Ivy Preparatory Academy Governing Board Meeting Information

LOCATION: Governing Board meetings are held in the ART ROOM at Ivy Preparatory Academy at Kirkwood, located at 1807 Memorial Drive, SE Atlanta, GA 30317.

AGENDA: Governing Board meeting agenda items are scheduled to be considered as noted in this agenda; however, agenda items may be taken out of the order presented on the agenda at the discretion of the chair. 

ACCOMODATIONS: Reasonable efforts will be made to assist and accommodate persons with a disability. Please contact Dr. Charcia Nichols at 404-622-2727. Request should be made as early as possible to arrange the accommodations, no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Public Comment time period is for the public to address the Governing Board. Those who wish to speak must sign-up before the start of the meeting. Speakers may have up to three minutes to speak. 

Approval of Agenda

Ivy Board Member Norms

Ivy Preparatory Academy Governing Board members commit to being. Specifically, board members will BE…

1. Prepared. Participate in meetings having read and processed meeting materials; knowing, understanding, and revising board policies and procedures; and focusing on the role and responsibility of the board to govern and provide financial stewardship.
2. Proactive. Anticipate challenges and opportunities and respond to requests and questions from board members and school leadership in a timely manner. 
3. Punctual. Begin and end meetings on time. 
4. Present. Fully engage in meetings with limited distractions. 
5. Personable. Interact with other board members, school leadership, and members of the community with grace and professionalism.  
6. Principled. Work within the school community with transparency and efficiency without ethical challenges and conflicts of interest, or the appearance thereof. 
7. Proficient. Pursue ongoing board training and development to increase and enhance governance skills. 
8. Passionate. Advocate for the school and its leadership, staff, and scholars encouraging and providing academic and financial support.

Public Comment

Public Comments - Board Secretary

Transparency: Board 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: Board members shall not provide responses nor engage in direct conversation with speakers during public comments. The board will direct the Head of Schools or the Chief Financial Officer to engage 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 Governing Board 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.

Welcome, Vision, And Mission

Welcome - Board Chair

• Meeting Call to Order - Board Vice Chair at 6:26pm
• Roll Call - Board Secretary



Vision and Mission - Board Vice Chair

Vision: The Ivy Preparatory Academy for Girls at Kirkwood cultivates female leaders who manifest change in the world.

Mission: The Ivy Preparatory Academy for Girls at Kirkwood fosters a culture of collaboration, passion for learning, integrity and servant leadership in an environment designed especially for girls.

Consent Items

1. Approve Academics and Operations Report from Head of School
2. Approve Finance Report from Chief Financial Officer
3. Approve January 24, 2023 Governing Board Minutes
4. Approve February 2, 2023 Governing Board Minutes (Special Called Meeting)
5. Adopt February 21, 2023 Governance Committee Report
6. Adopt February 21, 2023 Finance Committee Report

The January 24, 2023 Governing Board Minutes

CLICK to read the full minutes

The Governing Board met on Tuesday January 24th, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 2 hours and 18 minutes long meeting. Present: Mr. RaShaun Kemp (board chair), Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (board vice chair), Dr. Nadine Duncan (board member), Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (board member), Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary), Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) Not Present: Ms. Sarah Lampkin (board member)

The members considered the following items:

1. Ivy Preparatory Academy Governing Board Meeting Information
2. Welcome, Vision, And Mission
3. Ivy Board Member Norms
4. Approval of Agenda
5. Public Comment
6. School Leadership Reports - Academics, Operations, And Finance
7. The November 19, 2022 Board Retreat Minutes
8. The November 29, 2022 Governing Board Meeting Minutes
9. The December 6, 2022 Finance Committee Minutes
10. The January 10, 2023 Finance Committee Minutes
11. The January 10, 2023 Governance Committee Minutes
12. The January 21, 2023 Board Retreat Minutes
13. Consent Items
14. Action Items
15. Information Items

The committee considered 14 motions, of which 14 passed, and 0 failed:

1. AGENDA APPROVED AS PUBLISHED: AMENDED with additional items for approval (passed)
2. Approve Consent Agenda Items (passed)
3. Table the discussion (i.e., Review of Head of School's contract to plot out critical dates and review fundraising plan; Head of School Evaluation tool presentation and update; Approve goals for HOS evaluation (discussion tabled)) to allow Dr. Nichols time to align the evaluation tool with school goals. (passed)
4. Determine date for annual meeting (i.e., Tuesday, April 25, 2023) (passed)
5. Table this discussion (i.e., Bylaws Crosswalk) until our Board Counsel to review this document (passed)
6. Approval of the termination of contract with LEADright with 30-day notice. (passed)
7. Accept the resignation of Academic and Governance Committee member, April Jackson (passed)
8. Approve FY 2023 Federal Facilities Grant (passed)
9. Table this discussion (i.e., Approve goals for CFO evaluation) to allow Ms. Sharp time to align the evaluation tool with school goals. (passed)
10. Table this discussion (i.e., Credit card policy) to allow board counsel time to review. (passed)
11. Conflict of interest policy for board members (missing - consequences for violating policy, State of GA requirements/updates) (passed)
12. Table this discussion (i.e., Adopt revised Board and Committee Meeting calendar) in order to review actual calendar changes (passed)
13. Approve board chair’s governance committee appointments (Board Members Duncan and Lampkin) (passed)
14. Approve school calendar as voted on by faculty, staff and parents (passed)

