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Excelsior Village Academies

Minutes

Excelsior Village Academies' Board Meeting

Date and Time

Saturday September 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Location

The Excelsior Village Academies' Board of Directors will meet in person. Please see the location below: 

 

5295 Highway 155 N; Stockbridge, GA 30281

 

You can also join virtually. Please see the meeting details below: 

 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8754612347?pwd=UXN0amZyMmE3YlVNamhHK3JWVGJKUT09

 

Meeting ID: 875 461 2347
Passcode: EVA24

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Directors Present

A. Holmes, K. Rutherford, N. Brinson, R. Hutchins, T. Burrell, W. Smith

Directors Absent

D. Paige

Ex Officio Members Present

M. Flowers (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

M. Flowers (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

N. Brinson called a meeting of the board of directors of Excelsior Village Academies to order on Saturday Sep 20, 2025 at 11:20 AM.
R. Hutchins made a motion to approve the minutes from Excelsior Village Academies' Board Meeting on 08-16-25.
A. Holmes seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Record Attendance

II. Updates

A.

Enrollment

  • The current enrollment at EVA: 191 (as of 9.19.25)
  • EVA was funded at 229 
    • This has created a deficit of 38 scholars for SY26
  • Waitlist Update: 
    • 8 scholars have been offered seats and will start at EVA on 9/24
    • There are 23 additional offers out 
  • There will be a final update during the October board meeting, after the official count by SCSC

 

Attendance Zone Expansion: 

  • There is interest in expanding the attendance zone to include Rockdale County because of the proximity of EVA to the Rockdale County line 
  • Some potential families have been turned away from enrolling because Rockdale County is omitted, and including the county in the attendance zone would positively impact the enrollment at EVA moving forward. 
  • The commission will be able to vote on expanding the EVA attendance zone at the next board meeting, pending EVA board approval 
R. Hutchins made a motion to expand the EVA attendance zone to include Rockdale County.
W. Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Facilities Challenge

  • We will need to review the proposals for the necessary improvements to the building during October board meeting 
  • HVAC is currently holding steady, which is a win

C.

2026-2027 Planning

  • Proposed Enrollment Targets by Flowers: 
    • Year 3: 250 students, serving grades K-7
    • Year 4: 450 students, serving grades K-8
    • Year 5: 540 students, serving grades K-8 
  • Feedback: 
    • The jump from Year 3 to Year 4 is too significant. There needs to be a more gradual growth plan between Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4 that sets EVA up for success. 
    • We have to determine what will be the most feasible growth plan year over year to reach the Year 5 goal without fail 
  • Next Steps: 
    • Price out modulars for Year 3 to ensure there is space to accommodate all students if we expand beyond 10 classrooms
    • Explore unutilized or underutilized space in the building for Year 3 to accommodate growth 
    • Explore new numbers that would be closer to the Year 5 goal of 540 
      • Create a plan for 300 students in Year 3 
      • Create a plan for 325 students in Year 3

III. Finance

A.

Monthly Financial Update

B.

Personnel Salary Vote

K. Rutherford made a motion to approve the SY26 CEO salary.
W. Smith seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IV. Upcoming Events

A.

School Events

  • Full Day Professional Learning - Sept. 22
  • Fall Festival - Oct. 31 
    • Book Character Day 
    • Family Fall Festival 
  • Indigenous Peoples Day - Oct. 13 
    • School is closed

V. Board Business

A.

New Meeting Cadence Vote

T. Burrell made a motion to move board meetings to the 4th Thursday of each month at 7pm.
W. Smith seconded the motion.
  • Committee Meetings
    • They will be held at 6pm preceding the general board meeting. Finance and Governance meetings will be held concurrently 
  • Agenda Planning Meetings: 
    • These will now occur on the second Monday of each month
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Board Retreat Reflections and Takeaways

VI. 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 12:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
R. Hutchins