Board Meeting Information (prior to 2015)

Board packets for SY 2015-16 and before are housed below. Please click the “download” button below to download a ZIP file of all records from the corresponding school year.

MN Finance Award

The Minnesota Department of Education’s Finance Award recognizes schools that exhibit sound fiscal health and financial management policies and procedures.  The criteria for earning a School Finance Award is based on compliance with  state statute on a number of financial related issues and other means of demonstrating fiscal health. Nova has received this award for the following years: 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010.

Annual Reports

In accordance with Minnesota Statute 124D.10 subd. 14, a charter school must report to its authorizer the information required by the authorizer.

District Expenses and Revenues Form

Board Health Insurance Documents

The Nova Classical Board of Directors has five of its nine seats up for election in 2025

• two parent seats, each for a three-year term;
• two teacher seats, also each for a three-year term; and
• one community member seat, for a two-year term.

The nominations period will run from March 1 until 4:00 pm on Friday, April 11, 2025.

Questions about the election or recommendations for potential candidates should be directed to the Governance Committee at governance@novaclassical.org.

Please vote!

Public Comment: publiccomment@novaclassical.org

The School Board welcomes input from community members and staff. A “Citizen Participation” time is available at the beginning of each board meeting. Please adhere to the following guidelines outlined in Policy 203:

• Input should be short (approx. 3 minutes or less)
• Comments should be germane to the agenda and respectful.
• Repetition should be avoided if possible; new input is best.
• Under Policy 203, public comment must not be discriminatory in nature. The Board Chair has the authority to stop any comments that violated Nova’s policy or are discriminatory.
• When the Business section of the meeting begins, citizen input should cease. Occasionally, if a topic is controversial, the Board Chair may choose to allow more citizen input during that particular agenda item. The Board Chair may also request input from the citizens if more expertise or clarification is needed on a topic.

Written public comment can be submitted via email to publiccomment@novaclassical.org. This email is received by the Board Secretary and will be distributed to all members of the Board of Directors.

Approved Policies for Nova Classical Academy

Section 1 | Legal Authority for Policies, Establishment, & Implementation of Policies

Section 2 | Board of Directors, Recruitment, Meetings, Agenda, Committees, Training

Section 3 | Applications, Admission, and Enrollment

Section 4 | School Administration

Section 5 | Curriculum

Section 6 | Student Life

Section 7 | Finance & Budget

Section 8 | Mandatory Policies

Envisioning our Future: 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

Approved by the Board in January 2023, our Strategic Plan will be implemented in stages over the next several years. It will guide the direction of our organization, lead us through complex challenges, and reaffirm our commitment to classical education. At its core, it ensures every student has a sense of belonging at Nova and feels supported in all areas of their education and well-being. 

Our school mission, promise, and belief statements set the foundation of our strategic plan. The five focus areas — each with a set of goals and objectives — support that foundation to ensure our process and results align with our virtues and beliefs.  

 We are so grateful for our community’s input, ideas, and honest feedback as we developed our plan. We also thank all the teachers, students, parents, teachers, and community members who participated in our 35-person Strategic Planning Committee, setting the goals and direction for our plan. 

Our Promise

Nova Classical Academy promises to be an inclusive community with a shared commitment to an exceptional, foundational education that teaches thought and expression of the mind and heart, resulting in compassionate and articulate graduates poised to engage as thoughtful global citizens.

Our Mission

In a supportive community and through a systematic, accelerated college-preparatory education in the classical tradition, Nova Classical Academy challenges its students to develop intellect, to attain the habits of learning and mastery, and to live a virtuous life of duty and ideals.

We believe:

• We believe we learn not for school but for life. 
• We believe in the core virtues: justice, fortitude, prudence, temperance, and wisdom. 
• We believe students learn how to learn in Nova Classical Academy’s classical education model. 
• We believe supportive relationships between students, staff, and families are necessary for students to reach their full potential. 
• We believe in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. 
• We believe ethical and prudent financial decision-making ensures the continued existence of our model.

Each of the five focus areas is supported by specific goals and objectives.

What is a Strategic Plan?

A Strategic Plan is a deliberate effort to establish a holistic, evolving plan that guides an organization for 3-5 years. Strategic Planning provides the opportunity to engage in reflection — a critical habit of learning — and refocuses on relevant priorities and decision-making. Strategic Planning ensures an organization continually recreates itself to maintain its leadership position despite rapid changes in education, technology, and society.

What Does a Strategic Plan Do?

