1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Recognition of Visitors and Board Co-Chairs
   • Alekej Abyzov: Present
   • Mark Eilers: Present
   • Ivanna Gradinar: Absent
   • Julia Ishanova: Absent
   • Yelena Kurdyumova: Present
   • Elizaveta Lindman:Absent
   • Christian Schmidt: Present
   • Andrew Wood: Present
   • Yelena Hardcopf, Executive Director, ex officio board member.
   • Visitors in attendance: Sergey Porada, Paul Kinsley
2. Approval of the Agenda for this meeting
   Approval of the agenda.
   Motion by: Yelena Kurdyumova
   Seconded by: Andrew Wood
   5-0-0
3. Read the Nasha Shkola Mission and Vision
   Vision: To be an academically rigorous school preparing students for continued success as motivated learners and global citizens.
   Mission: Nasha Shkola aspires to be a multi-cultural charter school committed to exceptional education in all areas of academic inquiry with an emphasis on Russian Language and Culture, providing structured and responsive learning environment based upon educational best practices for all students and their families.
4. Open Forum for members of the public wishing to address the board
   • No comments from the public.
5. Vote and installation of a new board member: Paul Kinsley from the community until June 2019
   The board of directors has an open community position. The board would like to fill this position with the former executive director of the school Paul Kinsley. In order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest or violations of school rules the board requested the school’s attorney look into the appointment of Paul Kinsley to a temporary community position until annual elections in June. The attorney Cindy Lovarato had said this appointment would be ok. Yelena Kurdyumova questioned this appointment and asked what the by-laws said about such appointments. Further advice from the attorney was explained to the board. The attorney said that as long as we are not adding a totally new position for Paul the board can appoint people to open positions. This arrangement would not upset the balance of power on the board with three teacher positions, three community positions, and three parent positions. Ms. Kurdyumova questioned the analysis of the attorney and demanded that someone show her where this is stated in the by-laws. Ms. Kurdyumova. objected to Paul being added to the board. She said that he had a conflict of interest due to being appointed as financial consultant. Others pointed out that Mr. Kinsley is not a consultant, but an advisor; he is working on a volunteer basis and not being paid and there is no conflict interest. Ms. Kurdyumova responded that the terminology does not matter, and she requested proof that Mr. Kinsely was not being compensated.

   Ms. Kurdyumova asked for the vote to be delayed and asked why the board intended to appoint Paul on a temporary basis until the official vote in June. Yelena Hardcopf gave examples of how Paul has contributed and continues to contribute to the school.

   Ms. Kurdyumova also said that she sees teachers as having a conflict of interest because they are paid by the school. The law states that teachers must be on the school board so all interested parties (teachers, parents, community members) will be represented.

   Ms. Kurdyumova suggested that Mr. Kinsley might be responsible for certain families not returning this year. YH stated that the majority of the families were on a single bus route which was dropped last year, and these families stated that lack of reliable transportation was the reason that they left. Ms. Kurdyumova said that she did not have proof that this was true since she had not been given the personal contact information of these families. Ms. Kurdyumova incorrectly claims she has a right, as a board member, to know the personal contact information of current or former families.

   Ms. Kurdyumova stated that, given the lack of proof that the families left due to transportation issues, she is forced to assume they left due to poor teaching. Ms. Hardcopf stated that Ms. Kurdyumova has never been to a class and has no basis for making this assumption. Ms. Kurdyumova stated that she is not attempting to insult the teaching, only stating that without speaking directly to these families, she says she is forced to make this assumption.

   Due to disagreements, the discussion became heated, and several members apologized for not maintaining professional calm during board discussions.

   Motion to install Paul Kinsley as a community representative member of the Nasha Shkola board of directors until June 2019 when annual elections will be held to fill open seats on the Nasha Shkola board of directors.

   Motion by: Christian Schmidt
   Seconded by: Andrew Wood
   4-1-0

6. Reports
   
   1. Director report
      1. 105 students
         • The school gained five new students in the month of December
      2. Outreach
         • Speaking opportunity (Russian Baptist Church) December 2
         • Open House (not well attended)
         • NY School Program (well attended)
         • NY party for the younger children December 22 (targeted at Russian-speaking community)
      3. Other reports: School nutrition review preliminary results.
         • School Nutrition Review preliminary results
         • Took place: December 11-12
         • Findings:
         • Several application errors
         • Several verification errors
         • Policy updates (Wellness policy update, develop Meal Charge Policy)
         • Menu (portions/recipes)
         • New director requires 12 hours of training
         • Preschool: additional information submitted to IQS in early December.
   2. Financial Report
      • Fund 01 had a positive balance of $45,386
      • Fund 02 had a deficit of $697
        1. Monthly Finance Report
           • The school had a total cash balance of $79,229.00 at the end of 2018.
        2. 990 Report (PREPARATION OF 2017 EXEPT ORGANIZATION TAX RETURN)
           • Report is required by the audit in regard to tax submission.
7. Consent Agenda
   1. Minutes of the November 20, 2018 Board meeting
   2. Financials for September 2018.
   3. 990 Report (PREPARATION OF 2017 EXEMPT ORGANIZATION TAX RETURN)
      Motion to approve the consent agenda including the minutes of the November 20, 2018 meeting, Financials for September 2018, and the 990 report (Preparation of 2017 Exempt Organization Tax Return) with a correction to the name of the company Runglobalmedia in the list of visitors in the November 20, 2018 minutes.
      Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
      Seconded by: Andrew Wood
      5-0-0
8. Old Business
   1. Saturday Enrichment Program: preliminary budget
      • The board discussed the structure, finances and the name of the program
      • Stepping Stones is the current name
      • Budget minimum is based on at least 40 students
      • Session – 14 weeks
      • The board discussed class sizes and offerings of classes.
9. New Business
   1. World Best Work Force 2017-2018 Approval(have been submitted to the MDE)
      • This was submitted to MDE on December 15, 2018Motion to approve the World’s Best Work Force Report for 2017-2018.
        Motion by: Andrew Wood
        Seconded by: Paul Kinsely
        5.0.0
   2. NS Purchasing Procedure review and approval(practice required by the MDE)
      • The board discussed this to understand purchasing procedures.

        Motion to approve purchasing procedures.
        Motion by: Yelena Kurdyumova
        Seconded by: Alexej Abyzov
        5.0.0

   3. Updated Board Activity calendar
      • The board examined the activity calendar.
   4. School policies: establish revision process
      • The board spent two years revising school policies. The board needs to renew the process and review and revise as needed. The board members are expected to read the policy and be prepared to approve or suggest revision at the next meeting.
   5. NS Board Self-evaluation(please fill out and submit to Mark/Yelena prior to the next board meeting)
      • Yelena Kurdyumova asked about teachers and conflicts of interest.
      • The board needs to fill this out before the next meeting and submit to Mark or Yelena H.
10. Other
    • Christian Schmidt the secretary of the board requested the board record audio of all future meetings in addition to closed meetings that must be recorded by law.
11. Adjourn
    Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:19pm
    Motion by: Yelena Kurdyumova
    Seconded by: Andrew Wood
    5-0-0

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Investigate ways to remove or sanction a board member who is disruptive to the school’s operations.
2. Send final numbers for Stepping Stones.
3. Complete board of directors individual assessment.
4. Get all information such as by-laws and other stuff in one spot so that we can check it easily when questions of legality come up.
5. Have audio recordings of meetings for better record keeping.
6. Get information in survey to board members to review before the next meeting.

Next Board Meeting: January 15, 2018 – Nasha Shkola School
The Nasha Shkola Board meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM. 
The Finance Committee meets at 5:30 prior to the board meeting.