Regular Session - January 12, 2016

ARIZONA STATE BOARD FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS

1616 West Adams Street, Suite 170

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

The Board's meeting room is located in the State Land Department building.

Access open parking east of the church on the southeast corner of 16th Avenue and Monroe

and in the visitor parking on the northwest corner of 16th Avenue and Monroe.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Regular Session

9:00 AM

NOTICE AND AGENDA - REVISED*

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Moment of Silence
3. Roll Call
4. Call to the Public – This is the time for the public to comment.  Members of the Board may not discuss items that are not specifically identified on the agenda.  Therefore, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.01(H), action taken as a result of public comment will be limited to directing staff to study the matter, responding to any criticism, or scheduling the matter for further consideration and decision at a later date.
5. Arizona Charter Schools Association Update on its 2016 legislative agenda and policy positions – Eileen Sigmund, President and CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association
6. Arizona Alternative Education Consortium Update on Arizona Alternative Education in the new year – Binky Michele Jones
7. Superintendent’s Report – Update on current events and/or activities of the Department of Education.
8. Executive Director’s Report – Introduction to the agenda items—Discussion and possible action: 
   1. Status of charters with previous and/or on-going board actions:Founding Fathers Academies, Inc.; Ahwatukee Foothills Prep, Inc.; El Centro for the Study of Primary and Secondary Education; Flagstaff Montessori, L.L.C.; Incito Schools; Luz Academy of Tucson, Inc.; StrengthBuilding Partners
9. Consent Agenda – All items on this agenda will be considered by a single motion with no discussion, unless requested otherwise by a board member. 
   1. Consideration to approve charter holder amendment requests for the following:
      1. BASIS Schools, Inc. (Chandler Primary- North Campus) - Procurement Laws and USFRCS Exceptions
      2. BASIS Schools, Inc. (91949) - Adding grade levels
      3. Franklin Phonetic Primary School, Inc. (4495) - Charter mission
      4. Pima Prevention Partnership (90536) - Decrease in instructional days
      5. Seneca Preparatory Academy Foundation - Decrease in instructional days
      6. Vista College Preparatory, Inc. - Decrease in instructional days
10. Presentation by A for Arizona ‘A’ School Leaders about Espiritu Schools – Adrian Ruiz, Executive Director of Espiritu Schools
11. Presentation and Discussion – Presentation and discussion regarding charter school exceptions to school district procurement requirements.  Discussion may include a brief history of the Board’s granting of procurement exceptions, information disclosed through the annual audit reporting packages, how procurement exceptions have benefited charter holders in their operations of a charter school and procurement policies and procedures of operating schools, and related matters. 
12. Compliance Matters
    1. The Board will receive information to determine whether evidence exists that the following charter holders continue to breach one or more provisions of their charter contract and state law regarding failure to timely submit the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 annual financial audit in accordance with A.R.S. §15-183(E)(6).

If the Board determines that a breach remains, the Board may take action as it deems appropriate or necessary under state law, which may include issuing a notice of intent to revoke the charter pursuant to A.R.S. §15-183(I).

1. Flagstaff Montessori, L.L.C.
2. StrengthBuilding Partners

2. The Board will receive information to determine whether evidence exists that the following charter holders are in breach of one or more provisions of their July 2012 settlement agreement, federal, state, or local laws regarding their failure to timely submit the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 annual financial audit in accordance with A.R.S. §15-183(E)(6).

If the Board determines that a breach may have occurred, the Board may take action as it deems appropriate or necessary under state law, which may include deciding whether to hold a hearing to determine if a breach of the July 2012 settlement agreement has occurred and to revoke the charter contract.

1. El Centro for the Study of Primary and Secondary Education
2. Luz Academy of Tucson, Inc.

13. Charter Amendment and Notification – Discussion and possible action on the charter amendment and notification requests submitted by the following charter holders that do not meet the Board’s academic performance expectations:
    1. Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. – Adding grade levels
    2. Mohave Accelerated Elementary School, Inc. – Enrollment cap increase
14. *Reconsideration of Charter Amendment– Discussion and possible action on the adding grade levels and the enrollment cap requests by The Paideia Academies, Inc., a charter holder that does not meet the Board’s academic performance expectations. Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3) the Board may vote to go into Executive Session, which will not be open to the public, for legal advice. Part 1  Part 2
15. Good Cause Extension – Discussion and possible action on the good cause extension request for the signing of the charter contract for the following approved new charter applicants:
    1. BASIS Schools, Inc. operating BASIS Ahwatukee K-6
    2. BASIS Schools, Inc. operating BASIS Mesa K-6
16. New Charter School Application for 2017-2018 – Discussion and consideration of modifications to the New Charter School Application and processes for the 2017-2018 application cycle.
17. Election of Officers
18. Summary of Current Events, Future Meeting Dates and Items for Future Agendas – The executive director, presiding officer or a member of the Board may present a brief summary of current events pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.02(K) and may discuss future meeting dates and direct staff to place matters on a future agenda.  The Board will not discuss or take action on any current event summary.
19. Adjournment