The Anchor School
Minutes
Academic Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Location
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ngf-bsag-prx
Or dial: (US) +1 260-468-0174 PIN: 597 098 506#
Committee Members Present
E. Desprez Isbell (remote), K. James (remote), K. Sargeant (remote)
Committee Members Absent
N. LeBlanc
Guests Present
J. Pinto Taylor (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
E. Desprez Isbell called a meeting of the Academic Achievement Committee of The Anchor School to order on Wednesday Apr 15, 2026 at 7:04 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
E. Desprez Isbell made a motion to approve the minutes from Academic Committee Meeting on 03-11-26.
K. James seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Academic Achievement
A.
Academic Data Review
- No new testing data to review as MAP is currently being administered for the spring.
B.
Academic (Assessment) Calendar
- Preparation for GMAS testing window upcoming in early/mid-May
C.
Bell Schedule Options
- Bell schedule options presented with the favorite focused on for discussion
- Dr. PT shared parent and some staff survey data
- Questions focused on preferences for start and ends times for the school day for 6th/7th and 8th/9th grades
- Action Item:
- Dr. PT to swap the 6th/7th and the 8th/9th school start and ends times to align with family preference for if there are different start/end times for the 6th/7th grade to start/end earlier than the 8th/9th grade.
D.
Course Plan for the High School
- Reviewed TAS 9-12 Course Plan
- Dr PT: Action Items/Recommendations:
- Add 27.08220 Co-Requisite Geometry Support
- Allow AP Statistics to be taken anytime 10th-12th grade if student wants to double-up in math
- Remove AP Physics as an 11th grade option (only offer in 12th)
- Consider visually differentiating a gen-ed and advanced pathway for subject areas
- Determine if student need to take a semester of econ or gov if they select a year-long AP course in 12th grade social studies
- Determine if Spanish 4 is a required/recommended pre-req for AP Spanish
- Add details to show that AP Seminar + AP Research (and 3+ scores)= AP Capstone Diploma
- Emily: Action Item: Add Course Plan to the April (Item for Information) and May (Item for Action/Vote) board meeting agendas
E.
High School Transcript Grade Reporting
- Dr. PT presented 3 options for current thinking around grade reporting for HS transcripts
- Academic Committee slightly favors option 3 as we think it is the clearest/most-straight-forward while still emphasizing mastery and encouraging opportunities for re-teaching and re-assessment.
- Action Items:
- Dr. PT - determine the best letter sequencing for options 3 (either + or -)
- Dr. PT - determine how the first column (SBG) is calculated. We discussed mean or mode or median all being potential options.
- Emily - add High School Transcript Grade Reporting to the April (Item for Information) and May (Item for Action/Vote) board meeting agendas
III. Academic Monitoring Updates
A.
Enrollment Dates
- Reviewed important enrollment dates and deadlines
B.
Enrollment policy discussion
- Committee agreed it is worth exploring the consideration of an enrollment priority for rising 9th graders coming from DeKalb Brilliance Academy. This is a consideration for future school years and not SY 26-27.
C.
SCSC Renewal Rubric Resource
- Standing agenda item to review when there is time and at a minimum quarterly.
D.
2024-2025 Academic CPF Report
- Reviewed our "meeting standards" rating
- Action Item: Emily - add to the May Academic Committee Meeting to discuss in more detail
IV. Academic Policy Items
A.
TAS Teacher Pathway Framework
- No updates here as the finance committee needs to review and discuss
B.
Discuss the proposed budget
- Briefly discussed the proposed budget.
- Updates will need to be made as the building renovation costs are higher than anticipated.
C.
Annual Family Handbook Review
- No updates have been made yet to the Family Handbook
- Action Item:
- Dr. PT - for April's board meeting, share the high level updates to be made and by May's board meeting, share the details of updates proposed.
- Emily - Add as an item for information in April and an item for action for May
V. Closing Items
A.
Succession Planning
B.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:06 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
E. Desprez Isbell