Draft of June 17, 2013
MINUTES OF A MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
UNITY PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL OF BROOKLYN
HELD: June 6, 2013
A meeting of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Unity Preparatory Charter School of
Brooklyn (the “School”), was held on June 6, 2013 commencing at 7 p.m., New York time.
Notice of the meeting was duly given to all Trustees, was posted on the School’s website and
was sent to the New York Times, the New York Daily News and the Brooklyn Daily. Four
Trustees were present at the beginning of the meeting, representing a quorum.
The following Trustees were present at the New York City Charter School Center, 111
Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY 10006:
Kabir Ahuja
Marion Leydier
Richard Pollack
The following Trustee was present at 245 Bent Street, Office 210, Cambridge, MA 02139
and was linked by videoconference:
Caleb Hurst-Hiller
The following Trustees joined the meeting at the New York City Charter School Center,
111 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY 10006, while in progress (and voted on those
resolutions where specifically indicated):
Franklin Amoo
Ashley Cotton
Also in attendance at the invitation of the Board were Joshua Beauregard, Heather
Blumberg, Jeannette Braun, Casey Burns, Eric Gonzalez and Hemanth Venkataraman.
In addition, at the invitation of the Board, the following members of the Junior Board
were present: Himani Goyal, Michael Brown, Sal Siddiqui and Sindhu Pillai.
Mr. Pollack called the meeting to order and indicated that the purpose of the meeting was
to consider the items set forth on the agenda previously distributed to the Trustees.
Minutes of Prior Meeting
The Trustees discussed and considered approval of the minutes of the May 2, 2013
meeting of the Board that were previously circulated to the Trustees. Following such discussion,
the Trustees present unanimously adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the May 2, 2013 meeting of the Board be, and hereby
are, approved.
SC1:3449391.2
Initial Statement
Mr. Beauregard introduced the School’s Initial Statement to the Board. Mr. Pollack
indicated that the Audit and Finance Committee had reviewed the Initial Statement and
recommended that the Board approve it. Following discussion, the Trustees present
unanimously adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that School’s Initial Statement be, and hereby is, approved.
2013-2014 Board Calendar
Mr. Pollack and Mr. Beauregard presented the proposed Board meeting calendar for the
2013-2014 year to the Board. Following discussion, the Trustees present then unanimously
adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board meeting calendar for the 2013-2014 year be, and hereby is,
approved.
2013-2014 Year One Budget and Cash Flows
Mr. Beauregard and Mr. Ahuja then presented the updated 2013-2014 Year One Budget
and Cash Flows. Mr. Ahuja summarized the changes in the budget and cash flows from the prior
version presented to the Board and indicated that the Audit and Finance Committee had reviewed
the budget and cash flows and recommended that they be approved by the Board. Mr. Pollack
and Ms. Leydier then noted that there were still a few items in the budget that were being further
refined (including, in particular, with respect to employee benefits), but that such process could
continue once the budget is approved. Mr. Beauregard, Mr. Ahuja and Mr. Venkataraman
responded to questions regarding the budget and cash flows. Following discussion, the Trustees
present then unanimously adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the 2013-2014 Year One Budget and Cash Flows be, and hereby is,
approved.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy
Mr. Beauregard and Mr. Gonzalez then presented the draft of the School’s Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy. Mr. Pollack indicated he had previously
sent Mr. Gonzalez comments on the policy, which Mr. Gonzalez indicated he was reflecting.
Ms. Leydier asked Mr. Gonzalez to verify that the policy is fully consistent with the School’s
FOIL policy. Following discussion, the Trustees present then unanimously adopted the
following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy, with
such changes as Mr. Gonzalez makes to it in respect of comments received from the Trustees, be,
and hereby is, approved.
