DeKalb Preparatory Academy

Governing Board

Regular Meeting - Monday March 23rd, 2020 @6:30 PM

Meeting Minutes

Attendance Summary

Name Status Arrival Time Departure Time
Janelle Wilhite present member On Time At Adjournment
Chris Estes present ex-officio On Time At Adjournment
Wanda McKay present member On Time At Adjournment
Suzette Arnold present chair On Time At Adjournment
Tamara Gammon not present Treasurer
Roberta Walker present vice-chair On Time At Adjournment
Karen Shabazz present member On Time At Adjournment
Marcus Vassell not present member

Welcome and Call to Order

The meeting will be called to the order.

Approval of Agenda

The committee approves the agenda items.

motion to approve agenda

By: Roberta Walker Seconded by: Karen Shabazz

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

Approval of February's Minutes

The Governing Board met on Tuesday February 25th, 2020 @6:30 PM for what was scheduled to be a 2 hours and 23 minutes long meeting. Present: Janelle Wilhite, Chris Estes, Roberta Walker, Karen Shabazz, Marcus Vassell Not Present: Wanda McKay, Suzette Arnold, Tamara Gammon The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. Meeting Pupose Statement 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Report from Governing Board 5. Head of School Report 6. Report from Academic Committee 7. Report from Development 8. Finance Committee Report 9. Governance Committee Report 10. Public Comment 11. Any Other Business 12. Adjournment The committee considered 9 motions, of which 9 passed, and 0 failed: 1. motion to approved agenda as amended (passed) 2. motion to accept report as presented (passed) 3. motion to accept report as presented (passed) 4. motion to accept the report as presented (passed) 5. motion to approve the Ciridia invoice in the amount of $7,797 for the month of February (passed) 6. board voted to approve a pay increase for Ms. Simpson (passed) 7. Board voted to accept the application of a new board member. (passed) 8. motion to adjourn meeting at 8:15pm (passed) 9. motion to accept report as submitted (passed) The meeting adjourned at 7:26PM

motion to approve February meeting minutes

By: Roberta Walker Seconded by: Karen Shabazz

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

Head of School Report

The school leader reports on the status of the school.


Key areas from the Cognia report to focus on are a digital resources improvement plan and working to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.

motion to accept HOS report

By: Karen Shabazz

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

Report from Governance Committee

The Governance Committee met on Thursday February 20th, 2020 @6:30 PM for what was scheduled to be a 0 hours and 53 minutes long meeting. Present: Janelle Wilhite, Karen Shabazz, Wanda McKay Not Present: Suzette Arnold, Roberta Walker The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Training Hours Update 4. Strategic Plan 5. HOS Evaluation 6. Communications Plan 7. Board Retreat 8. Other Business 9. Adjournment The committee considered 2 motions, of which 2 passed, and 0 failed: 1. Approve the agenda as submitted (passed) 2. Motion to adjourn the meeting. (passed) The meeting adjourned at 10:45PM


Governance committee has not met since Feb. 20 meeting. Ms. McKay has provided a table of training hours completed by board members.

Finance Committee Meeting

Ms. Wright has provided a list of all contract vendors. The list indicates which vendors have renewed agreements and which ones will be bid out.


Ms Wright shared financial reports and an invoice for IT services.





motion to approve invoice for vendor Ciridia for $7,335

By: Karen Shabazz Seconded by: Janelle Wilhite

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

Report from Academic Committee

The Academic Committee met on Wednesday February 19th, 2020 @1:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 1 hours and 13 minutes long meeting. Present: Roberta Walker, Selina Dukes-Walton, Veronica Grant, Melba Smith, Carla Pettis, Karen Shabazz Not Present: Chris Estes, Lakeisha Strickland The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. Review of online subscriptions 3. Analysis of students making A's and B's on report card 4. Summer Programs 5. On-boarding for New Teachers 6. Other Academic Concerns 7. Next meeting Date and Time 8. Adjournment The committee considered 0 motions, of which 0 passed, and 0 failed: The meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM


Academic Committee conference call meeting 3.23.20- Ms. Pettis shared virtual learning plan and how it is being executed.Teachers are providing assignments via class Dojo and using online platforms and MAP data to differentiate instruction.


DPA teachers will have an opportunity to participate in the DCSD mentor program and new teacher will be able to attend the district's new teacher program.

accept academic report as presented

By: Karen Shabazz

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

Report from Development Committee

The Development met on Friday March 23, 2020 @9:30 AM for what was scheduled to be a 0 hours and 1 minutes long meeting. Present: Tanya Watkins, Wanda McKay, Marcus Vassell (virtual meeting) Not Present: none The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. DPA Department Priorities Review 3. The Meeting was Adjourned 4. Full Meeting Minutes The committee considered 2 motions, of which 1 passed, and 0 failed: 1. Approve the agenda as submitted (proposed) 2. Motion to adjourn (passed)


annual campaign to begin May 1, 2020

AVC program grant goal of $275,000

Ms. Watkins and Mr. Estes are working on a budget for needed AVC equipment/devices. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 AM



Public Comments

There were no comments by stakeholders.

Executive Session

Motion to move to executive session by K. Shabazz @ 8:50pm, second by J.Wilhite to discuss human resources matters related to remote working and essential/non-essential roles.


Return to general session at 9:11pm

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:53 pm

Motion to adjourn

By: Karen Shabazz Seconded by: Janelle Wilhite

There was no notable discussion on the motion.