Wesley International Academy
Minutes
October Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday October 1, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Location
Media Center
Directors Present
A. Hunter, D. Hrabe (remote), E. Cater, J. Ziemann, K. Boyer, K. Jones, O. Okwara, S. Williams (remote)
Directors Absent
A. Sumter, R. Moorman
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Marshall
Non Voting Members Present
J. Marshall
Guests Present
Aniska Moring (remote), Anthony Bartlett (remote), C. Hudson, C. Wyatt, D. Johnson, Ebony Smith (remote), Jonique Gilliam (remote), Keilani Parker (remote), Kristina Prude (remote), L. Price (remote), Lisa Goodin (remote), R. Edwards (remote), R. Goodman, R. Pavone, S. Finney, S. Smith, Samatha Spann (remote), Shereen Pierce (remote), Yaseen Aaron (remote), Yashica Douglas (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Agenda
D.
Approve August Minutes
August Minutes had to be amended to correct spelling of board member last name.
E.
Community Comments
II. Board Chair Updates
A.
Visiting Drew's Board Meeting
B.
Training Requirements
New Board Members are required to have 15 hours of training :
- 3 hours in Finance ( Funding and Budgeting)
- 3 hours in Team Training (Governance will decide)
- 3 hours of Elective
9 hours of training for existing members
Most training can be done online and all must be complete by June 30.
3 hours in Governance
3 hours in Finance
3 hours Elective
Team Training sessions are usually 2 to 3 hours. Great way to get 6 hours of training
for new and existing members.
III. Executive Director Updates
A.
General Updates
All Teams are in a good space. Security has smoothed out since the 1st of school year.
The tragedy this fall in Barrow County was made public that they did not have a metal detectiion system.
Grateful the board supported this decision.
ED walks the halls a couple of times a day and is pleased seeing the instruction in classrooms and hallways clear .
Staff is headed over to see Coan on Nov 5 and there will be a plan to have parents visit
school building
Move will be intense and will be all consuming starting in January.
B.
CFO and Business Manager
CFO announces her retirement in the year 2026.
Plan is to have Lisa help finding her succession person.
Introduces Sharene Smith as New Business Manager.
IV. Governance
A.
Governance Committee Goals
4 Goals :
1. Analysis the skills needed on board for Board recuritment
2 Review Bylaws
3 Develop orientation and training for new board members
4 Regularly check to make sure board meetings are effective
B.
Discuss Safety Issues
Safety Issues: Evole system caught 4 parents with weapons,this was an accident
and parents put away item in their car. There has been no complaints of this system being used.
Parents and Teachers feel safe with all the safety measures Wesley has put in place.
Clear Backpacks, SRO, Security at all entrances.
C.
Board on Track Skills Assessment
BOT of assessment of skills needed. All Board members have been asked
to please complete before Governance Committee meeting in November.
D.
Updates on Enrollment
Donica presents emrollment updates which is more often since COVID.
The enrollment has changed since COVID and the drop effects are more home schooling,
low birth rate. We are close to 800 but we don't want to rush this process. 780 students
todate. Tours, flyers and visiting schools will start in November. Weekly tours start in November and will continue for 12 weeks. The move could impact enrollment and trying to have incentives for people to stay.
Billboard advertising was suggested by Adrian Hunter
Kwende Jones acknowledges Donica and her team on enrollment.
E.
ED Goals for 2024-25
1. Retention for staff of 90%
2. Succession for CFO and job discription . Plan and process for search.
3. Increase math and ELA scores by 3% all forward proficiency or exceed.
Standards changed this year so delay until December.
Math grew 8% and we meet our goals.
There will no longer be stretch goals on ED Contract.
V. Academics
A.
Academic Excellence Committee for 2024-25
Members: Donica Johnson, Doug Hrabe, Jason Marshall, Kate Boyer
Obi Okwara, Rachel Goodman, Ray Edwards, Rich Pavone, Crystal Hudson, Philip Pruss, Sean Finney , Sharyl Chatman, Permercial Strozier
B.
Academic Performance Updates
Early Literacy has been the focus in classrooms and working on Map data.
C.
Academic Excellence Goals for 2024-25
Project base learning
ELA 8%
Math 10%
STEM Certification
2nd Language before Charter Renewal
VI. Finance
A.
CARES Funding/Reimbursement
We had 480k left from CARES funding . We have spent this and reimbursements are on their way.
B.
Financial Reporting Protocols
Finance reporting ;
Annual Report that is Audited required from Board
APS requires quarterly reporting
Auditor will present report in Finance Committee in November
C.
Audit Update
Financial reporting is done by an accounting firm.
All backup records are provided for clean audit
Audits are due in August and September
Leadership being consistant and board support to make for success.
D.
Finance Committee Goals for FY 2025
Goals:
1. Prepare proposed budget wiith 2 public announcement
2. Clean Audit
3. Meet all financial deadlines by state, federal and local
4. Mid-year review of budget ( for board members)
5. Develop new platforms for financials
Drew Board Meeting willl be discussed in Governance
Committee Meeting to school leadership. Administrators and
Teachers presented items on Agenda not Board Members.