CLC BOARD MEETING MINUTES
June 26, 2003
Community and Teachers Attending: Denise Kochersperger, Kosta Dussias,
Mark Toci, Donna Fischer, Linda Bergeman, Julie Danna, David Burns, John Tucker, Dorothy Blair, Heidi Fletcher, Barbara Bliss, Kimberly Cassidy-Miller, Web Miller, Nan Miller,
Elisabeth Tucker.
Kyle Peck called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Pete Swan opened the discussion
Brian Rowan, Secretary of the Board, handed out copies of the previous agendas for May15, 30 and June 5, 2003.
Kyle Peck requested that the attendees read the minutes.
A. Minutes of May 15, 2003 were read.
Kyle Peck motioned to accept the minutes. Brian Rowan alerted the meeting to the typing inaccuracy in the minutes regarding items C and D. The description for item C was repeated for item D. It was clarified that the sentence above the line item C, “Brian suggested asking teachers for input on the timetable for staffing decision.” Should have been under item C. Item D had the correct information.
Kyle Peck motioned to accept the amended minutes for May 15, 2003.
Pete Swan seconded.
No discussion was pursued.
Motion approved.
B. Minutes of May 30, 2003 were read.
Pete Swan motioned that the minutes be accepted.
Brian Rowan seconded.
No discussion ensued.
Minutes for May 30, 2003, approved.
C. Minutes of June 5,2003, were read.
Pete Swan motioned to accept the minutes.
Tom Walker seconded the motion.
No discussion.
Minutes for June 5, 2003 were approved.
Kosta Dassias handed out copies of the 2003-04 Preliminary Budget 98 Student Enrollment. This report showed the projected income and expense for the upcoming school year as well as the past 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and the 2002-2003 projected income and expenses to compare the budget as comparisons to the 2003-2004 projected budget and expense with 98 students. Kyle stated that this is a working budget based on conservative numbers.
Kosta further explained that there was a “one time” capital expenditure that will not be incurred again, the purchase of the School building.
Kosta also reported on the four loans incurred by the school. 1st mortgage, 2nd mortgage and two additional loans, one for computers and one for building renovation. The loan for the computers will be paid in September 2003 and the Building renovation loan will be paid in October of 2004. 2006 will be when the 1st and 2nd mortgages are due. Our equity for these loans is the enrollment of students and the careful caring of our loan balances.
Kosta requested help on the finance committee. He needs help in long term, strategic planning.
Kosta also reported that he has contracted to have an audit of the school’s finances and that will happen sometime this summer.
Kyle Peck motioned that the budget be accepted.
Brian Rowan seconded the motion and the budget was accepted.
No communications were brought forward nor discussed.
A.
Approval of Medical Benefits for Winnie Bolinsky
Kyle Peck and Pete Swan request that Winnie Bolinsky be able to be covered by the Center Learning Community’s Family Medical Benefits plan for the next four months (July, August, September and October). Kyle and Pete will defray the costs for the months of July and August out of their own pockets. Pete feels that the total price of the medical benefit will be $530.00 a month. He suggests that the school picks up $130.00 of the benefits for the first two months and he and Kyle will pay the other $400.00. The school will pay the full amount for the last two months.
Opened to Discussion: Donna asked about the legality of keeping Winnie Bolinsky on the medical plan when she has resigned. Kyle answered that no one at the CLC resigns since they are all bound for only one year at a time, so Winnie’s contract will be over at the end of June. He requests that Winnie be kept on the schoolbooks until October for Family Medical Health Plan purposes. Barb Bliss asked for an explanation of the Family Medical Health Plan. Kyle, with Pete’s help explained that the state of Pennsylvania mandates that every school provide their employees with a health plan to cover them while they are employed. It was then asked by Dorothy, how we can keep supplying the medical benefits for Winnie when she no longer works for the school starting July1, 2003. Pete wasn’t sure how the legalities worked but both he and Kyle want assurance that since Winnie is in poor health and unable to work that the Board keeps Winnie employment in place for four more months with the Family Medical Plan in place. Kosta explained that a precedent has been set with the schools acceptance of the Paternity/Maternity leave. Barb Bliss asked if we have to grant Winnie her extension on her contract. Kyle answered in the affirmative. John Tucker suggested that since Winnie is too ill to work or to apply for work, perhaps granting the medical benefit would be the “human” thing to do.
Pete Motioned and Brian Rowan seconded. The motion was passed and accepted.
B.
Resignation of Winnie Bolinsky
Kyle requested that the Board accept the resignation of Winnie Bolinsky as a member of the CLC School Board.
Pete Swan motioned and Brian Rowan seconded. Winnie’s resignation accepted.
C.
Parent Representative’s Resignation
Kyle motioned that the Board accepts Peter Swan’s resignation.
