Conflict of Interest

Conflicts of interest are almost inevitable with any nonprofit endeavor. People who come together with the same passion for charter schooling may end up having other ties that bind them. A policy and culture anchored in disclosure allows beneficial interests to come together in the light of day while keeping inappropriate arrangements at bay. We will briefly review a board’s duties and code of conduct as a steward – or “fiduciary” – of taxpayer dollars. Then we will explore, complete with real-life scenarios, the elements of a robust conflict of interest disclosure process that guards against excess personal gain situations while preserving a board’s independence.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Mark Cannon

Effective Committee Use

Active engaged committees doing strategic work in between board meetings is vital for your board to function effectively. But, most charter school boards have committees in name only. Come to this lively interactive session where you will learn:

• Which committees are essential, and which ones can we do without?
• Who should serve on the committees?
• What is the role of board members, staff and other stakeholders on the committees?
• How does the committee work help the board shift from Founding to Sustaining? Reactive to strategic?
• How do committees help strengthen our organization?

We’ll make sure you leave this session with tangible tools and practical tips you can put to
use right away.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Mike Mizzoni

Establishing Business and Community Partnerships

Building business and community partnerships is like dating.  But there is a distinct formula attached to the process that often times we take for granted.
Attendees will gain insight into how to expand their relationships beyond the walls of the board room and halls of the schools that they represent.  Topics include…

• Where do we start to look?
• Who Closes the deal?
• Determining the need
• Business and industry in my back yard… the resources
• Intended outcomes include…
  Attendees will acquire an out-of-the-box perspective when discussing funds development
• Roles of board and staff will become clearer for this purpose
• Self-Sufficiency is the end-game
• Business and Industry is more accessible than you think

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Gail Birks

Fiduciary Responsibilities of the Board

This discussion will discuss the legal and policy based obligations of governing boards in Florida, with some case studies on issues created by a lack of goverance by charter school boards in Florida.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Melissa Gross-Arnold
  • Shawn Arnold

Finding Freedom In Your Own Facility

Having your own facility is a crucial step in every charter’s journey! Options abound for the facility itself and the financing can leave you feeling like you are chained to your circumstances.   We will help you to wade through options and their pro’s and con’s.  Learn about underwriting red flags and how to avoid them while gaining an understanding of the long-term costs of lending and the effect on the bottom-line.  Learn about the Tax-Exempt Bond Market for permanent capital resulting in over $795 million in bonds. Set actionable goals and high expectations for your planning and let your school experience the freedom of its own facility.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Richard Moreno
  • Greg McKenna

FL Department of Education – New Offerings

The Charter Schools Office at the Florida Department of Education will highlight what’s new in the federal Charter Schools Program in Florida.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Adam Emerson

Founding Vs Operating

This session will draw attention to the different aspects of starting a charter school vs. operating a charter school. We will take a look at what is needed to start a charter and then move into the operational phase once the charter application is approved. Both processes are unique and require different approaches.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Dr. Alan Hall

Governance Training Overview

The presentation will provide an overview of state-approved governing board training that is available through the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS). Through self-paced, computer-based modules, participants are able to meet the required initial four-hour training as well as the two-hour refresher training as required by state statute.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Raquel Espinosa
  • Tracy Nessl

Governing Board Meetings in the Age of Zoom

When schools closed last March boards had no choice but to conduct their meetings by video conference. Join us for a refresher on electronic meetings and Sunshine Law compliance and come share your board’s experiences using electronic communications. We will also look at considerations regarding continuing to meet this way in a post-COVID world.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Kathleen Schoenberg

How a Board Can Successfully Review An Administrator

The presentation will provide an overview of a principal’s effect on student achievement and the characteristics of an effective school leader. Participants will be introduced to practices and leadership behaviors that produce positive outcomes for students and the school.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Tracy Nessl
  • Raquel Espinosa

Insurance and Risk Management for Charter Schools

Join us for a review of the unique liability exposures and insurance needs of Florida’s Public Charter Schools. Charter School Risk Management professionals will share some of the available resources and mitigation strategies that can help Governing Boards meet the insurance needs of their schools and mitigate their own liability exposures. We will also review budget planning for a new school or your next insurance renewal to better understand what exposures have the greatest impact on premium. Lastly, a discussion of why Boards should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to property and casualty insurance and the importance of working with a Risk Management team and insurance carrier that understands and has experience working with Charter Schools.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Brent Grimmel
  • Andy Jimenez

Interpreting your Financials

Do you dread the part of the board meeting when it is time to review and discuss the financial statements? This session will decode the fundamentals of accounting and budgeting so that you are prepared to effectively engage in financial discussions and understand the required reports. We will review what should be in the annual budget, how to examine financial reports and what to expect with year-end financial reporting and audits.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Richard Moreno

Leading the Way – Authorizer and Governing Board Partners

Building a strong Authorizer and Governing Board partnership is essential to ensuring high quality charter schools. During this session, Florida district authorizers will share lessons learned, best practices, and valuable insights used to establish working partnerships with governing boards in their districts.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Stephen Ayres
  • Valerie Hyre,
  • Melissa Brady

Renegotiating Facilities Leases

• Force Majeure and COVID-19
• Design Build/Build to Suit Leases
• Purchase Options and Right of First Refusals
• Leasing from Faith Based Institutions
• Subleases and license considerations
• Ad Valorem Tax Exemption

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Jeffrey Wood
  • Thomas Sternberg

Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members

How is your board doing? Do the members understand roles and responsibilities? Do you have members who want to get into the operations side of your organization? Do you know the mission or vision of the organization? Do you believe your board can be more effective if the members would understand what they are required to do? Then this session is for you! Let’s make our boards functional, beneficial and effective for the organization.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Robert Jordan

The Importance of an Effective Well Organized Policy Manual

Charter schools are small independent schools, so they don’t need to worry about such bureaucracy such as a policy manual, right? Wrong! A detailed policy manual protects the Board, the staff, and the school. A policy manual is the Board’s direction to the staff about how the school is supposed to be run. It helps the staff understand their boundaries, and provides them protection when dealing with difficult situations. This session will give suggestions on how to organize your policy manual, and some of the key policies you should consider as part of what you implement at your school.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Curtis Fuller

The Role of the Board and the CSP Grant

Has your charter school received a Charter School Program (CSP) Grant? The CSP grant is a competitive grant available to assist with charter school start-up costs within the first five years of operation. This session will provide an overview of governing board responsibilities after a CSP grant is awarded to a charter school.

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Vicki Pineda

We’re Getting Sued… What Should We Do?

The unfortunate truth is that we live in a litigious society. As a not-for-profit corporation, charter schools are not exempt from lawsuits and should have a plan for how they respond if they are ever sued. When the school is served regarding a lawsuit, what exactly should be the next steps? What do school administrators and Governing Boards need to do, and not do, to ensure they are protected moving forward and defending the school? When should an attorney be called, and how much can the school expect to spend? These are all variables that should be considered when developing a plan for responding to potential lawsuits. Join us to learn more for this presentation by Bart Valdes, a Partner with de Beaubien, Simmons, Knight, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP (“DSK Law”).

• Conference: 2021 Governance Conference
• Presenter(s):
  • Bart Valdes