Centennial Academy

Governance Committee

Regular Meeting - Friday August 18th, 2023 @1:00 PM

Meeting Minutes

Attendance Summary

Name Status Arrival Time Departure Time
Walt Higgins not present member
Howard Grant present member On Time At Adjournment
Aquaria Smith present member On Time At Adjournment
Rewa Berry present chair On Time At Adjournment
Maurice Baker not present member
Derrick Gervin not present member

Governance Committee Meeting Agenda

Governance Committee Meeting Minutes

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. Open floor discussion/ Q&A

    • None

  4. Adjourn @ 1:43 PM

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 am

Motion to adjourn

There was no notable discussion on the motion.