Welcome and Call to Order

Welcome and Call to Order – Roberta Walker, Co-Chair at 6:53 p.m.

Ascertain a Quorum

In attendance at 6:56 there were not enough board members in-person to achieve a quorum

Janelle Wilhite – in-person

Roberta Walker – in-person

Maxine Wright – in-person

Tamseel Syed – virtual

Martina Stanley - virtual

Suzette Arnold – not present

Felicia Shanklin - not present

Wanda McKay – LOA-not present

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.

Principal's report

Principal’s Report – Melba Smith Ms. Smith gave an overview of the March Highlights.

Enrollment/Re-enrollment There are currently 539 students enrolled at DeKalb Preparatory Academy. Kindergarten 52 1st grade 60 2nd Grade 55 3rd Grade 60 4th Grade 59 5th Grade 73 6th Grade 63 7th Grade 57 8th Grade 52 Total 539 students

2023-24 re-enrollment forms have been received and new enrollments are being accepted.

Human Capital Report There are currently 70 total staff. There are two (2) resignations and three (3) open positions. The two resignations are a 3rd grade teacher and Special Education teacher.

Ms. Smith discussed staffing needs for 2023-24.

FTE sign-off complete FTE reimbursement for 2023 was $2,043,799.89 compared to $1,930,856.33 in 2022.

Superintendent’s Visit Dr. Tinsley visited four classes during her visit on March 8, 2023. She was interviewed by our AVC Department Students about the importance of Women’s History Month. During the visit there was a very emotional moment as Dr. Tinsley and her fourth-grade teacher were reunited. Ms. Valjean Williams is a PEC here at DeKalb Preparatory Academy.

DCSD School Innovation Visits Ms. Smith gave an overview of the School Innovation visits that have occurred recently. The PEC department has been visited approximately 5 times during the month of March.

DeKalb Preparatory Academy has the highest content mastery score amongst the seven elementary and middle schools in Region 6.

Other items discussed were: New Math and ELA Series will be secured for next year and DPA will continue with Gallopade and STEMScience ACCEL and EXCEL Academy attendance, PEC department updates Georgia Milestones Testing Preparation Summer Bridge and Kindercamp The Lion King Production Upcoming Student Workshops: Good Touch and Bad Touch Workshop being conducted by Social Worker Bullying Workshop with SRO Florivil See Something, Say Something-Ongoing Community Parent Advisory Committee has had two meetings. Their focus is on uniforms and a beautification project. Ms. Smith has a new improved weekly newsletter.

Committee Reports

Finance Committee Report- Janelle Wilhite

The Finance Committee met and approved one action-the cleaning contract for the remainder of the school year. Another item that was discussed but is not ready to bring forward for presentation to the full board is the Procurement section of the financial policy.

Mr. Kayemba presented the monthly financials.

-       Budgets are currently being prepared.

-       Salary comparison for other schools is being developed.

Ms. Wilhite asked if DPA will be in a surplus or deficit and Mr. Kayemba advised that DPA has a surplus.

Mr. Syed asked about the debt/net loss for this month. Mr. Kayemba advised that it is because we didn’t get the nutrition funds for the month. Mr. Syed asked Mr. Kayemba about the ratios: debt-to-asset ratio and the debt-to-income ratio. Mr. Kayemba to provide follow-up explanations about these two ratios. Ms. Simpson to double check to see if all Nutrition submissions have been submitted for the year.

Academic Committee Report - Roberta Walker

The Academic Committee met this month. Discussion centered around current staffing needs for 2023-24. There is a need to add three (3) new positions to the organizational structure. The MTSS/RTI position is ready for board consideration. Two additional positions that will be presented for board consideration in April are Data/Curriculum Specialist and an additional Counselor.

Brief discussion regarding Re: Imagine and the services that they will provide.

Discussed pending instructional hires, substitutes, and SmartBoards.

There will be a Summer Bridge/Kindercamp program. Brief discussion about the curriculum for next year. The new Math and ELA series will cost approximately $61, 000. DeKalb Preparatory Academy will continue to use Gallopade and Stemscopes

Governance Committee Report – Tamseel Syed

The Governance Committee met on March 14, 2023, but no actions were approved to move forward to the full board for consideration. There is a request for all Board Committee chairs to update their minutes in Charter Boards. Mr. Syed discussed the plan for onboarding new members and that the Drop Box will be accessible to new board members to review important board documentation. Mr. Syed notified the attendees that he has resigned from the board, effective April 1, 2023. He stated that Maxine Wright has been appointed as the new Governance Committee Chair. He is scheduling a meeting with Ms. Wright to facilitate the transition.

Minutes from Governing Board

No minutes were approved

The Governing Board met on Monday March 6th, 2023 @6:30 PM for what was scheduled to be a 2 hours and 39 minutes long meeting. Present: Roberta Walker, Tamseel Syed, Dr. Wanda Brooks-Long, Janelle Wilhite Not Present: Suzette Arnold, Wanda McKay The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. Ascertain a Quorum 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of the Minutes 5. Head of School Report 6. Committee Reports 7. Public Comment 8. Executive Session 9. Any Other Business 10. Adjournment of Board meeting The committee considered 11 motions, of which 11 passed, and 0 failed: 1. Motion to Approve the Agenda (passed) 2. Motion to approve minutes from February 2023 meeting (passed) 3. Motion to accept Head of School report with just data analysis presented (passed) 4. Motion to approve 3 new board members pending background check - the candidates approved are Ms. Felicia Shanklin, Ms. Maxine Williams and Ms. Martina Stanley (passed) 5. Motion to move into executive session at 7:24 p.m. (passed) 6. Motion to end executive session and return to regular session at 9:37 p.m. (passed) 7. Motion to approve New Hire: Labresia Agnew for Paraprofessional at $49,505.03 (includes salary and benefits) (passed) 8. Motion to approve New Hire: Jaison Young for AVTC teacher at $59,669.92 (includes salary and benefits) (passed) 9. Motion to approve Spring Semester Field Trips (for K, 1st and 2nd grades) in the amount of $4000 (not paid by DPA but paid individually by students) (passed) 10. Motion to approve AVCT Club Field Trip (Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center and Sea World in Orlando, FL) in the amount of $29,400 (not paid by DPA but paid individually by students and accompanying adults) (passed) 11. Motion to adjourn at 9:44 p.m. (passed) The meeting adjourned at 2:11PM

Executive Session

No Executive Session occured

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 received –

Ms. Mattie Reid raised questions about the meeting structure for face-to-face vs. hybrid or virtual. Discussion regarding our AVTC being set up to ensure that all attendees can hear and or participate by utilizing the most appropriate equipment.

Ms. Reid stated that 594 students have applied for the 2023-24 school year.

Due to there not being a quorum of members in attendance in-person, an Emergency Called Board meeting will have to be scheduled to vote on board actions.

Any Other Business

None discussed

Adjournment

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:05 pm