Motion to approve the agenda with the addition of an Approval of September Minutes section
By: Ms. Bridget Robinson Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
DeKalb Preparatory Academy
Governing Board
Regular Meeting - Tuesday October 28th, 2025 @6:30 PM
Meeting Minutes
Attendance Summary
| Name | Status | Arrival Time | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. KathyAnn Young | present chair | On Time | At Adjournment |
| Ms. Bridget Robinson | present secretary | On Time | At Adjournment |
| Mrs. Roberta Walker | present member | On Time | At Adjournment |
| Mrs. Wanda McKay | not present member | ||
| Dr. Lenise Bostic | present ex-officio | On Time | At Adjournment |
| Diane Mingo | present member | On Time | At Adjournment |
Welcome Call To Order
The meeting was called to order by the Governing Board Chairperson and a quorum ascertained.
Approval of Agenda
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of minutes from the September 23, 2025, Governing Board Meeting
By: Ms. Bridget Robinson Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Board Election
The board conducted elections for Board Officer positions with the following board members being elected into office:
Board Chair - KathyAnn Young
Vice Chair - Roberta Walker
Treasurer - Diane Mingo
Secretary - Wanda McKay
Parliamentarian - Bridget Robinson
Motion to nominate KathyAnn Young as Governing Board Chairperson
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Diane Mingo
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Motion to nominate Roberta Walker as Vice Chairperson
By: Ms. KathyAnn Young Seconded by: Diane Mingo
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Motion to nominate Diane Mingo as Board Treasurer
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Ms. KathyAnn Young
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Motion to nominate Wanda McKay as Board Secretary
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Ms. KathyAnn Young
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Motion ot nominate Bridget Robinson as Parliamentarian
By: Ms. KathyAnn Young Seconded by: Diane Mingo
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Motion to nominate Roberta Walker as Vice Chairperson
By: Ms. KathyAnn Young Seconded by: Diane Mingo
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Head of School Report
Dr. Bostic presented the October 2025 Head of School report, highlighting the Kindergarten team as Team of the Month and recognizing Mr. Brown for National Principals Month. The school celebrated various events including a pop-up homecoming concert, a fall festival with a Trunk or Treat event, and the flag football team's championship victory. Upcoming family engagement events were announced for November, including Muffins with Moms, a Garden Club Harvest Festival, and Thanksgiving Luncheons.
Dr. Bostic provided enrollment and academic updates, highlighting strong numbers across grade levels and ongoing testing activities.
Academic Committee Report
The Academic Committee discussed hiring two candidates, including an elementary school principal and a special education teacher, and recommended approval for the Bulldog Learning Lounge, an after-school tutorial program for students in grades 3-8. The board approved the program at a cost of $20,140. The board also addressed the hiring of Ms. Pamela Basye as a Special Education teacher, approved in June, and the potential hiring of Mr. Robert Whigham as the Elementary Principal. Budget implications and questions about the impact on current vacancies were raised, with Ms. Lee being asked to provide further details. The conversation ended with a decision to move into an executive session to address additional questions.
Finance Committee Report
September 2025 Financial Review
The finance committee met on October 21 and reviewed financial statements for September 2025, reporting actual revenue of $2.3 million against a budget of $2.1 million, resulting in a $272,000 surplus. The committee discussed a draft audit and several actions that would be presented at the board meeting. The annual budget projection of $8.4 million was increased to $9.8 million due to DeKalb allotments received in early September, with projected expenses of $8.7 million, leaving a surplus of $1.13 million.
Financial Review and Audit Results
The board reviewed the September financial report and accepted the annual audit for fiscal year 2024-2025, which showed a general fund balance of $4.7 million and no material weaknesses except for monthly reconciliation procedures. The audit identified one material weakness related to monthly reconciliation and year-end closing procedures, which the district plans to address by implementing new software for tracking depreciation and attending training sessions. The board also discussed enrollment trends, noting a decrease in student numbers in certain counties, and approved a 12% reduction in enrollment fees.
