Summit Academy Charter School
Minutes
December Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday December 21, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Location
27 Huntington Street Brooklyn, NY 11231
Trustees Present
V. Connelly (remote), W. Colavito (remote)
Trustees Absent
M. Bernard, M. Nieves, S. Jallow
Guests Present
Charlena Morgan (remote), Juned Haque (remote), M. Kohlhagen (remote), N. Campbell, Nina Harris, S. Handshaw
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
W. Colavito called a meeting of the board of trustees of Summit Academy Charter School to order on Tuesday Dec 21, 2021 at 6:10 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
V. Connelly made a motion to approve the minutes from November Board Meeting on 11-16-21.
W. Colavito seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Principal's Report
Personnel
- We still need HS Social Studies, MS Math, SPED
- We are getting new resumes from CEI. Interviews set up for our return
Student Recruitment
- The numbers are the same as we have lost a scholar but gained one as well.
- We are working on removing the final 2 LTAs
- We have been setting up meetings in the local schools to become a pipeline for MS
- The new website will be up by Wednesday
Academic Data
- Principal Spencer-Edwards has set mid-year goals for each grade level based on IReady assessments
- Goals have been shared with teachers and leadership so that there is a concerted effort to move scholars
- SACS will create and administer mock regents exams to determine mastery in the event of test cancellation
- Twice per week, every middle school class is in remedial courses using IReady and I-Exel.
- There is a focus on cuspers in MS and HS
- There is a shift in how co-planning time is used. Teachers are reviewing data to inform classroom practice
- Using older regents assessments to create strong predictor exams
- Introduction to Reading Plus to address reading deficiencies
Attendance
- Data was shared with teachers so that they can communicate with families in their advisories
- Several grades have attendance below 90%.
- Parents have indicated that social-emotional challenges are impacting attendance
- Recognition for scholars who have perfect attendance. Incentives to encourage scholars to be present daily.
- Developing attendance plans with the social worker and guidance counselors
Remote Learning
- SACS will be remote Wednesday and Thursday of this week
III. Finance
A.
November Financials
- Enrollment is down and we are at 66% of our target enrollment. SACS must contact the DOE to get approval for the lowered enrollment.
- Over 200 days of cash in the back. This surpasses the requirement from the DOE.
IV. Governance
A.
Potential Board Members
Charlena Morgan
- Works for the DOE (Former teacher and AP)
- Education Admin for Brooklyn North supporting schools in math grades K-8
- Niece, Courtney Knight, was a teaching assistant at SACS, saw the Ellen story and was impressed by the school's ability to secure funding for scholars
Virginia: As a DOE employee, there may be a need to get DOE approval for board participation.
B.
Adjusting Previous Minutes
V. Executive Session
A.
Department of Education Response
W. Colavito made a motion to go into executive session.
V. Connelly seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
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 7:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
M. Bernard