Liberty STEAM Charter

Minutes

LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE

AGENDA OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING

Date and Time

Friday April 29, 2022 at 3:15 PM

Location

LSC Administrative Offices
117 North Main Street

Sumter, SC 29150

Google Map of Meeting 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. 

Committee Members Present

Cameron Chandler (remote), Jenny Knopf (remote), Khalil Graham (remote), Trevor Ivey

Committee Members Absent

Rodney Thompson

Guests Present

Tyler Hamilton (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Jenny Knopf called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Liberty STEAM Charter to order on Friday Apr 29, 2022 at 3:15 PM.

C.

Invocation

Cammy Chandler provided an invocation. 

D.

Reading of the Mission Statement

Mrs. Knopf read aloud the mission statement. 

E.

Reading of the Vision Statement

Dr. Khalil Graham read aloud the vision statement. 

F.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mrs. Knopf led the committee members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 

G.

Approve Today's Meeting Agenda

Cameron Chandler made a motion to approve the agenda as presented by the staff.
Jenny Knopf seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

H.

Approve Previous Meeting Minutes

Cameron Chandler made a motion to approve the minutes from LSC FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE on 03-24-22.
Jenny Knopf seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Academic Excellence

A.

Review of Old Business

There was no old business discussed. 

B.

Review of New Business

Summary of Key Points

  • Dr. Graham reviewed roles and responsibilities for every committee member.
  • Dr. Graham reviewed monthly priority documents from Network Staff to Academy Leader Staff. The monthly priority document looks different based on your role.
  • There is a school leadership playbook for Sally and Sherman to assist with their roles at the campus level.
  • For the Academy Director guidebook, the monthly priorities are broken down into months and what should be accomplished through the entire year. 
  • LSC submitted to the state to use of the guidebook as an evaluation performance management system.
  • Talent review update: 4 reviews per year. One each quarter. Q1 & Q3 is a talent performance. Q2 and Q4 are school reviews. 
  • Mia Howard from NSVF will be at LSC on 5/23 to observe and give feedback
  • Academic Data: MAP data is looking great for both grades considering the covid world last year.
  • LSC is successful due to having a two-teacher model, strong teaching teams, and longer school days & year.
  • We do not do placement testing to qualify to come to LSC. We are trying to figure out where critical students are to distribute them evenly throughout other classrooms. 
  • Hopefully, we will see significant improvement in the Spring MAP data vs the winter MAP data.
  • Teachers have the option to retest Scholars in May to see if growth can be hit.
  • Interventionists are focusing on red group students based on the data and will pull them out for additional help.
  • The process to retain children starts in Q4. It is based on winter MAP, missing too many days, or behavioral concerns. Steps are to reach out to parents, continued communication, and testing in May, and June is final decisions. The parents can appeal the decision to be retained through Dr. Graham. Parents should not be surprised at a retention conversation. There will have been conferences leading up to the decision of retention. 
  • Top wins this year: Million Word Reading Challenge, Community Culture Celebrations, Enrichment Offerings, Family Engagement opportunities, and Book Fair sponsorships.
  • If teachers have any issues, they go to their grade team leaders before they go to the Director.
  • Mrs. Pack is the new hired Special Pops Coordinator for SY 22-23
  • As a network team, we are pushing all stakeholders to be solutions-oriented and leverage instructional time in the room.


 

III. Other Business

A.

Agenda Items from Committee Members

There was no new business discussed. 

IV. Executive Session

A.

Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters

Jenny Knopf made a motion to enter into executive session for the purposes of Discussion of Contractual and Personnel Matters at 4:05 pm.
Cameron Chandler seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Action Related to Executive Session

A.

Action from Executive Session

Jenny Knopf made a motion to return from executive session at 4:22 pm.
Cameron Chandler seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Closing Items

A.

Next Steps

  • Board Recommendations
    • Mrs. Chandler suggested that we incorporate a school-wide math challenge similar to the Million word Reading Challenge. 
    • Along with identifying kids in the red that need more support, Mrs. Knopf suggested that leadership should also need to identify the gifted children and give them additional support as well. 

       

B.

Good of the Order

No board directors commented during this time. 

C.

Adjourn Meeting

Cameron Chandler made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:25 pm.
Jenny Knopf 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 4:15 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Tyler Hamilton