Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
Minutes
ANCS Governing Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday September 21, 2020 at 6:30 PM
Location
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89252317450
Notice of this meeting was posted on the ANCS website in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1.
Directors Present
Angela Christie (remote), Barrett Coker Krise (remote), Ben Sutton (remote), Carla Wells (remote), Emily Ormsby (remote), Hanah Goldberg (remote), Jason Rhodes (remote), Jordache Avery (remote), Kristen Frenzel (remote), Kristi Malloy (remote), Lee Kynes (remote), Rhonda Collins (remote), Sabrina Sexton (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Guests Present
Ashley Deck (remote), Cathey Goodgame (remote), Chuck Meadows (remote), Lara Zelski (remote), Mark Sanders (remote), Nicole King (remote), Paige Teusink (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Kristen Frenzel called a meeting of the board of directors of Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School to order on Monday Sep 21, 2020 at 6:37 PM.
C.
Brain Smart Start
Mark Sanders led a brain smart start
D.
Public Comment
None.
E.
Approve Minutes from Prior Board Meeting
Jason Rhodes made a motion to approve the minutes from ANCS Governing Board Meeting on 08-17-20.
Ben Sutton seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
PTCA President Update
Paige Teusink presented her board report, included in the board packet.
G.
Principals' Open Forum
Lara Zelski provided an update on the Elementary Campus. Classes have voted on their class names. Parent-Teacher conferences are being scheduled. Teachers are posting weekly videos to the HOWL website that offer helpful tips for students and parents in support of online learning
Cathey Goodgame provided an update on the Middle Campus. There are 13 extra-curricular clubs, and every student is involved in a club. There will be important tips about how to provide support for students taking the MAP test at home.
Cathey Goodgame provided an update on the Middle Campus. There are 13 extra-curricular clubs, and every student is involved in a club. There will be important tips about how to provide support for students taking the MAP test at home.
II. Executive Director's Report
A.
Charter Renewal Update
Chuck Meadows provided the Charter Renewal Update as part of the Executive Director's Report. The petition for charter renewal has been submitted. Atlanta Public Schools (APS) will make a recommendation regarding the petition to the Georgia Department of Education, and a decision will be announced in the spring. The final step in the charter renewal process is an interview session between the Leadership Team and members of the Board and representatives of APS and the Georgia Department of Education, occurring Tuesday, September 22.
B.
COVID-19 Update
Chuck Meadows provided the COVID-19 Update as part of the Executive Director's Report. On Friday, September 18, APS announced their plans to bring certain students back for face-to-face instruction on Monday, October 26. ANCS may now consider resuming face-to-face instruction in some capacity during the same timeframe. A safe resumption of face-to-face instruction will require outfitting classrooms for safe, socially distanced learning. Entirely online learning will remain an option for all students and teachers for the duration of the academic year.
C.
Business Office Update
Chuck Meadows provide the Business Office Update as part of the Executive Director's Report. The Business Office has been reorganized. Previously, the office was comprised of a Director of Finance and Operations, a Staff Accountant, and a part-time Fund Development Coordinator. Following the reorganization, the office is staffed by three full-time business managers, respectively responsible for cash and accounting, budget and personnel, and advancement and marketing. The CFO duties have been contracted to Wesley Peachtree Group, and this person will liaise between the Business Office and the Business and Operations committee. This reorgnization has resulted in a cost savings in Business Office salary.
III. Governance
A.
Monthly Governance Report
Lee Kynes provided an update on the Governance Committee, and discussed Board nominations, the Executive Director evaluation, and policy review. Their goal is to have a Nominations Task Force appointed at the November board meeting. They will conduct a mid-year and end-of-year evaluation of the Executive Director, and will have a set of policies to recommend to the Board at the October meeting.
IV. Business & Operations
A.
Monthly Business & Operations Report
Emily Ormsby presented the Business & Operations Report, and noted that the loan forgiveness application for the $1,850,000 Payroll Protection Program loan, received in April, had been completed. She also noted that ANCS will receive a slight increase in its budget allotment for 2020-2021, as opposed to an anticipated reduction.
B.
Vote on Financial Resolution
Lee Kynes made a motion to approve the Finance & Operations Committee's Financial Resolution.
Sabrina Sexton seconded the motion.
The resolution amended the process of approving contracts and expenditures, requiring payments of over $25,000 to be approved by the Finance and Operations Committee, and payments in excess of $50,000 to be approved by the entire Board.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Facilities Update
Jordache Avery provided a Facilities Update, and noted that the roofing project was complete. The intercom project has been completed at the Middle Campus, and is near completion at the Elementary Campus.
V. Fund Development
A.
Monthly Fund Development Report
Sabrina Sexton presented the Fund Development report, and noted that the 2019-2020 Gather and Grow Fund raised 85% of their stated goal. End-of-year giving was down due to uncertainty caused by COVID-19. Board participation in the Gather and Grow Fund Campaign was 100%.
VI. Educational Excellence
A.
Monthly Educational Excellence Report
Hanah Goldberg provided the Educational Excellence Committee Report. The Educational Excellence Committee will meet on the second Thursday of each month from 5:00-6:30PM. The Committee is considering options for a temporary attendance policy during virtual/hybrid instruction.
B.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Update
Nancy Lamb provided the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Update. MAP is a widely used test that measures an individual child's growth and progress over the course of an academic year. Students will take the MAP online and at home during their regular school day. Parent responsibilities for 3-8 grade include having your child take the MAP on their school Chromebook, making sure they stay focused and are not distracted, and not providing any academic assistance. Parent responsibilities for K-2 include having your child take the MAP on the school Chromebook, if available, helping your child get into the Testing Session, and not providing any academic assistance.
VII. New Business
A.
Vote on Establishing Task Force to Develop Recommendations for Expanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) on the Board & Explore Structures for the Board's Role in ANCS' DEI Work
Sabrina Sexton made a motion to establish a task force to develop recommendations for expanding DEI on the Board and explore structures for the Board's role in ANCS' DEI work.
Carla Wells seconded the motion.
Jason Rhodes noted past discussion of the need to increase socioeconomic diversity on the Board as well as the need to review the Board's current relation to the Diversity and Equity Action Team (DEAT), and the school's efforts around diversity and equity for the purpose of maximizing the effectiveness of Board support in these areas. He suggested the formation of a task force for the purpose of addressing these concerns.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VIII. Executive Session
A.
Executive Session
The Board did not go into Executive Session.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Sabrina Sexton made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Jason Rhodes seconded the motion.
Kristen Frenzel adjourned the meeting at 8:32PM.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jason Rhodes
Documents used during the meeting
- Minutes - August 17 Board Meeting.pdf
- PTCA Report - 9.21.20 Governing Board Meeting (1).pdf
- Executive Director's Report 9_21_20.pdf
- September Board Governance Report.pdf
- Business & Operations Update - September 2020.pdf
- Fund Development Committee Report September 2020.pdf
- Educational Excellence Committee Report 9_2020.pdf
- MAP Board 9.21.2020.pdf