SY 2020-21

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

July 22nd, 2020
6:00 pm – 7:49 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Teran Sittner

Process Observer: Peter Hegelbach

Call to Order:  6:00pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Absent:

Arrived Late: 

Paul Ramer, 6:07pm

Quorum established

Guests:

Jim Freund, Jeanne Kipke, Oliver Glosband, Elizabeth Parady, DeeDee Rice, Aubrey Demmon, Christy Shoemaker, Natalie Bauer, Sharon Kong, Meredith Croft, Lauren Mackey, Jason Elliot, Craig Keller, Deb Corradino, Marti Matsch, Emmy Kurtz, Giulia Bernadini, Justin Bailey, Suzanne Tadros, Mike Tadros, Jessy Pink, Erica Baruch, David Olsky, Hilary Merina, Julia Haas, Chris Cain, Steve Fritz, Shannon Sackmann, Alicia Potter, Heidi Freiburger, Gena Welk, Carrie McDermitt, Lynn Pence, Jeralyn Fokken, Tali Shapiro, Ryan Conrad, Wendi Kirkpatrick, Sarah Arabian, Casey Hebb, Sara Michaels, Jaclyn Adley, Denise Carroll, Jo Vogeli, Leila Talore, Pat Smalley, Amy Gillespie, Maitreya Rich, Fran Cohen, Robert Kalla, Alek Makovec, Lisa Leftakes, Juliana Bellipani, Karla Scornavacco

Welcome & Invitation for public comments: 

Craig Keller, Christina Stemp, Allyson DeSart, and Mike Tadros spoke

Motion – Teran Sittner

Move for community input to be extended

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

No additional public comments

Approval of Agenda:
Motion – Peter Hegelbach

Move to acceptance of agenda with correction to date

Second – Beth Coleman

Concorded

Approval of Minutes:

Motion – Geary Layne

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

Finance Review:

Horizons will receive money from the CARES act (The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security), $136K, to be spent on Covid related expenses in addition to what PPE (personal protection equipment) the district is providing.

Lucas and Tyler advised the board that they were pursuing a Payroll Protection Program loan application. 

Update on reopening committee/plans:

• Details for reopening continue to evolve fast
• BVSD working to get number of employee seeking exemptions and numbers students opting out of in-person learning
• From Council, there is an urgency to get out classlist, however BVSD has requested classlist/cohort not be send out until August 11
• Reopening committee has created a document the delineates responsibilities for each Phase
• Discussed pros/cons of reopening in Phase 3, and possibly deviating from BVSD
• Reviewed staff survey staff
• Noted possible health risks as well as inequity for families with working parents
• Intention to look into childcare options with BVSD 
• Horizons is trying to provide best possible education to students and that must drive path forward

Motion – Teran Sittner

Move to increase meeting by 10 minutes again

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

• Further discussion regarding reopening options, including starting slower than Phase 3
• Focus on at home learning vs online learning
• The Horizons Board will review alternative reopening plans at next meeting

Process Observer:

Semi followed the agenda, tackled a hefty topic, we problem solved, considered alternatives, got the pulse of parent/teacher board members concerning phase 3 proposal; we have our work cut out for us.

Adjourned: 7:49pm

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

August 6th, 2020
6:03 pm – 8:40 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Julie Cohen

Process Observer: Peter Hegelbach

Call to Order:  6:03pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Absent:

Arrived Late: 

Paul Ramer, 6:07pm

Quorum established

Guests:

Scot Rose, Jessy Pink, Hilary Merina, Chris Cain, Allison Berger, Natalie Bauer, Lauren Mackey, Craig Keller, Nicolas Guilloteau, Cary Munger, Brad McLain, Brook Bel, Chirs Benner, Meredith Croft, Julie Dye, Denise Carroll, Avery Nelson, Traci Bushnell, Sara Preston, Carrie McDermitt, Steven Small, Steve Fritz, Pawel Osiczko, Matt Arnold, Wade Vizena, Julia Haas, Jim Freund, Michelle Bargo, Stacey Axquavella, Lisa Leftakes, Leslie Vitale, Lauren Yeldell, Annie Blankenship, Nicola Gilbert, Susan Hall, Alicia Potter, Todd Kleinman, Gena Welk, Ryan Conrad, Allyson DeSart, Elizabeth Parady, Alice Hartman, Courtney Welch, Lynn Pence, Brigid Moriarty, Odele Coddington, Julie Steinbrenner, Erin Swaney, Jeralyn Fokken, Justin Bailey, Chandra Best, DM Akos, Emily Kurtz, Mercedes Gitter, and many others

Welcome & Invitation for public comments: 

None

Approval of Agenda:
Motion – Tyler Currie

Move to approve agenda with addition of two item:

1. Notes about Diversity, Equity & Belonging Committee
2. Discussion regarding Board meeting on 8/13/2020

Second – Lucas Ketzer

Concorded

Approval of Minutes:

Motion – Tyler Currie

Move to approve minutes with the addition that Lucas & he advises board that he was pursuing a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application

Second – Paul Ramer

Concorded

Finance Review:

• Submitted application for PPP loan on 7/24/20
• Wells Fargo conveyed that the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved application
• Eligible for $650K
• Loan secured by promissory note that will be forgiven if we meet certain criteria:
  • Staffing levels stay close to level as of last Jan/Feb 2019
  • Having eligible expenses (i.e. salaries & benefits)
• We will easily meet those criteria, so this should end up a grant
• Will be dispersed to Wells Fargo bank account (Council)
• Good news!  
• Prior to PPP loan, budget was projecting a $20K deficit, thus if all else remains the same there will be a $650K surplus, however we may have extra unexpected costs
• Current budget includes sacrifices to programming and no step increase, these can be revisited
• Council will need to approve funds transfer to operation fund beyond $80k

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moves for the Board to give Lucas the authority to sign loan paperwork

Second – Mike Ashmore

Concorded

Grateful to Hilary for hard work on loan application!

Update on reopening committee plans:

• Ryan Conrad shared Reopening Committee PowerPoint

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to extend back to school topic by 20 minutes

Second – Mike Ashmore

Concorded

Discussion regarding reopening and different Phases

• Horizons’ Phase 2+ was developed when BVSD was planning to reopen in Phase 3
• Horizons’ Phase 2+ different from BVSD Phase 2+
• With BVSD Phase 2+ only 20% access building, verse our Phase 2+ would have 100% accessing building because it was designed as an option when BVSD went to Phase 3
• Formation of Pods is parent lead and not organized by school
• Teachers may interact with Pods, but all students (in or not in Pods) will receive instructional content
• Lucas will look into concern about confidentiality with prioritization of students’ return under different Phases

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to add another 20 minutes to this discussion

Second – Paul Ramer

Concorded

• BVSD would like to put cohorts together for Phase 3, ensure siblings have same in person schedule
• Horizons can form their own cohorts, and thus release class list earlier
• BVSD does not want Horizons to release class list early
• Concerns of inequalities were raised corresponding to different Phases
  • Unsupervised children
  • Cost of child care
  • Level of at home support
• Opportunity for Horizons’ community to support each other
• Looking into providing childcare at Horizons, requires BVSD approval

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves for the board to confirms reopening committee plan to open in Phase 1, but does not preclude us from talking about supporting families

Second – Karen Wolfer

Concorded

Diversity, Equity &  Belonging:

• Met over summer
• Book Talks, next book club: So You want to talk about race…..
• Potentially partner with Western Educational Equity Assistance Center

 Next Board meeting:

• Do we meet next week on Aug 13?
• Need to onboard new members, and establish Board positions and committee assignments
• Hold off on meeting next week and meet towards the end of August

Process Observer: 

Listened to each other at beginning of meeting

Clear agenda though we added extra time

Great presentation by Ryan

Active listening, better balance of hearing equal voices

Problem solving moving target; use heads, lead with hearts

Motion –  Lucas Ketzer

Move to adjourn

Second – Alex Osias

Concorded

Thanks to parents who attended.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

August 21st, 2020
11:02 am – 11:07 am

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Peter Hegelbach

Process Observer: Julie Cohen

Call to Order:  11:02am
Present:
Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Absent:

Alex Osias, Paul Ramer

Quorum established

Guests:

Juan Jacob VanderDys, Mark Berger, Kate Leslie, Julia Haas, Susan ?, Alicia Potter, Maitreya Rich, Miran McCalmon, Lauren Mackey

Approve New Hire:

Reviewed the hiring committee’s selection of Mia Seymour as the new ¾ teacher.

