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Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School

Minutes

ANCS Governing Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday December 17, 2019 at 6:30 PM

Location

Middle Campus, 820 Essie Avenue, SE Atlanta, GA 30316
Notice of this meeting was posted at each campus and on the ANCS website in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1.

Directors Present

Emily Ormsby, Eric Teusink, Howard Franklin, Jason Rhodes, Kristen Frenzel, Kristi Malloy, Laura Melton, Lee Kynes, Meeghan Fortson, Sabrina Sexton

Directors Absent

Hanah Goldberg, Jordache Avery, Nakia Echols

Guests Present

Brittney Gove, Cathey Goodgame, Chuck Meadows, Danielle Philipose, Elizabeth Hearn, Irina Brimmell (Committee Member), Kari Lovell, Kristen German, Lara Zelski, Mark Sanders, Nancy Lamb

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance and Guests

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Eric Teusink called a meeting of the board of directors of Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School to order on Tuesday Dec 17, 2019 at 6:37 PM.

C.

Brain Start Smart

Assistant Middle Campus Principal Mark Sanders led a brainsmart start. Committed to listening with an open mind this evening.

D.

Public Comment

none

E.

Approve Minutes from Prior Board Meeting

Meeghan Fortson reported on one change made to the the November board meeting minutes after the board meeting packet was made public. The time that the board entered executive session was added as "approximately 9:15 p.m." 
Kristen Frenzel made a motion to approve the revised minutes from ANCS Governing Board Meeting on 11-19-19.
Kristi Malloy seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Approve Executive Session Minutes

Jason Rhodes made a motion to approve the minutes from the Executive Session on November 19, 2019.
Meeghan Fortson seconded the motion.
These confidential minutes were distributed to the board and then collected to be shredded. 
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

PTCA Report

  • School store is doing well. Will slow down in ordering new items.
  • Netted $600 from Parent's night out.
  • Preparing Amazon holiday gift cards for staff. 
  • PTCA General meeting January 14th (3 general meetings a year). Chuck will give a state of the school.
  • Box tops sweepstakes win of $20K. PTCA considering a special grant cycle. Will continue to talk with ED and Board Chair about what the school needs.The money will not be available until April. If there is a special grant cycle, it would not apply until fall. 

H.

Principals' Open Forum

Very busy this time of year. MAP and Winterfest are finished at the Elementary Campus, and teachers are working on progress reports.

II. Old Business

A.

2020-2021 School Calendar

  • Chuck Meadows reported on the proposed calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. The calendar was originally proposed to the Board by Chuck and the Leadership Team at the November board meeting. It is supported by the faculty and staff. 
  • The proposed calendar has been communicated to parents with opportunities for parents to provide feedback. See meeting packet for letter to parents from last week's Courier.
  • The calendar has been thoroughly discussed in the Educational Excellence Committee.
  • The Education Excellence Committee voted 3-0 in favor of the calendar and recommends that the Board adopt the 2020-2021 calendar as proposed. 
  • Chuck shared that ANCS is familiar with this type of calendar (often referred to as a "Balanced Calendar") with week-long fall and mid-winter breaks, as this has been the calendar we have used in past years. The change to shorter breaks was made for the 2019-2020 year in response to APS shortening their fall and mid-winter breaks. 
  • One board member requested a more defined plan for how the school will support lower income families with the calendar change before voting.
  • Chuck reported that all of the other charter schools in the Jackson Cluster as well as several other APS charter have similar calendars to this proposed calendar. Many of these schools have a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students than ANCS. 
  • If ANCS adopts the proposed calendar, the Jackson Cluster will have about 2,400 students out of school during the week-long breaks. Work has already begun to reach out to ANCS community partners to schedule enrichment activities and programming options for ANCS students during the proposed fall and mid-winter breaks. 
  • Discussed if financial support could be offered during the breaks. Chuck confirmed that the school plans to offer financial support, similar to what is already being offered to ANCS families who need it.
  • Compared to the APS calendar, the proposed calendar for ANCS will start a few days earlier and run a few days later. There are also a few days on the ANCS proposed calendar where students are in school and APS is out. 
  • A board member asked Chuck to provide the board with monthly progress reports on the plan to provide support for families as it relates to the calendar. 
Kristen Frenzel made a motion to to adopt the 2020-2021 calendar as proposed.
Lee Kynes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
Jason Rhodes
Aye
Nakia Echols
Absent
Laura Melton
Aye
Emily Ormsby
Aye
Eric Teusink
Aye
Kristen Frenzel
Aye
Kristi Malloy
Aye
Howard Franklin
Aye
Hanah Goldberg
Absent
Lee Kynes
Aye
Sabrina Sexton
No
Meeghan Fortson
Aye
Jordache Avery
Absent

III. New Business

A.

