The Anchor School

Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting

Agenda posted by: June 18

Date and Time

Wednesday June 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Location

Virtual

Directors Present

A. Pressey (remote), E. Desprez Isbell, J. Whittington, V. Thompson

Directors Absent

C. Humphrey, J. Burton, N. LeBlanc, S. Birch, S. Kollu

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

E. Desprez Isbell called a meeting of the board of directors of The Anchor School to order on Wednesday Jun 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

E. Desprez Isbell made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 05-28-25.
A. Pressey seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Executive Director Report

A.

Executive Director Report

Dr.PT shared an Executive Directors Report:

  • 33 of our 34 staff positions have been filled for SY25-26
    • Parent mentor position is still an open role (grant funded), part time family engagement role
  • 100% of staff from SY24-25 are returning for next school year
  • Welcoming new staff on July 21
  • High level GA Milestone data overview (not final data), increases in scores from 6th grade to 7th grade in ELA, reading, and math 
  • Enrollment updates shared

III. Academic Achievement

A.

Item for Action: Student and Family Handbook

Action Item: Review when the language "policy" is used, specifically adjust "smartwatch policy" to Smart Watch Use

E. Desprez Isbell made a motion to Conditional approve the Family Handbook for SY25-26 that has been emailed to the board. Any minor changes to be emailed to the full board by July 2. If any substantial, material changes are needed we will have a called meeting.
A. Pressey seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

LKES Performance Review Completion

All TKES and LKES evaluation were completed in the portal on time in June

C.

Academic Data Review

Cross-functional monitoring report received.  In 34 out of 35 indicators we met the standards and 1 that required corrective action that is currently being addressed. 

IV. Community Engagement Adhoc

A.

Community Engagement Updates

June 25 2025

  • PTO: 
    • Bylaws are still being finalized before next school year (delays in the 501c3 process and waiting to confirm with founding families)
  • Parent Mixer (Ms. Quetel is taking the lead!)  
    • Tentatively July 28th -1st
    • Pre-back to school mixer
    • Jason’s in Tucker off LaVista
  • Fantastic end of year showcases! 

V. Finance

A.

Item for Action: Adopt FY25 Budget

V. Thompson made a motion to approve the FY26 budget.
J. Whittington seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Item for Action: Fiscal Policies

  • Changed the amount from $20,000 to $50,000 that Dr. PT would need for board approval 
  • Added language to specify that the board needs to approve the budget by the last board meeting in June, unless the board meeting falls on the 30th, then the budget would need to be approved in May or a called meeting in June
V. Thompson made a motion to Conditionally approve the fiscal policies given the 3 noted changes and to be emailed to the full board by Vanecia with any changes noted by July 2.
J. Whittington seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

May Financials

  • Reviewed the May Financial Reports including the QBE true-up, EOY DCOH projected at 35 days.
  • $300,000 from the CSP grant that we are asking for up front and will need to be spent within 3 days.
  • FY25 SCSC Dashboard, in "green" in all sections except "yellow" in unrestricted cash on hand

 

Action Item for Committee: review chart of accounts in the accounting system

VI. Governance

A.

Item for Action: Adopt New Contract with 21Cobalt

E. Desprez Isbell made a motion to adopt a new contract for continued governance support from 21Cobalt.
V. Thompson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Item for Action: Adopt FY25 Board Calendar

Action Item: Update the Finance Committee to be the 3rd Tuesday (rather than 3rd Monday).  

E. Desprez Isbell made a motion to approve the 2025-2026 Board Meeting Calendar.
V. Thompson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Item for Action: Bylaws

E. Desprez Isbell made a motion to approve the Board Bylaws for SY25-26.
A. Pressey seconded the motion.
  • The Vice Chair and Treasurer will serve two-year terms, starting with our vote in August. 
  • The Board Chair and Secretary will be on a separate, two-year staggered term. 
  • This helps with leadership continuity and aligns with our charter term ending in 2028.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
  • Training: 
    • New Board Members are required to complete 12 hours of training. Tenured Board Members are required to complete 6 hours of training. If the column “New vs Tenured” is blank for a board member, please provide the board member’s start date on the board for a determination of requirements.
    • New Board Members earn a possible maximum of 2 hours of training credit for virtual training. Members must view one training course from each of two categories, as indicated in emails sent to all board members.


 

VII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:02 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
E. Desprez Isbell