Board Meeting

September 17, 2019

 Call to Order
GPA Board of
Directors
Meeting
Public Comment
on Non-Agenda
Item
 All based on unionization

parents do not want to go back to being a union

Public school

Comment on A member of the community spoke that teachers

had brought up union issues with students in the
Non-Agenda classroom

Items Two teachers spoke in favor of the union and that

is would be beneficial to students in retention

Two teachers spoke that the union would ruin

everything that makes the school so special
 • I have worked in several union districts happily
and attended many board meetings
• I have also worked at my current charter school
Most Difficult for over 8 years and attended many board
meetings over the years
Board • This was by far the most difficult for me
Meeting in because the place that I have chosen to serve
and have students succeed in an urban inner
over 8 Years city is part of my family. It is hard to see my
family (all stake holders)go through such pain. I
worry most for our students. They deserve to
continue to have the opportunities to thrive.
Assignment of Agenda Item
• I could tell you about the finance and education committee that I attend and how
that transfers into the board presentations and the professional and in the past
very joyful and open demeanor of everyone on the board. This board meeting I
was thinking about the over $100k spent on legal fees in regards to the union and
what could have been spend to support staff and students.
• In reality I was watching my family going through a disagreement. I have deep
empathy for the parents that started the Charter in 2005 and have seen
incredible student growth since.
 • I have empathy for all the teachers pro and anti union
• The tension in the room was strong
• I was impressed by how professional all the members of
Assignment of the board were. They were just as professional as they
always had been. I can only imagine how hard it was to
Agenda Item show no affect for the pro or anti and unable to
respond.
• The place I and many other call their second home is
divided.
 As part of “leadership” but not the board
itself I had to keep my own feelings and
affect in check. It was hard to listen to and
be attacked by the union as leadership
knowing that from teacher, other roles and
Assignment my current position that I have only ever
wanted to serve students and staff.
of Agenda As I watched the Chairman of the Board and
Item the Director of the School who have both
dedicated decades each successful serving
students that most people choose not to. I
could imagine how painful it probably was
from them but all I could see was their
normal professional and courteous nature
Action and Discussion Items n Items
• Review of the Minutes • Board Affairs Committee Report
• Chairman’s Report • Executive Committee Report
• Director’s Report • Closed Session
• Finance Committee Report • Return to Open Session
• Education Committee Report • Return to Open Session
• Development Committee Report • Adjournment of Regular meeting
 • Conference GPA Negotiating Team Agency Designated
Representatives, Employee Organization:
Closed Session SDEA/CTA/NEA, Government Code Section 54957.6
 • While the board was in closed session
everyone else remained in sections by
beliefs. I stood to the side and
watched as groups had intense
discussions filled with emotion.
• Normally I would created a PowerPoint
Closed Session with many pictures , few words and
upbeat.
• This is a snapshot of how hard it was to
watch, reflect and know that it is these
times that a leader’s true character is
shown.