National Network for Educational Renewal - Executive Board Minutes

Agenda and Minutes
Executive Board Meeting
12:00 noon-5:00 p.m.
Silver Cloud Hotel
Seattle, WA

July 21, 2010

Attendees: Nick Michelli, Dennis Potthoff, Greg Bernhardt, Leslie Wilson, Deb Shanley, Jean Eagle, Ada Beth Cutler 1:00-2:30 via phone), Ann Foster

Also attending: Tom Bellamy, Linda Sedlacek (via phone), Molly Munson-Dryer (via phone)

Budget and audit update ( including the bookkeeper via phone)

Review of the auditor report (Jones and Associates).

The executive board reviewed the report recommendations and the board agreed that checks and balance oversight in the transactions is critical to the organization. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS WERE MADE—

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND TREASURER OF THE NNER EXECUTIVE BOARD WILL APPROVE THE MONTHLY BANK STATEMENTS

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHAIR OF THE NNER EXECUTIVE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO APPROVE CREDIT CARD EXPENDITURES.

THE QUICKBOOKS ACCOUNTING PROGRAM HAS BEEN CHANGED. ALL ENTRIES ARE HOW UP TO DATE.

THE NNER BOOKKEEPER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE AUDITOR AND THE DEFERRED INCOME ENTRY HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

Dennis Potthoff moved that the board, having reviewed the report, accept the June 2010 report from Jones and Associates, LLC and noted the key areas of concern will be addressed including policies( i.e. whistle blower policy). Jean Eagle seconded. Passed unanimously.

Mid-year Budget review

Nick Michelli moved that the board approve Linda Sedlacek as the NNER bookkeeper. Jean Eagle seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Midyear budget shows that 52% of the allocated budget remains indicating that the budget expenditures are on schedule.

The board recommended that the executive director office expenses be paid twice yearly rather than annually.

The 2009 annual conference resulted in approximately $4000 income for the organization. The payroll costs looked like an over expenditure and that was corrected, the Washington State Unemployment and L&I percentage was calculated at a higher rate than actual percentages required.

Projected income for 2010 includes dues FROM 20 settings WHICH will result in a projected income loss of $20,000 for 2011.

Office expenditures are higher than anticipated because of 2009 expenditures that were charged to the 2010 budget. That process has been changed.

Dennis Potthoff moved that the board accept the midyear budget report as reported by the bookkeeper and executive director. Nick Michelli seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

AED Dissertation award discussion, proposal will be drafted by Nick.

2010 conference (conversation with Molly Munson-Dryer)

Eighty-five proposals were accepted for presentations. Special work sessions will be included for education deans hosted by Deborah Curtis and facilitated by Deb Shanley and partnership directors hosted and facilitated by Tom Poetter. These will occur in the morning and will not conflict with breakout sessions. Nick Michelli is organizing the panel on policy for the Friday luncheon.

Bill Ayers will be speaking on Saturday. Projecting 275 participants.

Rod Lucero will facilitate the new comers session.

Literary Café will be held again and the Goodlad Institute will once again do the organization and management work. Tom Bellamy is working with Molly Munson-Dryer on this.

2011 and 2012 conferences

It was suggested that the 2011 conference be regionally hosted (east coast) CUNY, USM, Montclair, UCONN.

Greg Bernhardt moved that the board support the concept of regionally hosted conferences and support as needed. Seconded by Jean Eagle, passed unanimously.

2012 Colorado State University colleagues have agreed to meet with WY and NE to consider hosting a conference in the Denver area.

Continue the summer symposium in Seattle. July 18-21, 2011.

Goodlad Institute Update

Grant updates, Picturing America is underway. The History grant group will have a session at the conference this year, i3 with Jon Cohen was not funded, Ford did not support the community engagement grant, NSF proposal was not funded, Tom Bellamy and Mona Bailey are working on a closing the achievement gap grant, other efforts include school leadership, change management, community engagement.

Respect for All—partnership and next steps

This will be brought for a vote at the GC meeting in October, Deb Shanley and Ann Foster will look at the MOU and bring forward the revised MOU at the meeting.

New membership conversation; options for recruitment

The executive board members agreed to pursue additional conversation with prospective members.

The board discussed and recommended approval of the following two new membership options to be presented at the next Governing Council meeting:

“An Affiliate membership option will be extended to prospective new members who are still in exploration stages and are developing the critical mass of support and action needed to advance the mission. This will include annual dues of $2000 for up to two years and then a decision to move to full membership or not become a member.”

An International Associate Membership option, which would include an annual dues structure of $1000 annually, was also approved by the executive board. The details on this option are being drafted. The option is in response to the large amount of interest in the NNER expressed by groups in developing democracies.

Actions: Each board member will work toward recruiting new members using the Affiliate membership guidelines for up to two years and International Associate Membership if supported by the Governing Council in October. Executive board members agreed to contact colleagues involved in the recently disbanded Holmes Group for membership consideration. Greg Bernhardt will do the preliminary research on this to obtain the most recent list of members.

Other discussion:

Individual membership was discussed and is still on the drawing board including the possibility of tripartite membership rather than individual membership —Tom Bellamy will put a proposal together on membership to the Goodlad Institute where small group membership might be better served.

UNESCO partnership possibilities

The executive director was invited to attend an international session on teacher education for global sustainability in May. The organization within UNESCO, Education for Sustainability Development (ESD), felt that the NNER would have settings interested in working toward curriculum that included our stewardship responsibilities to provide teachers that understand the complex interrelationships among nations and the actions required to provide quality learning environments and content for all. There will be a session at the 2010 conference from this session.

Sessions for NNER at other venues

NNER chair Deb Shanley co-presented at an early childhood conference in the spring and this resulted in more people understanding the NNER mission. The executive board agreed to write pre conference or conference session proposals to expand the understanding of our work. The executive director submitted one proposal for this purpose to ASCD.

Tripartite Council meeting planning 2010

Tripartite council will meet Thursday morning October 7. There will be no tripartite council meeting on Wednesday evening. The tripartite council chairs will plan the session.

AED Scholars

The Scholars are scheduled to meet at the 2010 conference on Wednesday evening, October 6.

December board meeting has been scheduled for December 10th-12th at Graduate Center in NYC. Deb Shanley and Nick Michelli will check on lodging and reserving space at the Graduate Center for the meeting.

Elections

Deb Shanley will finish first year of a two year term in 2010.

Nick will complete his second year of a three year term in 2010.

Leslie Wilson and Jean Eagle will complete their first of three years in October of 2010.

Dennis Pothoff and Ada Beth Cutler will complete the first year of two year terms

(Chair, three tripartite council, past chair, two at large members) in 2010.

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