The GLOBE Academy
Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting
Date and Time
Monday August 30, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Location
To attend the meeting virtually, please click on the following link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YrXlW8ZDTveSnJDjiOPEDQ
Notice of this meeting was posted at both campuses and on the GLOBE website in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1.
Special note: This meeting was conducted remotely, due to the declared national and state public health emergencies in response to the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.
Special note: This meeting was conducted remotely, due to the declared national and state public health emergencies in response to the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.
Directors Present
C. White (remote), D. Reynolds (remote), L. Long (remote), L. Pacheco (remote), M. Adams (remote), M. Hudson (remote), R. Hudak (remote)
Directors Absent
A. Rogers
Guests Present
Aaron Pirrotta (remote), Amy Sue Mann (remote), Anya Parkes (remote), Ashley Hindenlang (remote), Ashley Morris (remote), Ashley Morris (remote), C. Blunt (remote), C. Elliott-Earby (remote), Christina Bowden (remote), Christina Steiner (remote), Christopher Marshall (remote), D. Clayton-Purvis (remote), David Thompson (remote), Doug Erwin (remote), Elise Riley (remote), Farah Chang (remote), Florence Cannon (remote), Grayson Lauterbach (remote), J. Clark (remote), Jahnisa Loadholt (remote), Jarrod Loadholt (remote), Jen Parker (remote), Jennifer Gordon (remote), Justin Stubbs (remote), K. Holder (remote), Katherine Cadena (remote), Katrina Hefner (remote), Kelly O'Neill-Exley (remote), Kennisha Davis (remote), Kristeena Spivey (remote), L. Clark (remote), L. Hancock (remote), L. Hertz (remote), L. Norton (remote), Laura Beck (remote), Laura Gieraltowski (remote), Lauren Christiansen-Lindquist (remote), Lisa Lake (remote), M. Bollinger (remote), M. Huitt (remote), M. Konomos (remote), Maggie Sherwood (remote), Megan Brown (remote), Meghan Cottrell (remote), Melanie Marks (remote), Michael Perry (remote), Michelle Gibson (remote), Miriam Rosales (remote), Robyn Brandman (remote), Sonya Foley (remote), Stephanie Gumbis (remote), Vilma Villalobos (remote), Yolonda Houston (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
R. Hudak called a meeting of the board of directors of The GLOBE Academy to order on Monday Aug 30, 2021 at 7:04 PM.
C.
Vision, Mission and Core Values
Vision, Mission and Core Values were read by Board members.
Ryan congratulated Leigh on the recent addition to her family: a newborn son.
II. Public Comment
A.
Public Comment
The following comment was made by Lisa Lake:
My name is Lisa Lake. Thank you for hearing my comments at the meeting tonight. My child is in 7th grade, and this is our first full year at Globe. I just attended our first virtual curriculum night last week and was horrified to hear that the entire 7th grade was being put into one class, which made up 52 students, in one PE class, for one hour each day, with 2 teachers. They reported that they put the children 3 ft apart to do attendance, and then they split up the class and half go outside and half stay indoors. They also said they do the best they can during inclement weather, but all 52 students are indoors, inside the gym, on the days when the weather doesn’t permit them to go outdoors. I am very concerned that there are so many students in one class, 3 feet apart is still not safe, and 52 students is way too many children to be in one class. Can parents be involved in the discussions to brainstorm a better and safer way to do PE for the 7th grade class? Thank you!
The following comment was made by Mila Konomos:
Thank you, Board members, for your time this evening. My name is Mila Konomos. My partner & I have an 8 & 10 year old on the Spanish track. First of all, I know we all care & desire to keep all of our families safe & healthy & I thank you all for your commitment & efforts.
