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LEAP ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL

October 18, 2018

Minutes

Meeting called to order by Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago at 6:05 pm

Attendance:

Present:

Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago

Mathew Goodwin

John Hall

Christine Karlsson

Cal Maradonna

Marlon Munoz

Hector Nieves

Brenda Ortiz

Omar Samaniego

Dr. Horacio Sosa

Marianne Taylor

Dr. Lori Vermeulen

Excused:

Marlon Munoz

Gladys Novoa

Dr. Michael Palis

Robert Ramson

Margo Venable

Jennifer Young

Staff Present

Xavier Barrios

Manny Delgado

Ken Verrill

Wanda Garcia, Board Liaison

I. Welcome/Declaration of Compliance with Open Public Meetings Act

Dr. Santiago opened the meeting by welcoming trustees, staff and members of the public. She indicated

that the meeting was announced and advertised in accordance with the Public Meetings Act. A Public

Notice was published in the Courier Post. Further, she indicated that a period for public comment would

be provided at the end of the business portion of the meeting.

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II. Approval of Minutes of September 20, 2018

Item 1: John Hall presented a motion to approve the minutes of September 20, 2018 as presented by Wanda

Garcia, Board Liaison.

Seconded by Christine Karlsson. AYES: 10 NAYS: 0 ABS: 2

III. Chairperson’s Report

A. Update on Charter School Review – Commissioner of Education’s Visit – November 16, 1:30

pm: Dr. Santiago provided an update on the charter review process and the Commissioner’s Visit

scheduled for November 16.

B. Annual Scholarship Fundraising Gala: Dr. Santiago reminded everyone about the Annual

Fundraising Gala scheduled for December 8, 2018. She urged Board members to attend and to

cultivate potential sponsors.

C. Intramural Sports Program: Hector Nieves presented the following resolution:

Item 2: Resolved that the Board approve the proposal to start an Intramural Sports Program for students in

grades 4-8 to begin effective November 19, 2018. Further resolved that the Board approve a

budget of $12,000 to finance the program.

Seconded by Mathew Goodwin. AYES: 11 NAYS: 0 ABS: 0

IV. Chief Operations/Lead Person Report

A. COO Report

Fire Drills: Copies were provided.

Student Discipline/HIB Reports: A report was provided.

Health Center Update: News about the Health Center were very positive and

encouraging with a growing patient base, increase in patients seen an increase in revenues.

Under Dr. Rivera’s leadership, the Health Center is in route to becoming self-sustainable.

Enrollment: The school’s enrollment has decreased slightly in some grades. Manny

Delgado indicated that all efforts are in place to launch a campaign for marketing the

school and there are students in the Wait List that are being called for a sit. A report will

be provided periodically to keep the Board informed.

V. Finance Committee Actions: John Hall presented items 3-13 for Board approval:

A. LEAP Cramer Hill LLC Financials

Item 3: Resolved that the Board approve the Financial Reports for the LEAP Cramer Hill LLC for the

month of August 2018 as provided by the Chief Operations Officer.

Resolved that the Board authorize the following payments under the LEAP/Cramer Hill,

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LLC:

Vendor Amount

Greener Cleaner $ 304.95

LEAP Academy $ 6,113.00

Merchant Services $ 54.99

Utica National Inc. $ 2,041.00

B. Financial Reports/LEAP Academy

Item 4: Approval of Board Line Item Status Report

Whereas, the members of the LEAP Board of Trustees, voting on this resolution, have reviewed

the Board Secretary’s and Monthly Financial Reports for the following month of August 2018

and have consulted with the Chief Financial Officer/SBA as deemed appropriate.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the members of this Board of Trustees voting (By recorded

Roll call) on this Resolution do hereby certify that based on the monthly certification of the

Board’s Secretary concerning “Budgetary Line Item Status” N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(c) 3 no

major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(a) 3 and

based on such report and the status of budgetary amount and expenditures as of the date of the

adoption of this Resolution there appears to be at this time sufficient funds available to meet

the School’s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

C. Approval of Budget Transfers

Item 5: Resolved that the Board approve budget transfers for August 2018 as provided by the Chief

Financial Officer.

D. Approval of Expenditure Report/Bill List

Item 6: Whereas, the Business Administrator certifies that there are sufficient funds to pay bills and

payroll (through September 2018) for August 2018.

Therefore, be it resolved that the LEAP Academy University Charter School Board of Trustees

authorize payment of vouchers and payroll as provided by the Chief Operations Officer.

