Elizabeth Rodriguez, the 21st CCLC Site Coordinator, presented the monthly
programming and budget report for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers.  The 21st CCLC after-school program has seen increased enrollment, now serving 56 students. The program has commenced volleyball and basketball team training while maintaining a primary focus on academic support. Students receive enrichment in English Language Arts, Math, and virtual literacy tutoring in partnership with Central Michigan University (CMU). This year, the program emphasizes homework assistance and tutoring.

Many parents have shared positive feedback with the site coordinator, noting improvements in their children’s academic performance and behavior.

Jennifer Joubert inquired about the partnership with CMU, specifically regarding how it was established and which campus the virtual tutors are from. The site coordinator will follow up with the program director to provide this information at the next board meeting.

Ana Ulloa acknowledged Elizabeth Rodriguez as one of the academy's exemplary employees and credited her for contributing to the program's success.

Madam President Cristina Stamatin suggested exploring enrichment opportunities for students by reaching out to Cranbrook.

October 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.  Steven Elam provided a detailed overview of the NWEA and WIDA assessments, using color-coded charts to clarify the definition of percentiles. This approach offered the board a clearer understanding of academic growth metrics. He also emphasized the value of the "language learning" terms and definitions as a convenient reference tool.

The academy received a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) due to missing signatures on special education documents in the Catamaran system and inaccuracies in IEP dates within the student information system for MSDS general collection submissions. All concerns were addressed, and the CAP was officially closed on October 31, 2024. To prevent similar issues in the future, the Special Education Department has implemented new processes to ensure data and documentation are accurately updated and uploaded in both systems. Wayne RESA conducted an informal visit on November 19, 2024, offering resources, compliance guidance, and a commitment to maintaining an open line of communication for any future questions or concerns.

Jennifer Joubert inquired if the CAP had been formally shared with the Board of Directors and CMU, emphasizing the importance of communicating such plans with both entities. It was confirmed that this information had already been shared with the board. She also recommended informing the Special Education team about CMU's "Coffee with Special Education" sessions. Ana Ulloa clarified that the CAP was not related to untimely IEPs but rather to data entry errors, and Dr. Lorilyn Coggins will work on obtaining the CAP release letter from the Catamaran system.

Steven Elam reported that student attendance remains steady, with a total enrollment of 421 students. Madam President Cristina Stamatin expressed her gratitude to the team for their thorough report and for providing a clearer understanding of the assessment data and its meanings. She complimented the use of color-coded diagrams for their effectiveness in simplifying complex information. Additionally, she noted that there is no need to provide a separate detailed update on the Sanga Academic Retreat, as the relevant information was already included in the monthly management report.

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, shared several updates and observations:

Central Michigan University will host campus tours for 8th-grade students, with spring dates available. School leadership is encouraged to participate; Leadership is urged to attend the "Coffee with Special Education" webinar, offering valuable resources and updates; A couple of visits to the academy have taken place this school year. Jennifer noted that it is refreshing to see how effectively the academy is operating under Steven Elam’s leadership and Sanga's management. Jennifer also recommended creating a professional one-pager highlighting the school through a professional marketing firm to further enhance the academy's outreach and visibility.

Ana Ulloa shared positive feedback from Alex Rodriguez of Success for All (SFA), stating that the academy has experienced significant improvements. Alex described the current environment as “like night and day,” with SFA being implemented with fidelity. Alex Weberman, the academy's SFA coach, was commended for doing an outstanding job. Ana emphasized the transformed atmosphere in the building and highlighted the visible academic gains through SFA initiatives.

The academy remains committed to its mission and continues to foster a positive and impactful educational environment for students.

The Escuela Avancemos Academy Board of Directors expressed their appreciation for the approaches and strategies being implemented to enhance student achievement and make the school experience relevant for students. While acknowledging the progress made, the Board recognized that significant work remains and emphasized the need for additional efforts to showcase the positive developments at the academy through increased marketing initiatives.

Madam President Cristina Stamatin would like Corey Northrop,  Executive Director of Charter Schools at Central Michigan University to visit the academy.

Ana Ulloa highlighted the need for more grants and efforts to secure additional Chromebooks to support students.  Management is currently in discussions with Drivergent Transportation, the academy's student transportation provider, to explore the possibility of reducing the number of buses. This reduction could reallocate revenue to be invested back into classroom resources.

Additionally, Ana Ulloa emphasized the importance of having a summer school program. The program would focus on reinforcing school-appropriate behavior procedures and addressing learning loss that typically occurs during summer vacation.

The academy remains dedicated to its mission of fostering a positive and supportive learning environment while continuously improving its offerings for students.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Escuela Avancemos Academy.