Hence, I just want to express my ongoing concern regarding the issue of indoor eating in which younger, unvaccinated students & teachers are unmasking indoors. A study published just a few days ago on August 27 by the CDC, demonstrated that an elementary school teacher in Marin County, CA infected 12 out of 24 students who were WEARING MASKS in the classroom with a high particulate air filtration unit. That’s a 50% attack rate. Again, let that sink in--the students were WEARING MASKS in a classroom with high particulate air filtration.
This study by the CDC exemplifies how easy it is for Delta to infect unvaccinated children, which is the majority of GLOBE’s student population. Until our young children can get vaccinated, we must invest in practices that ensure they can eat outdoors throughout the winter & inclement weather. Just as GLOBE mandates masks, it is vital to ensure that teachers are conducting all unmasked activities outdoors. When outdoors is not possible, we should consider staggered eating.
We must understand that the Delta variant is exponentially more infectious & contagious than the previous variant.
In an effort to be proactive & solution-oriented, our family contributed to the UC efforts to secure outdoor seating. I have also emailed the LC administration offering to assist with securing outdoor seating, & have inquired as to why teachers are not mandated to eat lunch & snack outdoors.
Thank you again, to all the administration, teachers, & staff & the Board for managing the unique demands of this ongoing pandemic.
The following comment was made by Melanie Marks:
First and foremost, I am so grateful for all the school is doing in a nearly impossible situation.
I am writing because I have a 6th grader. I feel 6th is the most at risk given their exposures to 8 different classes of kids and the fact that they are not quite old enough to be vaccinated yet. This is a lot of potential exposure and a lot of possible quarantining, even with the change to just quarantining people within 6 feet.
My son is already on his second round of quarantine due to being a close contact at school, and we are only one month into the school year. All he gets is asynchronous learning during this time. There is no synchronous learning for middle schoolers who are quarantined.
I know the school's goal is to keep kids in school for in-person learning. But the reality is there are many kids quarantined and not actually in person after all. As I understand it, about 1/3 of 6th graders are quarantined right now. During this time all they get is asynchronous work. Depending on how the pandemic plays out, the sixth graders could be home doing only asynchronous work for a significant portion of the fall (a third? half? of the time).
I know hybrid is hard for teachers, but asynchronous learning is extremely difficult for children, especially middle schoolers! Their parents don't know how to explain things like how to calculate the height of a triangle. Packets of work are not going to be sufficient learning tools for long periods of time or for frequent rounds of quarantines.
Thus, can we please come up with some out-of-the-box thinking to help our asynchronous middle schoolers, especially for math that builds so cumulatively? (e.g., Office Hours with teachers, curriculum specialists, or TAs? Teachers recording some of their explanations and posting them in Google Classroom? Live streaming certain portions of class? Links to explanations of how to do assignments, not just posting the assignments?)
Follow-up question, is there a number of kids quarantining that would trigger some sort of synchronous learning? For example, if 50% are quarantined, could they get some synchronous learning? Is there a plan for this in case it is needed?
Switching classes 8 times a day (counting homeroom) leaves our middle schoolers very vulnerable to many exposures, especially our 6th graders who are not quite old enough to be vaccinated. To avoid them being in and out of quarantine all semester, can they please be cohorted to the degree possible?
Just to clarify, this is not a criticism of the teachers or staff. I know they are working hard.
I would just like to see a better plan for asynchronous learning for middle schoolers who are quarantined.
We have been at GLOBE since halfway through the first year we are very dedicated and very involved parents, helping with Ptcc and serving on the Ptcc. I have chaired school dances, and graduation and many things school related not Ptcc. I was listening to the board meeting a burnt out parents I totally get it, we have been helping since we started at GLOBE. We love our GLOBE community and I am happy to try to come up with a Middle Road because this is gonna be a long year for all of us.
Thank you to the Board and our Amazing staff.
