Ethos Classical Charter School
Minutes
Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 28, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Location
The Ethos Classical Board of Directors will meet on site at the school at 2295 Springdale Cir SW, Atlanta, GA 30315. For those that cannot join us in person, we will also have a videoconference option available:
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3872590211
Meeting ID: 387 259 0211
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Directors Present
E. Raines, J. Boyd, L. Taylor (remote), M. Ball (remote), M. Childress, M. Moore, T. Fick
Directors Absent
A. Lamborghini, T. Mitchell
Ex Officio Members Present
E. Castillo Leon (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
E. Castillo Leon (remote)
Guests Present
B. Hines (remote), D. Mack, S. Knight-Justice
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Public Comment
D.
Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
E.
Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
II. Management Report
A.
Management Report
B.
Facilities Report
E. Castillo Leon presented updates from the expansion project with us working on CO and getting modulars out. Parking lot begins in late March. Will be working on expansion action items for the new grade level bands.
C.
Finance
E. Castillo Leon presented fundraising updates. On track.
B. Hines added context for financial impacts. Grew physically and fiscally this year. We should be meeting our 540 student QBE count.
Peter Laub from EdTec (accounting team) joined to present financial presentation.
- Forecast:
- Negative variances in staffing/personnel. Some realignment, net-net. Additional retention bonus put out from the state. Lost and gained operational staff. About a $100K variance. Seeing a jump in health benefits from a lot of schools.
- Services variance is mostly due to SPED costs, not uncommon to see since this cannot be forecasted much. Also includes consulting and audit (higher than expected this year.
- Purchased Property Services: consulting services higher than forecasted
- Seeing across GA, challenges with enrollment. Good to invest here to make sure kids are getting in the door. Staff appreciation line items were higher than forecasted.
- Debt Services and Depreciation: Changes due to expecting to get in the building earlier.
- Capital Outlays: self-explanatory, related to construction budget
- Bernard: had some unbudgeted expenses and now have some change orders. This schedule will continue to change. Want to be transparent and show both sides of the spend (operating and capital) - won't need this view next year. Sources show two lenders and our own contribution.
- Cash Balance
- Dip is due to cash contribution to construction in January
- SCSC Indicators presented
D.
LEA
D. Mack: Presented updates on addressing Corrective Action Plan.
- Sees opportunity to capture 8 more points.
- Grade Band Expansion was approved this morning unanimously - SCSC was very affirming of our history of CPF on the call.
E.
Enrollment and Recruitment
Mr. Amos reported on scholar enrollment and recruitment, that we are on track. Upcoming lottery will be held in the new building.
F.
Program Updates
D. Mack reported on attendance dips, expected during the winter months for illness and actions to keep truancy low.
S. Knight Justice reported on one disciplinary hearing and results.
S. Knight Justice reported on results from I-Ready - no specific goal this year because this is the first year of using this measure. But saw good growth for K-2. Y3 as well but pushing for more proficiency. On track and discussed additional supports put into place to continue through end of year.
III. Board Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Nothing additional to financial presentation
B.
Governance
No governance matters to report
C.
Academic
KJ presented updates in management report. Will have more updates at March board meeting.
D.
Fundraising Committee
No additional updates to report beyond E. Castillo Leon's report.
IV. Voting Matters
A.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Mrs. Mack highlighted the differences required from Corrective Action Plan:
- noting true definition of conflict of interest for a board member
- gifts
- using position to acquire...
- be an officer or serve ...
Board had clarifying questions for D. Mack, then voted unanimously to approve.
V. Other Business
A.
Other Business
No other business was brought before the body.
D. Mack presented some shine from the school house.