Monday Morning                                                                                 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Governance

High quality governance is critical to the success of any charter school.  This interactive session will focus on the most frequent governance issues faced by both start up and veteran charter school governance boards.  Time will be provided for participants to ask questions about their specific issues and to develop action plans to take back to improve their school’s governance.  Links to resources such as: the ten most important practices of good governance boards, recruiting quality governance board members, federal grant requirements related to governance, and laws specific to charter school governance boards will be provided. 

Presenters

Dr. Holly Hart,  Consultant, Holly Hart Consulting

Frank Martinelli, President, The Center for Public Skills Training

Monday Afternoon                                                                                           1:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Forming a non-stock corporation or 501(c)3 non-profit

Joanne Harmon, Attorney at Law, Lathrop and Clark, LLC, will discuss the formation of non-stock corporations and 501(c)(3)non-profit status for charter schools and the advantages related to creating the organizational autonomy required under federal law, while presenting challenges for authorizers.

Charter School Governing Boards

Kimberly Stezala, President, Stezala Consulting, will share her personal experience of being a board member at an independent charter school during the start-up phase and what it means to operate with a team of volunteer leaders.  Participants will gain insight on structure, governance, fundraising and other key topics, from a board member’s perspective.  Questions are encouraged.

Jenny Keats, Principal, Tosa School of Health Sciences and Technology, will discuss the presentation of a charter school proposal to an authorizer (school board).  The proposal includes a report about achievement for the first year of implementation, creating committees on the Charter School Governing Board, and enrollment growth recommendations.

Warren Groff, semi-retired professor and board member of Tosa, will highlight the development and progress of the board’s role to support the charter school’s mission.

Tuesday Session                                                         10:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. and 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Grant Application process for April 2010 and Technical Assistance

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is seeking to enter a new five year grant relationship with the U.S. Department of Education commencing August 1, 2009.  New requirements will place more emphasis on quality and sustainability of newly developed charter schools.  As an applicant, you will be expected to perform extensive collaboration with charter school developers and describe not only the plan for opening a high quality charter school but to also articulate your vision for the charter school after five years of operation.  Information will be provided for applying for federal planning and implementation grants to open a school in September 2011.

Presenters:  Margaret McMurray and Barry Golden, Charter Schools Consultants, DPI