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Council Notes May 8 2025

5/8/25 Council Meeting Minutes
Horizons K-8 School
Meeting Agenda:  Copy of Council Meeting Agenda (Detailed)-May 8, 2025.docx - Google Docs

Call to Order: 5:36 PM

  • Quorum established

Facilitators: Jasmine GBC, Kristin Hauger, Travis Lockhart
Notetaker: Michelle Bargo
Timekeeper:  Sarah Wise

5:36  Mindfulness - Kristin Hauger

5:39  Introductions - Travis Lockhart5:52  Board Elections

Present:  Travis Lockhart, Sarah Wise, Lucas Mile, Kristin Hauger, Allyson Desart, Julie Layne, Lauren Yedell, Suzanne Tadros, Michelle Bargo, Jessica Slatus, Josh Raufman, Joel Gratz, Julie Cohen, Pat Smalley, Jim Freund, Carol Schwendener, Teran Sittner, Elizabeth Parady, Jasmine Graves Black Clemmons, Shoshana Kressler, Gina Lee De Freitas, Jordan Logan, Tina Edwards, Madeline Altman, Michael Joseph, Becky Vincelette, Dave Biagioni, Hilary Merina, Oliver Glosband, Lisa Ton Godrick, Jennifer Koenigsberger, Barb Anderson, John Bogosian, Quinn Graves Black Clemmons, Teresa Joseph, Kelly Wade, Emmy Kurtz, Kevin Crouse

Present online:  Erica Harrington, Christina Harvey

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH!!  You will be so missed.  

5:55  Parent Board Member Candidates and Elections

Discussion about the balance of parent and faculty board members and length of terms.  Congratulations to our new Parent Board Members!!

  • Michael Joseph
  • Jessica Slatus
  • Jordan Logan
  • Travis Lockhart
  • Joel Gratz

6:22   Council Budget presentation and vote - Jasmine GBC

  • In 2025 we spent about $15,000 to host the gala and had a very successful fundraising effort at the event.

  • We are saving $50,000 in Council funds for possible tech refresh.  In 24/25 we earned $30,000-40,000K in interest on this account, which has been a huge boost!  

  • The total cost for #BigKidsPlayToo is $185,487.  The 2024 and 2025 paddle raises earned $54, 577.  We have an additional $2200 in direct donations for the project.  In spring of 2024, Council pledged $100,000 for the project.  

    • Tonight we are asking the Council for $28,712 to complete the project.  There is not another monetary request from Council tonight, in part because the administration has been very mindful about using Fund 11 to cover as much as possible.  When community members have requests to fund materials, those requests should go through FRC.  Additionally, we would like to make more of the funding requests through our Fund 11 account because these expenses are operating expenses.  

      • Motion: To allocate $28,712 in Council funds to the #BigKidsPlayToo playground upgrade.  Jasmine GBC
        • Seconded:  Elizabeth Parady
        • Concorded

6:55   Hawks Happenings - Teran Sittner and Pat Smalley 

  • The 7th and 8th graders have been working hard on their passion projects.  Eighth graders present their projects at Aperture night, which is next Thursday 5/15.  We hope to see you there!

7:03   Committee Reports

  • Development Committee - Kristin Hauger
    • The gala was a huge success!  The net profit was $51,821.50.  
    • There have been many other successes this year and we want to offer gratitude to everyone who helped make this happen.  Other projects include spiritwear, Dine and Donate nights, and social media committee.
  • EDB - Allyson Desart
    • EDB had a great year!  We hosted a couple of Coffee Connections, Banned Book Clubs, Taste of Horizons, brought books to the classrooms, hosted speakers, Be the Change, created the Care Closet, and so much more!  A new addition to EDB is Helping Hands to aid community members who need extra support.
  • HCG - Barb Anderson
    • HCG hosts the liaison program.  There is an End-of-Year picnic, mentors for incoming families, Pancake Breakfast, hosted workshops, pairings with Council meetings, Pizza Friday, Back-to-School Pool Party, Plant Sale, Clothing Swaps, and more!

7:15   Items for Discussion

  • The Horizons contract renewal with BVSD is next school year.

    • Peak to Peak is struggling to complete their contract renewal with BVSD this year.  BVSD is not creating favorable conditions for district charter schools.

    • We are anticipating increased costs for special education and other services that are contracted through BVSD.  Currently, it is required for us to purchase special education services through the district but they refuse to provide adequate FTE for the amount of special education that we need to provide based on our student population who have IEP’s.

    • How can we organize ourselves to get a fair price for purchased services through BVSD? 

      • Let’s let the district know how much our Charter School means to us!  Community members can contact the BVSD board and our state representatives to ask for support for charter schools!

      • How can Horizons advocate for getting the services that we are already paying BVSD for?
      • Due to time constraints, let’s discuss this further at the next Council meeting.

Motion to Adjourn

Adjourned: 7:40PM

The bylaws state that a special board meeting is to immediately follow this Annual Meeting for the purpose of selecting the officers for next school year.  Quorum was not established.  Board members are working to schedule a new meeting time.