The meeting adjourned at 7:49pm

The February 2, 2023 Governing Board Minutes (Special Called Meeting)

CLICK to read the full minutes

The Governing Board met on Thursday February 2nd, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 1 hours and 26 minutes long meeting. Present: Mr. RaShaun Kemp (board chair), Ms. Sarah Lampkin (board member), Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (board member), Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) Not Present: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (board vice chair), Dr. Nadine Duncan (board member), Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer)

The members considered the following items:

1. Ivy Preparatory Academy Governing Board Meeting Information
2. Welcome, Vision, And Mission
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Public Comment
5. Action Items
6. Executive Session

The committee considered 5 motions, of which 5 passed, and 0 failed:

1. AMENDED with additional items for approval (passed)
2. Approve purchasing policy - updates (passed)
3. Approve credit card policy - revised policy (passed)
4. AT 6:34PM MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (passed)
5. AT 6:58 PM MOTION TO RETURN TO SPECIAL CALLED MEETING (passed)

The meeting adjourned at 6:59PM.

The February 21, 2023 Governance Committee Minutes

CLICK to read the full minutes

The Governance Committee met on Tuesday February 21st, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 1 hours and 37 minutes long meeting. Present: Dr. William Epps (committee member), Dr. Nadine Duncan (board member), Ms. Sarah Lampkin (board member), Mr. RaShaun Kemp (board chair) Not Present: none

The members considered the following items:

1. Ivy Preparatory Academy Governance Committee Meeting Information
2. Welcome and Call to Order
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Public Comment
5. Governance Committee Work Session

The committee considered 4 motions, of which 4 passed, and 0 failed:

1. Approve agenda (passed)
2. Motion to recommend board approval of updated HOS tool (passed)
3. Motion to recommend board approval of updated CFO tool (passed)
4. Motion to recommend board approval for meetings through June 2023 (passed)

The meeting adjourned at 7:05PM

The February 21, 2023 Finance Committee Minutes

CLICK to read the full minutes

The Finance Committee met on Tuesday February 21st, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 1 hours and 28 minutes long meeting. Present: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary), Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) Not Present: Ms. Kanethia Henderson (committee member)

The members considered the following items:

1. Ivy Preparatory Academy Finance Committee Meeting Information
2. Welcome and Call to Order
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Public Comment
5. Finance Committee Work Session
6. Approval of Agenda
7. The Meeting was Adjourned
8. Adjournment

The committee considered 2 motions, of which 2 passed, and 0 failed:

1. Approval of agenda with added items (passed)
2. Motion to adjourn (passed)

The meeting adjourned at 7:36PM

Information Items

FY23 SCSC Governance Training Session: April 12-13 – Atlanta, GA. Register go to https://scsc.georgia.gov/governance-training-requirement (email Board Secretary registration confirmation)

Action Items

Items for Approval

• Approve revised goals for Head of School evaluation
• Approve revised goals for Chief Financial Officer evaluation

Items for Adoption

• Adopt revised Board and Committee Meeting Calendar

School Leadership Reports - Academics, Operations, and Finance

Academics and Operations Report - Dr. Charcia Nichols, Head of School

Presentation - Mr. Gregg Stevens, Vice President of New School Development, and Krista Thomas of Georgia Charter Schools Association

Finance Report - Mrs. Laticia Sharp, Chief Financial Officer

Presentation - Mr. Cameron Quick, Director Facility Resource Center

School Leadership Reports for Academics, Operations, and Finance are located in the Ivy Google Drive.

Academics and Operations Report

REVIEWED FABULOUS FOUR FROM EDCI COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW BY LEADRIGHT

• Shared Learning Expectations (Academics)
• Ten for Ten
• Five for Five
• Culture & Climate of Collaboration & Service (Ops & Academics)
• PBIS
• Sister Circle
• Recruitment & Retention (Governance/Finance)
• EFFECTIVE Ivy Faculty
• DEDICATED  Ivy Staff
• SUCCESSFUL Ivy Scholars
• Network Operations, Systems and Processes (Governance/Finance)
• Cycle of Development

SHARED GENERAL OPERATIONS & FACILITIES UPDATES

• Uniform bundles will be offered to new parents then returning parents
• Classroom and restroom etiquette
• Event cancellation communication
• Possibly a need to replace commodes in restrooms (two year project)
• New blinds in seven classrooms
• Damaged area in back parking lot to be repaired 
• Electrical issues resolved in 307 
• Carpet replaced in office 104

