Welcome and Call to Order

The Meeting will be called to order by the Chair.

Mission: The mission of The Museum School of Avondale Estates is to inspire students, teachers and the community to collaborate to develop strong critical thinking, interpersonal and academic skills in our students, which will prepare them for real-world success.

 

Core Values: Responsibility, Respect, Cooperation, Sustainability, Creativity, Kindness

Approve Previous Meeting Minutes

Approve minutes of the previous monthly meeting.

Approve the Agenda

Approve the agenda as presented.

Public Comment

Our Public Comment period is for members of the public to address the board. The board will listen, but may not directly respond to any comments. Please do not use specific student, teacher or administrator names in your comments as our meetings are open to the public and public record. As such, if your comment is about a private matter, please contact the board via email, or speak to the board chair privately.

Email Executive Director, Dr. Katherine Kelbaugh at Katherine.kelbaugh@themuseumschool.org for Zoom access to the meeting.

Public comment (no longer than one page) should be submitted via email to Katherine.kelbaugh@themuseumschool.org. Your comments must be received by 10:00 am on the day of the meeting. Only those emails received during the allotted time will be read aloud and broadcast. Emails received outside of the allotted time will be included in the Public Comments record for the next meeting.

There were no public comments.

Executive Director Report

Executive Director Dr. Katherine Kelbaugh covered several school-wide updates including charter renewal, TMS Foundation updates and COVID statistics.

Dr. Kelbaugh shared a DeKalb County Schools-provided closure procedure document. She noted there are no metrics within the document. The closure procedure is based on CDC definitions of exposure. Dr. Kelbaugh then reviewed TMS COVID-19 data related to positive cases and quarantined students/staff.

She then reviewed the charter renewal process and timeline with DeKalb County Schools, noting it is possible there may be a November recommendation on TMS's petition. Dr. Kelbaugh reminded the Board that TMS is one of 3 schools currently going through renewal.

Finally, Dr. Kelbaugh provided updates on TMS Foundation activities including the highly successful Boosterthon that resulted in a school profit of >$49,000 towards playground improvements and shared upcoming PTO events and grant applications.

School Leader Report

A pre-recorded update from Principal Mike Stewart was played for the Board. Principal Stewart reviewed school demographics/enrollment, provided instructional updates and shared updated MAP results.

Mr. Stewart noted that enrollment is currently at 577 with slightly more than 94% average daily attendance.

He shared very encouraging results from MAP testing, noting several areas of improvement from last year as well as several areas where TMS students performed beyond the national average. Information was provided by grade level and subject (reading, language and math).

Mr. Stewart reflected on TMS instructional approach to reading, noting the instructional approach is sound or the achievements just noted in the MAP results could not be reached. He reflected on the fundamentals and structure of the current reading instruction program, explaining contrasts between this program and other reading instructional programs for context. Mr. Stewart stated that some students do need additional support and that is being pursued but expressed his support for the reading instructional approach being utilized at TMS. He then reviewed updates to math instructional approaches, particularly adjustments in 6th and 7th grades.

Mr. Stewart finished with reflections on culturally-responsive learning training that some teachers are undergoing to create independent learners, noting how insights even early in the training are already resulting in positive adjustments to EIP instruction. Then, he shared teacher-instruction highlight moments from inside TMS.

Finance Committee Report

Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair Tamara Richards provided a review of monthly financials and reported on other finance matters. In addition to reviewing revenue and expenses, Ms. Richards drew Board attention to budget vs previous year's actuals. She then stepped through a detailed review of the proposed 2021-2022 school budget, noting two public meetings had been held to share the proposed budget with the community.

Ms. Richards also noted that the portal for TMS Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness had just opened; TMS will begin processing that forgiveness.

Facilities Committee Report

Chair Jade Yang updated the Board on explorations from the committee to purchase a tent for use on the basketball court. This tent is intended to provide greater weather protection for students during outdoor lunch. She noted that it is more financially advantageous to purchase rather than rent. Ms. Yang also noted that the successful Boosterthon, already mentioned, means that a task force will be created to pursue the now-funded playground improvements.

Governance Committee Report

Governance Committee Chair Richard Piercy reported that a Board retreat is being planned. A poll on preferred dates and retreat format is forthcoming.

Diversity Committee Report

Diversity Committee Chair Cristina Cassidy continued to review the community conversations planned to explore TMS mission language, emphasizing that communication will be critical to successfully hold meaningful community conversations on the topic.

Board Chair Update

Board Chair Dr. Kelly Swinks did not have any updates to share.

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:44 pm