• She was the para for Dante Baken in the ¾ teacher classroom last year
• Mia has experience in Expeditionary Schools such as Watershed
• Knows the children and the Horizons community
• Able to start on Monday 8/24/20

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Move to hire Mia Seymour 

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

September 10th, 2020
6:02 pm – 8:06 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Paul Ramer

Process Observer: Peter Hegelbach

Call to Order:  6:02pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Absent:

Quorum established

Guests:

Erin Swaney, Allyson Desart, Lisa Leftakes, Liza McKenzie, Jessie Pink, Lynn Pence, Miran McCalmon, Julie Steinbrenner, Lindsay Tatylor, Julie Dye, Sarah Arabian, Nicolas Guilloteau, Jeralyn Fokken, Joy Pieper, Nicole Wildes, Alex Rose, Lauren Mackey, Cary Munger, Hilary Merina, Jessica Hogan, Keith Sambur, Tali Shapiro, Aubrey Demmon, Sharon Kong, Leslie Vitale, Traci Bushnell, Dan Twetten, Hunter Plumb, Christy Shoemaker, Travis Lockhart, Lauren Yeldell, Avery Nelson, Hetal Mehta, Meredith Croft, Brooke Bell, Melanie Yee, Stephen Butler, Jaclyn Adley, Jim Freund, Natalie Bauer, Lauren Noyes, Frank Bruno, Callie Gartner, Erica Baruch, Carol Schwendener, Christy Shoemaker, Fran Cohen, Shannon Sackmann, Ryan Conrad, Jyll Lottner, Michelle Bargo, Suzy Magliaro, Will Deaver, Wendy Thoresen, Sherry Davis, Emily Kurtz, Allison Berger, Lauren Noyes, Jess Turano,Lynsi Leigh and others

Public Comment: 

Aubrey Demmon, Allyson DeSart, Joy Pieper, Hope Roohr, Ryan Conrad, Dan Rose, Natalie Bauer

Consent Agenda:

• Approve September 10 Agenda
• Minutes Aug 6th
• Minutes Aug 21st
• Resolution Concerning Horizons’ Mascot
• Resolution Concerning Opening of CSAFE accounts for Council Reserve Funds
• Conflict of Interesting Policy; Motion Concerning Conflict of Interest
• Summary of Open Meeting Law: Motion Concerning Colorado’s Opening Meeting Law

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moved to accept consent agenda items with Aug minutes removed

Second – Alex Osias

Concorded

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moved to accept Aug minutes with amendments

Aug 6th: Budget deficit 20K and not 350K, thus minutes should read …budget was projected a 20k deficit thus if all remains the same, there will be a 650K 

Aug 10th: Change pm to am for Call to order time

Second – Paul Ramer

Concorded

Officers & Committees:

Vice Chair – Mike Ashmore

Treasurer – Paul Ramer 

Secretary – Geary Layne

Executive Committee – Lucas Ketzer, Tyler Currie, Beth Coleman, Rachel Buckley

Finance Review – Lucas Ketzer, Paul Ramer

Development – Rachel Buckley, Karen Wolfer

Faculty Committee – deferred until council

Head of School Evaluation Committee – Peter Hegelbach, Tyler Currie, Julie Cohen, Alex Osias

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moves to approve officer and committee placements

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

Head of School Updates:

• Year long partnership Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC), contact person, Darlene Sampson. Came out of Equity, Diversity, and Belonging Committee looking at identity, equity, anti-bias, anti-racism.
• CARES Spending Update: Working with BVSD to spend 138K from Federal CARES ACt – only Covid related expenses. We have 3K left to spend.
• Proposal to reinstitute salary and COLA increase: Given that the Paycheck Protection Program is a loan put us at a 600K surplus, proposal to reinstitute retroactive to 7/1/20 at a cost of 112K.

Motion – Paul Ramer

Moved to approve step and COLA increases

Second – Mike Ashmore

Concorded; Tyler Currie, Lucas Ketzer, and Faculty Board Members recused themselves

• Reopening Update: Lucas and Karen learned on Thursday BVSD’s plan to have K-2 return to in person. BVSD will pull teachers from other schools but this is not an option for Horizons. Our plan is: Monday will remain asynchronous, half day Tuesday through Friday, outside, in tents, with small classes.
• Horizons plans to offer its own childcare/aftercare, Nicoleta Simon & Jeanne Kipke heading up.

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to extend conversation by 10 minutes

Second – Lucas Ketzer

Concorded

• Tents: Lauren Noyes provided a briefing. Tents will cost $5200 each, they are commercial grade, wind resistant, require permitting and fire code regulations. The campus has room for 19 tents, currently budgeted for 12. Additionally there will be tables, K-2 sized chairs, and Gorilla carts to move supplies.

