Board Meeting – 07.26.23

LAKE COUNTRY CLASSICAL ACADEMY – BOARD MEETING MINUTES
July 26, 2023

Our Mission: to train the minds and improve the hearts of our young people through a content-rich, classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.

1. Open Meeting:

• Meeting called to order at 6:07 p.m.
• Notice of this regular open board meeting ran in the Waukesha Freeman on July 22, on the LCCA website, and on both LCCA campus front entrances. 
• Roll call: All LCCA Board members were present with the exception of Taryn Whipple. 
• The LCCA Mission was read aloud.
• The Pledge of Allegiance recited.
• Motion to approve the board meeting agenda was made, seconded, and all approved.
  

2. Citizens’ Forum: An opportunity for any member of the audience to address the Board on any topic. No public comments were made.
   
3. Consent Agenda: Motion to adopt the consent agenda was made, seconded, and all approved.

• Minutes from the June 28 regular board meeting and closed session were discussed.
• The School Leader Report was presented by Margaret Daigneau, Head Principal, which includes data on enrollment, staffing, grading (HS GPA averages), student services, facilities, June financial reports (see attached), etc.
• Treasurer’s Report was presented by Brian Hastings, Board Treasurer:
  • June 30, 2023 cash on hand $1,689,248 compared to ~$733,265 end of June last year.  Almost a $1MM improvement.
  • Cash projections are being updated to include the increased per pupil state aid as well as expenditures for UEB 2.0. The net impact should be ~+200k. Presently, end of December 2023 is projected at a little over $1.4MM, so the +$200k increase would put us at $1.6MM. This is ~$700k higher compared to December 2022.
  • State Aid increase to $11,385/student from prelim budget of $9,264/student represents an approximate $1.04MM increase in revenue. 580 students x 2% net attrition x $1,843/student increase. The first 2 payments are in September and December. Meaning there will be a net increase of about $500k of revenue by the end of December.
  • UEB 2.0 expenditure expected to be about $300k.
  • Net increase in cash over current cash projections should be ~$200,000.
  • LOC up for renewal the end of August. Margaret/Lori are sending Waukesha State Bank finalized documents this week.
• President’s Report was presented by Kristina Vourax, Board President: the board continues to meet in monthly closed sessions to identify and secure a one-campus location and financing for this project. Progress is being made and we hope to announce plans for our future one-campus location by later this fall/the end of the calendar year.
  

4. New Business/Action Items:

• LCCA Spring’23 Family and Staff Satisfaction Survey results were presented by Head Principal, Margaret Daigneau (see attached). Takeaways/action steps from the Family & Staff Surveys include:
  • Maintain curricular rigor along with continued dialogue with and education of parents on the value of rigor and high-expectations as well as teacher-led instruction as opposed to project-based learning.
  • Continue providing students who need it the opportunity for and support to gain the basic tools of learning that they might be lacking. 
  • Value and appreciate the current team of teachers and staff – continue to attract and retain high quality faculty and staff.
  • Discipline should be consistent and focused on the individuals who digress from the expectations. Policies require consistent enforcement.
  • Maintain focus on virtues and the development of moral character.
  • The pursuit and generation of opportunities for community-building experiences should continue. A sense of creating traditions should guide this pursuit.
  • Continue to provide proactive communication to families to avoid confusion/misinformation and establish that direct communication to/from the school is the best, most reliable source of information
• The revised LCCA Enrollment Policy was presented by Margaret Daigneau. Pushing the enrollment period and lottery by one month were approved to avoid the bustle of December and January. The annual lottery for new students will be held March 1 instead of February 1, still well in advance of the admissions periods of area independent/parochial schools. The approved revised enrollment policy is attached.
• The revised LCCA Employee Handbook was presented by Margaret Daigneau. A motion to approve the handbook was made, seconded, and approved unanimously. The revised handbook will be shared with staff in mid-August. 
• A Retirement Plan Committee Resolution was presented by Margaret Daigneau. A motion was made to approve this Resolution to form this school committee to aid in plan-related decisions. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously (see attached).
  

5. Closed Session: Motion was made to go into closed session under Wisconsin State Statute 19.85 (1) (e): to discuss the purchasing of public properties in which competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. The motion was seconded, and all approved.
   
6. Reconvened into open session: Motion to move out of closed session and back into open session was made, seconded, and passed unanimously at 8:45 p.m. The board provided updates on various one-campus options for LCCA that are being considered in the Lake Country area, along with financing that would be required for each option. The board hopes to finalize and announce one-campus plans sometime in the next couple of months.
   
7. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn regular board meeting was made, seconded, and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

*The meeting of this regular LCCA Board of Directors was filmed and available on LCCA’s You Tube channel.