Vendor Payments and SBA Candidate
The board discussed vendor payments and clarified that duplicate payments for September and October would be reported accordingly. They reviewed the SBA candidate, Ms. Wanda Griswold, who scored 40.25 out of 45 and was recommended for the position with an annual salary of $70,034.54 plus a $22,700 benefits package, totaling $93,076.20. Concerns were raised about the lack of multiple reference forms for the candidate, which was not discussed in the finance committee meeting. The hiring process involved Ms. Lee, Dr. Merritt, Mr. Dennis, and the executive leadership team, but no other financial consultants were involved.
Salary and Budget Adjustments Approved
The board approved a salary adjustment of $4,910.58 for Ms. Kiamber Williams, which includes a salary increase of $4,828.18 and TRS benefits of $882.56. They also reviewed a budget amendment of $1,284,532, increasing the total revenue to $1,259,646. The amendment includes adjustments to state funding, local funds, and federal funding. The board discussed several expenditure line items, including building repairs, contractor services, substitute teachers, and equipment needs. They approved a $579,531.65 increase for salaries and benefits, which includes adjustments for certified teacher positions and a new hire and retention bonus not to exceed $350,000.
Budget and Facility Maintenance Updates
The board approved a budget amendment of $1.2 million, which included a $1.4 million increase for QBE and time and effort adjustments. They also discussed a compensation policy for 57 instructional employees, which would require approval of salary scales before finalizing. The board reviewed maintenance work on HVAC systems and discussed options for replacing an aging boiler, with two choices presented: a temporary rental boiler at $33,000 plus $15,000 monthly, or a permanent replacement costing up to $106,000.
Facility Maintenance and Equipment Approvals
The board approved a $106,000 permanent boiler replacement with HV&H Mechanical, including bringing the boiler room up to code. They also approved replacing four non-functional A/C units in specific classrooms at a cost of $62,500. The board approved a lease agreement for a dishwasher from Ecolab at an annual cost of $4,260, and approved the Kaiser Permanente insurance renewal for November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026 at a cost of $37,693.08.
34-10-28-2025 Motion to approve the 2024-25 Audit Report
By: Diane Mingo Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
35-10-28-2025 Motion to approve a salary adjustment for K. Williams in the amount of $4,910.68 (Salary: $4,028.12 + Benefits: $882.56)
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Diane Mingo
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
36-10-28-2025 Motion to approve Budget Amendment in the total amount of $1,284,532.
By: Diane Mingo Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
42-10-28-2025 Motion to approve the replacement of the boiler by HVH Mechanical in an amount not to exceed $106,000.00
By: Diane Mingo Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
43-10-28-2025 Motion to approve the replacement of 4 WS hp Units at a cost of $62,500.
By: Diane Mingo Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
40-10-28-2025 Motion to approve a lease agreement for a dishwasher from Ecolab at an annual cost of $4,260
By: Ms. Bridget Robinson Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
50-10-2028 Motion to approve the Kaiser Permanente insurance renewal for November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026 at a cost of $37,693.08.
By: Diane Mingo Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Executive Session
Motion to go into Executive Session
By: Ms. Bridget Robinson Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
Motion to return form Executive Session
By: Ms. Bridget Robinson Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
1-10-28-2025 Motion to approve the Bulldog Learning Lounge in the amount of $20,140.00
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Ms. Bridget Robinson
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
2-10-28-2025 Motion to approve the hire of M. Pamela Basye as a Special Education teacher at a total cost of $84,787.83 (Salary: $63,523.58 + Benefits: $21,264.25)
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Ms. Bridget Robinson
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
33-10-28-2025 Motion to hire Wanda Griswold as School Business Administrator at a total cost of $93,076.20 (Salary: 70,304.54 + Benefits: $22,771.66)
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Ms. Bridget Robinson
There was no notable discussion on the motion.
52-10-28-2025 Motion to approve the hire of Robert Whigham as Elementary Principal at a total cost of $157,642.19 (Salary: $122,00 + Benefits: $157,642.19)
By: Mrs. Roberta Walker Seconded by: Ms. Bridget Robinson
No-KathyAnn Robinson
Other Business
There is no additonal business discussed
Public Comment
No public comment
The Meeting was Adjourned
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:09 pm
Motion to adjourn
By: Ms. Bridget Robinson Seconded by: Mrs. Roberta Walker
There was no notable discussion on the motion.