The plan reaffirms our commitment to a classical education and our virtues – Justice, Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, and Wisdom. We will work to define the core components of our model to easily share its value and importance with interested families, teachers, and stakeholders.

The plan works to ensure every student has a sense of belonging at Nova Classical Academy and feels supported in all areas of their education and well-being. We can provide this support through respecting and celebrating cultural and ethnic traditions, positioning Multiple-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to meet the emotional needs of students, and documenting our position on fairness and belonging. 

Who Was Involved in Creating the Plan?

Planning began in October 2022 with community listening sessions and surveys that provided invaluable insight into how to strengthen our classical model, support our students, and prioritize focus through the next five years. In total, over 600 individuals provided feedback and input into the process.

Facility Needs Analysis

In January 2023, Nova Classical’s Board of Directors approved a 5-year strategic plan. The strategic plan identified 5 focus areas including facilities.. The strategic plan tasks us with providing classroom and extracurricular facilities which support our mission and also includes the measurable objective to ” … complete a comprehensive facilities review analyzing current and projected educational and extracurricular needs as well as identifying scenarios and options to address current and future facility needs.”

Link to Survey (The 2nd survey will close at 8:00pm on Sunday, January 7th, 2024)

FAQ

What is the purpose of this survey?

The purpose of this survey is to collect valuable insights from our school community, including students, parents, teachers, and staff, to understand the current needs and preferences of Nova Classical Academy. Your feedback will help us make informed decisions to enhance the overall educational experience and environment at our school.

Who can participate in this survey?

This survey is open to all members of the Nova Classical Academy community, including students age 16 and older, parents, teachers, and staff. We value the perspectives of all stakeholders, as they contribute to a comprehensive understanding of our school’s needs.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

The survey is designed to be concise and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your time investment is greatly appreciated, as your feedback is crucial to our efforts to improve the school environment and meet the needs of our community effectively.

Is the survey anonymous?

Yes, the survey is intended to be completely anonymous. Your responses, including responder email address and IP address, will be collected by the third party conducting the facility needs analysis This information will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purposes of data analysis, identifying and purging multiple responses, and improving our school’s programs and services. Rest assured that your privacy is of utmost importance to us.

What will happen with the results of the survey?

The insights and data collected will be used to identify areas of improvement and to develop strategies and initiatives that align with the identified needs and priorities of the Nova Classical Academy community.

What are the next steps after the survey?

After the survey is completed, the consulting team will conduct several focus group meetings with key stakeholders, such as teachers, staff, and students. These focus group meetings will seek to add depth, breadth, and detail to the survey responses. Additional surveys of the entire community or selected groups may be conducted as well. The goal is to identify current deficiencies and future needs of the Nova Classical Academy facilities more clearly.

How can I provide additional feedback or ask more questions?

We encourage you to reach out if you have any additional feedback or questions beyond what is covered in this survey. You can contact us via email at facilities@novaclassical.org or call us at 651-209-6320 x 332. Your engagement and input are essential in our journey to create an enriching educational environment for all.

World’s Best Workforce Reports

Initial Board Training Opportunities
*All Board members must have training in governance, employment law, and finances during their first year of Board service. This training must be started within the first six months of service. The cost of these trainings is tax deductible or may be reimbursed by Nova. Once your training is completed, please provide a copy of the documentation to the Board Secretary.

• Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA)
• Minnesota Association of Charter Schools (MACS)

General Information Resources

• Board on Track – general articles and webinars that cover topics like “The Top 10 Mistakes of Charter School Boards”
• The Center for School Change – general Board responsibilities for charter school boards and additional resources
• Office of the MN Attorney General – general fiduciary responsibilities for non-profit boards
• MACS – state and federal laws and policies affecting charter schools
• Robert’s Rules of Order Cheat Sheet – worth printing to have on hand
• Running Board Meetings – applies to running committee meetings as well

Standing Committees

• Academic Excellence Committee
• Budget & Finance Committee
• Governance Committee
  Chair: Becky Lund (blund@novaclassical.org)
  Meets: On the second Monday of each month from 6:00 – 7:00 pm in room 107 at Nova Classical or via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86456436402, passcode: Governance
  Work: Includes reviewing Nova Classical’s board-level policies and Bylaws as well as holding the yearly election for the Board of Directors.

Administrative Committees

• Curriculum Committee
• Health & Wellness Committee (Minutes)

Board Committee Minutes

Board Packets (2015-present) including agenda/minutes are available here!

Nova Classical Academy Bylaws