Escuela Avancemos! Academy
Minutes
Escuela Avancemos Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 28, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Location
Escuela Avancemos Academy
2635 Howard St
Detroit, MI 48216
Room 105
Directors Present
A. Bordeianu, C. Stamatin, L. Chittum, M. Gonzalez
Directors Absent
M. Barbour
Guests Present
A. Ulloa, L. Coggins, S. Johnson, S. Ovares, jjoubert@thecenterforcharters.org
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Approval of Agenda
A.
Approval of Agenda
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
III. Consent Agenda Item
A.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
IV. New Business
A.
Approval of Title IX Representative
Roll Call | |
---|---|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
B.
2022-2023 Educational Goals Mid-Year Report
C.
Resolution to Approve Audit 2023 Letter of Engagement from Wilkerson & Associates P.C.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
M. Barbour |
Absent
|
L. Chittum |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
V. Reports
A.
21st Century Community Learning Centers Monthly Report
Members of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers were not in attendance. Board President Stamatin highlighted various activities and events other 21st CCLC sites are exploring to increase student enrollment. The hope is for the 21st CCLC team to provide similar events and activities to increase program participation numbers.
Board President Cristina Stamatin expressed the need for a "Career Day" to be planned for students. Ana Ulloa, Dr. Steven Ovares, and Shan'Ta Johnson will work on the planning logistics and inform the board of directors of the scheduled date at the next board meeting.
B.
January Financials
January 2023 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.
Dr. Coggins provided the board of directors with a copy of the monthly state-aid report which can be included with the monthly financial reports at the board of directors' request.
C.
Sanga Monthly Management Report
The Sanga Monthly Management Report was presented by Dr. Steven Ovares (School Principal) and Ana Ulloa (CEO, Founder). As part of the academy's strategic plan, the Instructional Leadership Team set the following goal at the start of the 2022-2023 school year. The academy's objective is to focus on the teaching component of higher-order thinking by providing teachers with instructional feedback and coaching conversations. Written feedback will be provided within the School Mint teacher observation platform once a week. WIDA testing is currently happening at the academy. WIDA will continue to play a vital role in supporting the academy's English Language Learning students in many aspects of the school. Testing results will be shared with the board of directors once they become available. NWEA median conditional growth percentiles report was presented to the board of directors. Dr. Ovares highlighted that the academy is considered to be meeting CMU's expectations with a 50 and exceeding at or higher than the 65 growth percentile. Board President Cristina Stamatin would like to see the proficiency overall growth increase for students. What are the smart goals in place to ensure proficiency growth? Each student's growth proficiency is analyzed and any student that is not making proficiency growth is receiving extra support. Teachers are being held accountable for teaching rigorous instruction to close the learning gaps. Board Treasurer Linda Chittum inquired about the students' demeanor toward the state assessments. Do students clearly understand the purpose of the assessments? Ana Ulloa provided a brief synopsis of the family's perception of college. Most family members are trade skills-based and college may or may not be a prospect. I-Ready provides a click-rate data report that shows how quickly a student answered a question in comparison to how long it should take for a student to select an answer. Dr. Ovares will share this data report with the board of directors.
Ana Ulloa and Steven Ovares are scheduled to visit the Manoogian School on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Details from the visit will be shared with the board of directors at the next board meeting.
On February 13, 2023, the respondent's parents in the Title IX investigation unenrolled the student from the academy. In accordance with Title IX regulations, the grievance process continues.
Representative Tyrone Carter-District 1 is scheduled to visit the academy and read to the students for "March is Reading Month" on Monday, March 13th.
Dental, vision, and hearing screenings for students are all scheduled for March and April 2023.
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, shared the upcoming events:
Board Development Series - March 8, 2023, and Special Event - Unconference March 11, 2023. Board President Cristina Stamatin inquired about the timeline for CMU to review and analyze academic growth for the academy. Jennifer Joubert shared the Fall 2022-23 Academic Performance Report for the academy. This report was previously shared with the board of directors by The Center for Charter Schools.
B.
Escuela Avancemos! Academy Board of Directors Updates
Words of gratitude were expressed to the leadership and the management team for their continued efforts. The Board Vice President is excited to know that Black History month was celebrated at the academy. March is Women's History Month and should be celebrated. The board of directors is enthusiastic to hear about the celebrations that are being held at the academy. Board Trustee Mariva Gonzalez explored the possibility of having high school students complete community hours by providing reading tutoring for 3rd-grade students. Board President Cristina Stamatin also suggested having summer school for more academic enrichment.
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Reconfirmation of Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy; 2635 Howard St Detroit, MI 48216.
Due to a schedule conflict, Board President Cristina Stamatin is unavailable to attend the March 21, 2023, board meeting.
B.
Adjourn Meeting
Approved by the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
_______________________________________________________
Board Secretary Date
Escuela Avancemos Academy School Principal Dr. Steven Ovares reported that Public Act 48 of 2022, Section 98b, and Section 104a required accomplishments of established educational and academic goals.
Board President Cristina Stamatin inquired about the colored-coded highlights columns' representation meaning on the presentation report. Dr. Steven Ovares provided the board of directors with context and noted next time to include a key legend in reports that contain highlighted areas to differentiate data results.