Brian seconded and the motion was put up for discussion. No Discussion and the motions was voted and accepted.
Kyle Peck announced that the Parents had voted John Tucker as their representative on the CLC School Board and that he wanted to motion that the Board accepts that decision. Brian Rowan seconded and there was a call for discussion. No discussion and John Tucker was accepted as the Parent Representative to the Board.
E.
Resignation of the Parent Representative Alternate
Kyle reported that Janice Ascolese, Parent Representative Alternate requested to resign, and he motioned that the Board accepts the resignation.
Brian seconded and the motion was accepted.
F.
New Parent Representative Alternate Installation
Kyle motioned that in Darlene Fink’s absence that the Board accepts the Parent’s vote that Darlene Fink becomes the Parent Representative Alternate.
Brian Rowan seconded the motion. A call for discussion was issued and there was none. Darlene was accepted as the Alternate Parent Representative.
Kyle announced the proposed resignation of Jalynne Wolslagle, the Teacher Representative to the Board and motioned to accept.
Brian seconded the motion. There was a call for discussion. Kyle requested that it be noted that he has pronounced Wolslagle correctly. There was no discussion so the motion was accepted.
Kyle announced the vote of the teachers’ to install Linda Bergaman to the Board and made a motion to do so. Brian seconded the motion. There was no need for discussion when called, therefore, the motion was accepted.
Kyle announced the intent of Brian Rowan to resign from serving on the Board and motioned the Board to accept. John Tucker seconded. There was a call for discussion. There was no discussion and the vote was to accept the motion.
Kyle Peck announced the vote of the Teachers group to install Julie Danna to the Board and motioned to accept. John seconded the motion. There was a call for discussion, there was none. There was a vote to accept.
Kyle Peck tendered his resignation as Community Representative. Linda Bergeman moved to accept. Julie Danna seconded the motion. There was a call for discussion. There was no discussion. It was voted and the motion to accept carried.
Julie Danna motioned to have Heidi Fletcher installed as the new Community Representative. John Tucker seconded. There was a call for discussion. No discussion ensued. Heidi Fletcher was accepted as the new Community Representative to the Board.
Heidi motioned that John Tucker be installed as Secretary of the Board.
Linda Bergeman seconded and the Board voted to Approve.
Julie Danna motioned to accept Heidi Fletcher as Chairperson. John Tucker seconded the motion. The Board voted and accepted the motions.
Heidi brought forth the discussion that to be an Officer of the Board there was no need to be a Board Member. These were positions that did not vote on the Board but carried out the corporate functions. Heidi motioned that the positions of President, Vice President-Treasurer, and Secretary be handed to other Community Members. John seconded. The motion was passed.
Heidi motioned that Kosta Dassias be elected to be the President of the Corporation. John seconded. After a call for discussion, the Board and Community voted to accept Kosta Dassias as the President of the Corporation.
Heidi motioned that Elisabeth be the Secretary of the Board/Corporation instead of John Tucker. John Tucker seconded. The motion was passed.
Heidi motioned that Barbara Bliss be accepted as the Treasurer of the Corporation. John Seconded. The discussion was that this position would be responsible to make sure that Audits were conducted and the Books kept opened for Board and Community inspection. The motion was passed.
Barb Bliss accepted.
At this point the resigned Board Members exited, except for Pete Swan. The Board and the Community thanked the previous Board for their service.
V.
Information/Discussion Items
A.
Responsibility for Development Proposal
Pete Swan took the floor to explain the new Development Proposal for the land surrounding the CLC since he was involved with the negotiations regarding the proposal with Galen Dreibelbis. The Board and Community expressed appreciation for his help and sharing of knowledge.
Pete informed everyone that when the CLC negotiated to purchase the building from Galen Dreibelbis, Galen was selling the Building and 10 acres for 1.6 million dollars. The CLC negotiated a deal where the building and three acres of land were purchased for 1.1 million dollars. This sale included ownership of half of the parking lot and the legal use of the other part of the parking lot for perpetuity. Galen Dreibelbis retains legal rights to the far side of the parking lot and the ability to use the whole parking lot for perpetuity. Both the CLC and Galen Dreibelbis agreed to the mutual upkeep and use of the parking lot.
Galen Dreibelbis is now ready, evidently with the proceeds from the sale of the church Building to the CLC, to develop the land surrounding the CLC. To build the townhouses he is proposing, Mr. Dreibelbis will need the use of his half of the parking lot for a drainage ditch. This is unacceptable to the School since it will create a hazard for the children as well as taking valuable space needed for Buses to enter, turn, drop-off and pick-up students and exit.
When questioned about the verbal and written agreement to let the CLC use the parking lot, Mr. Dreibelbis explained that he had made an agreement with himself (the self that owned the building and 3 acres and the self that owned the rest of the land) that the use was only until he started to develop the land.