E. Contract Cancellation

Item 7: Resolved that the Board rescind the contract to the Association of Language Arts Teachers for

ELA PD.

F. Approval of Contracts

Item 8: Resolved that the Board approve the contract with Management and Evaluation Associates in

the amount of $25,000 for technical assistance with planning and monitoring of the ESSA grant.

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G. Release of Bids

Item 9: Resolved that the Board authorize release of bid specifications for Educational Substitute

Staffing and for PD Training Facilitation per the revised Academic Plan.

H. Acceptance of Gift

Item 10: Resolved that the Board accept the following gifts for various school projects:

$6,345 anonymous donations to support the Library Program through the Jupiter Law

Center.

$1,200 from the LEAP Cramer Hill LLC for food services for the back to school luncheon

I. Approval of COO as signer in all bank accounts

Item 11: Resolved that the Board approves Manuel Delgado in his role of Chief Operating

Officer as a signer in all the bank accounts of the school upon the separation of the SBA.

J. Approval of Revised Operating Budget

Item 12: Resolved that the Board approve the revised operating budget inclusive of actual allocations

numbers for 2018-2019.

K. Annual Charter School Fiscal Questionnaire

Item 13: Resolved that the Board approves submittal of Annual Charter School Fiscal

Questionnaire for 2018-2019 as prepared by the CFO/SBA.

Seconded by Hector Nieves.

Roll Call:

Item

3

Item

4

Item

5

Item 6 Item

7

Item

8

Item

9

Item

10

Item

11

Item

12

Item

13

Dr. Gloria Bonilla-

Santiago

YES YES YES YES

Abstain

on

payments

to

Rutgers

and Metz

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Mathew Goodwin YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES John Hall YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Christine Karlsson YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Cal Maradonna YES YES YES YES

Abstain

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

5

Item

3

Item

4

Item

5

Item 6 Item

7

Item

8

Item

9

Item

10

Item

11

Item

12

Item

13

on

payments

to

Rutgers Hector Nieves YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Brenda Ortiz YES YES YES YES

Abstain

on

payments

to

Rutgers

and Metz

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Omar Samaniego YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Dr. Horacio Sosa YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Marianne Taylor YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Dr. Lori Vermeulen YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

L. Ken Verrill provided an update on the LEAP STEM Building Re-Financing.

VI. Curriculum Committee

A. College Access Report: Marchelle Roberts presented an updated report on College Access activities

and programs.

Dr. Lori Vermuelen presented items 14-18 for Board approval.

B. Revised PD Schedule

Item 14: Resolved that the Board approves the revised PD schedule as presented by the

administration.

C. Assessment Plan

Item 15: Resolved that the Board approve the Student Assessment Plan for 2018-2019.

D. Student Grade Promotion

Item 16: Resolved that the Board approve grade promotion of the following students based on

evaluations of academic credentials, academic performance and parental authorization:

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From 9th Grade to 10th Grade

Thach, Karen

Cedeno, Alexander

Olivares , Andy

Holloway, Sha'Nya

Blount, Aniyah

Mendez, Jasmin

Munoz, Said

Pereira, Cristal

Nguyen, Hao

Tran, Jacquelin

Mollineau, Milo

Polanco, Anabel

Bove, Anthony

Cruz, Lucero

Lam, Tiffany

NGO, Nhu

Pena, Richard Jose

Phuong, Jessica

Langston, Alexis

Boswell, Nyla

Loodu , Amie

Alvarez Hernandez, Luis Daniel

Lam, Truong

Sabat, Ariane

From 10th Grade to 11th Grade

Riera, Steven

Roque, Donovan

Gallegos, Dania

Abreu Beltre, Amalvi

Langston, Antoinnette

Lechuga, Chistopher

Montero, Bianca

Salmeron, Kelvin

Rodriguez, Jolynne

Ford Harris, Avrianna

Alford, Nareem

Bullard, Destiny

Nunez, Enjelie

Rodriguez F., Kevin Justin

E. Field Trip Request

Item 17: Resolved that the Board authorize the following field trips:

FIELD TRIPS

REQUESTOR

DEPARTURE & RETURN

TIME

GRADE

LEVEL

DATE

OF TRIP

COST

PURPOSE OF THE TRIP

NUMBER OF

STUDENTS

ATTENDING

Xavier Barrios/Jennifer

Mooney

Air Quality Project Trip

Various Camden Locations

8th 10/1/18 $0 Students will use the scientific

method to work through

determining the source of air

pollution within our city and use

their data to come up with

possible solutions to the problem

of pollution.

