Galapagos Rockford Charter School-Board Minutes
February 17, 2015
Meeting was called to order at 6:05pm
Board Members Present: Dr. Jon Lippitz, Stephanie Bartell, Joshua Binning, Michael Lane
Ann Thompson-Kelly (absent)
Location:
2605 School St.
Rockford, IL









Public Comment
o No public comment requested.
Review of the previous minutes
o Minutes from December 2014 were Approved
Academics- Rebecca Denzer, Director of Academics, provided an overview on assessments
o Assessments given through state testing and other testing
Culture- Hannah Olson, Dean of School Culture, provided an overview on the Northwestern
program
 Lippitz-Next meeting let us know what ballpark of money
o Hannah and Jamie work on Budget to Board
 Binning-is this something all Rockford schools do?
o Galapagos is the only school who purposefully and consistently
sends scholars to NU in Rockford.
Culture- Mary O’Brien Combs, Director of Academics UA, provided a summary of the Friendship
game (Chicago came to Rockford this year)
Parent Relations, Nikole Laskov, Director of Academics, overview of Food for Thought
o Purpose is to bring parents in around important topics relavent to success of their
scholars.
o Lane-are we doing anything to get feedback?
 We have not yet done a formal exit ticket. We have gotten feedback via e-mail
and those parents have come each time.
 Could get parents involved in picking some topics in the future.
Operations- Jamie Henke, Director of Operations, Overview on food programming
o Healthy, Organic, Local Food, No Junk Food Policy-including scholars who bring their
own lunch, Parent Involvement with Gourmet Gorilla, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Wellness Policy (Wellness Committee) meets once a year to review the wellness policy and
advise the CEO and board to potentially make changes.
Renovation Project at 2605 School and 3051 Rotary Rd.
o
o
o
o
o
o
Own both pro2015perties in Rockford-major renovations
 AC
 Exterior Window Systems-energy saving, more comfortable
 Major plumbing project-LA
 Smaller-parking lot repair, minor electrical, improving gymnasium floor
Initial quote was $4.1 mil for both projects
 Been working with GC and advisor Michael Sexton to look at ways we can value
engineer the project.
 Largest cost-windows and AC systems
 Need to Reduce AC costs
 Originally around 2 mil-now to about 1 mil
o Local contractor in Rockford-working with GC to also bringing in
separate contractor to work with GC
 Have applied for 2 separate loans for LA and UA Overview of full assumptions of loans and projects shown to board.
 Find out on 2/18/2015 if Loan approved internally-then goes to external board
 15 yr term-5.5%-20,000/m
 Could cut $250,000 if we only chose to do one wing of the LA
Lippitz-how are our financials to do the $20,000/m
 IFF is confident that we can pay it off based on budgeting-higher level
enrollment-340-350 scholars. We have the space capacity.
 Challenge-no more adding of grade levels-recruitment challenge
Bartell-what are the consequences if we do not hit enrollment goals
 First couple of years-no impact
 If sustained over 5, 6, 7 years-we would have to make cuts
Bartell-how much of the project is necessary vs cosmetic
 Not emergency, but not consmetic, plumbing at LA is the most pressing
 Window system/AC is not cosmetic-ability to compete vs other public schoolsRPS was able to get new window systems/AC-structural integrity-bowing of
windows and frames-larger costs in long run
 Could wait on some parts of window system
 Could not include AC-but puts us at a disadvantage to compete
 Gym floor-asbestos mastic underneath, tile starting to crumble
o Encapsulate would save money
o Looking into athletic flooring system
Bartell-clarify parking lot
 Resurfacing at UA
 Parking lot at LA-not owned-lease for next 14 months
 May have to build own parking lot 120,000-140,000 to build
o Do have separate building reserve at $80,000 if we need to
build to do the parking lot.
o



Bartell-how will the project effect operations
 Tight, discussed with GC deadlines (Aug 15 fully complete-liquidated damages
after)
o Bartell-will it impact school starting
 If so, the GC would pay us damages for that
 Have worked on a similar project that was larger and was finished.
 Challenge will be 2 sites at once.
o Lippitz-would we consider doing UA or LA this year, and other next year?
 Economy of scale using the same GC-cost savings
o Cost of labor will go up a year from now, cost of materials will go upo Open vote to board to give the go ahead on the project, stop, or re-assess the project.
Time sensitive-12-14 week advance on window ordering
 Lippitz-motion to accept, Binning second 3-0 vote in favor Lippitz, Bartell,
Binning- Lane abstained.
Financial update- Michael Lane
-Review Financials
 Budget to Actuals-total income through this point is close to our budgeted.
 Also included Balance Sheet for review-Update on RPS payments
 Did owe us over $100,000 from FY 2014 and FY 2013-they have paid us most of
that late.
o Made payment in January-typically get payment 6-12 months late
GRCS submitted an Investment Policy for initial conversation (Board will discuss in more detail in
May)
o Money in reserve are earning less than 1% due to inflation
o Board look into an investment policy-take portion of money to invest in higher yield
vehicles-proposed to be managed by Lane
o Bartell-how often will the board be updated?
 Quarterly update, could be more frequent reports to the board
 Look into different protection and framework
 Lippitz-would at that at anytime if the board votes to resend the power of
investment, that they can as a check and balance.
o Lippitz-would there be an investment firm to make decision for us?
 Could always go to that-would have a fee structure
Other Board Concerns
o NA
Galapagos Rockford Charter School is dedicated to preparing scholars to be responsible, productive, college-educated adults
capable of adapting and prospering in the changing global economy.
Core Values of Galapagos
Grit
Drive
Growth Mindset
Next Board Meeting:
Tuesday, May 19th
Location: 3051 Rotary Rd.- Upper Academy
Time 6:00pm