Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
Minutes
ANCS Governing Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 18, 2020 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. ยง 50-14-1.
Directors Present
Emily Ormsby, Eric Teusink, Hanah Goldberg, Jason Rhodes, Jordache Avery, Kristen Frenzel, Lee Kynes, Meeghan Fortson, Nakia Echols, Sabrina Sexton
Directors Absent
Howard Franklin, Kristi Malloy, Laura Melton
Guests Present
Angela Christie, Barrett Krise, Ben Sutton (Committee Member), Carla Wells, Cathey Goodgame, Chuck Meadows, Cory Tiede, Daniel DuVal, Jen Singh, Jessica Gowen, Jon Wooten, Lara Zelski, Nancy Lamb, Nicole King, Paige Teusink, Renette Rier, Rhonda Collins, Sonia Toson, Stacy Robinson
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 Feb 18, 2020 at 6:33 PM.
C.
Brain Smart Start
Chuck Meadows led a brain smart start.
D.
Public Comment
None.
E.
Approve Minutes from Prior Board Meeting
Sabrina Sexton made a motion to approve the minutes from ANCS Governing Board Meeting on 01-21-20.
Jason Rhodes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
PTCA Report
Brittany Gove presented her board report, included in the board packet.
G.
Principals' Open Forum
Cathey Goodgame reported on events at the Middle Campus. Seventh and 8th graders went to Anti Defamation League and 6th graders went to the Breman Museum. Feedback from ADL and museum was very positive about students' questions and leadership.
8th graders are in middle of community project presentations. Dr. Goodgame reviewed some of the topics students are working on.
Lara Zelski reported on events at the Elementary Campus. The campus is enjoying Morning Meeting and black history month presentations, including a remarkable performance by a parent who is an opera singer.
Interview team has convened for selecting new staff for next school year. Interview day is March 6.
8th graders are in middle of community project presentations. Dr. Goodgame reviewed some of the topics students are working on.
Lara Zelski reported on events at the Elementary Campus. The campus is enjoying Morning Meeting and black history month presentations, including a remarkable performance by a parent who is an opera singer.
Interview team has convened for selecting new staff for next school year. Interview day is March 6.
II. New Business
A.
Wonderball Auction Update
Jennifer Singh, one of the auction chairs, presented on the Wonderball plans. Event is on March 7 at Ambient Studio. Have sold about 200 tickets so far. Jennifer reviewed auction team and set up/logistics/offerings for the event. Board members are encouraged to attend the VIP reception that evening to thank the school's most generous donors.
B.
A Look at the Elementary Campus
Lara Zelski and Nicole King presented on the Elementary Campus. They asked leadership team (one teacher from each grade level and others) and students to provide input on a series of questions about what makes ANCS special.
C.
Update on 2020 New Student Applications & Weighted Lottery Vote
Eric Teusink and Chuck Meadows presented on the applications for the 2020-2021 school year. The application window closes March 2. Information for the discussion is covered in both the ED report and the Educational Excellence committee report. Based on early results, which indicate a low number of applications received from economically disadvantaged families, Teusink recommended a weight of 4. This is the highest weight the Board can adopt according to our charter.
III. Executive Director's Report
A.
Charter Renewal Update
Chuck Meadows provided an update, included in his report and the board packet, on the charter renewal application.
Fine tuning language in application about project based learning to better reflect curricula at each campus.
On track to complete 30-45 days early.
Fine tuning language in application about project based learning to better reflect curricula at each campus.
On track to complete 30-45 days early.
B.
School Wide Update
Chuck reviewed several items from his report regarding the school's focus on academic growth.
Chuck reviewed some issues with the use of the MAP testing in the winter and new information on how to capture more accurate results.
Chuck also shared concerns around attendance and how that impacts our CCRCI score. Communication will go out in the courier this week about attendance. Missing school in early grades is very hard to catch up on. Curriculum doesn't lend itself well to missing school. Hanah Goldberg recommended looking at the data more closely in committee and reporting back.
APS is considering changes to 2021-2022 calendar.
Chuck provided an admissions report for upcoming school year. 636 applications received so far, including 20% economically disadvantaged families (mostly from outside zone 1).
Chuck reviewed some issues with the use of the MAP testing in the winter and new information on how to capture more accurate results.
Chuck also shared concerns around attendance and how that impacts our CCRCI score. Communication will go out in the courier this week about attendance. Missing school in early grades is very hard to catch up on. Curriculum doesn't lend itself well to missing school. Hanah Goldberg recommended looking at the data more closely in committee and reporting back.
APS is considering changes to 2021-2022 calendar.
Chuck provided an admissions report for upcoming school year. 636 applications received so far, including 20% economically disadvantaged families (mostly from outside zone 1).
IV. Governance
A.
Monthly Governance Report
No governance meeting this month; no report.
B.
Nominations Task Force Update
Nakia Echols provided her update. Task force met several times over last month. Application deadline has closed, and invitations for interviews have been extended. Vote will be in March.
C.
2020-2021 Officers
Eric Teusink shared the Board's slate of officers and committee chairs for the 2020-2021 school year. It is included in the board meeting packet.
Lee Kynes made a motion to accept the slate of officers and committee chairs for the 2020-2021 year as proposed.
Nakia Echols seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
V. Business & Operations
A.
Monthly Business & Operations Report
No discussion.
B.
Facilities Update
Jordache Avery provided an update on roof replacement and intercom. We are on track to replace the roof this summer. We received a grant to fund a new communications/intercom system; a "Fund-a-Need" effort at the March 7 Wonderball auction will help fund the remainder of the cost.
VI. Fund Development
A.
Monthly Fund Development Report
Meeghan Fortson provided an update on fundraising. Details are included in her board report. Main focus is on the auction, which is separate from the Gather & Grow Fund but provides approximately $60-80K to the school's operating budget each year. Board members are encouraged to attend the auction on March 7.
VII. Educational Excellence
A.
Monthly Educational Excellence Report
Hanah Goldberg provided update on the educational excellence committee. Details are provided in her report in the board packet.
Chuck reviewed the charter goal for newly admitted students who are economically disadvantaged and the demographics for the current applicants for the 2020-2021.
Chuck reviewed the charter goal for newly admitted students who are economically disadvantaged and the demographics for the current applicants for the 2020-2021.
Eric Teusink made a motion to set the lottery weight at 4 for economically disadvantaged students applying to the 2020-2021 school year.
Nakia Echols seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Discussion around whether the weight applies to siblings and children of teachers and board members and clarifying that in our charter.
B.
Public Affairs Subcommittee Report
No report.
VIII. Executive Session
A.
Executive Session
Eric Teusink made a motion to at 8:53 pm to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel related matters.
Kristen Frenzel seconded the motion.
The board entered into executive session after a 5-minute break. Guests and staff members were excused from the meeting.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Board came out of Executive Session at 9:53 pm.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:53 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Meeghan Fortson