Escuela Avancemos! Academy
Minutes
Escuela Avancemos Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday July 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location
Escuela Avancemos Academy
2635 Howard St
Detroit, MI 48216
Room 105
Directors Present
A. Bordeianu, C. Stamatin, M. Barbour, M. Gonzalez
Directors Absent
L. Chittum
Guests Present
A. Ulloa, Erika Reed, J. Joubert, L. Coggins, S. Johnson, Stephanie Jackson
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. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Absent
|
III. Consent Agenda Item
A.
Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu requested that all proposed follow-up items be either highlighted within the minutes or listed as bullet-point items. This will help ensure that no follow-up ideas are missed and that action items are identified for timely resolution.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
L. Chittum |
Absent
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
IV. New Business
A.
Spring 2024 Board Policy Updates for Escuela Avancemos! Academy
Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu expressed that all board policies must be adhered to by the Educational Service Provider (ESP) and included in the employee handbook.
Roll Call | |
---|---|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
L. Chittum |
Absent
|
M. Barbour |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
B.
2024-2025 School Calendar
Roll Call | |
---|---|
L. Chittum |
Absent
|
M. Gonzalez |
Aye
|
C. Stamatin |
Aye
|
M. Barbour |
Aye
|
A. Bordeianu |
Aye
|
V. Reports
A.
June Financials
B.
Sanga Monthly Management Report
Ana Ulloa introduced the new Superintendent of Escuela Avancemos Academy, Stephanie Jackson. She was pleased to announce the return of Erika Reed as the Instructional Coach, and Alex Weberman as the Success For All (SFA) Coach and MTSS Coordinator for the district. Additionally, Beatriz Hill will work closely with and support the Dean of Students in managing student behaviors. Stephanie Jackson brings extensive experience in educational leadership, with a proven track record of improving academic outcomes and fostering a positive learning environment.
Superintendent Jackson is committed to driving academic data growth; focusing on making learning engaging and enjoyable for students; providing robust support for teachers to enhance instructional practices; and leveraging her strengths as a leader to build a collaborative and effective school community.
The Board of Directors took the opportunity to introduce themselves to Superintendent Stephanie Jackson by sharing a brief synopsis of their backgrounds, their roles as board members, and their willingness to brainstorm ideas and collaborate with school leaders.
The Board emphasized their supportive role, highlighting that they do not micromanage but are always available to assist and support the administration and school staff in achieving their goals.
VI. Extended Public Comment:
A.
This public comment section is reserved for all remaining comments.
No extended 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 reminded the Board of Directors and School
Leadership about the upcoming Center for Charter Schools 2024 Annual Conference on August 15, 2024, in Novi, MI. Great work on meeting in July to stay on top of things as a board.
B.
Escuela Avancemos! Academy Board of Directors Updates
The Escuela Avancemos Academy Board of Directors is pleased to know that Erika Reed has returned to the academy and is excited about the goals and vision initiatives set forth by the Superintendent and the rest of the leadership team. Escuela Avancemos is a place for children with unique backgrounds. Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu expressed her gratitude for the leadership's efforts to understand and serve the population effectively. She remarked on the vibrant energy within the academy, describing it as "some hot sauce in the building, a fire brewing" to keep students motivated and engaged in learning. Inspiring students to do their best is paramount to their growth potential.
The Board emphasized their availability to support the academy in any capacity to ensure the viability of the organization. Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu highlighted the level of trust the school community has in Ana Ulloa and expressed confidence in the individuals she has vetted for roles at the academy. The Board is part of the team.
Madam President Cristina Stamatin noted that every year the Board discusses changes and the direction of the academy. She proposed the need for a board retreat in August to follow up with committees, conduct performance reviews, and brainstorm strategies. Bullet point items will be established and discussed with the board, management, and school leadership to ensure everyone is informed and involved in the planning. There will be no action items to vote on at the retreat.
FOLLOW-UP ITEMS:
- Scouting potential new board members
- Organizational Chart
- Educational Service Provided (ESP) Handbook to reflect Board Policies: 1420 - Administrator and School Leader Evaluation and 3220 - Teacher Evaluation
- August Board Retreat
VIII. Closing Items
A.
Reconfirmation of Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy.
June 2024 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.