Board of Directors Special Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 6:30pm
Meeting Location: 6717th 85th Ave North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

The general purpose of the meeting is

• to discuss training and communications from the community
• to consider the performance of two Nasha Shkola teachers in a closed session

1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Recognition of Visitors and Board Co-Chairs
   • Mark Eilers: Present
   • Nicole Nelson: Present
   • Elizaveta Lindman: Present
   • Alexej Abyzov: Present
   • Natalya Johnson: Present
   • Marisol Serdiouk: Present
   • Yelena Hardcopf, Executive Director, ex officio board member.
   • Visitors: Cindy Lavorato, Dr. Lora Lepisto Brown, Peter Keller, Ella Gerbuz, Yulia Carroll, Svetlana Kazanecki, Evgueni Serdiouk, Ecaterina Jelavskiy, Yuliya Briskman, Viktoria Nazarenko, Valentina and Mikhail Silko, Viktoria Postaichuk, Denis Evstuhin, Natalya Yukhimchuk, Alena Zhelavskaya
2. Approval of the Agenda for this meeting

   First proposed amendment: Motion to add an open forum to the agenda.
   Motion to approve:
   Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
   Seconded by: Liza Lindman
   6-0-0

   Second proposed amendment: Motion to move 4.1 to after the “other” closed meeting.
   Motion to approve
   Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
   Seconded by: Marisol Serdiouk
   5-0-1

   Third proposed amendment: Motion to amend the agenda to allow discussion of amending the Nasha Shkola bylaws to revise the following provision:

   From:
   “Meetings may be closed for discussion purposes only (no action [votes] may be conducted in a closed meeting) on such topics as labor negotiations, to consider allegations or charges against individuals, evaluation of an individual under the direct supervision of the board and other purposes if expressly authorized by Minnesota statute.”

   To:
   Motion: to amend the Nasha Shkola bylaws to revise the following provision as follows: “Meetings may be closed for discussion and action on such topics as labor negotiations, to consider allegations or charges against individuals, evaluation of an individual under the direct supervision of the board and other purposes if expressly authorized by Minnesota statute.”

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

   Fourth proposed amendment: Public discussion (change from 3 minutes to each person is limited to 2 minutes; each speaker may address their concerns about the Russian program, but the Board will not allow discussion related to the two teachers).

   Motion to approve
   Motion by: Alexej Abyzov
   Seconded by: Liza Lindman
   6-0-0

3. Read the Nasha Shkola Mission and Vision:
   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.
   Vision: To be an academically rigorous school preparing students for continued success as motivated learners and global citizens.
4. Open forum
   Evgeny Serdiouk, parent of 2 students at Nasha Shkola addressed the Board.
   Yulia Carroll, parent of 1 student at Nasha Shkola addressed the Board.
   These two speakers complied with the Board’s direction regarding their remarks.

   Ekaterina Zhelavskiya, parent of 3 students at Nasha Shkola, began to address the Board in Russian. Her remarks were interpreted by Yuliya Briskman, parent of 1 student.

   Ms. Zhelavskiya, in violation of the Board’s rules governing public discussion, refused to contain her remarks to the Russian program. The Chair advised her that she was out of order; she refused to stop speaking. The individual interpreting for her, also continued to translate for Ms. Zhelavskiya. The Chair repeatedly admonished Ms. Zhelavskiya, that she was out of order, but she refused to acknowledge that admonishments and continued to speak. The interpreter also continued to attempt to translate.

   The meeting became very chaotic, with the speaker and translator talking over the Board chair as he attempted to regain control of the meeting.

   Public members in attendance became quite agitated; the speaker continued to talk and then some members of the public began engaging in open commentary.

5. Vote on motion to adjourn:
   Motion by: Mark Eilers
   Seconded by: Nicole Nelson
   3-0-3

   After the tie vote, the meeting was adjourned based on the advice of the legal counsel.