Escuela Avancemos! Academy
Minutes
Escuela Avancemos Regular Board Meeting (Virtual)
Date and Time
Tuesday October 26, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Location
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82465331854
Meeting ID: 824 6533 1854
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MISSION STATEMENT: Prepare, educate, and inspire every child, every day to be lifelong leaders and learners in our 21st-century world.
Directors Present
C. Stamatin (remote), L. Chittum (remote), M. Barbour (remote), M. Gonzalez (remote)
Directors Absent
A. Bordeianu
Guests Present
Dahime Gordon (remote), J. Joubert (remote), L. Coggins (remote), L. McClintic (remote), Michelle-Kerry Khatib (remote), S. Johnson (remote), S. Ovares (remote), S. Yassine (remote), ldwcpa@aol.com (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C. Stamatin called a meeting of the board of directors of Escuela Avancemos! Academy to order on Tuesday Oct 26, 2021 at 6:54 PM.
II. Approval of Agenda
A.
Approval of Agenda
M. Barbour made a motion to amend the agenda order of new business to move item B. Financial Audit presented by Wilkerson & Associates P.C. to item A.
L. Chittum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| L. Chittum |
Aye
|
| M. Barbour |
Aye
|
| A. Bordeianu |
Absent
|
| C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
| M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
III. Consent Agenda Item
A.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
L. Chittum made a motion to approve the minutes from Escuela Avancemos Regular Board Meeting (Virtual) on 09-21-21.
M. Barbour seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| A. Bordeianu |
Absent
|
| L. Chittum |
Aye
|
| M. Barbour |
Aye
|
| M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
IV. New Business
A.
Escuela Avancemos! Contract Amendment No. 9 Signature Page
M. Barbour made a motion to approve The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools ("Center") Charter Contract ("Contract") Amendment No. 9 to incorporate the four classrooms modular unit and increases the maximum enrollment number to 425.
L. Chittum seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
| M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
| A. Bordeianu |
Absent
|
| M. Barbour |
Aye
|
| L. Chittum |
Aye
|
B.
Financial Audit presented by Wilkerson & Associates P.C.
The financial audit for the year ended June 30, 2021, was presented to the Board of Directors by Mr. Larry Wilkerson of Wilkerson & Associates, P.C. As a result of auditing standards required to be implemented last year, the audit continues to require a strong emphasis to be placed on the Academy’s internal control systems. During this year’s audit process, no items were noted that required management to make changes; therefore, no recommendations were made for this year. The audit went extremely well with no findings, the provision of an unqualified opinion for the single audit and compliance with the federal requirements.
C.
Automated Clearing House/Electronic Transfer Officers Resolutions - Important Update
Dr. Lorilyn Coggins shared the Automated Clearing House/Electronic Transfer Officers Resolutions important update communication received from The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools. It does not have an immediate impact on the academy.
V. Reports
A.
21st Century Community Learning Centers Monthly Report
September 2021 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.
cash on hand, year-to-date revenues, year-to-date expenditures, and the current
fund balance in a summarized format.
B.
Charter Schools Program Grant Monthly Report
Dr. Lorilyn Coggins presented to the Board of Directors an overview of the Charter
School Program Grant data which is required to be presented monthly at each board
meeting. Dr. Coggins, Stephanie Yassine and Dr. Ovares are working on an amended budget to present to the Board of Directors in the near future.
School Program Grant data which is required to be presented monthly at each board
meeting. Dr. Coggins, Stephanie Yassine and Dr. Ovares are working on an amended budget to present to the Board of Directors in the near future.
C.
September Financials
September 2021 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.
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.
D.
Sanga Monthly Management Report
The Sanga Monthly Management Report was presented by Ana Ulloa, Stephanie
Yassine, Lyndsey McClintic, and Steven Ovares. Escuela Avancemos Academy leadership is highly focused on utilizing the analyzed NWEA and I-Ready data to solidify "What I Need" (WIN) blocks.
Yassine, Lyndsey McClintic, and Steven Ovares. Escuela Avancemos Academy leadership is highly focused on utilizing the analyzed NWEA and I-Ready data to solidify "What I Need" (WIN) blocks.
