Escuela Avancemos! Academy
Minutes
Escuela Avancemos Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday November 15, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Location
Escuela Avancemos Academy
2635 Howard St
Detroit, MI 48216
Room: 105
Directors Present
A. Bordeianu (remote), L. Chittum, M. Barbour, M. Gonzalez
Directors Absent
C. Stamatin
Guests Present
A. Ulloa, Beatriz Hill, Dahime Gordon, J. Joubert, L. Coggins (remote), S. Johnson, S. Ovares, Teresa Nava
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Approval of Agenda
A.
Approval of Agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
C. Stamatin |
Absent
|
A. Bordeianu |
Abstain
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
III. Consent Agenda Item
A.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Abstain
|
M. Barbour |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Absent
|
IV. Reports
A.
21st Century Community Learning Centers Monthly Report
B.
Charter Schools Program Grant Monthly Report
Dr. Lorilyn Coggins presented the Charter School Program Grant current month and cumulative amounts to the Board of Directors as required to be presented monthly at each
board meeting. The grant ends on November 27th and has a few outstanding tasks that will need to be completed by the leadership team no later than early next week.
C.
October Financials
October 2022 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.
D.
Sanga Monthly Management Report
The Sanga Monthly Management Report was presented by Dr. Steven Ovares (School
Principal) and Ana Ulloa (CEO, Founder). The school leadership team held their beginning of the year data step back with the Detroit Children's Fund. The Detroit Children's Fund (DCF) spoke positively of the school and our data, and also expressed a desire to have leadership speak at a future Detroit Children's Fund Board Meeting. The Foundation also asked for the areas in which the school needs support, as they will try to support our areas of need. Board Treasurer Linda Chittum inquired if Dr. Steven Ovares would like to represent the academy at a future Detroit Children's Fund. Ana Ulloa stated that management will attend the board meeting and represent the academy. The leadership team is eagerly awaiting the academy's middle-of-year NWEA testing to provide official data to the Board of Directors. The leadership team is committed to assessment in all forms, not just formal summative assessments. A renewed focus has been on reviewing individual student work during the grade-level planning process. It is the leadership team's belief that focusing on daily students' work, and not just end-of-unit test results will allow the team to support teachers in identifying student misconceptions early, for early intervention and remediation at the tier 1 level. Ana Ulloa would like to be present when the leadership team reviews the WIDA assessment results.
Jesse Venegas of the Detroit Children's Fund has provided the school with a wish list of classroom furniture items. The furniture is scheduled to be delivered on November 23rd.
Ana Ulloa has been working closely with Dr. Lorilyn Coggins on strategies to ensure that the academy is functioning efficiently as it relates to budget spending, paid time off for staff (possible incentives), and ESL professional development planning. Onboarding for the Responsibility Coordinator will consist of working with the leadership team and Ana Ulloa requested to be present. The HVAC unit has been installed. Bumler Mechanical and Bass Controls are tag teaming the calibrations of the unit to ensure the building is heating up well.
V. Extended Public Comment:
A.
This public comment section is reserved for all remaining comments.
Ana Ulloa, interpreter.
Teresa Nova, parent of a 5th-grade autistic student. On 11/15/2022, during a parent meeting with the Special Education department; the parent informed the team of several students consistently physically hitting her son. The student often comes home with black and blue marks and the parent is very worried about the student's safety. The parent requested someone to monitor the student closely. During the special education meeting, the team had side conversations amongst themselves in front of the parent. The parent was told that since nothing significant has happened to the student, nothing else can be done at this time. The parent often times feels disrespected during the special education meetings while the team has their sidebar conversations. Ms. Nova reiterated that she is very worried for her son's safety. Board Secretary Monica Barbour, asked Ms. Nova what solution would she like to see put in place. Ms. Nova would like for a student aide to be assigned to monitor her son's safety.
Ana Ulloa stated that management will conduct a full investigation and provide the Board of Directors with an update.
VI. Board Comments
A.
Authorizer Comments
The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools Central Michigan University
Field Operations School Lead, Jennifer Joubert. Central Michigan University Fire Up For The Future 8th-grade event was a huge success. The students were able to tour the entire campus for a real college experience. The coffee with Special Education series events is a great space for Special Education leaders to speak with CMU's Special Education Director. Dr. Coggins is already on top of the upcoming Constitutional and Statutory Posting Confirmation requirement. Great job on a successful CMU HR Audit.
B.
Escuela Avancemos! Academy Board of Directors Comments
Board Secretary Monica Barbour thanked everyone for attending the board meeting. It was a light but informative meeting. Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeinau would like to see monthly updates on preschool planning. Board Treasurer was very pleased with the grade-level planning structure and financials. Everyone is doing a great job! Great work to Mrs. Johnson for a successful HR Audit conducted by Central Michigan University. Board Trustee Mariva Gonzalez wished everyone an exceptionally Happy Thanksgiving.
VII. Closing Items
A.
Reconfirmation of Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy; 2635
Howard St Detroit, MI 48216.
Dahime Gordon, Site Coordinator for the 21st Century Learning Program (21st CCLC), presented the monthly programming and budget report. The 21st CCLC program has been brainstorming with the Escuela Avancemos Academy instructional team, the front office, and Ana Ulloa for ways to increase student enrollment. In an effort to reach more parents and students, teachers will be given flyers to distribute to families during Parent Teacher Conferences. Board Secretary Monica Barbour asked what is the enrollment goal for the after-school program. Dahime Gordon informed the Board of Directors of how the weekly enrollment participation numbers are calculated.