Welcome

The meeting was called to order and a quorum ascertained at 6:11 p.m.

Approval of Agenda

Board Actions

Dr. Bostic and Ms. Young agreed to post a message on Dojo and the website about monitoring the weather and checking for updates.

Ms. Young welcomed Ms. Diane Adoma, a board-prospect, to the committee meeting.

The Governance Committee covered various administrative matters including weather monitoring protocols, and the approval of vendors and policies for charter renewal and staff certification requirements.discussed and approved several personnel decisions including new hires for counseling and teaching positions, while also reviewing and updating attendance policies and academic calendars for the upcoming school years. The committee examined organizational structure concerns and contract offers for returning staff, with discussions centered on principal leadership models and staff retention challenges.

The board approved hiring 21 Cobalt as the charter renewal support vendor for $33,000, despite being the only vendor who responded to the RFP. They also discussed a memorandum of agreement between Georgia DOE and DeKalb County Schools regarding Tier 2 targeted support improvement, which requires board approval to ensure governance oversight and compliance with ESSA requirements.

The board discussed a new staff compensation agreement to accompany the proposed compensation policy, with Dr. Bostic explaining that the agreement needed to be reviewed by attorneys and shared with the board. They also reviewed updates to the compensation policy, including a requirement for staff with expired certifications to obtain valid certification within two years to be considered for the next school year's contract. Dr. Merritt raised a question about whether three years might be more appropriate for certification completion, but Dr. Bostic explained their reasoning for choosing two years to avoid decreased funding.

The group discussed a certification policy requiring current staff to obtain either a provisional certificate or Georgia 3-year non-renewable certification within 2 years, with Bostic clarifying that grandfathered staff would not have their salaries affected. They agreed the policy would take effect immediately for the current school year, and Dr. Bostic confirmed they would implement yearly checkpoints to monitor staff progress. The discussion concluded with Dr. Merritt raising concerns about paying for staff certification tests, and suggesting implementing a financial penalty for leaving the district after receiving certification support, though Dr. Bostic expressed more caution about enforcing such a policy.

The Governance Committee approved the compensation policy and revised salary scales as presented. They also approved the attendance of three employees to the PLC at Work Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, for a total cost of $8,613.63.

The committee reviewed and approved the recommended 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic calendars, which follow DeKalb County's schedule. The calendars include pre-planning from August 27-31 and the first day of school on August 3.

They also approved the hiring of Ronika Martin as the elementary school counselor and Tiffany Carter as the middle school counselor, both for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. The board noted that both candidates were informed about the salary and benefits during the interview process and were comfortable with the terms.

The board approved the hire of Brandon McLean as a 5th grade teacher for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. The discussion focused on his qualifications, performance, and the need for a waiver due to his business administration degree rather than an education background. Mr. Brown agreed to have a conversation with McLean to confirm his commitment to pursuing the required education program, which is crucial for his long-term employment with the DPA. The board also discussed the financial and compliance implications of the hire, noting that it would not significantly affect the district's financial status or compliance.

Governing Board Bylaws

The Governance Committee discussed the need to update the school's bylaws and organizational structure, which had not been reviewed since 2016. Discussion regarding the process for updating the bylaws. Ms. Rodgers will provide the Governance Committee members with the current bylaws for review and recommended changes.

CONTRACT OFFERS FOR RETURNING STAFF

The Governance Committee discussed contract offers for returning staff, focusing on those who had not completed or indicated their intent to return.

Employee Attendance Policy

The Committee discussed the current employee attendance policy, focusing on the need for a grace period, and a more progressive approach to addressing staff tardies and attendance. They agreed to review and potentially adjust the policy to include a grace period and to consider cumulative tardiness before issuing written warnings.

Organizational Structure

The committee discussed the pros and cons of the approved one principal organization structure vs. the current two principal model. Further discussion about the current model, efficiencies and inefficencies will be discussed in Executive Session and in future Governance Committee meetings.

Executive Session

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 7:53 PM

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:53 pm