Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
Minutes
ANCS Governing Board Monthly Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday September 23, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Notice of this meeting was posted on the ANCS website and both ANCS campuses 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), Hanah Goldberg (remote), Irina Brimmell (remote), Jason Rhodes (remote), Kristi Malloy (remote), Lee Kynes (remote), Pouya Dianat (remote), Rhonda Collins (remote)
Directors Absent
Emily Ormsby
Guests Present
Arnold Pierce (remote), Cathey Goodgame (remote), Chuck Meadows (remote), Cory Tiede (remote), Jerry Hanes (remote), Katie Varner (remote), Lara Zelski (remote), Mark Sanders (remote), Markecia Jacobs (remote), Nicole King (remote), Nicole Lupo (remote), Rachel Ezzo (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Lee Kynes called a meeting of the board of directors of Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School to order on Thursday Sep 23, 2021 at 6:33 PM.
C.
Brain Smart Start
Nicole King led the group through an exercise to unite, connect, disengage stress, and make a commitment.
D.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
E.
Approve Minutes from Prior Board Meeting
Jason Rhodes made a motion to approve the minutes from ANCS Governing Board Monthly Meeting on 08-19-21.
Rhonda Collins seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
F.
PTCA President Update
- Rachel Ezzo provided a PTCA update, see board packet for details.
G.
Principals' Open Forum
- Lara Zelski provided the elementary campus update.
- Parent/teacher conferences underway.
- COVID cases remain very low in the school.
- Unit 1 for is wrapping up for students.
- Celebrating hispanic heritage month.
- Cathey Goodgame provided the middle campus update.
- Student led conferences will be in November.
- Summittives are in progress for students.
- Athletics is in full force (5 teams in competition).
- Clubs will be beginning after fall break (known clubs are HOWL weekly, art, performing arts, gender & sexuality alliance, reading bowl, yoga, morning walking).
- Celebrating hispanic heritage month.
II. Executive Director's Report
A.
Executive Director Report
- Chuck Meadows provided the executive director update, covering COVID and the school farm, see board packet for additional details.
- Indoor air filtration
- While students were virtual last year, HVAC units were checked and updated to the highest rated filters as systems allow.
- HEPA filtration & bipolar needlepoint ionization were also considered.
- Installed ionization for two reasons: noise of HEPA filtration (ionization is noiseless), as well as coverage (HEPA is point of contact, ionization covers a larger portion of the air).
- Concerns have risen that ionizers put harmful omissions in the air and are not as effective as promised.
- Systems installed at ANCS earned all recommended clearances from appropriate agencies.
- A third party, independent testing found the ionizer installed at ANCS significantly reduced virus particles in the air.
- ANCS completed an air quality test at both campuses - both campuses were well below recommended limits for all compounds included in test.
- HEPA filters will also be purchased. Research underway on which units will work most efficiently and effectively in our buildings.
III. DEAT Update
A.
Monthly DEAT Report
Carla Wells provided the DEAT update.
- Interest meeting postponed until after DEAT DEI listening circle, to take place on Sept 30.
- Continued collaboration with DEI consultants to further define DEAT's strategy.
IV. Finance & Operations
A.
Monthly Finance & Operations Report
- Irina Brimmell provided the Finance & Operations update, see board packet for details.
- Middle campus refinance:
- Sought out terms from multiple banks, one of which was minority owned to support DEI efforts.
- Terms from selected bank included in board packet.
- Middle campus refinance:
- Ben Sutton provided the update for Buildings & Grounds, see board packet for details.
V. Governance
A.
Monthly Governance Report
- Rhonda Collins provided the Governance update. See board packet for details.
B.
Vote on Building & Grounds policies
Barrett Coker Krise made a motion to approve the changes to the buildings and ground policies.
Jason Rhodes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VI. Fund Development
A.
Monthly Fund Development Report
- Barret Coker Krise provided the Fund Development update, see board packet for details.
- Grandparents and special friends day, one of our largest fundraisers, has been cancelled due to safety concerns. The committee is brainstorming ways to find other ways for grandparents to be involved.
VII. Educational Excellence
A.
Monthly Educational Excellence Report
- Jason Rhodes provided the Educational Excellence update.
- Variety of efforts underway to enhance learning, based on testing results: aftercare academic support, math fluency at middle campus, focus on phonics at elementary campus - will be tracking data throughout the year to measure impact.
- Given the ongoing pandemic, will continue to leverage digital meetings, direct mail, and canvasing at bus stops to continue community outreach.
B.
Fall MAP Data & Spring Milestones
- Chuck Meadows, Lara Zelski, and Cathey Goodgame provided an update on spring 2021 Milestones and fall 2021 MAP results, additional details in board packet.
- 2021 spring milestones
- Results were shared.
- Participation was voluntary.
- Digging in deeper where scores were low so initiate follow up plans.
- 2021 fall MAP testing results
- Results were shared.
- Many programs in place to address dips (aftercare supplemental instruction, summer school, etc.).
- 2021 spring milestones
C.
DEI Listening Circles Update
- Chuck Meadows provided an update on the ongoing DEI listening circles.
- Many have occurred, and more are scheduled with equity coaches, DEAT, and PTCA.
VIII. Executive Session
A.
Executive session
Ben Sutton made a motion to move to executive session.
Jason Rhodes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
IX. Adjourn Meeting
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Angela Christie made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Carla Wells seconded the motion.
The board VOTED 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 8:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristi Malloy