Minutes:  Prairie Creek Community School Board Meeting Thursday, March 10, 2005 Present:    Dan Kelley, John Battiste, Michelle Martin, Caroline Jones, Nancy Dennis, Simon Tyler, Absent:    Brett Reese, Laura Medwetz The PCCS Board operates by consensus. Agenda attached. Motion to accept February 10, 2005 minutes by Dan, seconded by Michelle, Dan Kelley, Michelle Martin, John Battiste, Nancy Dennis, Simon Tyler said aye. 1. Review and Vote On Budget The budget was presented with changes including a 3.5% increase for teachers. A line item for work day expenses was deleted.  It is hoped that the PC Inc. will sponsor the work days with PCCS providing the labor.  In May, after the state’s numbers are in, the budget will be revisited looking specifically at the educational assistant and the staff development coordinator positions. Budget Summary Follows: 2005-06 BUDGET PROJECTION    APPROVED MARCH 10, 2005                OPERATING    REVENUES     $  716,583.06         EXPENSES     $  712,407.85         BALANCE     $      4,175.21                 FOOD SERV    REVENUES     $    21,211.00         EXPENSES     $    21,224.00         BALANCE     $         (13.00)                FULL DAY K    REVENUES     $    32,760.00         EXPENSES     $    32,760.00         BALANCE     $               -                   EXTENDED DAY    REVENUES     $    14,620.00         EXPENSES     $    12,000.00         BALANCE     $      2,620.00                 ALL FUNDS     REVENUES     $  785,174.06     COMBINED    EXPENSES     $  778,391.85         BALANCE     $      6,782.21                 A discussion ensued about the fact that this budget has some risk.  The bottom line is very low.  Salary increases for the future are dependent on the state’s funding, and new ways of looking at things. There are few non-classroom items to squeeze. Charter School law recognizes that with teachers as majority on boards conflicts of interest may arise and consequently, has created a “special class” for teachers in these situations.  Teachers do not need to excuse themselves from budget votes unless the vote affects only they themselves as individuals.  With this in mind, a discussion about how to come up with the draft budget in the future ensued. A recommendation for the Director to form a team at budget time including the Director, Business Manager and one or two teachers was put forth. This recommendation will be brought to the faculty and voted on at the April meeting. A motion to approve the budget was put forth by Dan, seconded by John and all present voted aye: Dan Kelley, John Battiste, Michelle Martin, Nancy Dennis, Simon Tyler. 2. Schedule Strategic Planning Session Two The date of Tuesday, April 19 is set for the next Strategic Planning Session.  The four areas identified in the first session (Charter School Expectations, Growth, Teacher Retention and Special Education) will be addressed.  The goal is to have outcomes and non-negotiables identified by the end of the school year. 3. Minnesota Charter School Special Ed A motion to approve the $4500 cost of the MACS (Minnesota Association of Charter Schools) Special Ed Director was brought forth by Dan, seconded by Simon and all said aye. 4. Topics for next meeting Proposed Board Members (Nominations Committee) Committee Updates