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moves to approve the tent resolution

Second – Karen Wolfer

Concorded

• Hiring update: will be hiring MS SpEd Teacher and some paras.

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moves to approve Ellen Hatch as .5 PE Teacher

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

Strategic Plan: 

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to amend agenda to leave out Strategic Planning

Second – Beth Coleman

Process observer:

1. Structure – agenda was ambitious but organized
2. Mostly sharing of information
3. Informative communication

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to adjourn at 8:06 PM

Second – Lucas Ketzer

Concorded

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

October 8th, 2020
6:00 pm – 7:51 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Peter Hegelbach

Process Observer: Karen Wolfer

Call to Order:  6:00pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Absent:

Quorum established

Guests: Many present

Public Comment: None

Consent Agenda:

• Approve October 8th Agenda
• Prior Minutes: September 10, 2020

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to approve consent items

Second – Lucas Ketzer

Concorded

Finance Review Committee:

• There are a mix of cuts to revenue and increased expenses for the Fund 11 operating account, resulting in a 175K total deficit
  • Expecting 5% cut from state, may be higher
  • Restored salary cut
  • Wage increase for paras 
• This does not result in an over drawdown of reserves and we are putting resources where needed
• The CARES money has been allocated (expense account through BVSD)
• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds have been moved over to investment account

Head of School Evaluation Committee: 

• This years committee made minor changes, and adjusted timeline so Horizons’ Board can review the evaluation and allows HoS address areas of growth
• This month Lucas will provide annual goals to Evaluation Committee for review and then Board will approve
• In February the Committee will distribute surveys to faculty, parents, and Board
• In March and April the Committee will collect, analyze, and present to Lucas and then to Board
• Lucas will then respond to criteria/performance standards
• Standards were developed from different sources including CDE principal standards in 4 categories
• Some adjustment to evaluation documentation made

Motion – Teran Sittner

Moved to approve HoS evaluation procedures as edited

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

Head of School Updates:

• Partnership with WEEAC facilitated by Equity, Diversity & Belonging
• Faculty is taking WEEAC Anti-Bias course
• Opportunity for adult members of Horizons community to take the Anti-Bias course
• Update on Parent Needs Survey 
  • Thank you to Erica & Allyson
  • All scholarships request for enrichment honored
  • Committee to connect with families to drop off food resources
    • Task Force of 12 who will deliver food
  • Connected families with BVSD IT for wifi
  • Families got desks/chairs, and families got food cards
  • Addressed transportation resources, pod requests, mental health resources
• Update on Reopening
  • Review indicators from Boulder County Department of Public Health (BCDPH)
  • BCDPH is still recommending indoor up to 30 people indoor, 4 days a week with relaxed social distancing
  • We raised $45K thus far for tents
  • Classes are moved inside for poor outdoor air quality (smoke from fires) and/or weather
  • Indoor classes have air filters and air quality monitoring
  • Pursuing walls and heaters for tents
  • Ryan Conrad presented ⅞ return plan

Motion – Geary Layne

Moved to increase 10 minutes

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

• • Further discussion
• Charter renewal update
  • Lucas reached out to Kathleen Sullivan, with BVSD, regarding timeline for charter renewal but has not heard back
  • We will request that the contract is finalized by Feb 1st, 2021

Strategic Plan: 

• Discussion about the Board’s interest to work on strategic plan for Horizons
• Mike, Rachel, and Lucas will present at next Board meeting with goal towards process

Process observer:

• Some agenda items were out of order
• Mostly stayed on time

Motion – Peter Hegelbach

Motion to adjourn at 7:51 PM

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

December 9th, 2020
6:00 pm – 7:18 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Paul Ramer

Process Observer: Karen Wolfer

Call to Order:  6:00pm
Present:
Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Absent: Alex Osias

Quorum established

Guests: Many present

Public Comment: Shelly Miller signed up to speak, but not present at start of meeting

Consent Agenda:

• Approve December 9th Agenda
• Prior Minutes: November 12, 2020

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Motion to approve consent items, with clarification to minutes that flat PPR funding will begin budgeting in 21-22 and run thru 24-25

Second – Tyler Currie

Concorded

Finance Review Committee:

