Welcome and Call to Order

The meeting was called to the order at 6:42 p.m.

In attendance - roll call

Present: Roberta Walker, Janelle Wilhite, Wanda McKay, Tamseel Syed, Wanda Brooks-Long (Ex-Officio)

Not present: Suzette Arnold, Karen Shabazz

Approval of Agenda

So that there is agreement between board members on the agenda, and the amount of time spent on the meeting, the board shall vote to approve an agenda for the meeting. To the best of its ability, it will follow that agenda, and allow for the chair to move the board through the agenda as specified.

Approval of Minutes from Jul 7, 2022

Minutes attached here for convenience

Approval of Minutes from May 26, 2022

Attached here for convenience

Approval of Minutes from May 31, 2022

Attached here for convenience

Approval of Minutes from Jun 25, 2022

Attached here for convenience

Approval of Minutes from Jun 28, 2022

Attached here for convenience

Approval of Minutes from Jul 23, 2022

Approval of Consent Agenda

The items that will be approved as part of the consent agenda are:

 Audit Firm – Annual Fiscal Audit – Marshall Jones

 Charter Renewal Consultant – Elisa Falco – Coaching and Counseling

 Accounting Services – Avalon Accounting – CFO/Accounting

 Audit Preparation – Avalon Accounting

 Cafeteria Tables

 Janitorial Services – Service Management

 Food Services – Simply Elegant

 Governor’s Stipend HB910 - Payroll correction

 18-week Assessment

 Academic calendar with the addition of the Juneteenth holiday

 12-month staff calendar with the addition of the Juneteenth holiday

 Food Server – S. Favors

 PEC Paraprofessional – L. Mitchell

 PEC Paraprofessional – M. Grissom

 PEC Paraprofessional – G. Lopez

 School Information Services/Data Specialist – C. Woods

 Spanish Teacher – D. jones

 Math Teacher – M. Cox

 School Office Manager – K. Hunter

 Third Grade Teacher - Y. Truluv

 Part-time, EIP Teacher - I. Owensby

 Gifted Teacher - K. Sims

 Spanish Curriculum – Rosetta Stone

 New Hires and Replacements Summary

 School Attorney - Robert Fortson – Legal Engagement (with change of recipient on letterhead to Suzette Arnold, Board Chair). This item was discussed in Finance but not approved for consent agenda there. Request by board to have Interim CFO compare fiscal year 2021-22 Legal expenses with 2022-23 budget for Legal Services.

 Lawn Maintenance Contract – DLE - need to be changed to read 1 year contract instead of 10-month contract.

 Academic Committee report

 Finance Committee report

Head of School Report

The school leader reports any new information since the work session on July 23rd, 2022.

Melba Smith, Interim Principal, presented the following: School Readiness Plan and Update –

Registration – 100%

Textbook/Curriculum – 90%

Building Cleanliness – 85%

Teacher Supplies – 95%

First Day Call in Procedures – 100%

Balancing Staff – 88%

Vacancies – There are currently 7 staff vacancies (Operational Building Assistant, PEC paraprofessional, PEC Teacher, EIP Teacher, 4 th Grade Teacher, 7 th Grade Math Teacher, Nurse)

July Human Capital Management Report –

Report included total staff - 58

# resignations - 5

# promotions - 4

# retirements - 0

# non-renewals - 1

# open positions – 3 (correction made: 7 open positions)

Pre-planning began on Monday, July 25, 2022 and will continue through Friday, July 29, 2022. Ms. Smith reviewed the 3 categories of pre-planning-Professional Learning, Instructional Learning Strategies, Mandatory Required Training. A listing of training that occurred on Monday and Tuesday and the

schedule for the remainder of the week discussed briefly. Also, the components of the model classroom were discussed and pictures were shared.

Student enrollment-There are currently 628 students enrolled with 113 students on the waitlist.

Grade Level Students Recorded Waitlist

Kindergarten 60 24

1 st 71 14

2 nd 72 12

3 rd 71 07

4 th 75 26

5 th 72 08

6 th 79 16

7 th 63 04

8 th 65 05

Totals 628 113

Dr. Brooks-Long announced that DeKalb Preparatory Academy has received a pledge of an additional $220,000 in QBE funds.

Dr. Brooks-Long announced that all of the teachers recommended for the Reading Recovery Program Partnership with Georgia State University have been accepted and will receive scholarships.

Committee reports not discussed during Work Session

Finance Committee report – Janelle Wilhite

The Finance Committee met last Tuesday. The report was included in the consent agenda. The board actions that were approved by the Finance Committee are listed on the Consent Agenda and/or agenda for discussion by the full board and will be presented later in the meeting.

Brief discussion about the Credit Card policy revisions.

Governance committee report - Tamseel Syed

The Governance Committee met earlier this month. The minutes from the meeting are posted on CharterBoards. Mr. Syed looks forward to amending policies and Governing Board By-laws in the future.

Development committee report - Wanda McKay/Melba Smith

The Development Committee report was given by Ms. Smith. The Committee met to discuss the Golf outing which is tentatively scheduled during Columbus Day Holiday. The Committee did not vote on anything.

Discussion Agenda - legal services

Agenda item i. McGuire-Woods (Charter 7 only) - $79,000 budget change proposal. Board will review Budget change proposal, spreadsheet with approved current budget and the change to the 2022-23 budget. Review board action form to increase the budget.

Agenda item ii. Separate board action to pay the outstanding legal invoices.

Discussion:

McGuire-Woods (Charter 7 only) - $79,000 budget change proposal and payment of invoices. Tabled until August to obtain exact invoice amount

Discussion item - adding new position to org chart

New Position – Grants and Data Specialist – $52,000.

Supporting documentation reviewed: organization chart, job description, strategic analysis, board action form. It was decided that the salaries line item will cover for this position until budget amendment is proposed in August.

Motion to add the Grants and Data Specialist position to the Organization Chart was made.

Public Comment

Our Public Comment period is for members of the public to address the board. Each member of the public may sign up to comment at the meeting, and will be allotted two minutes. The board will listen, but may not directly respond to any comments. Our meetings are open to the public and public record. As such, if your comment is about a private matter, please contact the board via email, or speak to the board chair privately.

Public comments made and discussion occured:

Parents, Ashley Chapple and Jasmine Smith-Silas, raised concerns that the school failed to provide timely notification of the new uniform and that parent input would have been appreciated.

Dr. Brooks-Long stated that she would send formal letter to parents regarding the uniforms.

The parents volunteered to be part of the parent stakeholder input and Dr. Brooks-Long will work with them to include them as part of the committee that collects parent feedback at DPA.

Any Other/New Business

Janelle requested a discussion about credit card policy.

Credit Card Policy deferred until August. Suggestions were made to improve the policy that will make the internal controls very thorough. Board Action Form is required to move forward in August on this item.

Tamseel Syed and Roberta Walker requested to move to Executive Session for a discussion on personnel matters.

Executive Session

Discussion on personnel matters occurred during the Executive Session.

Motion to resume regular meeting happened at 8:02 p.m.

The Academic Committee recommended the hire of three new staff members:

Jasmine Gresham for Grant and Data Specialist

Ketchia Woods for Third Grade Teacher

DeMario Lightsey for Fourth Grade Teacher

Adjourn

Motion to adjourn at 8:04 p.m.

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:04 pm