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State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia

Minutes

February Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday February 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Location

SCSC Board Room

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

Atlanta, GA 30334

 

Virtual Access Information

Meeting Link

+1 646 931 3860

Meeting ID: 844 2791 6648
Passcode: 965938
 

1356 Twin Towers East,

2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30334


 

Directors Present

B. Brockway, B. Scafidi, C. Good, L. Millan, M. Dudgeon, S. Sweeney, T. Lowden

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

E. Acha-Morfaw, K. Thompson

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

M. Dudgeon called a meeting of the board of directors of State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia to order on Wednesday Feb 26, 2025 at 10:09 AM.

New Commissioner Scott Sweeney was introduced.

C.

Approve November 20, 2025 Minutes

M. Dudgeon made a motion to approve the minutes from Called Board Meeting on 11-20-24.
L. Millan seconded the motion.

The minutes were approved via consent agenda

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approve January 22, 2025 Minutes

M. Dudgeon made a motion to approve the minutes from Called Meeting on 01-22-25.
C. Good seconded the motion.

The minutes were approved via consent agenda

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Updates and Announcements

A.

Legislative Session

SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head provided an update on the legislative session.

B.

Comprehensive Performance Framework & School Performance Review

CPF Reports for the 2023-24 SY were sent to all schools on Monday, February 10. Schools have until Monday, March 3 to provide feedback or challenge scores. Additionally, the SCSC has modified its annual school performance review process. The process has been updated to require different levels of participation based on the severity of the school’s issues as identified by SCSC staff. The updates to the process are on the SCSC website and have been communicated to schools via email.

C.

Approved Auditor Program

Request for proposals from auditors to participate in the Approved Auditor Program for FY25 will be posted on the SCSC website February 28. Proposals will be due April 1 with final award decisions made by the end of April.

D.

FY25 Petition Cycle

The petitions deadline for our FY25 cycle is March 14th.

E.

Office of Charter School Compliance - SBOE Rule Amendment

SCSC Sr. Director of the Office of Charter School Compliance provided an update on the State Board of Education rule amendment.

III. Action Items: Charter Amendments

A.

Coweta Charter Academy Charter Amendment

L. Millan made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve an amendment to the Coweta Charter Academy’s charter contract to expand the school’s attendance zone.
C. Good seconded the motion.

A school representative provided comment in support of the recommendation.


Coweta Attendance Zone Amendment Rec.pdf

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Scafidi
Absent
T. Lowden
Aye
C. Good
Aye
B. Brockway
Absent
S. Sweeney
Aye
L. Millan
Aye

B.

Fayette & Cherokee Classical Academy Charter Amendment

C. Good made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve amendments to Cherokee Classical Academy and Fayette Classical Academy’s charter contracts to amend the schools’ charter terms. If the recommendation is approved, Cherokee Classical Academy will be approved to operate from 2025 to 2030, and Fayette Classical Academy will be approved to operate from 2026 to 2031.
T. Lowden seconded the motion.

A school representative provided comment in support of the recommendation and discussed the schools' facility challenges.


Fayette & Cherokee Classical Academy Amendment.Charter Terms Rec.pdf

 

Commissioners asked clarifying questions on enrollment, the school's plan to inform families on the deferment, and the charter amendment process.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Brockway
Aye
S. Sweeney
Aye
L. Millan
Aye
B. Scafidi
Absent
M. Dudgeon
Aye
T. Lowden
Aye
C. Good
Aye

C.

International Academy of Smyrna Charter Amendment

T. Lowden made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve an amendment to the International Academy of Smyrna’s charter contract to amend the school’s enrollment priorities.
L. Millan seconded the motion.

School representatives spoke in favor of the recommendation.

 


IAS Enrollment Priorities Amendment Rec.pdf

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Lowden
Aye
M. Dudgeon
Aye
L. Millan
Aye
C. Good
Aye
S. Sweeney
Aye
B. Brockway
Aye
B. Scafidi
Absent

IV. Governance Training

A.

