Pinnacle Board Meeting Minutes
January 8th, 2026
Attendees: Michelle Strasburger, Beth Marquis, Monica Sava, Kelly Cunningham, Pam Kaplan, Kurt Simione & Kathleen Reardon
Absentees: Bonnie Balsamo, Katie Sullivan & Erin Neuhart
Meeting minutes from December 18th were approved.
Agenda Items:
Treasurer Update:
Pam met with Blundell Accounting. They work with other NH charter schools and are knowledgeable. They can help with state filings, bookkeeping, audits, tax returns, line-item budgets, track fundraising etc. The board agreed to use the grant to fund the highest tier of service they offer ($3,200/month) for maximum support during the startup phase. The tier can be downgraded post-launch. Kelly made a motion for Pam to negotiate a contract with Blundell Accounting and Monica seconded.
Pam motioned for the board to formally accept the $1.5m grant and Kelly seconded.
Pam and Michelle will open a bank account on Monday, using a $50 donation as the initial deposit. They will also explore a line of credit against the grant to manage cash flow.
Director Interview Update/Feedback:
The group agreed that Darren is highly qualified, with extensive experience, however they perceive him as an authoritative figure and are not sure how he would connect with the students.
The group agreed that Brian is more personable and curriculum focused. He is less authoritative.
Muhammad was a no-show due to a time zone issue.
The group decided to put an ad in the local newspaper, share the job link on community social media pages and explore recruiting local standout teachers. The timeline is to aim and make the final decision by the end of January.
Fundraising Update:
Kathleen is researching a rolling loan program ($10k-$100k at 4% interest). She’s also looking into a Tillotson grant (deadline January 23rd). Will need to apply as NCQE, as the Tillotson does not fund schools directly.
There is a consolidated application for title grants, so a single form can be used to apply for multiple Title grants.
Kathleen will be reaching out to local restaurants to do a fundraiser.
Building Status:
Kelly will meet with Tim (states building specialist) and Matt (landlord) to discuss build-out costs and building requirements. The grant will pay for some of the lease. Michelle spoke with Mike about permits needed.
Schedule Tracking & Assigning Tasks:
The board assigned owners to key tasks in the Monday.com project tracker:
- Emergency Plans: Beth
- ELO Program Development & Outreach: Kurt
- Student Data System (Alma): Pam will research state discounts.
- School Operations Plan: Michelle
Kurt left the meeting at this time.
- Time & Effort Policy: Pam will ask Blundell for a template.
- E-Verify Compliance: Michelle
- Parent Meet & Greet/Orientation: Michelle
Kurt will be ordering all the computers and furniture.
Tuition Amount for Out-of-State Students:
The group decided out-of-state students’ tuition should be $10,000, which mirrors what NH pays for students to attend ($9,500).
Will have to confirm the schools special-ed obligations for out-of-state students, as this will be a major funding consideration.
Kathleen will look into grants that support special education.
Other Business:
There was no other new business. Pam made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Monica seconded.
Next Meeting:
Thursday, January 22nd at 5:30.