• Council reserve funds just deposited to CSAFE Accounts ~$657,000
• Documentation is ready for PPP loan forgiveness application.  We expect to qualify for full forgiveness.  Just waiting for Well Fargo to publish forgiveness application forms
• Current year operating deficit now projected to be $357,000.  At last report, it was projected to be $438,000K.  Favorable swing is due to increase in revenue from mill levy overrides (property taxes)
•  5 year budget committee (faculty + admin) has convened
• Forming Business Services working group
  • Liability, Workers Comp Insurance
  • Health Insurance and Benefits
  • Payroll and Finance

Head of School Updates:

• Next WEEAC (Western Educational Equity Assistance Center) session with faculty will be on January 11th
• Encourage participation at next ED&B meeting – will have another session with Vernon Jones
• HoS Goals- continuing strategic plan
  • Thanks to Rachel & Mike
• Implementation of culturally relevant curriculum
• Performing teacher evaluations regarding climate & culture, will complete by January 31st
• End of year- get feedback from teachers, want to be collaborative
• Still waiting to see how standardized testing will be conducted in the Spring
  • If students opt for home learning, how will they test in a way that is controlled?
• Waiting for draft Charter Renewal contract from BVSD
• Shared Horizons In-Person/Home Learning Update
  • Original proposal and rationale
  • Current data and BVSD plans
  • What has transpired over the past weeks
  • Next steps
  • Questions
• Discussion on In-Person/Home Learning

Strategic Plan: 

• Lucas shared major theme folders containing Horizons documentation, and asked for help populating with more – specifically historical perspective
• These folders will help stakeholders understand current reality and the history of Horizons
• Working groups will make recommendations
• Short discussion on addition types and sources of documentation

Five Year Budget update:

• Administration and faculty committee met last week, and will meet again on November 13th
• Budget spreadsheet shared that can be manipulated to see financial impacts
• Faculty committee was tasked with creating different scenarios
• Want to present staff with different scenarios to get feedback

Process Observer: 

• No public comments
• Took turns speaking
• Clarifying questions asked
• Many gratitudes

Adjourn at 7:18 PM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

January 14th, 2021
6:00 pm – 8:21 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Paul Ramer

Process Observer: Karen Wolfer

Call to Order:  6:00pm
Present:
Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Arrived Late:  Julie Cohen, Alex Osias

Absent:

Quorum established

Guests: Many present

Public Comment: 

• Public comment was given by Alex Rose, Shelly Miller, and Jessica Hogan including presentation
• Public comment was given by Ryan Conrad
• Public comment was given by Leslie Brown

Consent Agenda:

• Approve January 14th Agenda
• Prior Minutes: December 9, 2020

Motion – Mike Ashmore

Motion to approve consent items

Second –  Paul Ramer
Concorded

Head of School Updates:

• Partnership with WEEAC
  • On Jan 11th 2021, faculty participated in another session
    • This session focused on privilege
  • On Feb 15th 2021, session will be led by Vernon Jones and is open to the community
    • No issue in attending this session even if one missed the previous
• Five Year budget update
  • Faculty budget committee came up with three scenarios to achieve a 5 year balanced budget
  • Updated budget projections from BVSD, including implication of new charter contract, necessitates adjustments
  • Goal is to have a balanced 5 year budget by springtime

Update on in-person/home learning decision making-process:

• Horizons is committed to be a brick and mortar school and is striving to return to full time in persons learning
  • Safety for the community and logistic constraints are driving the decision
• Horizons will continue to follow school decision making policy
  • It is import to continue to get input for the community

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to extend by 5 minutes

Second – Paul Ramer

Concorded

• Conversation continued

FY21 revised budget adoption:

• Only substantive change is the removal all revenue and expenses tied to travel or trips
• Drawdown of reserves in the amount of $299K 
  • Based on most recent BVSD projections
• Budget will be sent to the district.
• Previous Board decision reinstituted step increases but did not reinstitute annual leave payout 
  • However, annual leave was present in budget presented

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moves to approve budget with annual leave zeroed out

Second – Julie Cohen

Concorded

Charter Contract Negotiations:

Motion – Tyler Currie

Move to go into executive session to discuss positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations regarding the charter contract pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (e)

Second – Paul Ramer

Concorded

Entered executive session at 7:20

Meeting extended to complete discussion 

Exited executive session at 8:20

Process Observer: 

• Respectful discussion 
• Stayed on time until the end
• Levity during difficult conversations

Adjourn at 8:21 PM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

February 11th, 2021
6:03 pm – 7:59 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Mike Ashmore / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Tyler Currie

