A message from Board President, Haley Maglieri…
On behalf of the BFA Board of Directors, we welcome you to the start of the 2023-24 school year! The BFA Board, in partnership with Principal Simpson, is proud to work for the students, parents and patrons of BFA in promoting the mission and vision of the school.
In an effort to increase transparency and engagement, the Board will be providing a meeting summary (in addition to the meeting minutes) following each monthly Board meeting. The following summarizes information discussed and action taken during our August meeting.
BOD Updates:
Strategic Goals
The Board has adopted the following Strategic Goals for the 2023-24 school year:
- Improve Educational Experience with Positive School Culture and a Focus on Enhancement of Middle School Electives.
- Maintain Financial Stability and Transparency with a Focus on Facility Management and Improvement.
- Increase Parent Satisfaction and Engagement and Demand for Enrollment.
- Retain and Recruit High Quality Staff.
- Accountability of All Stakeholders for the Success of BFA.
- High Functioning Board and Quality Governance.
- Renew Charter Contract by June 30, 2024.
If you would like to review the entire Strategic Plan, you can do so here.
CMAS Results
- Families should anticipate receiving the CMAS results very soon.
- The Board reviewed the grade-level score summaries and were very pleased to see scores that exceeded the state and district in every category but one (language arts, sixth grade). What a great accomplishment for our students and staff!
- It is important to note that our participation rates were lower than the district and state in every category which could produce flawed results. We hope to see participation increase this school year.
Principal Simpson’s Report
- Middle School Principal Rick Zaccaria has been busy meeting families and spending time with students as he gets acquainted with BFA!
- Full-time SRO Deputy Jensen has also been busy integrating herself into BFA by connecting with students, patrolling the property and helping keep our school safe.
- Storm damage repairs, including the fence that borders Plaza, are nearly complete.
- We hope our preschool families are enjoying the newly paved parking areas.
- We have a new virtues team! Staff members from every grade level will be compiling information and summarizing how our virtues are being taught in the classrooms.
- Principal Simpson has been working to ensure that staff, parents and students are aware of BFA policies and related expectations. Please watch for more information in this regard during Back to School Nights, including a parent acknowledgement form.
- Stay tuned in September for information related to the mill/bond levy and what BFA would utilize those funds for if it were to pass.
Financial Oversight:
Treasurer Sarah Nisbet provided a review of the May, June and July 2023 financials. BFA’s financial health is strong. Required financial transparency information is available here.
Policy Governance:
The Board reviewed the following policies and took the following action during our August meeting (The updated policies will be on the policy webpage by Sept. 1, or sooner.):
- Mobile Electronic Usage Policy – This policy received significant revisions. Please review the policy carefully as information related to the use of student-owned electronic devices has been defined and the restricted use of those devices has been expanded. Cell phones, smart watches, earbuds (or headphones without a cord) and other electronic devices are prohibited during the school day. Please reference the policy for exceptions and other relevant information.
- Asset Management Policy – No revisions were made to this policy.
- Student Discipline Policy – Revisions were made pertaining to the roles of stakeholders, including staff’s commitment to and responsibility for guiding the behaviors of students in accordance with policies and procedures and the acknowledgement of parents/guardians that by enrolling a student at BFA, they know, understand, and accept BFA’s expectations for conduct and related consequences.
- Homework Policy – Revisions for this policy focused on ensuring that the information pertaining to math homework aligned with our enVision math curriculum. We also clarified how missing or incomplete work will be communicated to parents via GradeLink and homework guidelines for parents when contacting staff.
Next month, the Board will review the following policies:
Board BOLTS:
The Board and Principal Simpson recognize that there are BFA students who go above and beyond and achieve excellence in academics, character, effort and/or service. Those students deserve to be recognized and we look forward to doing so during this year’s board meetings.
If you would like to nominate a student to be recognized as one of our Board BOLTS in September, please use this nomination form.
September Board Meeting:
The next BFA Board of Directors meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Middle School Commons.