New America School
Network Board Telephonic Meeting
Thursday February 23, 2017
1:00-2:00 pm
MINUTES
Board Directors Present: Polly Baca, CO, Rick Bela, Alb, AZ, Frank Riggs, At-Large, Susie Kimble, Las Cruces, NM, Juan Vigil, Alb. NM, Jorge Loweree CO, Dianne Lefly CO
Regrets: Tomas Mejia, CO, Gina Nocera, CO, Larry Mason, NV, John Munoz, Las Cruces, NM, Deb Brackney CO
Staff Present: Craig Cook, Dominic DiFelice, Patty Matthews (Legal Counsel)
1. Polly Baca called the meeting to order at 1:05 PM.
2. Patty Mathews summarized the events to date regarding the Phoenix charter that were also set forth in her February 21, 2017 email to the Board. She expressed her concerns that the current bankruptcy proceedings are delaying the ability for the Network to prepare and seek final approval of the charter contract (including approval of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools) within the deadlines prescribed in statute and policy for transfer/suspension of the charter. Mr. DiFelice’s email of February 3, 2017, to the Board expressing his strong reservations to pursue the charter were discussed. Mr. Riggs concurred with Mr. DiFelice’s assessment and given his possible run for state superintendent indicated he would only be available to be the point person in Phoenix in the short term, but once he announced his intent to seek office, he could not be the point person in Phoenix. Mr. Vigil expressed his desire to continue pursuit of the contract until all avenues were exhausted.
3. Moved by Susie Kimble and seconded by Jorge Loweree that we no longer pursue regaining the Phoenix charter from the bankruptcy court. Votes: Nay-Juan Vigil, Yay- Frank Riggs, Dianne Lefly, Rick Bela, Susie Kimble and Jorge Loweree. The motion passed on a 5-1 vote.
4. Juan directed legal counsel not to pursue claims in the Bankruptcy Court, if the NASP real property is eventually sold at a net gain to the bankruptcy estate and the trustee distributes to the creditors, if the legal costs associated with doing so would exceeded the potential financial gain to the Network.