Process Observer: Julie Cohen

Call to Order:  6:00pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Arrived Late:

Absent:

Quorum established

Guests:  Lynn Pence, Jim Freund, Addison, Elisabeth Parady, Erica Baruch, Meredith Croft

Public Comment:

• Hope Nelson-Roohr provided an Open Enrollment update

Consent Agenda:

• Approve February 11th Agenda

• Budget Resolution

• Prior Minutes: January 14, 2021

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Move to pass consent agenda excluding minutes

Second –  Geary Layne

Concorded

Short discussion regarding why public comment documentation were kept to a minimum in the Minutes

Motion – Beth Coleman

Moves to accept minutes

Second –  Teran Sittner

Concorded

Motion – Beth Coleman

Moves to add agenda item to discuss how we add public comment to Minutes

Second –  Rachel Buckley

Concorded

Board members discussed how to balance best practice for Minutes and also honor community members interest to share

Head of School Updates:

• Reopening Committee share out

  • The committee focus is to address long term school wide operational issues and overcoming obstacles to fully reopen schools

  • Next task- discuss and plan what more in person learning can look like K-4 & 5-8 after spring break depending on Covid conditions

  • Plan is due 3/1/21, and will be include parents input

  • One consideration, if we prioritize full day in person, how do we provide equitable learning for home learners

  • Generally speaking, Horizons will logistically be in a better place to reopen once teachers are able to get vaccinated

• Covid Check Colorado

  • BVSD is not willing to test at Horizons

  • However, families can test at any Covid test center and give permission for the result to be shared with Horizons so we can contact trace

• Charter contract update

  • Waiting for response from BVSD after Horizons’ last edits

• WEEAC Update

  • Next opportunity to participate will be 2/18/21

Finance Review Committee:

• The Budget resolution, approved earlier in the meeting, will be sent to BVSD

• Current Budget matches revised budget

• Council Budget will be on the 2/18/21 Council meeting agenda

• PPP loan forgiveness waiting on paperwork

• Budget reserves discussion

  • Currently Horizons holds 15% of annual expensive in reserve

  • State requires 3%

  • Reducing reserve percentage would allow Horizons to provide more to current student

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Move to reduce allocated reserve expense from 15% to 8%

Second –  Tyler Currie

Concorded

Open enrollment policy- BU and neighborhood schools:

• BVSD says all home learning next year will be at BU or BU Link, and if a student wants to return to in person schooling, there will be a spot

• Charters cannot do that due to funding levels based on October count

• We cannot guarantee but we can prioritize

• We go thru BVSD open enrollment to accept kids

• Previously the Board created a priority to re-enroll kids that withdrew to go to BU for this current year

• The current learning model that Horizons can provide is not meeting the needs of all families and some wish to attend full in person school and return the next year

• Proposal would be to prioritize those students that leave due to COVID related changes to Horizons scheduling if space allows

• Few students have left due to COVID and only seven plan to leave to attend other middle schools

• Wait list expected to be close to normal

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Moves to accept two proposed amendments to Open Enrollment policy with new wording

During the open enrollment period, preference will be given to students who meet the following criteria:

1. Children of Faculty (licensed, non-temporary employee) employed in a licensed Faculty position of .25 F.T.E. or greater, whether they reside inside or outside the BVSD boundaries.

2. Sibling of a student who is attending and will be attending Horizons the following year. Different from a sibling who has been assigned for the first time to the school.

3. Equal preference with: Children of Faculty employed in a licensed temporary full-time, temporary part-time or temporary job-share Faculty position, with a one year contract of 0.25 F.T.E or greater (whether they reside inside or outside the BVSD boundaries). Sibling of a student who is assigned in the current year.

4. Children of non-licensed Staff in their 2nd consecutive year (at time of Open Enrollment), or subsequent, of employment at 25% or greater (ie 10± hours/week), whether they reside inside or outside the BVSD boundaries

5. Students who unenrolled from Horizons in the 19-20 or 20-21 school year who enrolled in Boulder Universal or BU Link and wish to re-enroll in Horizons for the 21-22 school year or the 22-23 school year.

6. Students who unenroll from Horizons in the 20-21 school year and reside within the district (only effective for enrollment in the 21-22 school year).

7. Other community preferences as already stated in BVSD Policy JECC-R.

Second –  Tyler Currie

Concorded

Process Observer:

• Started roughly on time

• Hope might have been a formal guest with expertise

• We adjusted time, digressed but it was pertinent

• Clear expectations

• Managed time well.

