Liberty STEAM Charter
Minutes
FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE
AGENDA FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING
Date and Time
Tuesday February 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Location
This meeting is held in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. A copy of the agenda has been made available to the local media & general public.
Mission: Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) works to provide all students equal access to a world-class K-12 education in an academically rigorous & student-centered learning environment, creating graduates to be thoughtful & engaged citizens prepared to take on the leadership challenges of the 21st century.
Vision: In partnership with our families & the community, Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) will provide interdisciplinary, real-world, personalized, and project-based learning experiences through a STEAM-based academic program where graduates become the next generation of leaders, employers, and employees who contribute to the economic well-being of their communities and families.
Mission: Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) works to provide all students equal access to a world-class K-12 education in an academically rigorous & student-centered learning environment, creating graduates to be thoughtful & engaged citizens prepared to take on the leadership challenges of the 21st century.
Vision: In partnership with our families & the community, Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) will provide interdisciplinary, real-world, personalized, and project-based learning experiences through a STEAM-based academic program where graduates become the next generation of leaders, employers, and employees who contribute to the economic well-being of their communities and families.
Committee Members Present
Bronwyn McElveen (remote), Khalil Graham (remote), Rodney Thompson (remote), Trevor Ivey (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Trevor Ivey called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Liberty STEAM Charter to order on Tuesday Feb 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM.
C.
Invocation
An invocation was offered by Bronwyn McElveen.
D.
Reading of the Mission Statement
Dr. Khalil Graham read aloud the mission statement.
E.
Reading of the Vision Statement
Dr. Rodney Thompson read aloud the vision statement.
F.
Approve Agenda
Bronwyn McElveen made a motion to approve the agenda as presented by the staff.
Rodney Thompson seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
G.
Pledge of Allegiance
Dr. Trevor Ivey led the committee in reciting the pledge of allegiance.
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Review of 90 Day Action Plan
Dr. Trevor Ivey reviewed the committee's goals agreed to at the board retreat as outlined in the 90-day action plan.
- Complete Curriculum Study & Adopt K-1 Curriculum Choices
- Adopt Scholar Handbook & Adopt Draft Family Handbook
- Adopt 2021-22 Academic Calendar
- Finalize Employee Work Day Agreements
No new items were added to the committee's 90-day action plan.
B.
Review of Progress to Goals
Dr. Khalil Graham reviewed the current progress to goals from the committee's 90-day action plan.
- Curriculum Study (Complete)
- Draft Version of Scholar Handbook in Progress (Ongoing)
- Draft Version of Family Handbook in Progress (Ongoing)
- 2021-22 Academic Calendar (Complete)
- Employee Work Day Agreement Start/End Dates (Complete)
C.
Review of Relevant Documents & Reports
Dr. Graham and Dr. Ivey reviewed two documents with the committee - the results/recommendations from the curriculum study and the proposed 2021-22 SY academic calendar.
- K-1 Curriculum Recommendations
- EL Education (English Language Arts)
- Strong national ratings, standards alignment, foundational skills, culturally responsive, cross-curricular integration, and detailed teacher materials.
- Project Lead the Way (STEM)
- Internationally vetted, aligned with state science standards, hands-on
- Will obtain FOSS kits at no charge to supplement science instruction.
- Eureka (Math)
- Strong national ratings with focus & coherence, rigor & math processes, standards alignment, & usability as well as included on the state adoption list (no charge).
- Open Circle (Social Emotional Learning)
- Evidence-based with positive outcomes, varied instructional strategies (open circles, discussions, role-playing, mindfulness) family engagement.
- The staff is recommending EL (English Language Arts), Open Circle (SEL), Eureka (math), and Project Lead the Way (STEM) to the committee for recommendation to the full board.
- 2021-22 Academic Calendar
- 190 scholar attendance days, weekly early release, one day of designated PD a month with built-in fall break and spring intercession, and it follows local school district breaks.
- EL Education (English Language Arts)
Directors McElveen and Thompson engaged staff in a comprehensive discussion regarding both documents. Questions that were asked about curriculum revolved around state compliance, alignment to LSC's charter application, and financial costs. Both directors expressed support for the staff's recommendations.
A follow-up discussion was held regarding the academic calendar regarding specifically the number of work days for teachers, alignment to the local school district, and the extend to which families were involved in the design of the calendar.
A final review of the teacher recruitment & selection process was facilitated by Dr. Ivey, outlining the five steps in the process and a sample of the results. Both Dr. Ivey and Dr. Graham expressed their satisfaction in the process, and Dr. Thompson expanded stating he appreciated the intentionality behind the increased rigor.
III. Other Business
A.
Agenda Items from Committee Members
No agenda items from committee members were brought before the committee. Dr. Graham noted that the handbooks will be available within the next few weeks for committee members to review and provide feedback. Director McElveen shared she looks forward to reading through the handbooks.
IV. Executive Session
A.
Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters, and Receipt of Legal Advice Including Related to a Pending, Threatening, or Potential Claim
Bronwyn McElveen made a motion to enter into executive session for the purposes of a discussion of contractual and personnel matters, and receipt of legal advice including related to a pending, threatening, or potential Claim.
Rodney Thompson seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
V. Actions Related to Executive Session
A.
Return from Executive Session
Bronwyn McElveen made a motion to return from executive session at 3:52 pm.
Rodney Thompson seconded the motion.
No action was taken from executive session.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Next Steps
Directors McElveen and Thompson agreed to recommend adoption of the proposed academic calendar to the full board at its next meeting on February 8. Dr. Thompson agreed to serve as the committee's spokesperson for the upcoming full board meeting. He will review the curriculum recommendations with the next step being that it would refer the costs for each curriculum to the finance committee to be included in the final budget.
B.
Good of the Order
No member of the committee commented.
C.
Adjourn Meeting
Rodney Thompson made a motion to adjourn.
Bronwyn McElveen seconded the motion.
The committee 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 4:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Trevor Ivey