Present Members
Steve E.
Aaron W.
Jessica A.
James I.
Bernadette H.
Rhett Y.
Ayni S.
Tui H.
Sarah W.
Carol H.
Kevin N.
Rachel
Bruce N.

Agenda
1) Name & logo
2) Policy Guide
3) Board of Trustees
4) Location
5) New Admissions

Notes

1) Name & Logo – We need to settle on  a name for fundraising, etc. Discussion about appropriateness of “Free School” – is it misleading? (i.e., tuition is not free; also confusion with the “Free Board”). Nebulous – may scare off investors who remember “free schools” of the 70’s.

Ideas:  The _____ School for Independent Learning (Kevin)
 Triangle Independent School (James)
 Independence School

Keep thinking about this; we need a name. Tabled for now.

2) Transportation – Short discussion regarding a combination of bus and carpooling.

3) Policy Guide – Aaron handed out copies of the existing guide to everyone present. Quick run-down of policy guide for new people, plus revisions. Will move next week for adoption.

    Tui had a question about maximum age for students. James asked about lunches. Bruce asked about accredidation in relation to attendance, to which Aaron responded by discussin Sudbury Valley School (one of our models) and taking coersion out of the school. Aaron will research other schools in this area and talk to Bruce out of meeting.

4) Discipline – Discipline and curriculum are completely separate issues. Idea here is free curriculum but enforced discipline. Short discussion of Tribunal committee. Also guidelines from Policy Guide. Sarah suggested “victim” have a say in consequences.
It’s important to have due process in all the stages: 1) Indictment, 2) Trial, 3) Conviction, 4) Sentencing, 5) Appeal.

Weapons discussion tabled for next week (put on agenda). Policy Guide item tabled.

5) Board of Trustees – tabled

6) Trip to New England – 1st week of May. Plan to visit Sudbury Valley, Putney (in VT), Central Park East, and Antioch (NH). We’ll stay in hostels and farms. Panel discussion in VT. Bernadette has a friend in MD where we can stay. Also probably in Mass. Aaron is working on the itenera. Contact in NH may be able to find grant money to help pay for trip. ~3 days driving (6 day trip?) Steve said 6 days would be minimum for group building/processing visits, etc. James has place to stay in NH. There’s also Fred’s building in NY. Rhett has family in NJ and PA. Contact Aaron if you want to know more about trip or help out.

7) Location – Kevin and Rachel live in Raleigh, and need to know where the school will be. We’ve been aiming at Chatham County, as land is cheap. Kevin wondered about RTP, getting land or space donated by conscience-driven corporation(s). Harvey’s Substistence Farm is enthusiastic about working with us. They have a building.

Blue Heron – Steve reported that several people were not ready to have a school there. That option is closed for now.

We went around the Board and asked people’s preferences in regard to location.

 James – Carrboro Town Hall, as it’s close.
 Bernadette – Harvey’s Farm, for resources and learning opportunities.
 Tui – Flexible; likes rural. Put $$ in resources then. Also likes central location, as you can walk anywhere.
 Sarah – Carrboro Town Hall
 Kevin – RTP
 Rachel – Has no transportation; dependent on Kevin.
 Steve – out in country
 Carol – Rural
 Aaron – Rural, as we’re out of public view, land is easier to get, larger lots, learning opportunities
 Jessica – Rural

8) Fundraising – Bernadette suggested having a dinner. Car wash, publicitiy. Priorities – Trip & CD before darkroom. (Though we now have the equipment for a darkroom). Also $95 for fundraising workshop.

Adjourned at 8:45.

New Business for the Next Meeting

1) Name and Logo
2) Policy Guide