staffing positions and MOAs between Kenatize and potential Charter. Ms. Grimm appreciated the clarification regarding MOAs within schools as opposed to hiring union employees. Ms. Dendurent noted that they would do further research in this regard. Mr. Stevenson declared a conflict of interest prior to the committee's recommendation.
Ms. Truesdell ruled Mr. Stevenson has a conflict of interest with no objections from the committee. The committee unanimously moved the Tulen charter school application be placed on the November 4, 2024 work session for the review of the full Board.

3. Adjourn

Ms. Truesdell adjourned the meeting at 11:01 a.m.