• OPSB recently approved conditionally a Type 1 charter for Encore Academy
• Applicant has since then completed conditions and has been granted approval letter by Administration
• Charter contract will be offered after facility is secured by applicant
• Charter has up to 2 years to begin operating as a school
• Charter has not yet established a site and cannot enroll students until it does
• Applications are being accepted from interested students but enrollment deferred pending site

Legislative Agenda

• Forwarded proposed legislative agenda to full Board with recommendation for approval
• Agenda can be seen here

Reduction in Force - OPSB Policy G737

• Forwarded to full Board with Recommendation to approve the implementation of the Policy as necessary to prepare a balanced budget for FY 2013
• Need to implement RIF projected due to several factors, including reduction in Federal funds, increase in employer retirement contributions, and MFP reduction from voucher program

Reduction in Force/Reassignment - G737 

• Necessity under budgetary problems  

Officers of the Board - B200

• President as OPSB spokesperson

• Protocol for vetting items prior to full Board consideration

• Calling of special OPSB meetings

Monthly Financial Report - February 2012

• Read the report on pages 3-15 here
• Additional and significant tax payments were received in March and will appear on next report
• The short-term loan in anticipation of tax receipts has been paid

Action Items

Reviewed information and took the following actions

Millage Roll-Up

• Heard comments from several charter school groups, including the Eastbank Collaborative, in support of rolling forward all millages to the maximum levels allowed by law
• Forwarded to full Board with recommendation for approval for Administration to make required public notices of proposal for 2013 millage roll-forward to maximum authorized levels

Purchasing Items

• Forwarded to full Board with recommendations for approval
• Audubon School Renovations bids
• Property Management Services extension
• Blackboard Contract for Learning Management System renewal
• Achieve 3000 Contract for Student Literacy Application renewal
• Cisco SmartNet Maintenance Support renewal
• IBM Elite Maintenance Support renewal

E-Rate Settlement status

• See pages 16-20 here

Status of Minimum Foundation Program (MFP)

• Current formula could increase OPSB by $ 260 per student
• Revenues, however, could be reduced by expenses State previously funded elsewhere being funded under MFP, such as vouchers, legacy costs, NOCCA, etc. 

• Recommended RFP's are listed on pages 21-26 here 

First Reading of New Policies and Amendments to Current Policies

Discussed proposed policy changes; no action taken    

New Policies and Policy Amendments for First Reading

• Distributed 6 proposed new policies to restructure the school district's administrative structure
• Distributed 17 proposed changes to existing policies related to the changes proposed by the above new policies
• Proposals can be found here 
• Meeting was adjourned during discussions without Board taking action 

Background

• OPSB President reported that the President and the Vice-President had developed the proposals for the reasons stated below.
• The proposals are still proposals, subject to change prior to enactment by Board.
• Currently the Superintendent is the only employee who is hired by, and reports directly to, the Board, and he serves as the Board's treasurer and secretary. Other OPSB employees report either directly or indirectly to the Superintendent.
• Net effects of the proposals are as follows:
• CFO upgraded to a Deputy Superintendent position, hired by, and reporting to, OPSB and serves as treasurer of the Board
• Charter Schools Executive Director upgraded to a Deputy Superintendent position, hired by, and reports directly to the Board, and serves as official representative of District to RSD
• All OPSB employees report to any Deputy or Superintendent regardless of direct supervisor    

Board Member Discussions/Opinions  in Support of the Proposals

• Represents new structure appropriate for emerging public school operations
• Flattens the top-down bureaucratic structure consistent with decentralizing via charter schools
• Is consistent with Board function of developing policy and providing governance
• Can get, or already has, support of State reformers
• Relieves Superintendent of some functions to allow his concentration on improving academics in direct-run schools
• Developed with the assistance of some staff administrators

Board Member Discussions/Opinions in Opposition to the Proposals

• Board should limit itself to policy and not hiring or supervising any employees other than superintendent
• Proposals were not vetted through Policy Committee
• Consideration is more appropriate for regular meetings, not special meetings
• Conflicts with State reform effort being advanced for superintendents to be CEOs without Board interference
• Not developed by Superintendent
• Ill timed if salaries increase while RIF started
• Reporting arrangements have potential for staff confusion and conflicts
• Under current structure, OPSB has attained high ratings among LA districts
• Necessary changes and improvements can be handled in another way