Board Meeting January 9 2025
Horizons K8 School
Board Meeting Minutes
Date: 1/9/2025
Facilitators: Mike Ashmore, Travis Lockhart, Jasmine GBC,
Timekeeper: Rachel Clionsky
Process Observer: Jim Freund
Secretary/Minutes: Michelle Bargo
Call to Order: 6:06 PM
Present: Jasmine GBC, Rachel Clionsky, Kristin Hauger, John Bogosian, Mike Ashmore, Adam Brink, Jim Freund, Rob Horansky, Michelle Bargo
Present online: Elizabeth Parady, Lynn Pence, Travis Lockhart, Fran Cohen
Absent: Emmy Kurtz
- Quorum established
Public Comment
- None
Consent Agenda: Approval of current agenda: Copy of Board Meeting Agenda – January 9, 2025.docx - Google Docs and Approval of 12/12/24 minutes
- Motion to approve - Mike Ashmore
- Seconded: Michelle Bargo
- Concorded
Head of School Updates - Jasmine GBC
- Open Enrollment Update:
- BVSD’s OE officially closed yesterday and we’ll get actual numbers on 1/20/25. Our first round placements are released tomorrow and families will have 10 days to decide. It looks like we’re in a really good place for OE. A huge thank you to Elizabeth and the parent volunteers who have spearheaded this effort.
- Faculty to Intent to Return Survey
- This has been distributed and is due back on 1/15/2025 so we will know what hiring will need to happen.
Board Committee Updates:
- Development Committee - Kristin Hauger
- We are in a shortfall for Hawksbucks ($26,000 raised so far), which is behind the fundraising from this point last year. We are aiming for $100,000 for the 24/25 school year. Can we find out what percentage of families have contributed so far?
- The 4/26/25 auction is being planned! We are looking for donations for the silent auction. The theme is Prom Rewind and it’s being held at Boulder Embassy Suites.
- FRC - Mike Ashmore
- FRC met today. This year we bought fewer services from BVSD. Our deficit is currently tracking at $58,000 without a transfer from the Council budget.
- Revised budget for 24/25 Fiscal year: Discussed the ramifications of this budget and how many funds should be maintained in Fund 11 and Council. Our fundraising has not been on pace with last year. How can we be intentional with our funds and keep a long-term view rather than just spending money on things that are not intentional and aligned with our long-range goals?
- Motion to approve the Revised budget for the 24/25 fiscal year. - Mike Ashmore
- Seconded: Adam Brink
- Concorded
- Motion to approve the Revised budget for the 24/25 fiscal year. - Mike Ashmore
Facilitation Services Breakdown: GBC
- About 16 community members have expressed interest in attending the facilitation training. The trainings are scheduled for 1/13 and 1/24. There will be co-facilitation at Council meetings for the remainder of the year.
Other Board Business:
- Horizons HR: Further consideration of a more robust HR service for Horizons. What will be the purpose of this?
- Jim Freud: A long-term concern is that if a faculty member has an HR concern and the HR representative is the Parent Board Chair. Also, if a parent and teacher have a concern that cannot be resolved with the HOS, the HR representative is again the Parent Board Chair. There are sometimes conflicts of interest when complicated situations arise. Can we provide a better HR service than this? Jim can recall 5-6 instances when this would have been needed over the past 25 years. In most businesses, HR defends the company and shareholders. What we are actually talking about is a mediation service.
- Motion to request that the faculty and administration come up with a couple of different models that they think might adequately provide this “mediation service”? - Adam Brink
- Seconded: Mike Ashmore
- Concorded
- Motion to request that the faculty and administration come up with a couple of different models that they think might adequately provide this “mediation service”? - Adam Brink
- 6:50 PM - Motion to extend the time for this discussion for up to 15 minutes. - Mike Ashmore
- Seconded: Rob Horansky
- Concorded
- Jim Freud: A long-term concern is that if a faculty member has an HR concern and the HR representative is the Parent Board Chair. Also, if a parent and teacher have a concern that cannot be resolved with the HOS, the HR representative is again the Parent Board Chair. There are sometimes conflicts of interest when complicated situations arise. Can we provide a better HR service than this? Jim can recall 5-6 instances when this would have been needed over the past 25 years. In most businesses, HR defends the company and shareholders. What we are actually talking about is a mediation service.
For next month’s board agenda:
- Strategic discussion about the 25/26 budget.
Process Observer:
- Jim Freund: Our conversation was off-topic a few times but ultimately we got back on track.
Adjourn: 7:12