Lowcountry Montessori School

Minutes

Board meeting

monthly board meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday February 25, 2026 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. Wright (remote), G. Alexander, K. Lyon, L. Lyles, M. Thompson (remote), T. Brosnan

Directors Absent

A. Walker, J. Poole

Guests Present

B. Shaffer, J. Strickland, M. Watkins (remote), S. Andrikis, S. Fox, V. Roming

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

G. Alexander called a meeting of the board of directors of Lowcountry Montessori School to order on Wednesday Feb 25, 2026 at 4:02 PM.

B.

Determination of Quorum

C.

Reading of the Mission Statement

D.

Approval of Agenda

L. Lyles we need to amend the agenda to include the Financial Documents in section 4A

L. Lyles made a motion to approve the agenda with an amendment to include the Financial Documents in section 4a.
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

A. Chavarria made a motion to approve the minutes from Board meeting on 01-28-26.
K. Lyon 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. Committee Reports

A.

Finance Report

Presented by J. Strickland

Revenues YTD: $2,855,513 (48.86% of annual budget)
Expenses YTD: $3,181,656 (54.69% of annual budget)
Net Income w/o Construction YTD: $(326,143)
Unrestricted cash position is $266,446
$414,052 in the Money Market account, restricted for construction use only.  Most will remain here as a DSR.
Days Cash on Hand (DCOH): 18.21 (about 2/3 month)
Revenues represent difference of State vs Federal distributions, still waiting on Federal Funding

Federal claims are processing, anticipate receiving some of the funds in the next couple of weeks

Instructional spending about 60%

 

B.

Governance

A. Chavarria made a motion to approve the minutes from Governance Meeting on 02-05-26.
T. Brosnan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Facilities

Presented by M. Watkins- report attached

K. Lyon asked if we have any major concerns for the fire inspection

M. Watkins some palm fronds touching the building to trim, walk throughs of halls and classrooms to be done. 

 

 

Has received a quote for the hanging panels, will need 22 panels for the new rolling walls. Need 83 panels from ceiling and 22 for the rolling walls would be about 19k. For half 40 from the ceiling and the 22 for the rolling walls would be 10886.

S. Fox asked if there was a quote just for the 22 panels needed for the rolling walls?

M. Watkins they are line items about 2200 for the rolling walls

 

K. Lyon and S. Fox had clarifying questions about placements for the panels

M. Watkins 22 needed from new rolling walls that have been built and then hanging from the ceiling.

 

M. Thompson does the panel quote have a bulk pricing built in?

M. Watkins asked about a discount, but there wasn't a response.

K. Lyon asked if we are going to have a price increase if we only do the 22 panels. 

M. Watkins I don't think so.

 

S. Fox spoke to M. Watkins about possible putting floor stripping on hold for this year to save money. Last year we purchased the equipment to do all the floors so there is not a cost from renting, we would only need to buy the pads and chemicals if needed. Need to provide the work for the floor staff, so that we don't lose them to lack of work. Floors are done on a three-year cycle. 

 

M. Thompson asked if there is an estimate on how much that will cost with labor hours?

M. Watkins no, could try to calculate it, but we also run into having to keep the staff busy, so they don't quit, and we don't have staff again. 

L. Lyles asked if it is already built into the current labor budget to be done?

M. Watkins yes

M. Thompson is it in this year's budget or next year's budget?

M. Watkins and S. Fox the budget is from July 31 to July 31, so it is built into this year's budget, and will be partially in next year's budget. 

M. Watkins asked where her budget is at this time.

S. Fox and R. Beck Through Jan 31 at 38k

M. Watkins not sure about salaries.

S. Fox it is broken out differently so we would have to calculate. 

M. Watkins so barring any major issues, should be okay to do floors with the budget. 

L. Lyles asked if we already have all the pads and chemicals needed?

M. Watkins do have some, may need to purchase a little. 

 

V. Director's Report

A.

February Update

Presented by S. Fox- report attached

VI. New Business

A.

Fundraising Committee

T. Brosnan made a motion to approve the minutes from Fundraising Committee Meeting on 01-29-26.
K. Lyon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
T. Brosnan made a motion to approve the minutes from Fundraising Committee Meeting-Spring Fling Planning on 02-03-26.
K. Lyon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Presented by A. Wright

Sold 21 Cookbooks at International Night

March 6th Drive in Night--Tell them you are with LMS only $5 for entry, and we get a percentage of the concessions

March 21st Afternoon Tea

March 27th Talent Show

May 16th Spring Fling

 

Next Fundraiser Meeting March 4th at 5pm

 

K. Lyon asked if we still have Cookbooks to sell?

A. Wright yes. 

L. Lyles asked if we have broken even with the Cookbooks?

R. Beck only in the red by $452 at this time. Have sold 77 Cookbooks at this time, started with 226 (purchased 200), have 149 left. Need to sell 23 more to have the Cookbooks become profitable. 

VII. Executive Session

A.

Executive Session

A. Chavarria made a motion to to go into executive session to discuss contractual matters and employment issues.
T. Brosnan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
T. Brosnan made a motion to leave executive session.
K. Lyon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

K. Lyon made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
M. Thompson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously 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 5:20 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Lyles
Documents used during the meeting
  • 2026.01.31 LMS Financial Packet.pdf
  • Facilities Report 2_24_26.pdf
  • Director’s Report to Board February 2026.pdf
  • iReady Winter Report.pdf
  • 2026_02_03_fundraising_committee_meeting-spring_fling_planning_minutes.pdf