CLC Board Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2001
Attending: Lauri Perman, Kosta Dussias, Dan Klees, Ann Bolser,Katy Cleary, Lynn Parker Klees, Liz Kisenwether, Theresa Shay,Michael Shay, Mark J. Toci, Jalynn Woleslagle, Mary Jo Hogan (MJ),Glenn Johnson
I. Approval of the minutes. Minutes of the August 23, 2001,board meeting were approved.
II. CAO Report (5 min.)
Glenn Johnson reported that there are 64 new children in theschool, new teachers and a new building. The first weeks of theschool year have been devoted to absorbing this newness andidentifying next steps and challenges to be solved.
Glenn's focus over the next few weeks will be looking at waysto support teachers -- including hiring a counselor. Anotherpriority is providing support to children and teachers in the area ofspecial education and supervision (which would help provide some"preparation breaks" for teachers. Finally, the increased size ofthe school, especially with so many new families, increases thenumber of phone calls and other requests on the school'sadministrative staff.
Update on facilities: As soon as the Department of Labor andIndustry approves the grab bars in the bathrooms, the school willreceive a permanent certificate of occupancy.
Mark is recovering well from an emergency appendectomy butmissed a week of school.
III. Budget Update
A. Review of the real estate transaction / closing on newfacility .
The school closed on the school property on September 13,2001.
An unexpected event at the closing was learning that thebank rather than Ferguson Township would hold title on theschool. This was not an absolute increase in costs butsimply a cost that the CLC did not expect to pay at thispoint in time. Because the closing took place later thanoriginally planned, the CLC paid rent on the school facilitybut didn't have budgeted mortgage payments to make. In fact,this change was to CLC's financial advantage. The CLC CAO expressed gratitude to Galen Dreibelbis for his willingnessto permit the school to move in and begin renovations beforethe closing while paying modest rent.
B. Review of the Budget to date - school year 2001 - 2002
Ann Bolser presented a revised budget based on newinformation since the previous budget was approved. ThePennsylvania Department of Education requires a more detailed versionof expenses than the CLC has needed to do in the past. Futurebudgets will reflect some new formatting and detail. Somehighlights of changes in the revised income and expense statement: The school made $3500 by selling church pews. Brad Slonaker, mathspecialist, is curtailing his hours and will principally be servingas a CLC volunteer over the next year, which results in some salarysavings. The auditor found that CLC needs to reimburse SCASD $15,000in funds that were overpaid in the 99-00 school year.
The Personnel Committee was asked to develop a policy governingwhich personnel appointment require Board approval. The FinanceCommittee was asked to make a recommendation to the Board to budget apercentage (e.g. 97%) of the projected income in order to allow forpossible student attrition over the course of the next year. TheFinance Committee was asked to ask how the income and expensestatements should reflect the grants the school has received.
A question arose about how the CLC's current monthly mortgagecompares to last year's monthly rent payment. Although Ann reportedthat the mortgage was less than the previous rent payment, materialsdistributed to the Board in advance of the meeting indicated that themortgage cost approximately $200/month more than last year's rent. Ann Bolser and Glenn Johnson promised to look into this and reportback to the next Board meeting.
C. Enrollment & Revenue Update
This chart shows that expected income from studentenrollment
is currently ahead of budgeted income. Given the $15,000 that theschool needs to repay SCASD, this projected income surplus isapproximately $5,064 at this time.
IV. Old Business
A. Review of Insurance Coverage
The CLC is in the last year of a multi-year contract withFrost & Conn, Inc. Ann Bolser will comparatively evaluate otherinsurance companies in the spring. Ann presented a summary chart ofthe CLC's proposed insurance coverage. The Board unanimouslyapproved the coverage as proposed.
Update of the State Audit (10 min.)
The auditor has requested a meeting with a Board member forOctober 15. The auditor will make a finding against the CLC thatSCASD overpaid the CLC $15,000 in 99-00. (This was based on amistake made by SCASD that the CLC did not detect.) The auditor spentfour weeks at the CLC but did not visit a classroom.
V. New Business
A. Board Committees on Finance and Personnel Policy
1. The CAO proposed the establishment of a FinanceCommittee to be
composed of Paul Fischer, Kosta Dussias, Lesa Yeager, AnnBolser, Glenn Johnson, and MJ Hogan.
2, The goals of this committee are to:
1) Review the general accounting practices used at CLC
2) Review the recent real estate transaction
3) Review the financial status of the CLC on a regular basis
4) Develop a 3 - 5 financial plan for the CLC
5) Make recommendations to the CLC Board in any of these areas(i.e., checks & balances, needs, etc.)
3. The Board approved the establishment of the FinanceCommittee with the proposed goals.
4. The CAO proposed the establishment of a Personnel PolicyCommittee to be composed of: Phil Carlin, Cynthia Beazell Krchnavy,Ann Bolser, MJ Hogan, and Glenn Johnson.
5. The goals of this committee are to:
1) Review the general policies already in place at CLC.
2) Identify areas where policy is needed or required.
3) Draft policies for these areas for recommendation to staff andthe board.
4) Make other recommendations to the CLC Board as needed.
6. The Board approved the establishmnent of the PersonnelPolicy Committee with the request that the committee be sensitive tothe mission and culture of the school.
B. The Board approved hiring Kim Rimney at up to
7/hrs week at $40/hr. for the remainder of the school yearprovided that the Finance Committee determines that sufficient fundsexist to permit this.
C. Topics for future Board meeetings
1. Lack of student rep
2. Discuss what topics should be discussed at ParentMeetings,
Community Advisory Council meetings, vs. Role of Board meetings
3. Clerical support
4. Administrative team job descriptions
5. Summer use of the building (possible profits to bederived)
6. Special Education & IEPs
7. Scheduling of Board meetings
VI. Authorization of payment of the bills
The Board authorized payment of the bills.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.