Ivy Preparatory Academy

Governing Board

Regular Meeting - Tuesday April 22nd, 2025 @6:00 PM

Meeting Minutes

Attendance Summary

Name Status Arrival Time Departure Time
Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) present secretary On Time At Adjournment
Dr. Tunisia Cornelius (Board Member) present member On Time At Adjournment
Ms. Danielle Harrington (Board Member) not present member
Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair) present chair On Time At Adjournment
Ms. Heather Gaylord not present member

Welcome, Vision, And Mission

Welcome - Board Chair

  • Meeting Call to Order - Board Chair
  • Roll Call - Board Secretary
  • This meeting did not have a quorum. Two board members, Ms. Heather Gaylord and Ms. Danielle Harrington, were not in attendance for this due to attending required board member SCSS training in Athens, GA.

Vision and Mission - Board 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.

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.

Approve the agenda as submitted

There was no notable discussion on the motion.

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.


There was no public comment.

School Leadership Reports - Academics, Operations, and Finance


Discussion items:

  • Certification for the US Department of Education (Our Executive Director expressed concern regarding the contents and being asked to sign this document. She has discussed her concerns with our legal counsel and will continue to follow her direction.)
  • Organizational Chart for FY 26 - presented by OneHR Source (approved at Special Called Board meeting on April 21, 2025)






Action Items

Items for Approval


Due to not having a quorum, the Executive Director's Report for April 22, 2025, and the CFO Financial Report, March 2025 Financials (with noted changes), will be approved at the May 2025 Governing Board meeting. These reports were submitted for information only.

Report from Governance Committee

The Governance Committee met on Wednesday March 19th, 2025 @5:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a 0 hours and 57 minutes long meeting. Present: Dr. Charcia M. Nichols (NON-voting; Executive Director), Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary), Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair)

Not Present: none The members considered the following items: 1. Welcome and Call to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes from March 19, 2025 4. Governance Committee Work Session - items discussed

  • Board self-reflection, review of the board
  • Review of enrollment data and upcoming school year intent to return
  • Organizational structure FY26
  • SCSC Governance training requirements for board members
  • FTE Cycle 3
  • Updates CPF 24 Review
  • Vendor Review and Contracts

5. Next meeting is May 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm


The committee considered two motions, of which two passed, and zero failed: 1. Approve the agenda as submitted (proposed) 2. Approve the minutes as submitted (proposed) The meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm.

Report from the Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 5:30pm

Present: Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (Board member), Dr. Tunisia Cornelius (Board member) and Ms. Laticia Sharp (Chief Financial Officer)


The Financial Committee approved the agenda as presented.


The Financial Committee approve the meeting minutes from the March 2025 meeting as presented.


Financial Work Session:

  • 2024-2025 Enrollment updates
  • Budget - 449; Actual as of April 17, 2025 - 416
  • 2025-2026 Enrollment target - 449
  • FY26 enrollment as of April 21, 2025 - 324
  • Re-enrolled - 311
  • Newly enrolled- 13
  • Review second draft of FY25 Amended Budget and FY26 Proposed Budget
  • Property taxes (tenant responsibility) - still awaiting details


Meeting adjourned at 6:05 pm

Report from Governing Board

The Governing Board met on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2025, at 6:00 PM for what was scheduled to be a two-hour and 45-minute meeting.


Present: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary), Dr. Tunisia Cornelius (Board Member), Mrs. Stephanie Twitty-Carmon (Board Vice Chair), Ms. Heather Gaylord (Board Member)


Not Present: Ms. Danielle Harrington (Board Member) The members considered the following items:

1. Welcome, Vision, And Mission 2. Ivy Preparatory Academy Governing Board Meeting Information 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Public Comment 5. School Leadership Reports - Academics, Operations, and Finance 6. Report from Academic Committee 7. Report from Finance Committee 8. Report from the Governance Committee 9. Report from Governing Board 10. Policy Review 11. Action Items 12. Information Items 13. Executive Session - discuss personnel matter The committee considered six motions, of which six passed, and zero failed: Approve the agenda as submitted (passed) Motion to approve Executive Director's Report - March 2025. (passed) Motion to approve CFO Financial Report - February 2025 Financials (passed) Motion to move into Executive Session at 7:14 pm (passed) Motion to move back to the general session of the Governing Board meeting at 7:34 pm. (passed) The meeting adjourned 7:36 pm.

Information Items - upcoming meetings

Governance Committee Meeting: Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 5:00 pm

Finance Committee Meeting: Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6:00 pm

Academic Committee Meeting: The Academic Committee will not meet in May.

Governing Board Meeting: Annual Meeting Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 6:00 pm


Public meetings:

First Meeting of FY25 Amended Budget - Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 5:30 pm

First Meeting of FY26 Proposed Budget - Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 5:45 pm


Second Meeting of FY25 Amended Budget - Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 5:30 pm

Second Meeting of FY26 Proposed Budget - Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 5:45 pm



The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:15 am

Motion to adjourn

By: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary) Seconded by: Ms. Leslie Purifoy Plunkett (board secretary)

There was no notable discussion on the motion.