Adjourn at 7:59 PM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

March 11th, 2021
6:01 pm – 7:12 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Lucas Ketzer
Timekeeper: Peter Hegelbach

Process Observer: Alex Osias

Call to Order:  6:01pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Arrived Late: 

Absent: Geary Layne, Paul Ramer

Quorum established

Guests:  several

Public Comment: 

• Hope – One year anniversary of Covid
• Julie- has student teacher, is a Horizons graduate

Consent Agenda:

• Approve March 11th Agenda
• Prior Minutes

Motion – Tyler Currie

Move to pass consent agenda

Second –  Rachel Buckley

Concorded

Head of School Updates:

• Reopening Committee share out
  • The committee has finalized plans to reopen fully in-person learning on March 29th
  • Over 90% of students will return to school in-person
  • Teachers still grappling with how to best support home learners
  • One consideration, if we prioritize full day in person, how do we provide equitable learning for home learners
  • Generally speaking, Horizons will logistically be in a better place to reopen once teachers are able to get vaccinated
• CMAS Update
  • The state is still determining which tests students will take
  • Students that have opted out of the test will not receive instruction 

Finance Review Committee:

• Budget is on track-  58% revenue, 57% expenses
• Received 65K in ESSERS 2 funds, which can cover COVID related expenses
• 5 yr budget – potential enrollment increases – finally at balanced budget at 2025

Charter Contract

• BVSD legal team is reviewing and will take it to the BVSD Board for approval on 4/13.  We would like to review it first so we will be getting a redline back for review.

• Three areas: Special Education insurance model, purchased services, flexibility to explore online option

• Previously a Board member asked for the draft to be shared with the Horizons Board before being sent to BVSD.  Next step is for Board to see draft # 2

Head of School Evaluation

• Surveys went out to faculty and staff and one survey will be sent to parent board members

• Community survey going out tomorrow

• Tyler will send to parent board members with link

• Committee will visit with Lucas to review results and present to board next meeting

Process Observer: 

• Stayed on agenda
• No talking over
• Active listening
• Problem solving- went well
• Well structured
• End early

Adjourn at 7:12 PM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

April 8th, 2021
6:01 pm – 8:24 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Hope Nelson-Roohr (non-member)
Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Paul Ramer

Process Observer: Karen Wolfer

Call to Order:  6:01pm
Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Arrived Late: 

Absent:

Quorum established

Guests:  Several

Public Comment: None

Consent Agenda:

• Approve April 8th Agenda
• Prior Minutes: March 11, 2021

Motion – Paul Ramer

Motion to approve consent agenda

Second –  Tyler Currie

Concorded

Head of School Updates:

• UIP (Unified Improvement Plan) Update
  • Requirement of Colorado Department of Education
  • Goals available to all stakeholders
  • Horizons is on a Performance plan, meaning the school is doing well
  • Renew every 2 years
  • Met w/SAC
  • Former goals: ELA (Language Arts), SEL (Social Emotional)
  • Increase CMAS participation
  • Two goals (current)
    • Close achievement gap bet/students of color & white (lack of diversity, need culturally responsive teaching practices)
    • Close growth gap between ELA & math (time to give attention to math, need common math assessment)
  • Strategy- continue work w/WEAAC, and EDB Committee to expand diversity
  • Adopt schoolwide common assessment for math
    •  ⅚ classes are doing a math assessment and feedback is available immediately on computer
  • Susan Bennett of CDE has offered to look at UIP and make suggestions
• Strategic Planning Update
  • The letter that will go out to the community was shared 
  • Event: World Cafe Fri, May 7
    • 8 different areas to be considered (where we are, history, and guiding questions)
    • 3 different topics can be chosen
    • April 26 meet with faculty to share synthesis documents and faculty participation
    • Look at how to measure priorities in next 3-5 years
    • Mexican food truck
    • Zoom option available

Finance Review Committee:

• Tracking well on budget
• Moved 80K from council to General Fund, FRC advising not to do that since we can accrue interest in not in Gen Fund
•  Tracking ESSER and CARES funds
  • BVSD will reimburse tents through capital construction
• ESSER 3 coming in 
  • Minimum of 20% of funds needs to be spent on recovering learning loss
  • Trying to get answer on what that means (covers things related to covid)
  • Maybe 150k (30k on recovering losing loss)
• Previously, Board concorded to eliminate payout for unused faculty annual leave
  • A concession the teachers made last year when funding levels were expected to be significantly impacted by COVID
• Board discussed reinstating annual leave payout  

