Escuela Avancemos! Academy
Minutes
Escuela Avancemos Annual Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday June 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Location
Escuela Avancemos Academy
2635 Howard St
Detroit, MI 48216
Room: 105
MISSION STATEMENT: Prepare, educate, and inspire every child, every day to be lifelong leaders and learners in our 21st-century world.
Directors Present
A. Bordeianu, C. Stamatin, L. Chittum, M. Gonzalez
Directors Absent
M. Barbour
Guests Present
A. Ulloa, Erika Reed, J. Joubert, L. Coggins, S. Johnson
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Approval of Agenda
A.
Approval of Agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
III. Consent Agenda Item
A.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
IV. New Business
A.
Central Michigan University – Contract Amendment Request: Educational Program, Curriculum, and Course Matrix
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
B.
Mobile Modulars Lease Agreements Update
Ana Ulloa informed the Board that the St. Anne Basilica of Detroit campus is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation and restoration. Monsignor Chuck Kosanke has confirmed that the academy’s lease agreement remains secure, and the new ownership has no intention of making changes to the current lease terms.
Ms. Ulloa recommended that the Board consider forming a School Building Committee in the upcoming year to begin exploring future facility options, in preparation for the lease expiration.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
C.
Election of Officers
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
D.
Approval of Board Corresponding Agent
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
E.
Approval of McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Liaison
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
F.
Approval of Chief Administrative Officer Designation
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
G.
Approval of Title IX Representative
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
H.
Approval of Designation of Legal Counsel
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
I.
Approval of Freedom of Information Act Representative
Roll Call | |
---|---|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
J.
Approval of the Office of Civil Rights Representative
Roll Call | |
---|---|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
K.
Approval of School Safety Liaison
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
L.
Resolution Authorization for Removal and Decommissioning of End-Of-Life Devices
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
M.
Approval of the 2024-2025 Amended Budget
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
N.
Approval of the 2025-2026 Projected Operating Budget
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
V. Reports
A.
May Financials
B.
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Members of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) after-school program did not attend; however, they submitted the monthly program and budget report for the Board’s review.
C.
Sanga Monthly Management Report
Ana Ulloa, CEO, and Erika Reed, Instructional Coach, presented the monthly management report on behalf of Sanga Consulting, Inc. Comparative NWEA data (Grades K–8) from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 to Spring 2025 showed significant improvement in Reading, while Math scores remained relatively the same. Emphasis was placed on the need to prioritize staff professional development for Eureka Math Squared, while continuing to enhance literacy efforts. A data snapshot was presented to the Board highlighting academic growth and achievement. Board Vice President Andreea Bordeianu requested that future data presentations include descriptive labels to ensure clarity and understanding. Jennifer Joubert inquired if the board would receive NWEA data reports ahead of the Academic Performance Report (APR) published by the Center. Dr. Lorilyn Coggins clarified that the data is pulled directly from NWEA and provides a whole-school data synopsis. Ana Ulloa credited the 50% growth in student achievement to efforts led by Alex Weberman, Erika Reed, the implementation of i-Ready, school-wide incentives, and structural changes following the departure of Steven Elam. Erika Reed will present a 2024–2025 School Year Reflection at the next board meeting as part of the Sanga Monthly Management Report.
Staffing Updates: Dean of Students Derrick Davis resigned on June 17, 2025.
New hires include:
Certified Resource Room Teacher
Instructional Leader with ESL endorsement (Lower Elementary)
School Social Worker
K–5 Spanish Teacher
Building Substitute
Certified 2nd Grade Teacher
Effective July 1, 2025:
Dr. Lorilyn Coggins will officially join the Sanga Consulting team as Chief Academic Officer.
Erika Reed will assume the role of Executive Director (Head of School).
Alex Weberman will become the Upper Elementary/Middle School Instructional Leader.
A revised organizational chart will be presented at an upcoming board meeting. Sanga Consulting, Inc. remains committed to recruiting highly qualified educators aligned with the mission and values of Escuela Avancemos Academy.
The school year concluded with multiple end-of-year celebrations for students and staff. The leadership team is focused on building a welcoming and inspiring school culture throughout;
Classroom repainting, murals, and clearly posted student expectations throughout the building
The 2025–2026 school year’s character pillar is "Respect: Respect yourself, others, and property."
Board President Cristina Stamatin requested that quotes for carpet replacement be submitted for review.
VI. Extended Public Comment:
A.
This public comment section is reserved for all remaining comments.
None at this time.
VII. Board Comments
A.
Authorizer Comments
Jennifer Joubert, Field Operations School Lead from the Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University, reminded the Board and school leadership of the upcoming 2025 Annual Conference, scheduled for August 14, 2025, at Huntington Place in Detroit, MI, with a reception event the evening prior. She also noted that Board Member Linda Chittum’s term is due to expire soon, and as such, the Oath of Public Office must be administered ahead of time for her reappointment.
B.
Escuela Avancemos! Academy Board of Directors Updates
The Board of Directors expressed their appreciation for the enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment consistently demonstrated by the school leadership team. They commended the passion and unity exemplified in the work being done, noting that Escuela Avancemos Academy continues to be an inspiring institution, and it is rewarding to see how the vision is coming together.
Special thanks were extended to Ana Ulloa, Shan’Ta Johnson, Dr. Lorilyn Coggins, and Erika Reed for their leadership and contributions in helping put the puzzle pieces in place.
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Reconfirmation of Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy.
May 2025 financial reports were presented by Dr. Lorilyn Coggins, highlighting cash on hand, year-to-date revenues, year-to-date expenditures, and the current fund balance in a summarized format. The financials are in order.