Linda Bergeman asked how hard we want to fight this proposed construction.
Pete indicated that we would probably need to go to court and up to now,
Terry Williams has been acting as the attorney for the school, pro-bono, but since going to court will involve a considerable amount of time and work, we will need funds to pay him. Going to court may not be feasible due to the amount of money needed without a guarantee of a win.
Galen Dreibelbis has notified the school he will be starting to construct soon. It was suggested that although Mr. Dreibelbis feels he owes the school nothing, it be noted that he may be willing to negotiate with the school if the representatives of the school meet with him immediately.
A committee was formed with Kosta Dassias (who has the agreement of sales for the school), Tom Walker and David Burns (who have expertise in construction), Barbara Bliss (who will be checking into legalities with Ferguson Township), and John Tucker as Chairperson of this Building Development Committee as the Board Member responsible to the Board.
This entire committee will be contacting Mr. Dreibelbis to discuss what we feel his responsibility is to the school:
Maintain safe and easy access for buses
Regrade and reseed the land in front the School and along College Avenue (this land originally had been a drainage area).
Appropriate fencing completely around the new grassy play area continuing along the back facing the new construction, continuing
along the shortened parking lot (to protect children from cars from the Highway, newly constructed housing and a drainage ditch),
A sidewalk along College Avenue for the safety of the children walking way from the school in case of a fire.
Township need to requested to give easement rights to CLC for perpetuity.
Heidi motioned that no action be taken until the committee has had a chance to research and meet and this discussion tabled until that time.
Julie seconded the motion.
Heidi opened discussion regarding models of the Board that have been discussed previously (Elisabeth handed information on the two discussed models). Heidi then proceeded to explain the handouts. One was a common model of both a profit and non-profit corporation’s Board where committees and CAO report back to the Board on how the corporation is running with the Board being an Oversight entity. The other Model included that the Teachers’ would have vetoing power over the Board.
Dorothy has research the Friends School model and brought the research to this meeting. She cited that the Board needs to be made up of at least 11 to 13 members. She will email her findings to Denise Kochersperger. Dorothy stated that we should err on the size by having more members than less to give a broader level of expertise and decision making information,
Denise Kochersperger also has researched the Mount Nittany School’s Board model and gave her report. They too have a larger Board but the Board is made up totally of Parents.
Heidi motioned to delay voting on an expanded Board until fall-a time to be determined- when more people will be able to participate. John seconded.
It was motioned to extend this discussion to a Special Meeting of the Board
where the Building Development Committee will also bring their information for
discussion by Heidi Fletcher. John Tucker seconded.
C.
Staffing for Next Year
Kosta stated that in his budget, he has placed four classrooms, four lead teachers and four assistant teachers. The discussion ensued stating that teachers must be in place if there is to be any ability to recruit effectively and also that this is the time that teachers are interviewing. Further discussion revealed that all teachers would not have a contract at the end of June. There was a question as to whether it was feasible to extend a contact to all teachers from last year. It was then stated that Jalynn Wolslagle, Brian Rowan, Pat Zimmerman and Jonathan Cohen have tendered their resignations.
It was motioned that Donna Fischer, Lynn Mona, Julie Danna, Mark Toci, Denise Kochersperger and Kelly Kennedy’s contracts be renewed with negotiations for salary to be conducted. Also the motion included the rehiring of Tammy Benz as School Secretary, Kosta Dassias as Business Manager and Jean, Linda Bergeman and Maggie Getz are rehired as Specials Teachers. All salaries are to be reviewed and negotiated if necessary. Heidi Fletcher put this motion forth and John Tucker seconded. The motion was accepted.
A new motion was put forth by Julie Danna that a Hiring Committee of Mark Toci and Donna Fischer (expertise on the value of a teachers’ abilities),
Kosta Dassias (expertise in how much the school can afford to pay for services), Web Miller (asked as a person with expertise in hiring and negotiating and a person with no vested interest in the amount of salary extended). John Tucker agreed and seconded. Unanimously accepted.
Heidi Fletcher proposed that we hold a Special Board Meeting next Wednesday, July 2, 2003, for the purpose of Discussion on several items:
1. The information from the Building Development Board.
2. Composition/Expansion of the Board.
3. Establish Committees
Julie Danna seconded the motion. Motion accepted.
Heidi Fletcher also proposed and motioned that there be an Executive Session of the Board on Personnel to Wednesday, July 2, 2003, after the regular session of the Board. John Tucker seconded and the motion was accepted.
Heidi Fletcher, Chairperson of the Board, asked if there was any other new business to be discussed. None was brought forward. At 9:50 p.m. the Chairperson adjourned this session of the Board.