Motion – Mike Ashmore

Motion to extend conversation

Second –  Lucas Ketzer

Concorded

• Continued discussion, including impact to budget, proper procedure, incredible work of the teachers

Motion – Rachel Buckley

Motion to reinstate paid annual leave

Second –  Mike Ashmore

Concorded, Faculty Board Members Abstained

Charter contract and Head of School Evaluation:

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to move into executive session to discuss positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations regarding the charter contract pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (e); and to discuss personnel matters pursuant to 24-6-402(4)(f) C.R.S

Second –  Lucas Ketzer

Concorded

During executive session

Motion – Paul Ramer

Motion to extend executive session till 8:20

Second –  Tyler Currie

Concorded

Open session resumed at 820 PM

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to renew Lucas Ketzer as Head of School for 21-22

Second –  Paul Ramer

Concorded, Faculty Board Members Abstained

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to schedule a special Board meeting next Thurs 4/15 @ 5:15PM

Second –  Alex Osias

Concorded

Process Observer:

Kept mostly on time

Motion – Tyler Currie

Moves to adjourn @ 824 PM

Second –  Beth Coleman

Concorded

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

April 15th, 2021
5:15 pm -6:00 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie 

Note Taker: Tyler Currie

Minutes: Tyler Currie

Call to Order:  5:15

Present:
Alex Osias, Beth Coleman, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Rachel Buckley, Tyler Currie, Geary Layne

Quorum established

Guests:  None

Motion Tyler:  Enter executive session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to 24-6-402(4)(f) 

Second Rachel

Motion carries by concordance

Executive session – Personnel matters, recusal by all faculty and administrators

Adjourn at 6:30 PM

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
Board of Horizons K-8 School

May 13th, 2021
6:00 pm – 7:58 pm

Meeting held virtually via Zoom

Facilitators: Tyler Currie / Lucas Ketzer
Note Taker: Karen Wolfer

Minutes: Geary Layne
Timekeeper: Mike Ashmore

Process Observer: Karen Wolfer

Call to Order:  6:00pm
Present:

Beth Coleman, Geary Layne, Julie Cohen, Karen Wolfer, Lucas Ketzer, Mike Ashmore, Paul Ramer, Peter Hegelbach, Rachel Buckley, Teran Sittner, Tyler Currie

Arrived Late: 

Absent:

Alex Osias 

Quorum established

Guests:  Several

Public Comment: None

Consent Agenda:

• Approve May 13th agenda
• Prior Minutes – 4/8/21
• Minutes Special Meeting – 4/15/21

Motion – Lucas Ketzer

Motion to approve consent agenda

Second –  Karen Wolfer

Concorded

Head of School Updates:

• Announcements:
  • 8th grade graduation will be held May 27th at 6:00PM 
  • Mini marathon and fun day traditions are planned
• Thank you to those who came to the World Cafe
  • Lucas is typing the notes and synthesizing the ideas
  • Faculty will review in August
• Term up for Parent Board Members Tyler, Geary, and Alex

Finance Review Committee:

• Reviewed Fund 11 Budget (Horizons’ main budget) and Council Budget
• Expected deficit of $321K, planned deficit of $224K 
• To date, received 75% of our revenue from BVSD
• Proposed Fund 11 budget available
  • Estimating 1 million  
  • Main changes
    • Eliminations of MTSS
    • Reinstatement of Outdoor learning, arts, music, movement
  • Waiting for district ESSER 3 (COVID relief funds) from BVSD
    • This could go to offsetting costs from COVID and learning loss
• Holding off on approving budget while still working with BVSD and the charter contract
• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan is expected to be forgiven, waiting on lender

Charter contract and Head of School Evaluation:

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to move into executive session to discuss positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations regarding the charter contract pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 (4) (e); and to discuss personnel matters pursuant to 24-6-402(4)(f) C.R.S

Second –  Paul Ramer

Concorded

Open session resumed at 7:55 PM

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to adjust HOS salary range

Second –  Mike Ashmore

Concorded, Faculty abstained 

Motion – Tyler Currie

Motion to approve HOS contract

Second –  Mike Ashmore

Concorded, Faculty abstained 

Meeting Adjourned at 7:58 PM