SHARED NURSING SERVICES UPDATES

• Staying up to date with CDC updates
• Hearing and Vision mass screening for grades 3-8 finished
• Distributed first notice to rising 7th grade parents for immunizations
• COVID-19 CASES by COUNTY
• Dekalb County as of February 22, 2023 cases per 100k (last 2 weeks) 82
• Fulton County as of  February 22, 2023 cases per 100k (last 2 weeks) 69
• Clayton County as of February 22, 2023 cases per 100k (last 2 weeks) 68

SHARED ACADEMICS-LOWER ACADEMY UPDATES

• Instructional Happenings
• TKES Formative Observations
• Mid-Year Conferences
• Lesson Plan Clinics occurring weekly with Instructional Coaches
• Assessments
• K-2 Bi- Weekly and 3rd-4th- 4.5 Week: February 9th
• Grades 3rd-4th- Writing Assessment February 28th (Genre: Opinion)
• Parent Meeting
• Kindergarten Informational Meeting: February 8th
• Professional Learning
• Student Leadership Network Voice: February 14th
• Metro RESA Math Professional Development: February 15th
• Sentence Stems in Action- Grades 2nd-4th: February 16th

SHARED ACADEMICS-UPPER ACADEMY UPDATES

• Instructional Happenings
• TKES Formative Observations
• Mid-Year Conferences
• Lesson Plan Clinics occurring weekly with Instructional Coaches
• Teach Back Tuesdays Math Weekly
• Assessments
• 4.5 Assessment: February 9th
• Data Driven Exit Tickets Math Weekly
• Writing Assessment February 28th
• Professional Learning
• Student Leadership Network Voice February 14th
• Metro RESA Math Professional Development February 15th
• Sentence Stems

SHARED ACADEMICS-SCHOLAR SERVICES UPDATES

• EST
• Special Education FY23 LEA Determination Report 100%
• ESOL
• Coordinator attending ESOL conference on March 8-9,  at Kennesaw State focused on “Making Language Visible in Content Areas”
• Finished ESL Access assessment first week of February (results will be available soon) 
• Gifted
• Providing instruction to talented and gifted scholars
• Support 6th grade ELA class with Informational Writing 
• MTSS
• Continuing to provide tiered support interventions for identified scholars 
• Vacancy for MTSS Coordinator for 2023-2024 school year
• Assessments
• 4.5 Assessment: February 9th
• Writing Assessment February 28th
• Professional Learning
• Student Leadership Network Voice February 14th
• Metro RESA Math Professional Development February 15th
• Sentence Stems

SHARED ACADEMICS-RESTORATIVE PRACTICES UPDATES

• Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) 
• February Scholar Acknowledgement - March 2nd Pizza, Paint, and Punch 
• Lower Academy Discipline
• In-School Suspension - 2
• Out-of-School Suspensions - 3
• Upper Academy Discipline 
• In-School Suspension - 5
• Out-of-School Suspensions - 11 (2 group incidents) 
• STAR Power Counseling Groups
• FY 24 Focus
• Teaching Like a Champion
• New Title: Dean of Culture

WHAT’S NEW

• Counseling (Pathways & Smileology)
• FEBRUARY
• Title: “You Matter TOO!”
• Topic of Discussion: Self-Care
• MARCH
• Title: “Check Your Bags at the Door...”
• Topic of Discussion: Work-Life Balance
• Wellness Room
• Awaiting approval of puppy purchase
• Atlanta Junior League will decorate the room April 21-22
• Thinking Map Training for Leaders
• Eight week rollout for staff
• Incorporate into EVERYTHING

ACADEMIC DATA

GMAS TREND DATA-Level 2-4 LEVEL 2-4 Developing to Distinguished https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XmHUL63PPrf32ZZ2i9sCi4oeNa2_0jfp-9DqanOxFG4/edit#gid=0

GMAS TREND DATA-Level 3-4 LEVEL 3-4 Proficient to Distinguished

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XmHUL63PPrf32ZZ2i9sCi4oeNa2_0jfp-9DqanOxFG4/edit#gid=0

IMPORTANT DATES

• Read Across America Week February 26-March 3
• Contract Distribution February 27th 
• 2nd Writing Prompt-February 28th
• STE(A)M Truck Celebration at Pittsburg Yards February 28th
• United Way Shark Tank Participation Application due March 1st
• Georgia Charter School Association Conference March 13-15, 2023
• Panel for Leaders March 15th (9:00 am to 10:30 am) 
• 10th Anniversary of the passage of Amendment 1-establishment of SCSC
• DisruptHER: Girl Strategies March 14th 

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of the following:

• Full-time REP Teacher in Mathematics
• Full-time MTSS Coordinator

Georgia Charter Schools Association - Mr. Gregg Stevens

Finance Report - Ms. Laticia Sharp

CFO Report includes:

Business and Finance

Federal Programs

Admissions and Data Management

Human Resources

Bond report/updates - Mr. Cameron Quick

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:44 pm