Update

SCSC Sr. Director of School Support of Outreach provided an update on governance training.

V. Action Items: Charter Renewals

A.

5-Year Charter Renewal Recommendations

L. Millan made a motion to approve the charter renewal recommendation for Academy for Classical Education, Baconton Community Charter School, Delta STEAM Academy, DuBois Integrity Academy, Ethos Classical Charter School, Furlow Charter School, Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics, International Charter School of Atlanta, Southwest Georgia STEM Charter School, Spring Creek Charter Academy and Yi Hwang Academy for Language Excellence.
B. Brockway seconded the motion.

Representatives from the schools spoke in favor of the recommendation. SCSC Commissioners asked clarifying questions on the recommendation and commended these schools.

 

Five-Year Renewal Rec Consolidated 2025.pdf

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Good
Aye
B. Brockway
Aye
S. Sweeney
Aye
M. Dudgeon
Aye
T. Lowden
Aye
L. Millan
Aye
B. Scafidi
Aye

B.

Atlanta Unbound Academy: Conditional 5-Year Renewal Recommendation

T. Lowden made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the renewal application for Atlanta Unbound Academy by authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute an abbreviated three-year charter contract for a K-8 school that will be automatically extended for two years upon written consent of the SCSC Executive Director when specific requirements are met.
L. Millan seconded the motion.

School representatives spoke in favor of the recommendation. SCSC SCSC Commissioners asked clarifying questions on the school's funding and facilities.

 


 

AUA Renewal Rec 2025.pdf

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Good
Aye
B. Scafidi
Aye
L. Millan
Aye
T. Lowden
Aye
S. Sweeney
Aye
B. Brockway
Aye
M. Dudgeon
Aye

C.

Odyssey Charter School: Conditional 5-Year Renewal Recommendation

T. Lowden made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the renewal application for Odyssey Charter School by authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute an abbreviated three-year charter contract for a school that will be automatically extended for two years upon written consent of the SCSC Executive Director when certain requirements are met.
B. Brockway seconded the motion.

School representatives spoke in favor of the recommendation and explained the school's performance. SCSC Commissions asked clarifying questions on the school's performance.

 


Odyssey Renewal Rec 2025.pdf

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School: 3-Year Renewal Recommendation

B. Scafidi made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners approve the renewal application for Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School by authorizing the SCSC Chair to execute an abbreviated three-year charter contract for the operation of a state charter school.
B. Brockway seconded the motion.

School representatives discussed the school's performance and Commissioners asked clarifying questions.

 

Georgia Fugees Renewal Rec 2025.pdf

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Destinations Career Academy of Georgia - Non-Renewal Recommendation

B. Brockway made a motion to approve the SCSC staff recommendation that the SCSC Board of Commissioners non-renew the charter contract for Destinations Career Academy of Georgia. If the recommendation of non-renewal is approved, Destinations Career Academy will cease operation as a state charter school effective June 30, 2025.
L. Millan seconded the motion.

School representatives spoke not in favor of the staff recommendation. SCSC commissioners and staff discussed the school's performance track record.

 

Family of the school's students spoke in support of the school.

 

Destinations Renewal Rec 2025.pdf

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
C. Good
Aye
T. Lowden
Aye
B. Scafidi
Abstain
B. Brockway
Aye
L. Millan
Aye
S. Sweeney
Aye

VI. Public Comment

A.

Julien Gunder

Julien Gunder spoke about the teacher shortage and building a partnership with the SCSC.

VII. Executive Session

A.

Attorney-Client Privilege

B. Brockway made a motion to to enter executive session for attorney-client privledge.
C. Good seconded the motion.

Commissioners entered into executive session at 12:35 pm.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B. Brockway made a motion to exit executive session.
L. Millan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

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 1:41 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Dudgeon