State Charter School Commission of Georgia Board Meeting Minutes

July 29, 2026, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Minutes Draft

State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia

Minutes

State Charter School Commission of Georgia Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday July 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Location

SCSC Board Room

1356B Twin Towers East,
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE

Atlanta, GA 30334

Virtual Access:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84427916648?pwd=Sb7CtaC1vb3hWrKWFyQFAa4GCXlIh2.1

Meeting ID: 844 2791 6648
Passcode: 965938

Phone Access: 646-931-3860

Directors Present

B. Brockway, B. Scafidi (remote), C. Good, M. Dudgeon, T. Lowden

Directors Absent

L. Millan

I. Opening Items

A. Call the Meeting to Order

C. Good called a meeting of the board of directors of State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia to order on Wednesday Jul 29, 2026 at 10:02 AM.

B. Record Attendance

C. Approve Agenda

T. Lowden made a motion to approve the agenda for the July 29, 2026, meeting.

B. Brockway seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D. Approve Minutes

B. Brockway made a motion to approve the minutes from State Charter School Commission of Georgia Board Meeting on 06-30-26.

T. Lowden seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Remembering Commissioner Scott Sweeney

A. Remembering Commissioner Scott Sweeney

Commissioners shared remarks regarding the late Commissioner Scott Sweeney.

III. State Charter School Spotlight

A. School Presentation: DeKalb Brilliance Academy

Jocelyn Alter, Co-Founder and Head of School at DeKalb Brilliance Academy, presented on behalf of the school.

IV. Division Reports

A. Executive Director

The SCSC Executive Director provided remarks regarding Commissioner Scott Sweeney.

SCSC Staff and Commissioners will be attending NACSA Con 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

SCSC Staff and Commissioners will be conducting school visits this Fall.

Three new state charter schools will be opening this Fall.

B. New Schools Division

The SCSC Director of New Schools provided an update on pre-opening schools.

C. Finance Division

The SCSC Financial Operations Manager provided an update on high-risk financial monitoring.

D. Operations Report

The SCSC Chief Operating Officer provided an update on the Epicenter Implementation.

E. CSP SE Grant Update

The SCSC Senior Director for School Support and Outreach provided an update on the 2026-2027 Replication and Expansion Cohort.

V. School Performance Reviews

A. PEACE Academy

Representatives from PEACE Academy presented on the school's Academic Performance Improvement Plan.

Commissioners asked questions regarding student growth and retention, finances, and governance.

B. Sankofa Montessori

Representatives from Sankofa Montessori presented on the school's performance.

Commissioners asked questions regarding its academic program, student enrollment, facilities, and governance.

C. Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School

Representatives from Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School presented on the school's performance.

Commissioners asked questions regarding finances, student enrollment and recruitment, and ESP services.

VI. Action Items

A. Pilot Academic Grant Approval - Cirrus Academy Charter School

M. Dudgeon made a motion to approve the staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve a Pilot Academic Grant for Cirrus Academy Charter School.

T. Lowden seconded the motion.

A representative from the school provided comment in support of the recommendation.

Commissioner Lowden stated that he has heard that there is tension between the school leader and governing board, and he hopes that the tension is resolved soon for the betterment of the school community.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
C. Good	Aye
L. Millan	Absent
B. Brockway	Aye
B. Scafidi	Aye
T. Lowden	Aye
M. Dudgeon	Aye

B. Pilot Academic Grant Approval - Sankofa Montessori

T. Lowden made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve a Pilot Academic Grant for Sankofa Montessori.

M. Dudgeon seconded the motion.

A representative from the school provided comment in support of the recommendation.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C. New School Petition Timeline & Priorities

B. Brockway made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the FY27 start-up and replication petition timeline, as presented.

M. Dudgeon seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D. Petition Approval Recommendation - Atlantic Connections Academy

M. Dudgeon made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the petition for Atlantic Connections Academy, authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute a charter contract for the operation of a state charter school for an initial term of five (5) years starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

B. Brockway seconded the motion.

A representative from the school provided comment in support of the recommendation.

Commissioners commended the school for applying a second year in a row.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E. Petition Approval Recommendation - Middle Georgia Preparatory Academy

T. Lowden made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the petition for Middle Georgia Preparatory Academy, authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute a charter contract for the operation of a state charter school for an initial term of five (5) years starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

B. Brockway seconded the motion.

A representative from the school provided comment in support of the recommendation.

Commissioners expressed excitement for the school.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F. Petition Approval Recommendation - Prestige Preparatory School

B. Brockway made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the petition for Prestige Preparatory School, authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute a charter contract for the operation of a state charter school for an initial term of five (5) years starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

M. Dudgeon seconded the motion.

A representative from the school provided comment in support of the recommendation.

Commissioner Lowden commended the school.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G. Petition Approval Recommendation - Spalding Academy for Innovation and Learning

B. Brockway made a motion to SCSC staff recommend that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the petition for Spalding Academy for Innovation and Learning, authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute a charter contract for the operation of a state charter school for an initial term of five (5) years starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

M. Dudgeon seconded the motion.

A representative from the school provided comment in support of the recommendation.

Commissioners commended the school.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Public Comment

A. Liberty Classical Schools

Jake Rogers, new Superintendent of Liberty Classical Schools, introduced himself.

VIII. Closing Items

A. Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 12:43 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

C. Good