News & Announcements

School updates, important dates, and other notices.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes: September 21, 2021

  1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Recognition of Visitors and Board Co-Chairs
    • Alekej Abyzov: Present
    • Mark Eilers: Present
    • Natalya Johnson: Present
    • Elizaveta Lindman: Absent
    • Marisol Serdiouk: Present
    • Nicole Nelson: Present
    • Brad Falteysek: Present
    • Paul Kinsley: Present
    • Yelena Hardcopf, Executive Director, ex officio board member.
  2. Approval of the Agenda for this meeting
    Motion to approve:
    Motion by: Nicole Nelson
    Seconded by: Marisol Serdiouk
    6-0-0
  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.
  5. Reports
    1. Financial Audit FY21 Report, Justin Nilson (Abdo, Eick & Meyers)
      • There was compliance with state statutes. No noncompliance findings on anything this year, it was an overall clean report.
      • The average daily spending is $13,492.
      • $1.4 million in expenditures in 2021. The General Fund Balance was at 17.29% in 2021.
      • The General Fund Revenues per ADM is lower for Nasha Shkola compared to other local charter schools mostly due to less Special Education funding.
      • The General Fund 01 had a positive balance of $72,102 at the end of August 2021.
      • The Food Service Fund had a transfer balance of $3,941 to bring the end of the year balance to $0.
      • Nasha Shkola had a total cash balance of $319,743 at the end of August 2021 reflected across all funds.
      • Nasha Shkola had a balance of $35,459 in accounts receivable on August 31, 2021.
      • Nasha Shkola had an overall audited fund balance of $278,559 on June 30, 2021, which includes its investments in fixed assets.
      • State aid is being paid on 130 ADM or 135 Pupil Unit. This will need to be adjusted to reflect present enrollment.

        Motion to approve:
        Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
        Seconded by: Nicole Nelson
        6-0-0

    2. Executive Director report
      1. School operations update
        • School opened on August 30th, full-time in person; implementing the Safety Plan that was approved by the board.
          • Enrollment
        • We have 129 students (18 students are in grades 7-8).
          • Employment/staff update
        • We have hired a full-time Special Education teacher.
        • We are continuing to look for a Special Education para.
        • We are working with an agency to pay the placement fee for the third-grade substitute teacher. We are looking to hire her as a permanent, full-time third/fourth grade teacher. The third and fourth grade teachers co-teach third and fourth grade.
        • We are continuing to look for a second Kindergarten teacher.
        • Our current Science support teacher is looking to obtain a full teaching license.
        • We have hired a full-time reading para.
      2. Student Achievement
        • Current NWEA Reading and Math tests indicate a decline in reading and math skills.
        • We gained many new students this school year. For example, we gained 7 new first graders who either had online Kindergarten or skipped Kindergarten.
        • We are implementing our school-wide Guided Reading program. Students are combined in small groups for intervention support or enrichment.
    3. Financial Report
      1. Monthly Finance Report – August 2021
        • Fund 01 balance $226,985
        • Cash on hand $18,743
  6.  Consent Agenda
    Motion to approve:
    Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
    Seconded by: Marisol Serdiouk
    6-0-0

    1. Minutes of August 17th, 2021 Board meeting
    2. Financials August, 2021
    3. Employment confirmation:
      Bodil Empting Sped Teacher 1.0 FTE
      Valentina Eyres Reading Para 1.0 FTE
      Mary Jane Moen 3 & 4 gr ELA/SS Teacher 1.0 FTE
  7. Old Business
    1. NS Health & Safety Plan follow up and updates
      • The NS Health & Safety Plan is being implemented
      • We currently have 4 students (from 2 different families) who are in quarantine due to COVID out-of-school exposure.
      • A daily health check form is emailed to parents every morning.
      • Families have been doing well in keeping sick children home.
      • The majority of staff and students are not wearing masks.
      • Masks are highly recommended, but not required.
    2. Strategic Plan: setting annual goals
      • The Strategic Plan is updated every year.
      • We would like to provide “dual language achievement” certificates for 8th grade students.
      • We would like to implement a comprehensive school-wide approach to teaching Russian language and culture across grades and subject areas.
      • We would like to have an additional subject area such as art provided by a dual-language speaking teacher.
      • A special committee may be formed to help develop the Russian language program as a school-wide approach.
      • Family – school relationship building is a priority.
      • Our current building lease is coming to an end.

        Motion to approve:
        Motion by: Marisol Serdiouk
        Seconded by: Natalya Johnson
        6-0-0

    3. Prekindergarten application update
      • IQS approved the prekindergarten application.
      • We will know the final decision from the state by late November or early December.
      • The preschool application is for the 2022-2023 school year.
    4. NS Uniform policy update
      • Twill pants for girls in K-4 are added to the school uniform.

        Motion to approve:
        Motion by: Natalya Johnson
        Seconded by: Nicole Nelson
        6-0-0

  8. New Business
    1. New Lease & potential relocation
      • We are looking for a traditional school building with standard classroom sizes. 18-20 standard size classrooms.
      • smaller rooms for support services and specialists (4-5)
      • 1 room for computer lab / media center (could be another classroom)
      • at least 2 sets of restrooms for students
      • cafeteria / multipurpose room / auditorium / gym / playground
      • Paul Kinsley will be working actively in looking for a new school building.

        Motion to approve:
        Motion by: Natalya Johnson
        Seconded by: Nicole Nelson
        6-0-0

    2. Review and update board policies: Chapter 1 (1.1-1.2)
      • We are starting our policy review.
      • Need to change 124D to 124 E
        Policy 1.1.1 Statement of Mission
        Policy 1.2 Equal Educational Opportunity

        Motion to approve:
        Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
        Seconded by: Marisol Serdiouk
        6-0-0

  9. Other
  10. Adjourn

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.

Motion to approve:
Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
Seconded by: Marisol Serdiouk
6-0-0

About Nasha Shkola

Nasha Shkola — Russian for Our School — is an academically rigorous K-8 charter school, providing a highly-structured learning environment for students interested in Russian language and culture.

Contact Us

    School Info

    Nasha Shkola
    6717 85th Ave North
    Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

    Phone: 763-496-5550
    Fax: 763-424-8520

    School Hours
    Monday – Friday:
    8:30 am – 4:30 pm

    Office Hours
    Monday – Friday:
    8 am – 4 pm