Department of Youth and Community Development Grant
Mr. Beauregard and Mr. Gonzalez then discussed the School’s pending application for a
New York City Department of Youth and Community Development Grant and indicated that
Board approval is required in order to proceed with the grant. Mr. Gonzalez responded to
-2SC1:3449391.2
Trustees’ questions regarding the terms of the grant. Following discussion, the Trustees present
then unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees does hereby authorize and direct Mr. Beauregard
and Mr. Gonzalez to sign contracts and other documents relating to the New York City
Department of Youth and Community Development Grant and amendments to such contracts
and other documents on behalf of Unity Preparatory Chart School of Brooklyn; and
RESOLVED, that Mr. Pollack be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to provide a
certified excerpt of the foregoing resolution regarding the New York City Department of Youth
and Community Development Grant in connection with the application for the grant and to
execute a signature affidavit and take such other actions as are necessary or desirable to reflect
the foregoing Board approval regarding the New York City Department of Youth and
Community Development Grant.
Certain of Out of Pocket Expenses of Mr. Bea uregard
Mr. Beauregard and Mr. Pollack then indicated that Mr. Beauregard had incurred out-ofpocket expenses on behalf of the School. Such expenses had not been pre-approved in the
manner contemplated in the FPP manual. Mr. Beauregard responded to Trustees’ questions
regarding the nature and amount of the expenses. Following discussion, the Trustees present
(which then also included Franklin Amoo) then unanimously adopted the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby delegates to Mr. Pollack authority to
review and, if he deems appropriate in his discretion, to approve on behalf of the Board the
previously incurred out-of-pocket expenses of Mr. Beauregard incurred on behalf of the School
and, with respect to any such expenses approved by Mr. Pollack on behalf of the Board, directs
Mr. Pollack to instruct officers of the School with check signing authority (other than Mr.
Beauregard) to issue a reimbursement check to Mr. Beauregard in the amount of the approved
reimbursements.
Board and Junior Board Communication and Collaboration
Mr. Amoo, Mr. Venkataraman and Mr. Pollack then discussed communications and
collaboration with the Junior Board. Members of the Junior Board present commented and made
suggestions as to how to approach communications and on organization of the Junior Board’s
efforts.
Board Updates
Mr. Beauregard, Ms. Blumberg and Mr. Ahuja then provided an update on the School’s
pre-opening financial performance.
Mr. Amoo and Mr. Beauregard then discussed the work of the Development Task Force.
Mr. Amoo suggested that the Board consider retaining a development consultant. Ms. Leydier
and Ms. Cotton indicated that they would participate in meetings with potential consultants that
Mr. Amoo would set up. Once such meetings have taken place, Mr. Amoo, Ms. Leydier and Ms.
Cotton indicated that they will revert to the Board and the School leadership to discuss such
options and to discuss other potential approaches to seeking grants and charitable contributions
generally.
-3SC1:3449391.2
Mr. Beauregard then summarized for the Board discussions with Civic Builders regarding
a facility for the School’s high school. Following discussion, the Board requested Mr.
Beauregard to set up additional meetings (including with a not-for-profit developer, a private
developer and a representative of the Brooklyn Archdiocese) to explore additional options.
Mr. Beauregard and Mr. Venkataraman then provided an update on hiring teachers and
staff and responded to Trustees’ questions.
Mr. Beauregard then provided an update on outstanding grant applications and responded
to Trustees’ questions.
Mr. Gonzalez then provided an update on enrollment and responded to Trustees’
questions.
Mr. Beauregard and Mr. Venkataraman then provided an update on the status of
discussions with several community organizations and responded to Trustees’ questions.
Mr. Pollack and Mr. Beauregard discussed agenda items for the Board’s July meeting.
Mr. Pollack noted that the Board would stand for reelection at the upcoming meeting and invited
all Trustees to contact him if they are interested in a position as a Board officer.
Junior Board
At the request of Mr. Pollack, all Trustees and Junior Board members then introduced
themselves and described their professional backgrounds. Members of the Junior Board were
then invited to provide comments and ask questions. The Trustees and School leadership
responded to questions, including regarding the budget and fundraising goals of the School.
Other Matters
There being no further business to come before the Board, upon motion duly made and
seconded, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:55 p.m., New York time.
__________________________
Richard A. Pollack
Chairman
-4SC1:3449391.2