The audit report was presented to the Board of Directors by Larry Wilkerson, which included both the financial report and statements. The report showed no findings and highlighted a healthy budget. The board expressed their appreciation for Mr. Wilkerson's thorough work, and he extended his gratitude to Dr. Lorilyn Coggins and her team for promptly providing all necessary documents, and ensuring the audit was completed efficiently.

Board Treasurer Linda Chittum inquired about the security of the academy's funds held in the Chase account, specifically the possibility of insuring them. Mr. Wilkerson advised that it was not necessary and discouraged the idea of opening multiple accounts to spread the fund balance, explaining that this practice is neither common nor recommended from an auditor's perspective.

Elizabeth Rodriguez, the 21st CCLC Site Coordinator, presented the monthly programming and budget report for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The after-school program began on October 1, 2024, and as of October 22, 2024, a total of 33 students are enrolled.

The program structure includes dinner for students, followed by one hour of tutoring and various enrichment activities. Transportation remains an ongoing challenge, with carpooling and parent networking being utilized as alternative options. Volleyball started on October 22, 2024, basketball is set to begin next week, and soccer will kick off at the beginning of the new year. The Roberto Clemente Recreation Center is being used for sports practices.

Students greatly enjoy the virtual literacy tutoring provided by Central Michigan University, which offers one-on-one sessions. Additionally, current Escuela Avancemos Academy teachers—Sanjaunita Alvarez, Sabrina Garcia, Alex Weberman, and Rebecca Romaine have joined the after-school program staff. 

Madam President Cristina Stamatian inquired about the tutoring follow-up process for students participating in the after-school program. She suggested that teachers' input would be valuable in assessing the impact of the tutoring. Steven Elam, Chief Academic Officer, confirmed that a questionnaire will be sent to teachers to gather their feedback on the program’s effectiveness.

September 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 Sanga monthly management report was presented to the Board of Directors by Steven Elam, Chief Academic Officer, and Ana Ulloa, CEO. The report included M-Step, PSAT, and NWEA assessment data, with charts comparing the academy's performance against state norms and similar charter schools, such as New Paradigm College Prep and Cesar Chavez Academy, both of which serve over 80% ESL populations. WIDA scores were also presented.

Ana Ulloa emphasized the need to understand the unique student demographic at the academy, noting the challenges that arise from the lack of literacy support at home, both in English and Spanish. She proposed the implementation of a kindergarten boot camp to better prepare incoming students and stressed the urgency of identifying best practices to improve academic outcomes for students.

Madam Vice President Andreea Bordeianu recommended referencing research rather than personal opinions when addressing challenges and requested that future presentations of charts and diagrams be accompanied by a summary of assessments, their purpose, and their impact on academic growth percentiles.

Ana Ulloa duly noted the recommendation and assured the Board that data is currently being collected to understand the students' home environments. Beatriz Hill shared examples from parent meetings, confirming that home structures and expectations differ significantly from the school environment.

Special Education Coordinator Carolyn Liddell, alongside Ana Ulloa, completed the necessary steps for the Wayne RESA Part B-Timely Closeout. Ms. Liddell has been granted a temporary social worker permit and is assisting both general and special education students.

As of 10/22/2024, student enrollment stands at 422, with expectations to reach 425. The academy’s overall daily attendance rate is 98%. Insubordination ranks as the highest behavioral infraction, with Beatriz Hill managing behavior for K-3 and Derrick Davis overseeing grades 4-8.

A 6th-grade Social Studies and Writing long-term substitute resigned on 10/16/2024 to pursue a doctorate and an opportunity as a writing professor at Wayne State University. The academy has contracted a replacement through Sub Teacher Source. A building substitute has been hired to assist with daily call-offs and provide interventions as needed. These steps are being taken to ensure continued support for our students and minimize disruptions to their education. 
 

The academy replaced Art with Targeted Intervention for K-8 students to provide better academic support. 

The winner of the school mascot contest was a 1st grader who named the mascot "Mango."

Mr. Bitar and Mrs. Leal led a vibrant and enriching cultural exposition where 55 students showcased their heritage through various artistic forms. Both teachers will be honored with the Mango Staff of the Month Award.

Sanga Management will be holding an Academic Retreat on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Sanga Office. This retreat will provide a focused and in-depth discussion on the strategies, tools, and implementation plans necessary to drive the academic growth we aim for this school year.
Using the current data and classroom learning, instructional delivery, and intervention observations, it has become clear that we need to intensify our efforts to achieve the academic growth required for our scholars.  The Board requested a brief update on the academic retreat at the next meeting.

No extended public comments at this time.

Jennifer Joubert, Field Operations School Lead from the Governor John Engler Center for
Charter Schools at Central Michigan University, was unable to attend the board meeting
due to attending a conference.
 

The Escuela Avancemos Academy Board of Directors expressed great appreciation for the teamwork and hard work displayed by the team, especially regarding the successful audit with no findings. Madam President suggested that the team review the Center for Charter Schools for upcoming events and details about the upcoming MAPSA Symposium for educators. Great job to all involved!

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy.