AGENDA
OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
The Learning Excellence Foundation of East Broward, Inc.
D/B/A
IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL AT NORTH LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY
August 25, 2014
6:00 pm
Located in Room 201
1. Call to Order – Roll Call
The Governing Board Meeting for the Learning Excellence of East Broward County, Inc. was called to
order at 6:20 pm by Ms. Melvern Atencio. Ms. Joyce Ferguson, Ms. Evelyn Graves, and Ms. Julie
Klahr, Board Attorney were present. Ms. Rena-Rae Kaufman was not present.
2. Notice of Public Meeting
The meeting was properly and publicly noticed. The meeting was announced via Parent Link, morning
school announcements, a banner was displayed on the front gate, and an agenda was posted outside the
office.
3. Executive Summary
Academic Growth
Imagine North Lauderdale earned a B school grade. The school also remained off of the state’s lowest
300 schools in reading. There was a teacher task force that helped make the decision to decrease the
instructional day to retain staff.
This year the school is employing several unique instructional models. In second and third grade, there
are cluster teachers to help with the achievement gap between the grades. Each child has two teachers,
one for English/Language Arts and one for Math, Science, and Social Studies. Additionally, each
teacher teaches one section of reading or math for both 2nd and 3rd grade students. There are four cluster
models in 2nd and 3rd grade. There are two 1st grade co-teach models and one 4th grade co-teach model.
5th grade continues to departmentalize.
The staff attended the Imagine mini forum and Imagine North Lauderdale won the Academic Growth
runner-up award for the national group of Imagine schools, based on SAT-10 scores.
The staff also attended 2.5 trade days. Ms. Erin Kelly and Ms. Ashley Sweeton attended and facilitated
two of the sessions. Teachers then participated in five days of preplanning onsite.
Imagine’s National Literacy Focus has a 3 year plan to prioritize various literacy initiatives that the
school is responsible for implementing. This semester’s focus is objective setting and providing
feedback.
Shared Values
This year, Imagine celebrates its tenth anniversary. The theme for the year is The Power of 10. All
Imagine campuses are focused on celebrating the achievement of the schools. Imagine’s Academic
Excellence Framework outlines the roles for governing board members, which include informing and
advising stakeholders to ensure a culture of positive character development and academic growth is
evident.
Positive Character Development
The Character Development self reflection for the previous year was given at the last meeting. The
national team gave feedback and agreed that the Positive Character Development grade raised from B+
to A-. The school continues to strive to improve in order to continue to improve the culture.
Ms. Garren was a decision maker as she wanted to find a way to bring more positivity to campus and to
help students resolve conflicts. She attended a Responsive Classroom conference and developed PD for
staff. Each week she compiles weekly scope and sequence calendars for teachers to use in their morning
meetings.
The school is also implementing a program called Student Success Skills (SSS). With the suggestion of
Ms. Atencio, the school partnered with FAU professor Dr. Rios during the process of the 21st century
grant application. Dr. Rios connected the school with Dr. Brigman, a professor who helped develop
SSS, a research-based character program. Students who master these character traits perform better in
school and on assessments. The research was used in the grant application. Ms. Mary Lord, the schoolwide enrichment coordinator, is rolling out SSS to entire school
Parent Satisfaction
The school held the annual Title I Meet and Greet on August 15, 2014. Parents and community partners
came to the school. Community partners set up tables, while parents and students toured classrooms and
met teachers. Ms. Jai Matthews worked every Saturday to host open houses for families that wanted to
come in to tour. These events helped grow the school’s enrollment.
Next Thursday is Title I Annual Meeting and Open House. Additionally, Monday, September 8, will be
the first Breakfast with the Principal. During these meetings, the Parent Advisory Council will give
input into Imagine North Lauderdale’s School Improvement Plan goals and initiatives.
School Development
The Broward County School Board approved the 21st Century grant application. The school is waiting
to hear which schools will be awarded the grant. In the application, $255,000 was requested per year for
five consecutive years. If it is received, the grant will fund tutoring after school, Saturdays, summer
academic enrichment programs. Enrollment will be limited to 100 students. Imagine North Lauderdale
is the only charter school that applied in Broward County. The grant application outlines a very
research-based and structured program. During the grant writing process, Ms. Mary Lord worked to
secure community partnerships for the school. She continues to build upon these partnerships.
The school opened a Pre-K room for a staff daycare. Currently there are three staff members’ kids
enrolled in the program. The school is in the process of completing the Family Central Application
which will allow the program to accept children who benefit from Family Central services. The
daycare’s current capacity is ten kids. It is an investment in our school and also supports one of
Superintendent Runcie’s priorities of bringing early childhood education to schools. The teacher is
bilingual and teaches one hour of Spanish daily.
An outside company, After School Providers (ASP), took over aftercare for the school. Additionally,
the school switched caterers. SLA now provides hot food and also provided the equipment needed to
cook onsite. The students are pleased with the meals because they get a choice of meals. The decision
was decided by a rubric and was approved through the Department of Agriculture.
Economic Sustainability
At this time, the school is slightly over the budgeted enrollment of 514 students. Currently, there are
518 students enrolled. Last year the school had 430 students at this time. At the end of year, 465
students were enrolled. At the end of last school year, the school administered a survey to parents to
assess the impact of a shortened day. Each full time staff member will be in charge of one after school
club that will run weekly for an hour after school. Ms. Mary Lord will set up and organize the clubs.
4. School Improvement Plan Update
Because of the improved school grade, the school is not required by Broward County to develop a SIP,
but will still receive onsite visits. The school is in the beginning phases of completing the 2014-2015
SIP.
Students will be targeted using a plethora of data. Title I funds are used to employ an Instructional
Coach, the School-wide Enrichment Coordinator, and the STEM teacher.
5. Parent Involvement Plan Update
At last meeting, the Governing Board approved the Parent Involvement Plan. The plan discusses how
the school will spend Title I parental involvement funds. The money will fund the Title I agenda and
Wednesday folders which are used to communicate regularly communicate students’ progress to
parents. Additionally, Title I dollars limited refreshments for parent nights.
The school staff plans family involvement nights once a month. Ms. Jai Matthews is Parent and
Community Liaison.
At the last meeting the strengths and weaknesses of the parent nights were discussed. The school is
working to ensure Ms. Jennie Gabriel, fluent in Creole, is at each Title I Family Night in order to
translate. There is always a Spanish translator present.
Ms. Melvern Atencio suggested adding a grandparent and/or senior citizen night.
Ms. Erin Kelly asked for parent input into the Parent Involvement Plan. A mother of a 4th grader stated
that her daughter loves the school and is happier at Imagine North Lauderdale than in the past. Kathy
Widner, a parent of a 3rd grade student said that Ms. Michele Garren adds value to STEM and that the
Title I money that supports the STEM position is money well spent. She gave the examples of the
hydroponic garden and the building of electric cars. Her daughter is excited for cheerleading. She also
stated that Ms. Ashley Sweeton knows all students and loves them.
6. Approval of June 10, 2014 Minutes
Ms. Joyce Ferguson made a motion to approve the June 10, 2014 minutes, as amended. The motion was
seconded by Ms. Evelyn Graves and was unanimously approved.
7. Approval of A1A Contract
Ms. Erin Kelly explained that there are a total of 4 buses this year. Adding two buses allowed the school
to grow enrollment.
Ms. Evelyn Graves made a motion to approve A1A Contract. The motion was seconded by Ms. Joyce
Ferguson and was unanimously approved.
8. Approval of Venture Design Services
Ms. Joyce Ferguson made a motion to approve the Venture Design Services contract for Broward
Assessment for Florida Standards (BAFS) assessments. The motion was seconded by Ms. Evelyn
Graves and was unanimously approved.
9. Approval of Family Central School Readiness Signature Authorization Form
Ms. Evelyn Graves made a motion to approve the Family Central School Readiness Signature
Authorization Form. The motion was seconded by Ms. Joyce Ferguson and was unanimously approved.
10. Approval of Amendment of 2013-14 Budget
Imagine North Lauderdale’s 2013-2014 budget resulted in over $18,000 of surplus. The school
successfully made it through the year without Imagine contributing money in order to prevent a deficit.
Additionally, the school made a $20,000 maintenance accrual. Additional revenue due to increased
enrollment and lower-than-projected fringe benefit expenses led to the surplus.
Ms. Evelyn Graves made a motion to approve the final amendment of the 2013-2014 budget. The
motion was seconded by Ms. Joyce Ferguson and was unanimously approved.
11. Approval of 2014-2015 School Policies
a. Staff Handbook
Ms. Joyce Ferguson made a motion to approve the 2014-2015 Staff Handbook. The motion was
seconded by Ms. Evelyn Graves and was unanimously approved.
b. Emergency Handbook
Ms. Evelyn Graves made a motion to approve the 2014-2015 Emergency Handbook. The motion
was seconded by Ms. Joyce Ferguson and was unanimously approved.
12. Approval of Potential Board Members
Ms. Kathy Widner is a parent to a third grade student and has a child who attended the school for 4th and
5th grade. She participates in all family events and she willingly agreed to join the governing board.
Ms. Kathy Widner introduced herself to the group. Her daughter is in the advanced placement 3rd grade
class. She works and is a parent full time. She currently teaches her son at home through the K-12
Virtual Academy. Her daughter loves Imagine, as does Kathy. The family moved to Florida in 2006
from Michigan. She stated that her daughter will be at Imagine North Lauderdale until she is through
fifth grade because the family loves the school, Ms. Kelly and all the staff. Ms. Widner wants to see the
change that Imagine can offer and someday hopes her grandchildren will go to the school. She wants to
be an active role model for her children and other students who go here
Ms. Julie Klahr informed Ms. Kathy Widner that she is required to take four hours of governance
training and complete a background screening. Additionally, contact information will be given to the
public.
Ms. Joyce Ferguson made a motion to approve Ms. Kathy Widner as a new board member for Imagine
North Lauderdale. The motion was seconded by Ms. Evelyn Graves and was unanimously approved
13. Board Input
Ms. Joyce Ferguson congratulated Ms. Erin Kelly on the B school grade.
Ms. Melvern Atencio stated that she has to step down from her position, but will attend the next board
meeting.
14. Public Input
Ms. Jacky Vernon thanked Ms. Melvern Atencio for her time and welcomed the new board member,
Mrs. Kathy Widner. She also recognizes the school and Ms. Kelly for her work in moving the school
academically. She noted all of the work for the trade days for the region and Erin and Ashley took
initiative for the school (rigor and relevance). She also completed a walk through and stated that the
kids were actively engaged, the 4E board configuration was posted in rooms, and classes were practicing
rules and procedures. Ms. Vernon said that Ms Kelly worked hard to retain teachers by implementing
the preschool program. She also congratulated the school for the Donors Choose projects that were
funded for the several teachers at the school.
15. Dates of Future Meetings
An upcoming Board meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2014 at 6:00 pm.
16. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm by Ms. Melvern Atencio.