Ivy Preparatory Academy

Governing Board

Regular Meeting - Tuesday September 26th, 2023 @6:00 PM

Meeting Minutes

Attendance Summary

Name Status Arrival Time Departure Time
Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) present Treasurer On Time At Adjournment
Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair) present vice-chair On Time At Adjournment
Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) present chair On Time At Adjournment
Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) present secretary On Time At Adjournment
Mr. RaShaun Kemp not present member
Dr. William Epps (committee member) not present member

Ivy Preparatory Academy Governing Board Meeting Information

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

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 should an accommodation be needed. Requests should be made as early as possible to arrange the accommodations, no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting if practicable.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Public Comment 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

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.


Actions:

  1. Approve the agenda as submitted

Motion to approve the agenda as presented.

By: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) Seconded by: Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair)

Unanimous - approved

Report from Governing Board - Ronnie Banyard, Board Chair

The Governing Board met on Tuesday August 22nd, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 2 hours and 4 minutes long meeting. Present: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary), Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair), Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair) Not Present: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer), Mr. RaShaun Kemp 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. Leadership Reports 6. Committee Reports 7. Policy Review 8. Action Items 9. Consent Items 10. Information Items 11. Adjournment The committee considered 0 motions, of which 0 passed, and 0 failed: The meeting adjourned at 9:36AM

Report from Finance Committee - Attorney Kristie Battle, Chair

The Finance Committee met on Tuesday September 12th, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 1 hours and 33 minutes long meeting. Present: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary), Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer), Dr. Tunisia Cornelius (Community Member), Mrs. Laticia Sharp (NON-voting; Chief Financial Officer) Not Present: none The members considered the following items: 1. Ivy Preparatory Academy Finance Committee Meeting Information 2. Welcome And Call To Order 3. Public Comment 4. FINANCE WORK SESSION 5. Policy Review The committee considered 0 motions, of which 0 passed, and 0 failed: The meeting adjourned at 4:05PM

Report from Academic Committee - Stephane Twitty-Carmon, Chair

The Academic Committee met on Tuesday September 12th, 2023 @6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 1 hours and 6 minutes long meeting. Present: Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair), Ms. Jina Meadows (Community Member), Dr. Charcia M. Nichols (NON-voting; Executive Director), Dr. Raymond Mooring (Parent) Not Present: Attorney Marquetta Bryan (NON voting; board attorney) The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Report from Academic Committee 4. Academic Work Session The committee considered 1 motions, of which 1 passed, and 0 failed: 1. Approve the agenda as submitted (passed) The meeting adjourned at 7:18PM

Policy Review

  • Cellphone Policy (Second Read)
  • Academic Integrity for Scholars Policy (Second Read)
  • School Ceremonies and Observance Policy (Second Read)
  • Scholar fees & fines (First Read)
  • Use of Personal Vehicles to Transport Scholars (First Read)


Motion to amended the agenda for correction to the policy reviews. Scholar fees and fines should be Second Read not First Read.

By: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) Seconded by: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair)

Passed - Unanimous

Motion to adopt the Cellphone and Portable Electronic Devices policy for Scholars.

By: Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair) Seconded by: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer)

Passed - Unanimous 

Motion to adopt the Academic Integrity policy for Scholars with the noted changes as presented.

By: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) Seconded by: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair)

Passed - Unanimous

Motion to adopt the School Ceremonies and Observances policy.

By: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) Seconded by: Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair)

Passed - Unanimous

Motion to adopt the Scholar Fees, Fines and Charges policy.

By: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) Seconded by: Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair)

Passed - Unanimous

Consent Items

  1. Approve Academics and Operations Report from Executive Director
  2. Approve Finance Report from Chief Financial Officer
  3. Adopt Finance Committee Report
  4. Adopt Academic Committee Report

Motion to approve the Academics and Operations Report from the Executive Director/Head of Schools.

By: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) Seconded by: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair)

Passed - Unanimous

Welcome, Vision, And Mission

Welcome - Board Chair at 6:04 pm

  • Meeting Call to Order - Board Chair, Mr. Ronnie Banyard
  • Roll Call - Board Chair, Mr. Ronnie Banyard

Vision and Mission - Board Vice Chair, Stephanie Twitty-Carmon

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.

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.


No public comments.


We greeted Ms. Janae Johnson as a visitor. She is interested in becoming a committee member.

School Leadership Reports - Academics, Operations and Finance

Executive Director Report

  • Review of Fabulous Four
  • FY 24 Schoolwide Goals
  • Assessment
  • Gifted Testing
  • PSAT
  • Curriculum & Instruction updates
  • Parent/Teacher conferences September 19 - October 4
  • Parent Town hall begins Monday, September 25
  • Scholar Services
  • iReady Data (updates per content area)
  • Math Coach
  • Possible full time coach
  • SCSC Data Review
  • No whole CCRPI score
  • Progress score - focuses on growth
  • Closing gaps - 3% increase based on subgroup
  • Scholar Attendance Comparison - per grade level
  • Staff Attendance - monthly review
  • Celebrations (schoolwide and staff)
  • Upcoming Events/Dates
  • Action Items - updates
  • Approval request - Trip to Dominican Republic for Scholars in grades 6-8
  • Action request - Approval of the Executive Director/Head of Schools report


Student Leadership Network on the Affiliate Contract - presentation



Chief Financial Officer Report - August 2023 Financials Reporting

  • Business and Finance (past and upcoming events)
  • Financial Dashboard
  • Year-to-Date Budget vs. Actual Revenues
  • Year-to-Date Budget vs. Actual Expenses
  • Year-to-Date Variance Explanations for revenue and expenditures
  • Balance Sheet (review in change in cash position and account receivables)
  • Financial Performance
  • Federal Programs
  • Parent Engagement - Held two Grandparents Breakfasts on September 12 and 19
  • Million Dad March - September 19 (117 fathers in attendance)
  • Annual Title I meeting and Literacy Night is October 4
  • Admissions and Data Management
  • Maintenance and Operations
  • Human Resources - updates (recruiting and other activities)
  • Action Request - Approval of the August 2023 financials presentation




Action Items

  • Resignation of Board Member - R. Kemp
  • Request to change date of monthly Finance Committee meeting - Action not needed


Motion to accept the resignation of Rashaun Kemp from the Board of Trustees

By: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer) Seconded by: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair)

Passed - Unanimous

Information Items

  • Governance Committee Meeting: October 24, 2023 at 5:00pm in the Art Room
  • Finance Committee Meeting: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 6:00 pm in Room 203
  • Academic Committee Meeting: Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 6:00 pm in Room 202
  • Governing Board Meeting: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 6:00 pm in Art Room

Executive Session

The Governing Board closed its meeting as permitted by the Open Meeting Act of Georgia. 


To discuss a personnel matter



Motion to move into Executive Session at 7:31pm to discuss a personnel matter.

By: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) Seconded by: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer)

Passed - Unanimous

Motion to exit Executive Session and return to general session at 7:47pm

By: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) Seconded by: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer)

Passed - Unanimous

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 7:48pm.

By: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) Seconded by: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer)

Passed - unanimous

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:14 am

Motion to adjourn

By: Mr. Ronnie Banyard Jr (Board Chair) Seconded by: Attorney Kristie Battle (board treasurer)

There was no notable discussion on the motion.