40

Javier Van Tull

US District Court of NJ

4th & Cooper St.

Camden, NJ 08101

2nd & HS 10/10/18 $0 Hispanic Heritage Celebration at

the Camden Courthouse

40

William Skipper

Loew’s Movie theater “The

Hate You Give”

Haddonfield Rd.

Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

11th 10/25/18 $560.24 Seeing movie to support reading

of the book The Hate You Give.

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FIELD TRIPS

REQUESTOR

DEPARTURE & RETURN

TIME

GRADE

LEVEL

DATE

OF TRIP

COST

PURPOSE OF THE TRIP

NUMBER OF

STUDENTS

ATTENDING

Dominique Carlucci

Gordon Theater-Frankenstein

314 Linden Street

Camden, NJ 08102

10th 11/2/18 $880 110

Barbara Dunlap/Helen

Redmond

Harvard Women’s Business

Leadership Conference

Cambridge, MA

HS 11/2/18-

11/4/18 $2998.38 The purpose of the trip is to

introduce the students to the

Business leaders and careers of

today

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Julia Kogan

Chemical Heritage Museum

315 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

10th 11/6/18 $0 Students will have an

opportunity to learn through

hands on exploratory learning.

50

Chrys Meslar

Cape May Zoo

707 N. Route 9

Cape May, NJ

3rd 11/7/18 $240 Student will see habitats and

adaptations of animals

120

Marchelle Roberts

DC College Campus Tours

3101 Wyman Park

Baltimore, MD 21218

12th 11/8/18 Bid for

busing

The purpose of the trip is to

introduce the students to the

campus, administration, and the

different activities.

120

Marchelle Roberts

Phila. College Campus Tours

3141 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

12th 11/9/18 $0 The purpose of the trip is to

introduce the students to the

campus, administration, and the

different activities.

120

Marchelle Roberts

Latino Visitation Day

101 Vera King Farris Dr.

Galloway, NJ 08205

10th-11th 11/15/18 $0 The purpose of the trip is to

introduce the students to the

Latin fraternity and sororities.

120

Angela Brown

Franklin Institute

271 N. 21st Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

K 12/11/18 $0 To enhance and apply what we

have learned about habitats and

animal adaptations

122

Angela Brown

Philadelphia Zoo

3400 W. Girard Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19104

K 3/27/18 $0 to enhance and apply what we

have learned about habitats and

animal adaptations

122

Discipline Code and Student Suspension

Item 18: Resolved that the Board direct the administration and principals to revise the Student

Discipline Code and Suspension procedures and provide recommendations to the Board for

the November meeting.

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Seconded by Omar Samaniego. AYES: 12 NAYS: 0 ABS: 0

VII: Executive Session (Closed to Public)

Item 19: Hector Nieves presented a motion to close the meeting to the Public to enter into Executive

Session.

Seconded by Omar Samaniego. AYES: 12 NAYS: 0 ABS: 0

Meeting was closed at 6:40 pm.

Item 20: Hector Nieves presented a motion to re-open the meeting to the Public.

Seconded by John Hall. AYES: 12 NAYS: 0 ABS: 0

Meeting re-opened at 7:00 pm

Dr. Santiago indicated that during the closed session the Board discussed confidential personnel issues.

VIII. Personnel Committee: Marianne Taylor presented items 21-28 for Board approval.

A. New Appointments

Item 21: Resolved that the Board approve the following appointments:

Name Position/Building Location Contract/Start

Date

Salary Account Numbers

Phillip Tarricone Teacher - Social Studies 10/15/2018 $ 50,000 11-140-100-101-04-

043

Alan Turner Teacher- 3rd 10/22/2018 $ 58,000 11-120-100-101-01-

043

Angel Rodriguez Bus Driver & Assistant to

Transportation Director

10/15/2018 $ 32,000 11-000-270-160-00-

066

Jameer Bailey Instructional Assistant (1-1) 10/18/2018 $ 21,210 11-000-217-100-00-

066

Donna Siminski Director of Accountability

and Operations

11/5/2018 $ 110,000 11-000-240-110-00-

052

Michael Young Teacher - SPED 10/15/2018 $ 52,000 11-213-100-101-02-

043

Alana Booker Substitute Teacher 10/15/2018 $ 110/day 11-190-100-106-SB-

043

Verona Burgess Teacher -ESL 10/18/2018 $ 52,000

Abigail Loaisiga

Parent Engagement

Specialist

11/5/2018 $45,000

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B. Part-Time employment

Item 22: Resolved that the Board of Trustees approve the following individuals for part-time assignments:

