During the board meeting on August 27, 2024, it was noted that representatives from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) were unable to attend. The Board of Directors reviewed the cohort report and was informed by Ana Ulloa that Dahime Gordon is no longer with the 21st CCLC after-school program.

Ana Ulloa expressed concerns about the current focus of the after-school program, emphasizing that while it is beneficial to offer fun activities, the students of Escuela Avancemos Academy require more academic enrichment, including homework help, tutoring, and impactful reading activities. The academy has funding available for an after-school tutoring program but wishes to avoid competing with the 21st CCLC program.

Madam President Cristina Stamatin suggested that the school leadership team meet with the 21st CCLC site coordinator to discuss how the program can better meet the student's needs. The board requested an after-school program update within 30 days, with a focus on creating a more robust program that addresses these academic priorities.

July 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.  The financial audit report will be presented to the Board of Directors at an upcoming board meeting by Wilkerson & Associate P.C. 
 

Ana Ulloa presented the Sanga Management Team to the Board of Directors, introducing the members as follows: Shan'Ta Johnson, Chief Operating Officer; Steven Elam, Chief Academic Officer; Erika Reed, Instructional Coach; Alex Weberman, Success For All and MTSS Coordinator; and Derrick Davis, Dean of Students. Steven Elam highlighted that staff professional development sessions are progressing smoothly and are strategically aligned to impact instructional quality.

The instructional staff has participated in intensive curriculum development sessions, including training on Success For All (ELA), TCI (Social Studies), Amplify Science, and Eureka Math. The academy's instructional framework is grounded in the Marzano rubric, with an emphasis on targeted instruction. Teachers are required to submit lesson plans to ensure that targeted instruction is being implemented effectively. Coaching, development, and daily feedback are integral to this process, and reading has been designated as a focus across all subjects. The school leadership team is committed to modeling expectations and will be conducting daily classroom visits to support this initiative.

Erika Reed and Alex Weberman, both ESL-certified teachers will oversee the ESL component in the teaching process while providing quality coaching. Mr. Elam's background in special education further strengthens the team’s capacity to support diverse learners. The dual-language program is also a priority, with Ahmed Bitar and Martha Leal delivering high-quality Spanish instruction daily.

Despite the challenge of having approximately 75% non-certified teachers this year, the academy is integrating ESL instruction across all subjects to meet the needs of newcomers, including recent enrollees from Honduras, Colombia, and Venezuela. Jennifer Joubert requested data on the number of immigrant students enrolled for her report.

The academy lost two certified teachers to higher-paying districts. However, Sanga remains committed to providing a competitive and supportive work environment within the framework of the 2024-2025 school budget. A detailed staff handbook, created by the Chief Operating Officer, outlines clear expectations aligned with existing structures and policies. Erika Reed expressed confidence in the long-term substitutes, noting that with the guidance of the current leadership and structure, the teachers exhibit coachable tendencies and are poised for success. All feedback, coaching, and scheduling will be meticulously documented.

Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu emphasized the importance of maintaining optimism and avoiding generalizations about teacher outcomes. She encouraged the continued investment in resources, structures, and support for new teachers to achieve productive results.

The academy also reinforced the student dress code and a strict no-cellphone policy. Ana Ulloa concluded by stating that the school leadership is unified in their vision and expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors for the opportunity to serve.

No extended public comments at this time. 
 

The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools Central Michigan University Field
Operations School Lead, Jennifer Joubert 
The Center for Charter Schools will be distributing a Professional Development participation form, which board members are expected to complete and return. Additionally, on September 18th, the Center will host a "Coffee with Special Education" webinar. Ms. Joubert also provided a brief tutorial on navigating the Center for Charters' website, demonstrating how to locate the academy's performance report and charter contract. Board members were acknowledged for attending CMU's Annual Conference.

Mariva Gonzalez mentioned that the Eureka Math program is not very user-friendly for parents. She suggested organizing a parent workshop to help parents better understand the math concepts, enabling them to support their children more effectively. This could be a great initiative to foster parent support.

Linda Chittum expressed her appreciation for the school leader's focus on the reading comprehension component.

Monica Barbour shared her positive outlook, stating that it seems the school is on the right path. She also enjoyed attending the CMU conference.

Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu commended the school leadership's idea of creating videos to support teaching and learning, highlighting it as an effective method. She also expressed gratitude for the planning and strategizing efforts during the board retreat, which set clear and informative objectives for our school communities. Andreea appreciates that our leadership is making strides to ensure the school remains relevant and engaging for our children.

Madam President Cristina Stamatin emphasized the importance of adjusting the delivery of instruction to tailor it to how students learn, aiming for their overall success.

The board members have expressed interest in receiving invitations to the school’s opening and other events. They’re excited about the opportunity to see the children and participate in school activities.

Lastly, networking at CMU was very productive. Corey Northrop from Central Michigan University is interested in visiting the academy. 

Action Items:

Financial Audit Report Presentation: Schedule and prepare for the presentation of the Financial Audit Report. Ensure all relevant documents are ready for review and discussion.

21st CCLC Collaboration Meeting: Organize a meeting to discuss the collaboration for a robust after-school program under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative. Focus on aligning goals, academics, and strategies to enhance the program's effectiveness to support student learning.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy.