The Odyssey School Board: On-Boarding 2014

1. The Odyssey School Board:On-Boarding 2014 Board of Directors Retreat July 24, 2014

2. Background • Last year, Board identified need for formal on-boarding process for new members • Correlated with Board’s move to standardize Director terms • Director election/selection in May • Director terms to begin in July • Part of Governance Committee’s work to review and refine Board governance procedures

3. On-Boarding Agenda • Charter Schools & Board Governance • Open Meetings Law • Odyssey Board Governance Documents & Policies • About the Board • The Board’s Work

4. I. Charter Schools & Board Governance

5. School Models

6. Charter School Board Duties • Setting and protecting the mission and vision of the school • Hiring, evaluating, terminating the school leader • Providing financial oversight • Ensuring adequate resources • Ensuring legal and ethical compliance • Recruiting new board members • Serving as ambassadors for the school

7. Charter Board vs. Nonprofit Board

8. II. Open Meetings Law

9. Meeting • Definition of Meeting: • Purpose: convened to discuss public business • Any gathering of 3 members of Board is a meeting • Email discussion between 3 or more Board members is a meeting • Requirements for Meeting: • All meetings require 24 hours advance public notice in designated public place • All meetings must have minutes which are available for public inspection

10. Best Practice: Email • Informational emails are OK • Do not use email to discuss public business with 3 or more Board members • 2 Board members can use email to discuss public issues • Do not put anything in email you do not want to be made public

11. Executive Session • Board can enter executive session to discuss sensitive matters, including: • Property transactions • Conferences with School’s attorney • Personnel matters • Discussion of individual students • Security arrangements/investigations • Negotiation strategy

12. Procedure for Executive Session • Public Notification • Public notice of topic of discussion • Citation to C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4) subsection • Board vote • 2/3 vote of quorum of Board members present to enter Executive Session • No vote on public business taken during Executive Session • Electronic recording • Record discussions except for: • Discussions of individual students • Discussions with School’s attorney • Retain recording for 90 days

13. III. Odyssey Board Governance Documents & Policies

14. Overview: Governance Documents • DPS Renewal Contract (Jul. 2011) • Odyssey School’s Renewal Application (Sept. 2010) • Bylaws (Apr. 2014) • Director Commitment Letter (Annual) • Various Board Policies

15. 1. Renewal Contract • Effective July 1, 2011; terminates June 30, 2016 • Sets out the requirements for our charter from Denver Public Schools

16. 2. Bylaws • Revised April 2014 • Authorizes Board to act on School’s behalf • Identifies Board governance (size, meetings, votes) • Board appoints Executive Director and other administrative officers • Identifies School’s fiscal year: July 1 to June 30

17. 3. Board Commitment Letter • Director has a fiduciary obligation to act in School’s best interests and advance its mission • Expectations of Directors: • Attend Board retreat and at least 75% of Board meetings and assigned committee meetings • Serve on at least one Board committee and lead at least one committee initiative • Actively assist with/attend fundraising events, make meaningful personal financial contribution to School • Invite/accompany at least one associate to visit Odyssey or planned event

18. 4. Board Policies • Accountability Plan (Mar. 2011) • Code of Conduct (Feb. 2001) • Conflict of Interest Policy (Apr. 2012) • Director Nomination/Selection Policy (Apr. 2014) • Enrollment Policy (Oct. 2012) • Financial Policies & Procedures (Jul. 2010) • Governance Policy (Jun. 2005) • Hiring Policy (Mar. 2007) • Personnel Policy (Sept. 2009) • Retention Policy (Jun. 2012)

19. IV. About the Board

20. Composition • Minimum Composition: 11 Directors • 3 Parent Directors • 2 Staff Directors • 5 Community Directors (“in the areas of education, business, or philanthropy”) • Executive Director (non-voting Board member) • Maximum Size: Up to 16 Directors • Between 10 and 15 voting members • 1 non-voting member (Executive Director)

21. Officers • Positions: • Chair • Past Chair • Chair Elect • Secretary • Treasurer • Terms: • One-year terms for each position • But Chair Elect commits to three-year tenure

22. Meetings • Annual Meeting • Where Board elects officers for upcoming year • Regular Meetings • No less than 6 meetings per year • At least one meeting every 60 days (exception: 90 days during summer months) • Standing meeting: third Wednesday of each month, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the School • Special Meetings • May be called by: (i) Chair or (ii) any 5 Directors • Meetings may be telephonic

23. Decision-Making • Decision “by consensus” • Table decision until next meeting • Majority vote • “Fist to five” method

24. V. The Board’s Work

25. Committees • Executive • Board Officers plus Executive Director • Accountability • Finance • Governance • Communications • Development/Fundraising

26. Strategic Initiatives • Identification of Board’s priorities for the upcoming school year • Often necessitates creation of a “Task Force” to do the work • Examples: • Teacher Compensation • ED Succession Planning • School Growth

27. Selected Dates • June/July: Board retreat • August: Board/staff potluck • October/November: Academic performance review • March/April: Circulate community surveys • April: Community director candidates presented to Board • May: Elections for parent & staff directors; selection of community directors • May: Present draft budget • June: Approve final budget

28. Board’s Google Docs Page

29. Questions?