Welcome Call to Order

Chair Perry called the meeting to Order at 5:33 pm.

Approval of Agenda & Minutes

The Board adopted the minutes as presented.

Chair's Remarks

Chair Perry reflected on routine discussions with Ms. Olowoyo in their weekly and intermediate meetings. He mentioned that Ms. Olowoyo may relate her concerns regarding the new superintendent’s perspective on charter schools. While not an immediate concern, this is a natural adjustment to a new leader's viewpoint. The Chair emphasized that, given past experiences with varying superintendents, it is essential to gauge how this new leadership may impact charter schools.

Public Comment

Parent Shahida Jill Slaughter asked about the best way to communicate with the Board. Chair Perry outlined the Board’s communication protocol, and Ms. Spencer offered to follow up directly with the parent to provide the appropriate contact information for Board communication.

Governance Committee Report

Committee Chair Berry highlighted recent by-law amendments addressing emergency conditions and Board absences. Berry also announced that the Committee would continue its review of the by-laws at the next meeting and shared updates on the onboarding of Dr. Alan Ferguson of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Finance Committee Report

Committee Chair Glover introduced Jessica Story, Principal of Warren Averett, to present Centennial Academy's annual audit report, which received a clean opinion from the independent audit. Ms. Story provided an overview of financial highlights, including:

• Total assets increased by $876,000, with notable changes in grants receivable and investments.
• A $13 million net pension liability and in-kind contributions for facility use were recognized.
• Total revenue rose by $1.9 million, driven by APS funding, new grants, and contributions.

The Governing Board discussed the importance of maintaining financial reserves while addressing the need to improve academic performance. Current enrollment is 747 students, with a quarter-to-date loss of $200,000.

Chair Glover expressed gratitude to Ms. Story and Warren Averrett's team and recommended the Board adopt the independent audit to meet the November 1 deadline for submission to the Georgia State Department of Education and Atlanta Public Schools.

Academic Accountability Committee Report

Committee Chair Patterson presented Centennial Academy's academic performance metrics. The Executive Leadership team reported gains in ELA and math proficiency and shared their strategic plan to further improve student outcomes. Key highlights included:

• Data and Strategies: Use of the Linq system to track trends, improve student retention, and emphasize professional development and differentiated instruction.
• Special Education Support: Implementation of high-dosage tutoring, assistive technology for state assessments, aggressive monitoring, and small group instruction to support special education students.
• Attendance and Discipline: Attendance rates exceed goals at 84% overall, with 92% for boarding scholars and 70% for transition scholars. Discipline issues, particularly in the upper academy, are being addressed through professional development and partnerships.
• Parental and Community Engagement: The school is striving for 100% parent-teacher conference participation and has initiated community partnerships to enhance academic and safety measures.

The leadership team emphasized the importance of sustaining academic gains and employing targeted interventions to address challenges. Ms. Olowoyo encouraged the Board to remain focused on maintaining and improving academic performance while addressing the diverse needs of all students.

Head of School Report

Ms. Olowoyo's report included academic performance and instructional focus, community partnerships, and professional development. Specifically, she discussed:

• Academics and Instructional Focus: The academy’s ongoing efforts to improve learning outcomes through the science of reading framework, expanded use of assistive technology, and high-dosage tutoring. She highlighted the importance of quality instruction and interdisciplinary learning, particularly for teachers to thoroughly unpack and understand science standards. Efforts to optimize data reporting were discussed, including preparing slides to frame key points more effectively during academic accountability reviews. Additionally, the upcoming CCRPI report, set to be presented at the next meeting, will offer valuable insights into academic performance. The school has seen an influx of special education students, some new to Centennial, raising questions about grade-level ratios and resource allocation to meet their needs effectively. Dr. Alejandro and Ms. Foy are compiling detailed profiles to understand these scholars' backgrounds and classifications better.
• Community Partnerships and Engagement: The academy has significantly strengthened community partnerships, including the Coca-Cola community service project and collaborations with the Men of Morehouse. Initiatives like STEAM Fridays, which focus on design thinking and adventure-based learning, have been well-received and reinforce the importance of experiential learning. In addition, the acquisition of the Wallace Library branch marks a key milestone in enhancing resources for scholars and the broader community.
• Professional Development and Retention: Professional Development has been a priority, with K2 and K3 teachers participating in targeted sessions and Atlanta Public Schools district-wide Professional Learning meetings. The first STEAM advisory council meeting further supported faculty engagement and alignment with strategic goals. The academy reported a positive retention trend, with scholar enrollment at 757, including 96 transitional scholars. Efforts to reduce withdrawals show a positive trend, contributing to improved outcomes and stability.
• Facilities and Safety Enhancements: To address safety concerns, Centennial contracted with Strategics to implement an immediate alert system in case of an intruder, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment.

Closing Comments

Chair Perry final remarks included:

• emphasizing the critical role of academic performance in driving Centennial Academy’s success and the need for continuous improvement through high standards, strategic monitoring, and timely adjustments.
• recommendations for staff to effectively frame the academic report, ensuring clear communication of key metrics and outcomes and enabling informed decision-making by the Board.
• the use of impact-focused language to demonstrate how specific strategies and initiatives directly influence scholar outcomes, such as improved proficiency or retention rates.
• acknowledging the Executive Leadership team’s dedication and hard work, noting their contributions to recent academic gains and ongoing efforts to address challenges like special education support and discipline in the upper academy.

By combining these efforts, Mr. Perry stressed that Centennial will remain focused on its North Star of academic excellence and equitable support for all students.