Centennial Academy
Governance Committee Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2023 @ 1:00 PM
Governance Committee Members: Maurice Baker, Rewa Berry (Chair), Howard Grant, Walt Higgins (Vice-Chair), Jessica Olowoyo (Head of School) Everyone present except Walt Higgins and Maurice Baker
Call to order @ 1:05 PM
- How will we conduct meeting: - Calendar, time and place
- Grant- Read the Opens meeting Act and determined we have to be present with only 2 Zoom calls per year.
- Olowoyo- Suggest meeting 2 times quarterly; can meet at the school inside HOS office media center and cafeteria
- Berry – Opens Meeting Act needs to be revised to meet the demands of lives/time today.
- Grant- as long as the notice is posted at the school and where we are going to meet, we can go to more convenient places for everyone.
- Berry – will send an email out to everyone for us to come to a consensus.
- Strategic Plan and Updates on the state of the school from Jessica Olowoyo, Head of
School
- school year off to a great start. Theme is being consistent. Looking at data, coaching
and committing to the initiatives proposed at beginning of year.
- Fully staffed at the Centennial with a 6th Custodian.
- Vendor services are going well this year.
- Legwork on nutrition is working out with a major improvement.
- Arrival and dismal has improved as well since systems have been revamped using a layered plan to dismiss students.
- Back to school bash is 8/24 and is also the last family vote day with charter renewal
- Have conducted several zooms regarding charter renewal with families
- Charter renewal has been challenging to complete but GCSA has helped
tremendously.
- Staff morale is high; revamped how to give attention to concerns by providing methods for feedback with teachers, admin and parents.
- 8/31 is Convocation with families attending for first time; leaving kindergarten at school this year; this is to engage the families more and change the flow to make this event more scholar focus and support.
- Increase upper academy pathways for 8th grade matriculation; 8th grade
Apprentices -
- Ms Berry: suggested creating an alumni association
- an alumni association can make the foundation Centennial has built and is
building, better.
- goes right along with wanting to increasing midtown footprint
- wants to make sure strategic plan is flowing.
- Building- redesign learning centers in each pod; turf on side of building is a hit.
- Disgruntle parent was upset State did not approve her grievance.
- Board Engagement
- Back to School Bash is August 24th
- Convocation is August 31st
- Olowoyo: looking to create a come to school day for Board membes to see what a day at school looks like.
- Berry: we all need to engage in order to show ‘togetherness’ in al we do
- Olowoyo: creating a robust of family engagement opportunities
- Board Giving
- Berry: we all must participate and asked to receive a list of needs outside of monetary giving to locate the resources needed.
- Grant: offered to extend invitation to families needing assistance with their utilities which ends September 30, 2023.
- Open floor discussion/ Q&A
- Adjourn @ 1:43 PM