Name Position Contract/Start

Date

Hourly Rate Account Number

Linda Brooks Child Care Provider 10/25/2018 $ 15.00 20-236-200-100-PI

Yvonne Vargas Child Care Provider 10/25/2018 $ 15.00 20-236-200-100-PI

Stephanie Paduani Child Care Provider 10/25/2018 $ 15.00 20-236-200-100-PI

Griseida DeJesus Child Care Provider 10/25/2018 $ 15.00 20-236-200-100-PI

Elizabel LaLuz Child Care Provider 10/25/2018 $ 15.00 20-236-200-100-PI

C. Revised Staff Assignments

Item 23: Resolved that the Board authorize the following staff re-assignments:

Name Position Effective Date Salary

David Kroon Math Supervisor 10/3/2018 $ 80,000

Jovita Veguilla Principal 4-8 10/3/2018 No Change

D. Terminations/Resignations

Item 24: Resolved that the Board approve the following actions:

Resignations Position Effective Date

Alen Medina Teacher Fellow 10/12/2018

Sarah Bubnis Teacher - 2nd Grade 10/2/2018

Dominique Carlucci Teacher- English 12/1/2018

David Kroon Title 1 Math Supervisor 11/3/2018

Kathryn Cherkas Instructional Assistant 10/5/2018

David Tronieri Teacher-Music & Band 12/5/2018

Linnette Santiago Part-time Bus Driver 10/6/2018

Michelle Biggs Teacher- 3rd Grade 12/10/2018

Gerri Baliey- Matthews Teacher - 8th ELA Grade 12/12/2018

Girard Falzon Substitute Teacher 10/2/2018

E. Leaves of Absence

Item 25: Resolved that the Board approve the following leaves of absence:

Leaves of Absence Position Dates

Elise Rocco - extended Literacy Supervisor K-8 10/15/18-10/19/18

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F. Appointment of Athletics Coaches

Item 26: Resolved that the Board approve the following coaching appointments:

Name Position Compensation Account Numbers

Stephanie Aspenburg

Basketball Girls Junior

Varsity

$

5,000.00 11-402-100-100-12-066

Amanda Romano Cheerleading

$

2,500.00 11-402-100-100-12-066

Quintessa Davis Cheerleading

$

2,500.00 11-402-100-100-12-066

G. Approval of staff salaries for 2018-2019

Item 27: Resolved that the Board of Trustees approve the following salaries for staff effective July 1, 2018

based on the school’s Performance Based Compensation Program:

NAME POSITION 2018-2019 SALARY

AGOSTO, RAUL R SAL CUSTODIAN $ 85,850.00

AGRON, NORMA I SAL ENROLLMENT $ 88,784.88

ALEJANDRO, BRENDA SAL CUSTODIAN $ 27,703.91

ALGARIN, JOSE SAL CUSTODIAN $ 33,767.17

ALVARADO,

KASSANDRA D

SAL GENERAL ADMIN $ 61,200.00

BEGLEY, GRACE SAL ENROLLMENT $ 50,275.78

CINTRON, CARMEN SAL CUSTODIAN $ 28,138.25

CINTRON, SHANTINA Y SAL ED PROBATION OFFICER $ 49,490.00

CRESPO, DIANA J SAL ENROLLMENT $ 70,338.18

CRUZ VILLA, EDUARDO SAL CUSTODIAN $ 28,644.30

CRUZ, GUILLERMO A SAL CUSTODIAN $ 51,000.00

CRUZ, MARIA A SAL PARENT COORDINATOR $ 67,619.50

DELGADO, MANUEL CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER/LEAD

PERSON

$ 160,000.00

DE SIANO, MASSIMO SAL TECHNICIAN Pending

DEJESUS, GRISEIDA SAL INSTR ASST K-3 (639) $ 30,747.56

DEPRINCE, JACQUELINE

M

SAL CLINIC SUPPORT $ 48,410.00

FITZPATRICK,

KIMBERLY L

SAL CLERICAL BUSINESS OF Pending

GONZALEZ, MARIA DRIVER SALARY $ 36,414.00

HINCHLIFFE, ROBERT E SAL TECHNICIAN $ 61,200.00

HOGUET, TUGBA C SAL OF SUPERVISOR OF INS $ 90,040.54

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NAME POSITION 2018-2019 SALARY

