Wasatch Peak Academy
Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Location: Wasatch Peak Academy 414 N. Cutler Dr., North Salt Lake, UT 84054
In Attendance: Dan Rip, John Tobin, Megan Triplett, Amy Hughes, Dee Tanner, Jennifer Nicholson (PTO),
Others in Attendance: Sandy Shepard (Principal), Kim Dohrer (Academica West), Gavin Hutchinson (Academica West), Trish Trammell
(Academica West), LuWane Boltz
Wasatch Peak Academy will provide a meaningful educational experience utilizing service-learning and
dual-language instruction to inspire in students:
a genuine appreciation for community and country;
a willingness to embrace leadership opportunities;
a perpetual enthusiasm for learning; and
a standard of individual academic excellence.
MINUTES
6:40 PM - Call to Order and Welcome by Daniel Rip
Pledge of Allegiance
CONSENT ITEMS John Tobin made a motion to approve the Board Meeting Minutes. Jennifer Nicholson seconded the motion.
Voting was unanimous and motion passes.
 Approve Board Meeting Minutes from March 11, 2010
REPORTS
 Action Item Reports – Sandy Shepard reported that there is not room enough in the school to do an all-day
Kindergarten. She will ask parents if there is interest in doing a half-day Kindergarten, and contact the State regarding
an exception to the 180 day school attendance rule. She will contact the Board before the next Board Meeting regarding
community interest. Kim Dohrer explained that the hosting of the server and the initial website is included in the school
contract with Academica West. There was discussion regarding having a different group host and update the school
website, and John Tobin will explore other hosting avenues and report back. Gavin Hutchinson reported that it would be
a conflict for a person to serve on the Board as well as being a school employee, which includes substitute teachers.
 PTO Report – Jennifer Nicholson reported that the Kindergarten Field Day was going to be at Kangaroo Zoo. The older
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grade’s Field Day and 6 Grade Graduation are being planned. There was a great turn out for the Someone Special
Lunch with over 175 visitors in attendance. The Kangaroo Zoo fundraiser was not a big success for the school, but the
ice-cream fundraiser was. Additional businesses in surrounding areas will be contacted for next year’s fundraisers.
LuWane Boltz is the new PTO President and has her committee in place for July 2010.
 Principal Report – Sandy Shepard
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o New Employees: Librarian - Brandie Bringhurst; 5 Grade Teacher - Jennifer McDonald; Music Teacher –
Maria Price.
BUSINESS ITEMS (Discussion of Items to be Voted Upon)
Amy Hughes made a motion to approve the following fees. Megan Triplett seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous and
motion passes.
 Approve 2010-2011 Fees:
o Teton Science Trip ($340)
o After School and Summer School Classes ($30/class per semester)
o Violin Class ($50) - The purchasing/renting of the instrument is the student’s responsibility.
Amy Hughes made a motion to approve the Dress Code Policy. Dee Tanner seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous and
motion passes.
 Approve Dress Code Policy: There was discussion regarding additional specifications for 2010-2011. The policy needs
to be specific enough that the parents can understand what’s allowed for the uniform as well as for casual dress days.
The revised policy will be put on the website and in the Student Handbook.
John Tobin made a motion to approve the Dual Enrollment Policy. Dee Tanner seconded. Voting was unanimous and motion
passes.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for these meetings should call Trish
Trammell at 801-444-9378, giving at least three working days notice.
Page 1 of 2
WPA Board Meeting Minutes: 5-20-2010
Board Approval Date: 9-9-2010

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Approve Dual Enrollment Policy – There will need to be Board approval for any student attending less than ¾ of a day.
Approve Gold Medal Mile Policy – This item will be tabled until the next Board Meeting so that Ms. Shepard can gather
more information.
Megan Triplett made a motion to approve the Performance-Based Plan. Amy Hughes seconded the motion. Voting was
unanimous and motion passes.