The following comment was made by Robyn Brandman:
Hi. Thank you for for all the hard work and dedication in getting and keeping the school open. I’m asking the academic committee to work with the school and admin on a better option for kids who are quarantined. I kept my son home for a week not because of exposure but for CREST and following the GLOBE covid protocols for travel. I know it is still the first weeks of school so I expect there will be an improvement on what instruction and work he received. Kids will be in and out of school all year. It is quite feasible for a teacher to turn on their camera. Not to do hybrid teaching but just so the students at home are getting instruction and not worksheets. It’s not a perfect solution but our kids deserve more education than worksheets. Thank you!
My name is Lisa Lake. Thank you for hearing my comments at the meeting tonight. My child is in 7th grade, and this is our first full year at Globe. I just attended our first virtual curriculum night last week and was horrified to hear that the entire 7th grade was being put into one class, which made up 52 students, in one PE class, for one hour each day, with 2 teachers. They reported that they put the children 3 ft apart to do attendance, and then they split up the class and half go outside and half stay indoors. They also said they do the best they can during inclement weather, but all 52 students are indoors, inside the gym, on the days when the weather doesn’t permit them to go outdoors. I am very concerned that there are so many students in one class, 3 feet apart is still not safe, and 52 students is way too many children to be in one class. Can parents be involved in the discussions to brainstorm a better and safer way to do PE for the 7th grade class? Thank you!
The following comment was made by Mila Konomos:
Thank you, Board members, for your time this evening. My name is Mila Konomos. My partner & I have an 8 & 10 year old on the Spanish track. First of all, I know we all care & desire to keep all of our families safe & healthy & I thank you all for your commitment & efforts.
Hence, I just want to express my ongoing concern regarding the issue of indoor eating in which younger, unvaccinated students & teachers are unmasking indoors. A study published just a few days ago on August 27 by the CDC, demonstrated that an elementary school teacher in Marin County, CA infected 12 out of 24 students who were WEARING MASKS in the classroom with a high particulate air filtration unit. That’s a 50% attack rate. Again, let that sink in--the students were WEARING MASKS in a classroom with high particulate air filtration.
This study by the CDC exemplifies how easy it is for Delta to infect unvaccinated children, which is the majority of GLOBE’s student population. Until our young children can get vaccinated, we must invest in practices that ensure they can eat outdoors throughout the winter & inclement weather. Just as GLOBE mandates masks, it is vital to ensure that teachers are conducting all unmasked activities outdoors. When outdoors is not possible, we should consider staggered eating.
We must understand that the Delta variant is exponentially more infectious & contagious than the previous variant.
In an effort to be proactive & solution-oriented, our family contributed to the UC efforts to secure outdoor seating. I have also emailed the LC administration offering to assist with securing outdoor seating, & have inquired as to why teachers are not mandated to eat lunch & snack outdoors.
Thank you again, to all the administration, teachers, & staff & the Board for managing the unique demands of this ongoing pandemic.
The following comment was made by Melanie Marks:
First and foremost, I am so grateful for all the school is doing in a nearly impossible situation.
I am writing because I have a 6th grader. I feel 6th is the most at risk given their exposures to 8 different classes of kids and the fact that they are not quite old enough to be vaccinated yet. This is a lot of potential exposure and a lot of possible quarantining, even with the change to just quarantining people within 6 feet.
My son is already on his second round of quarantine due to being a close contact at school, and we are only one month into the school year. All he gets is asynchronous learning during this time. There is no synchronous learning for middle schoolers who are quarantined.
I know the school's goal is to keep kids in school for in-person learning. But the reality is there are many kids quarantined and not actually in person after all. As I understand it, about 1/3 of 6th graders are quarantined right now. During this time all they get is asynchronous work. Depending on how the pandemic plays out, the sixth graders could be home doing only asynchronous work for a significant portion of the fall (a third? half? of the time).
I know hybrid is hard for teachers, but asynchronous learning is extremely difficult for children, especially middle schoolers! Their parents don't know how to explain things like how to calculate the height of a triangle. Packets of work are not going to be sufficient learning tools for long periods of time or for frequent rounds of quarantines.
