State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia
Minutes
SCSF Monthly Executive Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday December 13, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Location
virtual
Committee Members Present
A. Welcher (remote), C. Sears (remote), F. Konteh (remote), J. Louis (remote), L. Holcomb (remote), M. Dudgeon (remote), Y. Mack (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
M. Neely (remote), cnichols@ivyprepacademy.org (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Programs & Initiatives
A.
Approve Emergency Grant to Ivy Preparatory Academy
$32,600 grant awarded to the Foundation for the purposes of providing emergency aid to Ivy Preparatory Academy for Girls. Two primary needs areas: I) Counseling services (teachers & students) & II) Concrete Barriers at the School.
For the record, A. Welcher & Y. Mack have no direct ties or relationship with Ivy Preparatory Academy. No conflicts of interest noted at this time.
B.
Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative Update
C.
Approve Planning Grants (GEER II subgrants)
SCSF staff, as well as partners in the Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative, recommend awarding planning grants in the amount of $50,000 to each of the following entities, utilizing GEER II grant funds intended for the purpose of making subgrants. These schools/networks have successfully completed Phase I of the Replication and Expansion Cohort Program and are preparing to implement the strategic plans that they have developed. Staff recommend approval contingent upon these subgrantees' completion of a program survey and budget approved by staff based on allowable uses of subgrant funds.
• DuBois Integrity Academy
• D.E.L.T.A. STEAM Academy
• Liberty Classical Schools
• Museum School
• Tybee Island Maritime Academy
• Utopian Academy for the Arts
The Board has approved award contingent upon subgratee completion of program survey and approved budget by SCSF Staff
D.
Other Programs and Initiatives
III. Financial Report
A.
Presentation of November 2022 Financial Reports
B.
Financial Outlook
A revised budget has been submitted to the U.S. Dept. of Education for the CSP grant. We are awaiting approval. A new checking account has been set up for this grant.
• Awarded $10,000 grant from Next Generation Foundation (Bradley-Turner Foundation) for book vending machines
• Awarded $5,000 grant from Georgia Power Foundation for book vending machines
• Requested $32,000 grant on behalf of Ivy Preparatory Academy for emergency needs
• First $10,000 installment of contract with SCSC for operational expenses received
• Donuts for Teachers fundraiser was a success and sponsors identified for art contest
Annie Chen plus new team member will be a full-time employees of the Foundation.
IV. Governance
A.
Strategic Planning Updates
More discussion to come in January 2023
B.
Dates for SCSF Board and Executive Committee Meetings 2023
Exec meeting will be virtually on 3rd Tuesday except for November & December 2023
Phase I of the Replication and Expansion Cohort program is ending, and the six schools/networks are beginning technical assistance with the Georgia Charter Schools Association's Incubator and continuing work with GCSA's Facility Resource Center.
The Museum School
Tybee Island
Liberty Classical - 5 School replications in 5-Years
The New School Leader Fellowship program continues, and plans are being made for the roadshow stops and roll out of FindaGaCharter.org.
The application window for eligible schools that are replicating, opening, or expanding in Fall 2023 will open week of 12/12 or 12/19 2022. Grant recommendations will be presented to the board in January, and the grant application will remain open until all grant funds are committed. We anticipate strong demand, exceeding fund availability.