The intent of this Transition Policy is to provide a guideline for Lionsgate Academy to move from the founding board to an elected board by the end its third year of operations in 2011. As of October 2009, Lionsgate must conform with the requirements stated in Minnesota Charter School Statute 124D.10, the 2009 revised Charter School Law. This statute requires that the board must include: one teacher who works at the school, a parent with a student at the school, and an outside community member with no relationship to the school. Lionsgate will hold its first board election in May 2010, which will be directed by the Governance Committee in accordance with Charter Law and recommended policy from the Minnesota Department of Education. Current board members whose terms are ending have the right to run for an elected position along with other eligible candidates. All terms will be for a three-year period unless they are replacements for vacant seat. Lionsgate will continue to have nine board members.
In order to comply with the Charter Law, Statue 124D.10, which states that that all members must be elected by the end of its third operating year, Lionsgate Academy will classify its current board members into two different categories:
• (A) Term ends at the end of June 2010 (Tamara Phillips, Mike Shapiro, Todd Schwartzberg, and Michael Reiff)
• (B) Term ends at the end of June 2011 (Jane Houlton, Steven Waisbren, Ron Berger, Brandy Dougherty and Joe Timmons)
The first election will be held in May 2010 and the new board members will replace the founding board members in category A whose terms are expiring. These new terms will begin in July 2010.
Elections held in May 2011 will replace founding board members in category B whose terms are expiring. These new terms will begin in July 2011.
According to the Lionsgate Academy By-Laws:
Vacancies in officer positions shall be filled by election of the Board from its own membership at the call of the Chair within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy. Vacancies in membership positions, exclusive of regular elections, shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board. A position may be considered vacant upon three consecutive missed meetings without hearing from the missing Board member, by written resignation, or dismissal for cause. The Chair shall appoint a committee for the purpose of soliciting volunteers to be considered for appointment by the Board to the vacant seat or seats. Such appointment shall stand for the remainder of the term for that seat or seats.
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ADOPTED BY THE BOARD ON: December 16th, 2008
REVISED BY THE BOARD ON: November 17th, 2009