Thus, can we please come up with some out-of-the-box thinking to help our asynchronous middle schoolers, especially for math that builds so cumulatively? (e.g., Office Hours with teachers, curriculum specialists, or TAs? Teachers recording some of their explanations and posting them in Google Classroom? Live streaming certain portions of class? Links to explanations of how to do assignments, not just posting the assignments?)
Follow-up question, is there a number of kids quarantining that would trigger some sort of synchronous learning? For example, if 50% are quarantined, could they get some synchronous learning? Is there a plan for this in case it is needed?
Switching classes 8 times a day (counting homeroom) leaves our middle schoolers very vulnerable to many exposures, especially our 6th graders who are not quite old enough to be vaccinated. To avoid them being in and out of quarantine all semester, can they please be cohorted to the degree possible?
Just to clarify, this is not a criticism of the teachers or staff. I know they are working hard.
I would just like to see a better plan for asynchronous learning for middle schoolers who are quarantined.
We have been at GLOBE since halfway through the first year we are very dedicated and very involved parents, helping with Ptcc and serving on the Ptcc. I have chaired school dances, and graduation and many things school related not Ptcc. I was listening to the board meeting a burnt out parents I totally get it, we have been helping since we started at GLOBE. We love our GLOBE community and I am happy to try to come up with a Middle Road because this is gonna be a long year for all of us.
Thank you to the Board and our Amazing staff.
The following comment was made by Robyn Brandman:
Hi. Thank you for for all the hard work and dedication in getting and keeping the school open. I’m asking the academic committee to work with the school and admin on a better option for kids who are quarantined. I kept my son home for a week not because of exposure but for CREST and following the GLOBE covid protocols for travel. I know it is still the first weeks of school so I expect there will be an improvement on what instruction and work he received. Kids will be in and out of school all year. It is quite feasible for a teacher to turn on their camera. Not to do hybrid teaching but just so the students at home are getting instruction and not worksheets. It’s not a perfect solution but our kids deserve more education than worksheets. Thank you!
III. Consent Agenda
A.
Approve Agenda
The agenda and minutes were approved by consent without objection.
B.
Approve Minutes
L. Long made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 06-28-21.
L. Pacheco seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IV. PTCC Report
A.
PTCC Report
A formal report was included in the agenda packet.
V. Administration and Committee Reports
A.
Auditor's Report
Doug Erwin, The GLOBE's auditor, presented a preliminary update on the school's annual audit, which is now due on 9/15, per DCSD. He noted that, at this point, there are not any findings, but there will be some points of guidance. He stated that the demolition of the house proved to be an unusual event. He provided a brief explanation on the TRS adjustment. As for the status of the report, he stated they have completed balance sheet testing, expenditure testing is 90 percent completed and payroll testing is 75 percent completed. Ryan indicated that the Board is not required to approve the audit report, but it will review it at the next Board meeting.
B.
Executive Director's Report
A formal report was included in the agenda packet.
C.
Budget Amendment
The proposed amendment to the FY 2020-21 budget was included in the agenda packet.
L. Pacheco made a motion to amend the FY 2020-21 school budget.
D. Reynolds seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Facilities Update
Mark Bollinger provided a facilities update. For UC, he discussed the following items: entrance security gate, installation of MERV 13 filters for HVAC, electronic HVAC control system, the new GLOBE "Ollie" signage, the cleaning of the gutters, tree canopy being cut back from the roofline, the demolition of the house, the approval and pending installation of security fencing, retractable safety fences placed in parking areas, the purchase of HEPA filtration units (80 percent have been installed) and the approval of the gym's HVAC system (bid process is finished). For LUC, he discussed the following items: new GLOBE "Ollie" signage, MERV 13 filters for HVAC, electronic HVAC control systems, HEPA filtration units purchased (50 percent installed), replacement of the chiller plant drain, woodland assessment for invasive species, receiving bids for HVAC system replacement, the steel exterior staircase was scraped and painted, ongoing roof leak, cleaning of roof, awnings and gutters, pressure washing of the playground sidewalks and steps, installation of retractable safety fence, cleaning of the exterior rooms, removal of debris from the exterior and installation of exterior seating.
