Lowcountry Montessori School

Minutes

Board meeting

monthly board meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday September 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM

Location

Low country Montessori School

The mission of Lowcountry Montessori School is to provide an authentic Montessori education building a foundation for lifelong learning.

Directors Present

A. Chavarria, A. Walker (remote), A. Wright, G. Alexander, J. Poole, L. Lyles, M. Thompson (remote), T. Brosnan

Directors Absent

K. Lyon

Directors who left before the meeting adjourned

A. Walker

Guests Present

B. Shaffer, C. Creamer, K. Godwin, O. Hopkins (remote), S. Fox

I. Opening Items

A.

Determination of Quorum

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

G. Alexander called a meeting of the board of directors of Lowcountry Montessori School to order on Wednesday Sep 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM.

C.

Reading of the Mission Statement

D.

Approval of Agenda

Section V-A Finance Report is presented by Copper Advisors, not Prestige Accountant. 

A. Wright made a motion to change the Finance Report presenter to Copper Advisors and approve the agenda.
T. Brosnan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Statement of Compliance with FOIA

II. Consent Agenda

A.

Approve minutes prior minutes

J. Poole made a motion to approve the minutes from Virtual meeting on 09-04-25.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Poole made a motion to approve the minutes from Board meeting on 08-27-25.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
J. Poole made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board meeting virtual on 08-07-25.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. Public Comment

A.

Public comment period, limited to 3 minutes per person.

No Public Comment

IV. Director's Report

A.

September Update

Presented by S. Fox. 

-Report Attached

-G.Alexander asked about the draw down from the USDA 

Submission to USDA for reimbursement and AMX that is being processed 

Not sure what the remaining balance is 

-G. Alexander asked about putting the funds in an interest bearing account

Have been using it to pay things, have not been able to move it yet, but it is the goal.

-G. Alexander have changed banks yet?

Capital Bank from construction and First Federal. Have not moved anything yet. 

Will need to work on changing over auto-pay and billing. 

-G. Alexander the paperwork that was signed to verify L. Lyles was not changing banks

That was adding B. Vaughn to the account for third signature 

-G.Alexander can we bring the new hires to the board meetings to meet them

-R.Beck plan for next big staff meeting was to invite the board to meet the staff. 

-A. Wright asked about open seats for each level

Primary 22 per room so about 88

Lower 27 to 25 per room so about 100

Upper the same as lower

Middle about 50 

High School about 100

-J.Poole asked about bio or S. Fox

She is working on it   

 

V. Committee Reports

A.

Finance Report

Finance Report presented by J. Strickland and S. Andrikis from Copper Advisors. Report attached.

Federal Funding reimbursements will start in October and that will help with cash on hand. 

Debt to Asset still good, Cash on Hand will be helped by funding reimbursements  

-S. Fox asked about splitting J. Diver as she is instructing in addition to running the cafe.

-G. Alexander asked how student count drop will affect us, will not until the next count, but is a significant amount of funding drop.

B.

Governance

-G.Alexander meeting October 15 at 5pm

C.

Facilities

Presented by S. Fox.-Report attached 

A. Walker left.

VI. New Business

A.

Discussion of Spending

-M. Thompson discussed spending after the board vote to increase spending from 5k to 10k without board approval. 

4 transactions since July 3

S.C. Charter fee paying for the search for the Director

Supplies to outfit classroom

State Reimbursement for funds not used in previous year

Emergency A/C repair that was previously voted on 

B.

Discussion of Salty Sprout Cafe

-M. Thompson presented finance committee notes about the Salty Sprouts Cafe

September Smoothies brought in about 2k

Lunch sales start in October and will give us an idea of how that will do. There may need to be a budget revision. 

Ideas discussed to help Cafe support itself, grab and go items for parents, snacks. Renting Dish washing space for food trucks. 

-T.Bronson suggested Pie Sales during holidays

-L.Lyles asked about the Rental Space 

Has not really taken off 

C.

Fundraising Committee

J. Poole made a motion to approve the minutes from Fundraising Committee Meeting on 09-11-25.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Thompson
Aye
J. Poole
Aye
L. Lyles
Aye
T. Brosnan
Aye
A. Wright
Aye
G. Alexander
Aye
A. Chavarria
Aye
K. Lyon
Absent
A. Walker
Absent
J. Poole made a motion to approve the minutes from Fundraising Committee Meeting on 08-14-25.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Brosnan
Aye
J. Poole
Aye
A. Chavarria
Aye
K. Lyon
Absent
A. Walker
Absent
A. Wright
Aye
G. Alexander
Aye
M. Thompson
Aye
L. Lyles
Aye
J. Poole made a motion to approve the minutes from Fundraising Committee Meeting on 06-12-25.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Alexander
Aye
A. Walker
Absent
A. Wright
Aye
J. Poole
Aye
M. Thompson
Aye
L. Lyles
Aye
K. Lyon
Absent
A. Chavarria
Aye
T. Brosnan
Aye

D.

Expulsion Hearing

J. Poole made a motion to leave regular meeting and go into expulsion hearing.
T. Brosnan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
G. Alexander
Aye
T. Brosnan
Aye
M. Thompson
Aye
A. Chavarria
Aye
L. Lyles
Aye
K. Lyon
Absent
A. Walker
Absent
A. Wright
Aye
J. Poole
Aye
L. Lyles made a motion to not expel student.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
J. Poole
Aye
L. Lyles
Aye
M. Thompson
Aye
A. Wright
Aye
T. Brosnan
Aye
K. Lyon
Absent
A. Walker
Absent
G. Alexander
Aye
A. Chavarria
Aye
L. Lyles made a motion to leave expulsion hearing and go into regular hearing.
A. Wright seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
M. Thompson
Aye
K. Lyon
Absent
J. Poole
Aye
T. Brosnan
Aye
G. Alexander
Aye
A. Walker
Absent
L. Lyles
Aye
A. Wright
Aye
A. Chavarria
Aye

Recommendations from Board at Directors Discretion

-Random car/body/bag searches

-Weekly meeting with N. Borriello

-Outside Therapy

-No other referrals or behavioral issues

-Additional 10 hours outside class time for community service

VII. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

J. Poole made a motion to go into executive session.
T. Brosnan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
L. Lyles made a motion to to leave executive session.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
K. Lyon
Absent
J. Poole
Aye
L. Lyles
Aye
M. Thompson
Aye
G. Alexander
Aye
T. Brosnan
Aye
A. Wright
Aye
A. Chavarria
Aye
A. Walker
Absent

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

A. Wright made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
A. Chavarria seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Walker
Absent
K. Lyon
Absent
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Lyles
Documents used during the meeting
  • Director’s Report to Board 091925.pdf
  • 2025.08.31 LMS Balance Sheet v2.pdf
  • 2025.08.31 LMS Budget vs. Actual v2.pdf
  • Facilities Report 9_19_25.pdf