Workshops – Florida Charter Institute

Panel Discussion

September 12, 2025 No Comments

This closing general session featured a wide-ranging panel discussion on the evolution of charter schools in Florida, current challenges, and opportunities for boards and leaders. Panelists reflected on the early days of the charter movement, when simply opening a school was enough to attract students, and compared that to today’s more competitive landscape where families have many school choice options. They agreed that schools now must clearly articulate their mission, demonstrate results, and actively engage parents to build trust and sustain enrollment. Compliance requirements, once minimal, have grown significantly, often creating barriers to innovation and placing new demands on school leadership. The conversation also focused on how boards can strengthen their effectiveness. Panelists urged board members to maintain a clear “north star,” such as a strategic plan, and spend more time on future planning rather than day-to-day compliance. They emphasized the importance of knowing their roles, asking questions without hesitation, and preparing thoroughly for meetings. Strong communication between boards, school leaders, and authorizers was highlighted as essential, with several speakers noting that transparency, trust, and proactive relationship-building can prevent crises and foster collaboration rather than conflict. Finances were another key theme. Panelists discussed the need for boards to diversify funding

Negotiation and Operation of Vendor Contracts

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Emily Rodriguez and Matthew Durden led a practical and detailed session on vendor contracts for charter schools, highlighting the importance of careful review and proactive management. They began by stressing that vendor agreements, whether for thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars, are legally binding documents that can create significant risks if poorly handled. Too often, schools enter into contracts using vendor-provided “form agreements” that are written to favor the vendor and may contain hidden pitfalls. The presenters urged schools to treat contracts as negotiable and to build systems for monitoring key deadlines, renewals, and termination provisions to avoid becoming trapped in long, unfavorable agreements. The attorneys emphasized the necessity of clear financial controls and procurement policies. They cautioned against allowing unauthorized staff to sign contracts and recommended that boards establish thresholds for approval based on contract size. They also discussed the risks of ambiguous contract terms, such as “cure provisions” that allow vendors unlimited chances to correct performance failures, which can leave schools unable to exit problematic agreements. To safeguard students and schools, they advised including language that makes violations of health, safety, or welfare standards—such as breaches of the Jessica Lunsford Act—incurable and grounds for immediate termination. Another

Title IX Requirements for K-12 Education

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Russell Froman opened his session by explaining the evolving landscape of Title IX and how its interpretation has shifted across different presidential administrations. Originally associated with athletics and gender equity in resources, Title IX has since become most closely tied to cases of sexual misconduct and harassment in educational settings. Froman reminded participants that Title IX is fundamentally about ensuring equitable access to education and that violations can now result in schools and districts facing federal funding freezes—something that had not occurred until recent years. The presentation outlined the three categories of misconduct covered under Title IX: quid pro quo harassment (requests for sexual favors in exchange for benefits), sexual harassment that is severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive enough to limit access to education, and the most egregious forms of misconduct including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. Froman stressed that every K–12 school receiving federal funds must designate a trained Title IX coordinator whose name is publicly accessible, and that all staff members—from custodians to coaches—are mandatory reporters of potential Title IX concerns. Froman also reviewed the requirements and processes schools must follow once a complaint is made. He explained the distinction between informal and formal complaints,

Fortify your Financial Acumen: Learn the Fiscal Responsibility Method

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Raj Thakkar began the session by underscoring that financial mismanagement is the number one reason charter schools close, with one in seven schools shutting down and the vast majority due to financial issues. His mission—and that of CSBM—is to eradicate financial mismanagement by equipping schools and boards with proven practices, tools, and training. He framed responsible financial management as not just about compliance but about empowering boards, leaders, and stakeholders to make confident, informed decisions that support long-term academic success. The session centered on Thakkar’s “10 Cures to the 10 Causes of Financial Mismanagement”, a framework that helps schools shift from crisis management to proactive fiscal health. He explained that financial reports and audits are like lab results—they show the condition of the school’s finances—but cures and remedies are like diet and exercise: the actionable practices that improve those results. The ten cures include building clear policies and procedures, maintaining strong accounting systems, processing payroll accurately, passing audits, creating reality-based budgets, producing timely forecasts, managing cash carefully, planning growth wisely, mitigating organizational risk, and valuing both talent and technology. Thakkar provided practical guidance and “impactful one-pagers” that translate these cures into action. He emphasized the importance of forecasting alongside budget

Fiscal Governance Best Practices

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Raj Thakkar opened the session by emphasizing that financial mismanagement remains the number one reason charter schools close, often overshadowing academic concerns. He shared CSBM’s mission to eradicate financial mismanagement through a combination of services, best practices, and training. Thakar stressed that responsible financial oversight should be viewed as equally vital as academic performance, since strong fiscal health is what allows schools to deliver on their educational mission. He also introduced CSBM’s guiding values, which focus on integrity, accountability, and long-term sustainability. A major theme of the presentation was the importance of clear roles and responsibilities between school leadership, finance teams, and governing boards. Thakar described how effective fiscal governance requires collaboration: finance staff prepare reports, management reviews and approves them, and then the finance committee vets them before they reach the full board. He contrasted this with ineffective practices, such as boards delegating oversight entirely to school leaders, leaders passing responsibility to finance consultants, or boards getting stuck in minutiae like small variances while missing larger financial risks. To avoid blurred lines, Thakar recommended tools like CSBM’s “Blurred Lines” activity, which maps out the top 13 financial responsibilities and assigns them appropriately to staff, leadership, and the board. Thakkar