Data and Testing Update

  • Nancy Lamb, the School Psychologist presented on student support at ANCS. She explained her various roles as the school psychologist.
  • Nancy works closely with Ashley Deck and Rhiannen Laurent.
  • Manages MAP and TTCT testing. 
  • The Multi-tiered System of Supports was presented, and examples were given at each level. 
  • There are various specially trained teachers to provide support; 19 special education teachers across campus.
  • Federal laws in place that ANCS is required to follow.
  • There is additional funding for Special Education but not for 504.
  • Students with disabilities and 504 is about 20% at ANCS compared to about 13-14% in APS. 
  • SST and IEP's are talked about at Parent Information Sessions for those interested in the school.
  • Board members participated in a few sample assessments.

IV. Executive Director's Report

A.

Charter Renewal Update

  • Elizabeth Hearn shared a CREATE announcement that it received a $20,000 grant made possible by Annie E. Casey Foundation for all black male educators to have an institute to discuss the issue of African American males achievement in schools. The institute will be held in early June.
  • Chuck reported that the achievement gap task force has met twice for the year, and created three subgroups. Next meeting is January 29. Hanah Goldberg and Jason Rhodes are on this task force.
  • Chuck reported on "Apply APS Charter" - APS's new centralized platform for families to apply to APS Charter Schools. There are a few charter schools who will not be participating. Families will be required to select a single offer on April 1st to prevent spot holding across charter schools. ANCS school tours will start in January. Training on the platform will be January 13th and the application window will open on January 29 and close on March 2. ANCS will conduct its own lottery through this platform and lottery results will be released on March 16. 
  • Chuck reported on the Charter Renewal Process. Members of the Leadership team met with Georgia Charter Schools Association to put together the narrative for the petition for charter renewal. Intent to renew is due at the beginning of 2020 year. Will continue to meet monthly with Lara and Cathy.

V. Governance

A.

Monthly Governance Report

See report in Board packet. The Governance committee continues to work on reviewing all ANCS policies, craft the mid-year and end-of-year evaluations of Executive Director, and oversee the nominations process for new board members. 

B.

Nominations Task Force Update

  • Sabrina Sexton reported on Nominations on behalf of Nakia Echols who was not able to attend the meeting. See report in board packet.
  • At the November meeting, the board voted to establish the nominations task force. That task force has reviewed the board self-assessments to determine what skills and experience are needed in new board members. Public Affairs and Technology are of high focus areas. Also trying to have Non-ANCS parents and Middle Campus representation. 
  • All Board members are needed to help recruit new board members.
  • There will be an information session for prospective board members immediately prior to the January 21st board meeting.
  • The nominations schedule has shifted this year, and the goal is to present the final slate of new board members for a vote in March.

VI. Business & Operations

A.

Monthly Business & Operations Report

  • See report in board packet.
  • Laura Melton reported that the school is in a really good cash position.
  • There will be a budget revision to account for additional income.
  • Business operations committee finalized annual calendar
  • A draft of the 990 was shared in the board packet.

B.

Facilities Update

Laura reported on behalf of Jordache Avery who was not able to attend the meeting. There are no updates on facilities - all projects are ongoing. 

VII. Fund Development

A.

Monthly fund development report

  • See report in board packet.
  • Meeghan Fortson reported that Fall Giving Week was in December this year instead of November, which is why our numbers are so much lower than last year at this time. Giving week numbers will be reflected in the January board report.
  • Still on track to meet our goal of $60,000 by end of calendar year. 
  • Raised over $18,000 for the Gather and Grow Fund during Giving Week and gained 26 new donors.
  • The Fund Development Committee has approved the Auction theme and Logo, which will be released in the Courier tomorrow. The theme is Boogie Wonderball: A night at the Disco.
  • Board participation is now at 46%. All board members are encouraged to make a gift or pledge by the end of the calendar year. Contact Stephanie Galer at sgaler@atlncs.org with questions. 

VIII. Educational Excellence

A.

Monthly Educational Excellence Report

No report this month. The only topic discussed at the Educational Excellence Committee was the proposed calendar. 

B.

Public Affairs Subcommittee Report

Howard reported that there was not a lot of policy making this month, but he will keep us posted on any education-related bills during Georgia's Legislative Session, which starts in January.

IX. 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 8:41 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Meeghan Fortson