Ivy Preparatory Academy

Academic Committee

Regular Meeting - Tuesday July 11th, 2023 @6:00 PM

Meeting Minutes

Attendance Summary

Name Status Arrival Time Departure Time
Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) present member On Time At Adjournment
Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair) present chair On Time At Adjournment
Ms. Jina Meadows (Community Member) present member On Time At Adjournment
Dr. Charcia M. Nichols (NON-voting; Executive Director) present ex-officio On Time At Adjournment

Welcome & Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by the chair, Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon.

Public Comment

Public Comments - Committee Chair

  • Transparency: Committee meetings are a public forum to provide transparency into the governance of the school. Engagement from the community is strongly encouraged and vital to that governance.
  • Time Limit: A total of 30 minutes shall be set aside for public comment. Each speaker will have a maximum of 3 minutes to speak. A speaker may not sign up to speak more than once during the same public comment period.
  • Board Action: Committee members shall not provide responses nor engage in direct conversation with speakers during public comments. The committee will bring the matter to the board to engage the Head of School or the Chief Financial Officer in responding at a later time as necessary and appropriate.
  • Civil Discourse: Speakers are encouraged to maintain decorum and present their comments in a civil manner. The committee reserves the right to request any speaker engaging in personal attacks, or the use of obscene or derogatory language, to restate their position in a manner more appropriate for a school environment.


Approval of Agenda

So that there is agreement between committee 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.

Approve the agenda as submitted

By: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) Seconded by: Ms. Jina Meadows (Community Member)

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

Academic Work Session

FY 24 Focus

Dr. Nichols reported to the committee that Ivy is setting higher expectations for staff to inspire their leadership abilities

with a plan to focus strategies in five key areas of:

1. Leadership

2. Goals and Direct Action Steps to Increase Performance

3. Security and Organization

4. Important Processes and Systems

5. Ongoing Evaluations and Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Staffing

Dr. Nichols reported staffing updates as Ivy prepares for the 23/24 school year. Ms. Merideth will serve as Interim Principal and the school is currently conducting interviews and recruiting activities for its remaining openings. Ivy

current has 6 staffing vacancies (Kindergarten, 4 th , 5 th , 8 th , and 2 Special Education teachers). Interviews for the openings are ongoing, and the school will hold a staffing fair on July 22. Ivy is also hiring for a math coach, but the are strong resources internally and readily available if needed.

Review CLIP Draft

Dr. Nichols reported that Ivy submitted the school/district Comprehensive LEA Improvement Plan as required by state

and federal law, and the school is awaiting feedback from GaDOE regarding corrections and improvements. Dr. Nichols provided a brief overview regarding the school’s process for developing the CLIP and aligning I vy’s strategic initiatives.

Create Goals based on data and ensure CLIP alignment

Next, Dr. Nichols discussed the process and methods the school used to develop specific goals and strategies based on student needs and school improvement goals. Dr. Nichols discussed each goal of the CLIP in detail and outlined the school’s use of federal resources to enhance Ivy’s programming and support to improve student outcomes. The committee discussed the CLIP’s school improvement activities and initiatives and applauded the school’s emphasis on academic coaching, restorative practices, and social and emotional support.

Work plan update

The committee then discussed a detailed action plan to outline the work of the Academic Committee for the upcoming school year. Dr. Nichols presented the committee work plan from 2022-2023 and the committee made minor

adjustments to remove leader performance evaluation items for review by another board committee, adding semester attendance and student reports in lieu of December reports for abbreviated months. Dr. Nichols will provide a revised work plan reflecting the changes to the committee.

Informational Items

Governing Board Meeting: Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 6:00 pm Art Room

Open House: Tuesday, August 1st and Thursday, August 3rd from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Academic Meeting: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 6:00 pm Room 202

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:13PM

Motion to adjourn

By: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) Seconded by: Ms. Jina Meadows (Community Member)

There was no notable discussion on the motion.