From Values to Value: Budget Habits of Effective Charter Leaders

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Dana Vignale and Jonathan Gillen led a session titled “Values to Value: Budget Habits of Effective Charter Leaders,” focusing on how charter school boards and leaders can strengthen financial oversight while keeping student success at the center of decision-making. Vignale, drawing on her experience as a school leader and board treasurer, emphasized that governing boards are ultimately responsible for the use of public funds. She stressed the need for board members to understand financial statements, ask the right questions, and connect budgets directly to a school’s mission. Gillen, a finance professional with decades in education, reinforced the idea that budgets are not just numbers—they are the school’s story about its priorities and goals for students. The presenters walked participants through revenue streams available to Florida charter schools, including state per-student allocations, capital outlay, federal entitlements (Title I, IDEA, and school lunch programs), and local referendum or millage funds. They cautioned boards to build budgets on stable, recurring revenues rather than relying on uncertain fundraising or one-time grants. Enrollment was highlighted as the single largest driver of revenue, making student recruitment, retention, and accurate FTE reporting critical. Vignale and Gillen encouraged leaders to monitor enrollment continuously, conduct exit surveys, and understand

Onboarding New Board Members – What Do They Need to Know?

September 12, 2025 No Comments

The session, led by Sherard Parker, the Executive Director of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools, focused on strengthening charter school governance through effective onboarding practices for new board members. The presenters emphasized that successful charter schools require strong, informed boards, and the onboarding process is the foundation for this success. They framed their discussion around the “Five Ws”—who, what, when, where, and why—and introduced five key steps for effective onboarding: setting expectations, establishing initial contact, conducting orientation training, connecting with the school leader, and pairing new members with a board mentor. A major theme was the importance of setting clear expectations before a new member joins. Board candidates should understand the scope of their commitment, including meeting frequency, governance responsibilities, fiduciary duties, and the school’s mission and vision. The presenters stressed that onboarding must be intentional and structured, with governance committees taking responsibility for candidate interviews and documentation. This process helps ensure that boards bring on members who are aligned with the school’s priorities and capable of fulfilling their responsibilities. The session also highlighted the value of orientation training and direct engagement with school leaders. Orientation introduces board policies, financial responsibilities, and strategic priorities, while a school visit

Shared Accountability: Navigating the Authorizer & Governing Board Dynamic

September 12, 2025 No Comments

In this session, Kia Sweeny-Scott and Marianne Blaire of the Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers (FACSA) explored the theme of shared accountability between governing boards and authorizers. They began by outlining FACSA’s history and mission, explaining how the organization, founded in 2003, has grown from a state-focused network into a nationally recognized leader in charter school oversight. Through grants and collaborations with states such as California, Colorado, and Georgia, FACSA has built a platform for sharing best practices and strengthening consistency in authorizing across districts of all sizes. The presenters emphasized that authorizers and governing boards must operate as partners rather than adversaries. They walked participants through the statutory framework, particularly Florida Statute 1002.33, which defines responsibilities for both schools and their sponsors. Authorizers oversee applications, contracts, renewals, and compliance, while boards carry the ultimate responsibility for governance, financial stewardship, and mission alignment. Healthy relationships, they noted, depend on trust, respect, and transparency, ensuring that accountability processes are supportive rather than punitive. Practical strategies were shared for building and maintaining these relationships. Sweeny-Scott and Blaire recommended regular communication—such as quarterly updates between board chairs, principals, and authorizers—and proactive sharing of documents like handbooks, compliance calendars, and training certificates. They

Governing Board Considerations When Acquiring and Financing a School Facility

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Melissa Gross-Arnold led a session focused on the complex considerations that charter school boards face when acquiring and financing facilities. She began by framing why these decisions are so critical: facilities impact financial stability, long-term planning, program alignment, and even school marketing. She emphasized that facility choices must align with a school’s mission—for example, a Montessori program may require open, naturally lit spaces while other models may have very different needs. Governing boards, she reminded participants, have fiduciary duties of loyalty and care, which means prioritizing the school’s best interests, conducting due diligence, and asking the right questions throughout the acquisition or leasing process. A key portion of the session explored the legal responsibilities of governing boards. Gross-Arnold explained how Sunshine Law applies when decisions are delegated to committees, underscoring the need for transparency and proper notice. She also reviewed public records requirements, noting that even informal communications with brokers or contractors can fall under disclosure laws. Conflict of interest rules were another focus, as board members involved in property or financing arrangements must be vigilant to avoid ethical violations. Additionally, she highlighted how charter contracts intersect with facility decisions, such as location approvals and enrollment expansions, and discussed recent

Legislative Updates

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Shawn Arnold and Kathleen Schoenberg provided a fast-paced update on the numerous legislative changes affecting Florida charter schools in 2025. They began by outlining new requirements around governance, student codes of conduct, and school safety. Schools now have the authority to adopt stricter conduct codes than their districts, but must ensure parent acknowledgment and grievance procedures. Substitute teachers must undergo campus-specific safety training, wireless device restrictions have been tightened, and new policies are required in areas like dismissal, volunteer screening, and student welfare. The attorneys emphasized transparency, due process, and proactive policy adoption to remain compliant with the updated statutes. The session highlighted several new health and safety mandates. Schools serving middle and high school students must integrate CPR and AED training, and by 2027 all schools must have a plan for urgent lifesaving emergencies (“PULSE”) and at least one AED on campus. Human trafficking awareness training will also become mandatory for staff, with required documentation of completion. Updated safety rules clarified door-locking procedures, expanded training expectations for school guardians, and redefined start and end times with an option for charters to opt out if justified. The presenters stressed the importance of documenting policies, training, and compliance measures to avoid