 Approve 2010-2011 Performance-Based Plan – Sandy Shepard explained the performance plan in detail with case
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studies. Ms. Shepard will be presenting this plan to other charter schools on June 14 . Grant money is used to fund this
plan.
Amy Hughes made a motion to ratify the new 2010-2011 staff members. Dee Tanner seconded the motion. Voting was
unanimous and motion passes.
 Ratify 2010-2011 WPA Staff that was discussed in the Principal’s Report.
Megan Triplett made a motion to ratify the current Board positions as presently constituted. Amy Hughes seconded the motion.
Voting was unanimous and motion passes.
 Ratify 2010-2011 Board Positions
John Tobin made a motion to approve the 2009-2010 final budget. Dee Tanner seconded the motion. Voting was unanimous and
motion passes.
 Approve 2009-2010 Budget – Megan Triplett reported that this year’s budget is balanced as of 5/15/2010. Most
expenses have been reported for the year, and there is surplus money in line items for additional year-end purchases. At
this point, there is no need to spend any of the surplus money that has been budgeted for this year, but if the need
arises after receiving the remainder of reimbursable income, the amount needed from surplus will be minimal. Gavin
Hutchinson and Sandy Shepard will continue to adjust line items as needed.
Amy Hughes made a motion to adopt the 2010-2011 preliminary budget including $50K from the 2009-2010 budget carryover,
and reallocating $5K from the 2010-2011 professional development budget for staff bonuses. John Tobin seconded the motion.
Voting was unanimous and motion passes.
 Adopt 2010-2011 Proposed Budget: Sandy Shepard has had discussions with the teachers as to preferred areas in the
budget that could be cut. The top choices were: 1. field trips; 2. decrease professional development for a year; 3. reduce
teacher assistant time in the classroom; 4. raise class size by 1 student; 5. furlough 1 day. There has been an increase
in health insurance benefit costs that will begin in July. There was discussion on each of the above areas, as well as
401K, staff bonuses, cutting of legislative money, furlough days, and field trips by “service learning sponsors”. John
Tobin will look into other field trip opportunities. Academica West was also discussed in regards to their management
fees, and the Board would like to discuss details with Jed Stevenson. The initial term of the building is up, and there was
discussion as to the feasibility of purchasing the building.
8:00 PM - OTHER BUSINESS (For Discussion Only)
 Student Teton Trip (April 18-22, 2011) – Sandy Shepard will email the full school calendar to the Board. She reported
that this year’s Teton trip was a great success and is meeting with the fifth grade parents to discuss details for the 2011
trip. She would like a document from Gabe Clark for parents to sign who are committing to this trip. The total amount for
each attending student will be $340. $150 will need to be paid up front, and the rest will be paid throughout the year.
Ideas for summer fundraising was discussed.
 Washington D.C. Trip – Dan Rip visited Washington D.C. last week, and has a better idea of what will be expected in
preparing for this trip as well what the cost will be. He has suggested that a committee be formed to start planning it, and
deciding who the chaperones will be. Insurance will need to be looked into, as well as fundraising opportunities and who
will be sponsoring the trip. Further details will be discussed at a later date. Sandy Shepard will include this topic in the
next survey to get a level of interest from the parents.
 Building Lease – This item was tabled until a future date.
 Calendaring:
o Board Summer Workshop/Retreat: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 from 1-6PM at WPA. Dinner will be included, and
the three focuses to discuss are the school handbook, the charter, and a five year school plan. The website will
need to be updated with information that is being discussed at this retreat.
There was no Public Comment.
9:27 PM - Amy Hughes made a motion to adjourn to the Closed Meeting. Jennifer Nicholson seconded the motion. Voting was
unanimous and the motion passes.
Approximately 10:30 PM – Amy Hughes made a motion to adjourn the Board Meeting. Megan Triplett seconded the motion.
Voting was unanimous and the motion passes.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for these meetings should call Trish
Trammell at 801-444-9378, giving at least three working days notice.
Page 2 of 2
WPA Board Meeting Minutes: 5-20-2010
Board Approval Date: 9-9-2010