Welcome and Call to Order

Welcome and Call to Order by Suzette Arnold, Board Chair, 9:52 a.m.

Acertain a Quorum

Suzette Arnold – present

Roberta Walker - present

Janelle Wilhite - present

Tamseel Syed – present

Wanda Brooks-Long, Ex-Officio - present

Wanda McKay- not present

Karen Shabazz – not present

Approval of Agenda

The committee approves the agenda items.

Head of School Report

Head of School Report – Dr. Brooks-Long and Melba Smith

Melba Smith, Interim Principal, presented the following:

Human Capital – Total Staff: 58; Total Resignations: 2; Open Positions: 3

Vacancies – There are currently 3 staff vacancies- 3^rd Grade teacher, ESOL teacher, PEC teacher

Student enrollment-There are currently 602 students enrolled with 161 students on the waitlist. Average warm body count: 548

Grade Level                               Students Recorded                             Waitlist

Kindergarten                                                  58                                            20

1^st                                                                   62                                            21      

2^nd                                                                  64                                            19

3^rd                                                                   71                                            13

4^th                                                                   78                                            30

5^th                                                                   66                                            18

6^th                                                                   69                                            23

7^th                                                                   68                                            07

8^th                                                                   66                                            10

Totals                                                         602                                         161

Open House – Ms. Smith gave an overview of the Open House event. Scholars modeled the new school uniform and a uniform vendor, SmartTees, was onsite taking uniform orders. Computers were set up so that parents could complete Free/Reduced Meal applications. Parents were able to sign up for before and afterschool care. There was also an opportunity for parents to ask questions and have a one-on-one with the Principal. Parents were able to tour the building and meet their student’s teacher. There were over 300 parents/stakeholders in attendance.

Ms. Smith provided an Academic/Instructional update, upcoming instructional training, activities that are facilitated by the Academic Coaches, and an update on Clubs and Activities.

Ms. Smith stated that blinds and carpet are being installed and that the Parent and Community Liaison Office is nearly finished.

Dr. Lacey-Griffith visited DeKalb Preparatory Academy and commented that the school is clean, atmosphere bright and calm.

Ms. Smith and Dr. Brooks-Long reviewed data and discussed a plan to provide a financial incentive for those teachers who had test scores that beat the district or state.

Ms. Arnold stated that she would like it established that one of the Academic/Instructional goals is that  50% of the Dekalb Preparatory Academy beat the district and the state.

Ms. Rodgers will provide Ms. Smith with the Board Reporting document so that Ms. Smith will know what data/information is due to the board each month.

Committee Reports

Finance (Janelle Wilhite)

The Finance Committee did not meet. The monthly financials will be reported and discussed at the August Board Meeting.

Since the Finance Committee did not meet, the following agenda items should be placed on the discussed August Board Meeting agenda as discussion items:

·      Central Office- Covington Highway Lease

·      McGuire-Woods (Charter 7 only) - $79,000 budget change proposal and payment of invoices.

·      Budget Adjustment

·      Credit Card policy

Recommendation: All approved contracts that are paid $5,000 or more monthly (i.e. medical, legal expenses, ADP), should be presented to the Governing Board on a Board Action form as information only. Candy Yu, Interim Chief Financial Officer, was charged with creating the monthly Board Action Form and to develop verbiage to include in the policy that addresses the $5,000 threshold.

Academic (Roberta Walker)

Ms. Walker stated that the following Board Action Packets were presented to the Academic Committee and should be placed on the Consent Agenda:

S. Riley, Middle School Math Teacher

K. Gaines, Operational Building Assistant

D. Pope, PEC Teacher

Pamela Sims, Science Teacher

Drako Wells, Middle School Math Teacher

David Wilson, Elementary Teacher

Barbara Aaron, School Nurse

Viola Blackshear, EIP Math Teacher, Part-time

Charcier Nichols, Operational Building Assistant

Governance (Tamseel Syed)

The HR Manager position was not reviewed and/or approved at the Governance Committee meeting.

This is a critical position and this item can be placed on the Governing Board Meeting agenda for discussion if desired by the full board.

Development (Wanda McKay - not present)

The Development Committee report was given by Ms. Smith. There was no formal meeting but just an informal discussion. The Committee discussed the Golf outing which is tentatively scheduled during Columbus Day Holiday. Ms. Smith reported that the planning team will visit the golf course in the near future. The Committee could not vote because there was no quorum. Question was raised by Janelle Wilhite about the status of the Grants Manager position. Dr. Brooks-Long indicated that she would have an update for the September meeting.

Public Comment

No comment was made

Open Items for Discussion

IT Infrastructure

Vendor Contracts

AVC Inventory

Discussed as part of the Other business

Any Other Business

Discussion regarding flow of information and documentation to the Governing Board. Further discussion will take place in the September Governance Committee meeting. However, instead of attaching all documents as links on one summary page, the board requested that the documents be placed in the Dropbox again.

Ms. Arnold made a formal request to provide the board with the AVC Inventory. She would like to know what DPA has and what the needs are. She requested a listing of vendors and dollars spent.

Executive Session

Motion add Executive Session to agenda and move to Executive Session to discuss personnel matters at 11:53 a.m.

Motion to resume regular meeting at 12:10 p.m.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 12:16 p.m.

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:18 pm