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Baxter Academy

Board Meeting

December 19, 2023

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Reading of Baxter Academy Mission:

Mission

Inquiry leads learning at Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, a public charter high school free to Maine students. Our project-based STEM curriculum emphasizes real-world problem solving and is paired with a humanities program that connects ideas across disciplines and cultivates strong communication skills. Students design innovative projects through Flex Friday, a unique program requiring initiative, perseverance, and collaboration, as well as reflection on the work and its impact in the community.

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  1. Approval of November Meeting Minutes

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Chapter 12:

“A Tale of Two Budgets”

2. Financial Report

Nik Charov, treasurer

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Approved May 30, 2023

Presented December 19, 2023

VS.

Revised FY24 Budget

Original FY24 Budget

$4,694,038

$4,761,976

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“$68,000 more? What’s going on???”

  1. A fourth bus line ($80k)
  2. A second ASL interpreter ($31k)
  3. Slightly higher expenses across many areas ($32k)

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  • Savings in staff costs due to vacancies ($13k)
  • Better-than-expected revenues ($62k)

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In other words:

providing an education for 6% more students

than we budgeted for requires more money

(also: BA staff have definitely earned a vacation)

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For Baxter to succeed, we must provide:

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  • high quality education,
  • model for innovative problem solving,
  • fiscal restraint,
  • community engagement and integration,
  • and relevance to the economy.

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3. Public Comment

(please limit remarks

and questions to 3 minutes)

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2024 Enrollment Calendar

1-Dec-23 Regular Enrollment Period Opens!

4-Dec-23 Prospective Family Q+A

19-Jan-24 Transfer Applications for Spring 2024 Close�15-Feb-24 Flex Friday Midyear Exhibitions

23-Feb-24 Regular Enrollment Period Ends

28-Feb-24 Enrollment Lottery for 2024-2025 Applicants

11-Jun-24 Step Up Day for Class of 2028

27-Sep-24 Deadline for Fall Rolling Applications

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Student Ambassador Tours:

Tuesdays/Fridays�December-February (and by Request).

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Charter Commission

Mid-year Review

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  • Board
  • Academics
  • Financials

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TOPICS

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  • Board -
    • Open seats
    • needs
    • successes

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  • Academic
    • School level data
    • Classroom level data
    • Cohort data
    • Subgroup data
    • Concerns
    • Successes
    • Plans for moving forward

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  • Chronic Absenteeism
  • Anticipated Graduation Rates, percentages of students on track to graduate
  • Finances - current status and projections
  • Current Enrollment
  • Student Recruitment for next school year/Projected Enrollment

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Executive Session