HUNT, SYLVIA L SAL CLERICAL BUSINESS OF $ 41,328.36

IBENECHE, LINDA SAL SECURITY $ 27,500.00

JACKSON-HILL,

KATHLEEN

SAL HUMAN RESOURCES $ 117,300.00

JOHNSON, BEVERLY R SAL CLERICAL BUSINESS OF $ 56,037.78

JONES, BRIANNA SAL SECURITY $ 27,500.00

LUNN, SCOTT SAL PRINCIPAL K-3 $ 84,000.06

MATTHEWS, TAMEKA IDEA18 SAL DIRECTOR $ 118,820.80

MCADAMS, SAMANTHA

L

SAL SCH.NURS 130 $ 77,250.00

MCCAULEY, CLARA SAL CLINIC SUPPORT $ 48,410.00

MCFADDEN, TONYA TITLEIA18 SAL INST AIDES $ 21,846.30

MENDEZ, MABEL B SAL CUSTODIAN $ 30,448.86

MOLINA, JOZIAN SAL ASST TO PRINCIPAL $ 48,925.00

NUNEZ, CARMEN E SAL CLERICAL 130 $ 40,800.00

NUNEZ, NELLYBEL SAL CLERICAL 549 $ 37,821.60

ORTIZ, JOSE C SAL CUSTODIAN $ 34,552.38

OTERO, LUZ M SAL CUSTODIAN $ 27,864.59

PADUANI GOMEZ,

STEPHANIE

SAL OTHER INSTRUCTION $ 45,000.00

PIERRE-JACQUES,

STEVENSON

SAL TECHNICIAN Pending

RAMOS. THALIA SAL SECURITY $ 27,500.00

RIVERA, JUAN P SAL CUSTODIAN $ 60,600.00

RIVERA, LIDIA SAL CLERICAL 532 $ 41,662.92

RIVERA, VELMINA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER $ 5,000 Bonus

ROBERTS, MARCHELLE

R

SAL GUIDANCE SUPPORT $ 53,370.48

ROCCO, ELISE M SAL OF SUPERVISOR OF INS $ 82,400.00

RODRIGUEZ, JOAN E SAL INSTR ASST K-3 (639) $ 28,013.28

ROJAS, ELIOT SAL SECURITY $ 27,500.00

ROMAN-COLON,

MICHELLE

SAL CLERICAL OPERATIONS $ 63,036.00

SEPULVEDA, CLAUDIA SAL GENERAL ADMIN $ 59,160.00

TORRES, GINA M SAL CLERICAL 639 $ 38,568.24

VERRILL, KEN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, SBA $ 155,000

YOUNG, GEORGE SAL SECURITY $ 28,500.00

H. Specialized Training

Item 28: Resolved that the Board approve staff participation on the following specialized professional

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development:

NAME

NAME OF

WORKSHOP/SEMINAR

LOCATION

DATE (S) &

TIME

COST

Raul Agosto Black Seal The Training Center

Cherry Hill NJ

November 8,

2018

$550

11-000-251-

592-PD-063

Dennis Rivera

Ken Verrill

Active Shooter Training Camden County

Police Academy

Blackwood, NJ

September 25,

2018

$0

Scott Lunn Leader to Leader Rowan College

Gloucester County

Dec 14, 2018

Jan 17, 2019

Feb 15, 2019

$0

Kimberly

Fitzpatrick

IDEA Final Report

Training

Rutgers Cooperative

Extension

Westampton, NJ

October 16,

2018

$0

I. Pending Legal Settlement

Item 29: The Board approved the settlement on a pending personnel matter under the advice of the schools’

insurance counsel.

YES

Seconded by Hector Nieves.

Roll Call:

Item

21

Item

22

Item

23

Item

24

Item

25

Item

26

Item

27

Item 28 Item 29

Dr. Gloria Bonilla-

Santiago

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Mathew Goodwin YES

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

John Hall YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Christine Karlsson YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Cal Maradonna YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Hector Nieves YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Brenda Ortiz YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Omar Samaniego YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Dr. Horacio Sosa YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Maryann Taylor YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Dr. Lori Vermeulen YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

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IX. Public Comment: Hector Nieves presented a motion to open the meeting for public comment.

Seconded by John Hall . AYES: 12 NAYS: 0 ABS: 0

There were no comments from the public.

X. Adjournment: Hector Nieves presented a motion to adjourn.

Seconded by Mathew Goodwin. AYES: 12 NAYS: 0 ABS: 0

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Wanda Garcia

Board Liaison