Sept 14, 2011

Minutes of a Quarterly Meeting of The Board of Directors of LA's Promise

The Board of Directors of LA's Promise, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, held an open session meeting on September 14, 2011, commencing at 3:00 p.m., PST at the office of LA's Promise, 1035 S. Grand Ave., 2nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90015

Board Members Present: John Kissick, Stephen Prough, Elizabeth Mann, Erik Feig, Alison Temple, Stephanie Christie, Brian McNamee
Joined via telephone: Megan Chernin
Absent: Frank Marshall, Rick Hess, Emma Watts, Vanessa Morrison, Tom Vander Ark
Quorum present? Yes

Others Present:
VP of Development and Communication, Nichol Whiteman; Executive Assistant, Smeeta Singh; Superintendent, Rupi Boyd; Director of Teaching and Learning, Lisa Kleinhofer; Director of Teaching and Learning, Cathy Belcher; Director of Teaching and Learning, Khalisha Jefferson; Assistant Superintendent of Intervention and Support, Susie Fahey; Associate Director of Operations, Liliana Vasquez; Chief of Staff, Laura Hernandez-Flores; Interim CEO, Kathi Littmann; Accounting Consultant, Adam Jones.

Proceedings:
The public session of the meeting was convened at 3:13 p.m. by Stephen Prough.

Report on G&A:

• Ms. Chernin spoke about stepping down as board chair. Mr. Prough made comments about taking on his new role as chairman of the board.
• Mr. Prough introduced Kathi Littmann, Interim CEO of LA's Promise (LAP). Ms. Littmann commented on her thoughts about joining as LAP's Interim CEO.

Alison Temple entered the meeting at 3:22 p.m.

• Mr. Prough introduced Stephanie Christie, a new member to the board of LA's Promise. Ms. Mann added comments about Ms. Christie joining LAP's board. Ms. Christie also commented by sharing a little bit about her background and her attachment to the idea of school reform.
• Mr. Jones presented a summary of the annual budget for LA's Promise (see document LA's Promise FY 2012 Proposed Budget - Executive Summary as of 9/14/11). Mr. Jones explained that this report includes estimates based on 2011 gala results.

Mr. Prough made the motion to approve the budget that Mr. Jones presented (FY2112 Proposed Budget), the motion was seconded by Mr. McNamee and unanimously approved.

Ms. Mann made the motion to approve the minutes from April 19, 2011, the motion was seconded by Mr. McNamee and unanimously approved.

Report on Programs:

• Ms. Boyd explained LA's Promise (LAP) results and goals by taking the board through Keynote presentation (see document LA's Promise 2010-11 Results & 2011-12 Goals).

Program Report continued:

• Ms. Littmann and Mr. Prough had a conversation about LAP school results compared to other similar schools in the area.
• A conversation was had about what LAP's gains can be attributed to and LAP's plan to keep those gains moving in a positive direction. Ms. Boyd shared her thoughts on this subject.
• Ms. Hernandez-Flores spoke about LAP's work on providing wraparound services to its students and families.
• Ms. Boyd introduced Directors of Teaching and Learning for Manual Arts, Lisa Kleinhofer; for West Adams Prep, Catherine Belcher and for John Muir Middle School, Khalisha Jefferson. She also introduced Associate Director of Operations, Liliana Vasquez.
• Ms. Littmann spoke about Ms. Hernandez-Flores' new role as Chief of Staff.
• Conversation took place about the possibility of LAP acquiring of new schools and the restructure status of those new schools.
• Ms. Whiteman spoke about the development team and its new additions and spoke about LAP's plan of raising funds, she noted the increase in development goals.
• Conversation took place about LAP's focus on health, API score gains and 7 to 7 program.

Public Comment:

• Mr. Prough introduced Travis Miller, Teacher from Manual Arts High School made a public comment at 4:10 p.m.

There being no further business to come before the Board of Directors, on motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 4:41 p.m. by Stephen Prough.

Date: September 14, 2011