The purpose of WIN time is to provide students specifically tailored, and small-group instruction at their specific area of academic need. During this time students may explore synonyms and antonyms, delve into text at their specific reading level, or work on prefixes and suffixes. WIN blocks occur in both reading and math at all grade levels. groups. Board Trustee Monica Barbour posed a question to the Instructional Leaders, "What are the leaders doing in respect to the math modules to increase students' math growth?
The leadership team has set an internal goal for the year in reaching the 60th percentile as measured by fall-to-spring scaled growth in both reading and math. A numerical table was shared with the Board of Directors to outline the representation of the graphs above on where grade levels are performing in relation to the goal/CMU expectations. The NWEA Fall MAP results for student growth summary comparison from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 data charts were presented to the Board of Directors. Board Treasurer Linda Chittum inquired if CMU has seen the inflated growth percentiles for Fall 2020 within their school's portfolio. Jennifer Joubert informed the Board of Directors that CMU is not counting last year's data and is happy to hear that the leadership team is utilizing last year's data for analyzing this data comparison. Accolades were given to the academy's 8th-grade teacher Tiffany Rhymes for "Rocking it Out" last school year and the start of this year on a strong trajectory for meeting/exceeding the academy's goals in reading. The leadership team is looking to move ahead with the partnership with Cornerstone University. The goal is to pilot the program using our Section 41 and DCF grant funds to enroll several teachers into the master and micro-credentials program. Over time, this initiative will ensure that all homeroom teachers are certified in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Alongside our Spanish program’s goals of literacy in the first language and our core curriculums’ research-based best practices in EL strategies, this initiative will ensure our students have the necessary access to high-quality literacy and language learning in both English and Spanish.
Stephanie Yassine informed the Board of Directors of the academy's great "Fall Count Day" success. At the time of this board meeting, the academy has responded promptly to any student-related COVID concerns. A reporting process has been communicated to staff to prioritize classroom safety and prompt the removal of students for additional screening. So far there has been 1 positive COVID case reported to the Detroit Health Department.
The academy has received a full Certificate of Occupancy for our modular unit that will house the Kindergarten and 1st-grade students this year. Sanga has been invited to participate in monthly Detroit charter meetings with Governor Whitmer and her Education Policy Director, Nicole Wells Stallworth. The purpose of these meetings is to provide Detroit Charters a direct line to update informed educational policy that impacts our schools and students daily. The Board of Directors was encouraged to provide Stephanie Yassine with any insight from the Board that should be presented at the monthly charter meetings with Governor Whitmer and her Education Policy Director, Nicole Wells Stallworth.
Ana Ulloa, Sanga Management CEO updated the Board of Directors on some recent major building repair issues at the academy. The HVAC unit is 20 years old and the company that services the unit also services the church. The elevator has recently had multiple repairs and has been waiting for a specific part for almost a month. With all of the students in the building, the plumbing system cannot sustain the amount of water waste due to the previous patchwork before the building was leased to the academy. The estimated quote for repairing the plumbing is roughly $13k. Ana Ulloa suggested that the school attorney be contacted for guidance on how to address the major building issues and repairs for a building that does not belong to the academy. Madam Board President Cristina Stamatin has agreed to contact the academy's lawyer regarding this. The Board Retreat will be held on January 7th-January 8th. Reservations and agenda will be disseminated to the Board of Directors once they are finalized.
VI. Extended Public Comment:
A.
This public comment section is reserved for all remaining comments.
No public comments at this time.
VII. Board Comments
A.
Authorizer Comments
The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools Central Michigan University
Field Operations School Lead Jennifer Joubert thanked Ana Ulloa, Stephanie Yassine and the leadership for their partnership and the opporunity to participate in a Safe Water podcast. Great to see all the things that are being done at the top of the line.
Field Operations School Lead Jennifer Joubert thanked Ana Ulloa, Stephanie Yassine and the leadership for their partnership and the opporunity to participate in a Safe Water podcast. Great to see all the things that are being done at the top of the line.
B.
Escuela Avancemos! Academy Board of Directors Comments
The Board of Directors thanked the entire team for always being responsive and adaptable to various programs that will increase academic growth. Many accolades to Dr. Lorilyn Coggins and Sanga Management for yet another successful audit and maintaining a healthy financial budget. The transportation and support team is doing a great job as well. The Board of Directors was very appreciative for receiving the major building repair issues update before a problematic situation arises.
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Reconfirmation of Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy; 2635
Howard St Detroit, MI 48216.
Howard St Detroit, MI 48216.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Johnson