Hope Academy

Open Items

Call the meeting to order

Janine Shopp called the meeting to order at 7:32am.

Record Attendance and Guests

Approve the Minutes

Public Comment

Open Comment Period

No comments. 

Action Items for Vote

Approval of Committee Chairs

Committee Charters

The Committee Charters were attached in Boardable for board members to review, and copies provided in the Board Packet at the meeting. A recommendation was made to correct the font to be uniform throughout the Governance Committee Charter. No other changes were made.

Angela Tomlin moved to approve the Committee Charters. Colleen Kenney seconded. The motion passed. 

Employee Handbook

The Employee Handbook was attached in Boardable for board members to review, and a copy provided in the Board Packet at the meeting. 

23-24 Committee Goals

IDOL Assurances

Rachelle Gardner asked that board members to sign the Indiana Open Door Law Board Assurance Form, which was on boardable for them to review. 

Incident Communication

Rachelle asked that board members review and sign the OEI Incident Communication Policy. 

Conflict of Interest

Rachelle asked that board members sign and complete, if applicable, the Report of Director with Respect to Disclosure of Transactions/Conflicts of Interest. 

Finance

Finance Committee Report

By June 30, 2024 the board will approve a balanced and fiscally sound budget that aligns with the school program needs for SY 24-25. "

June Financials

Brian Anderson highlighted a few items on the Budget vs Actual Summary as of June 30, 2023. We ended the year with $1.865 million in revenue with a budget of $1.913 million. On the expense side we were over budget by roughly $95,000, which is mostly due to transportation costs. The Ending Cash Balance was $234,000, which is less than we budgeted, but higher than where we started at the beginning of the year at roughly $150,000.

Approve Transaction List

The Transaction List was attached in Boardable for board members to review, and a copy provided in the Board Packet at the meeting. 

Academic and Recovery Excellence

Academic and Recovery Committee Goal: Achieve ast least 60% retention rate of eligible students by June 2024. "

School Report

Enrollment/Enroll Indy Update

Deb Leser stated that the current enrollment is thirty-four with two new students starting today and two new students starting Monday. We have not received any students from Enroll Indy. 

Professional Development

Deb thanked the Board for allowing the staff to do Professional Development every week. They have taken a different approach this year to raise awareness about Data. One PLC session a month is being spent looking a school data (for example: next week's PLC is focused on Student Data, tracking discipline and attendance aggregated by gender, race, etc.). They're also working on utilizing technology in the classrooms.

Formative Assessments

NWEA is happening this week, which is done twice a year - at the beginning of the year and the end of the year. 

Cross Curricular Activities

No update. 

Graduation

There are currently eleven Seniors with nine on track to graduate. Deb has been working with Gina Woodward with DMHA to possibly set up a local pathway in which students can obtain a certificate in peer coaching. We are also working with WorkOne Indy. 

Collaboration/Concern

Rachelle reminded the board that we are in the process of our OEI 4-year review. We will be setting up board interviews with our evaluator the week of October 13th. 

Marketing Committee

Marketing Committee Goal: To achieve enrollment targets of 38 students in October of 2023 and 41 students in February of 2024.

Marketing Committee Report

Marketing/PR Update

Rachelle shared our new billboard designs with the board, which contain a more bold statement. Both billboards have the same message, just different stock images. 

Community Outreach Update

Linda Gagyi showed where we are tracking with area schools, showing that we have a very strong relationship with Carmel, Westfield and Avon and are continuing to grow our already close relationship with Shortridge.

Goals Update

23-24 Goal Tracker

We have been tracking our referral sources, schools and treatment providers referring the most students. We have also been tracking our inquiries, which have been resulting in an enrollment conversion of 50 percent. 

Collaborations/Concerns

Executive Director Report

Strategic Plan Update

Rachelle highlighted the board on the status of the development of the middle school early intervention program. We received the Mental Health of America grant for $282,000 (1 year with 2-year renewal). In the grant we have a consultant to create and implement the program, with peer coaches going into the schools. Rachelle is going to talk to Beech Grove today to ask if they would be one of the pilot schools. 

Senior Updates

Our Seniors are very involved this school year. They have a goal to help underclassmen be calm and respectful, to graduate and have a future. The values they are trying to bring to the school is staying on task, be appropriate and honest with others, and have strong Capstone projects. Each senior has taken on a small group of their own underclassmen that they are going to support. 

Staffing Update

We are fully staffed but are looking to hire another Peer Recovery Coach. Rachelle is hoping to introduce the teachers to the board members at the next board meeting. 

Facilities Update

We have installed all new carpet, lighting, lockers and student seating. A fence is being installed around the GPS Patio. We are in the process of installing new locks. 

UIndy Update

Lunch is still being provided by UIndy. 

Aspire Update

We continue to work closely with Aspire, with 3-4 currently seeing them. 

SYF Update

We are waiting to hear about our $5,000 grant from SYF. Deb will be attending their annual conference in Orlando, FL this November. 

IPS Update

No update. 

MOU

We are looking into possibly creating an MOU with area school districts. Rachelle has met with the Superintendent of Beech Grove, who is willing to entertain a conversation on the idea. This also could create a pathway with the school districts, then later be used as a marketing/outreach piece. 

Development Committee

Development Committee Goal: Hope Academy will raise $710,000 in FY '23-'24.

Development Committee Update

Grants and Giving Update

Jon Shapiro reported that we are doing really well on grants as we've received the Mental Health of America and DMHA grants. Grants in progress include grants from the Indiana Department of Health, Pacers Foundation, and opioid settlement funds from the Marion County Coroner. It's only August and we're 60 percent to goal, which is allowing us to begin having the conversations around Hope's 20th anniversary. We are going to create a small task force to figure out the direction of that event. 

Direct Mail Update

Invitations have gone out to State Senators and State Representatives who sit on either the Education Committees & Ways and Means Appropriations Committees for their chamber. Invitations to Senators and Representatives for our current students' districts will go out next. 

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine is Thursday, November 2nd. An ask has been made to the Governor to be the Keynote Speaker. As of yesterday, we have $40,000 in sponsorship commitments. Airport Authority is a new sponsor and One America has upped from the Gold Level to Platinum Level. Raised $72k last year, goal of $85 last year. 

Governance Committee

Governance Committee Goal: Provide oversight, input, support, and direction to the strategic plan for sustainabilty for the next phase of Hope Academy's growth.

Legislative Update

No update. 

Goals Update

No Update. 

Collaboration/Concern