E.
Lower Campus Head of School's Report
Cutia provided the following LC updates: 1) survey of teachers about great things since students have been back in-person full-time and 2) "What are we working on now?" - additional outdoor seating, student snapshots and phonics.
F.
Upper Campus Head of School's Report
Marsha provided the following UC updates: 1) responsive classroom in the first six weeks of school (establishing routines and procedures; building community); 2) implementing regular counseling lessons at all grade levels; 3) 6th grade overnight team buildings trip in October; 4) UC counseling - UC Counseling Dept. has started its SEE learning program; 5) following strict COVID protocols; 6) MAP testing completed; 7) Curriculum Night well-attended; 8) parent conferences in October; 9) tryouts in soccer and volleyball; cheerleading tryouts coming up; 10) clubs are a "work in progress"; students have signed up for the debate club; 11) thanks to parents who helped with setting up Cafe GLOBE.
VI. Committee Updates - Written Reports Only
A.
Committee Reports
The committee updates were included in the agenda packet.
VII. Old Business
A.
Board Calendar
The tentative calendar for Board meetings for SY 2021-22 was included in the packet. Chip suggested moving the Facilities update to the second Board meeting of the year and not the first. Ryan reiterated that the tentatively scheduled committee updates for Board meetings are not "set in stone."
B.
Bylaws Discussion
A discussion was held about Board member terms and Board officers. Currently, Board members are eligible for two three-year terms and Board officers are eligible for a three-year term. Ryan proposed shortening terms to two two-year terms for Board members and Board officers should serve a one-year term and allow for the assessment of performance annually. No action was taken on this issue and Ryan indicated that if any action were taken it would not happen for months and also not without amending the bylaws.
VIII. New Business
A.
Board Member Election: Lillian Norton
L. Pacheco made a motion to elect Lillian Norton to the Board of Directors, effective immediately.
C. White seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Board Member Election: Jabari Clark
M. Hudson made a motion to elect Jabari Clark to the Board of Directors, effective immediately.
L. Long seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Strategic Planning Committee Chair
L. Long made a motion to elect Lillian Norton as the new chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, effective immediately.
L. Pacheco seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Charter Renewal Committee Chair
M. Hudson made a motion to elect Jabari Clark as the new chair of the Charter Renewal Committee, effective immediately.
C. White seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
AC Units for Lower Campus
L. Pacheco made a motion to approve up to $120K for the AC system for the lower level of LC.
C. White seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
IX. Executive Session
A.
To discuss legal and personnel matters.
Motion made by Drew to move to executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. Motion seconded by Meghann. Motion approved by all present. Moved to executive session at 9:23 p.m. Motion to leave executive session made by Luis. Motion seconded by Monique. Motion approved by all present. Returned from executive session and meeting called back to order at 10:24 p.m.
B.
Executive Session Matter: Project Ollie
C. White made a motion to move forward on Project Ollie with the terms discussed in executive session.
L. Long seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
X. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
The next scheduled meeting is set for September 27, 2021 at 7 p.m.
M. Hudson made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
L. Pacheco 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 10:26 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
K. Holder
Documents used during the meeting
- 2021.08.30 PTCC Report.pdf
- 2021.08.30 Executive Director's Report.pdf
- 2021.08.30 Communications Committee Report.pdf
- 2021.08.30 Development Committee Report.pdf
- 2021.08.19 Development Committee Meeting Minutes.pdf
- 2021.08.20 Academic Committee Meeting Minutes.pdf
- 2021.08.25 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes.pdf
- 2021-22 Board Meeting Calendar.jpg