State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia
Minutes
SCSF Executive Committee Meeting
Committee Members Present
A. Welcher (remote), C. Sears (remote), D. Head (remote), F. Konteh (remote), J. Louis (remote), M. Dudgeon (remote), M. Neely (remote), Y. Mack (remote)
Committee Members Absent
None
Guests Present
A. Chen (remote), M. Gassman (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Louis |
Aye
|
| F. Konteh |
Aye
|
| A. Welcher |
Aye
|
| Y. Mack |
Absent
|
| M. Dudgeon |
Aye
|
| C. Sears |
Aye
|
| D. Head |
Abstain
|
D.
Comments from 7 Pillars Academy
II. Governance
A.
Welcome New Board Member
We are excited to welcome Donovan Head, the new Executive Director for the SCSC,
to the SCSF board and Executive Committee! His start date on the board was August
1, 2023, when he was sworn in as the new Executive Director.
B.
Consideration of Revised Federal Grant Procurement Policy
The SCSF staff recommend an updated policy on procurement utilizing federal grant
funds.
• New section on sole source contracts
• Additional information in the conflict of interest section
• Updated "President" to "President & CEO"
III. Financial Report
A.
Presentation of July 2023 Financial Reports
J. Louis presented the. July 2023 Financial Reports. This month is the first month with payroll/personnel line item - split funded between CSP, GEER II and General Funds.
IV. Contracts & Grant Awards
A.
Revoke Authorization for Contract for CSP Technical Assistance Provider
SCSF staff request revoking the Executive Committee's previous approval to enter into a sole source contract with the following nonprofit entity:
• Georgia Charter Schools Association - $160,000
Staff recommend seeking competitive bids for services for Phase II of the Replication and Expansion Cohort program since GCSA did not submit a scope of services/proposal and is not in compliance with the existing SCSF contract under GEER II.
GCSA helped with and I) Replication assistance via Incubator II) Facility & Finance Resources (Facility Resource Center) work.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Dudgeon |
Aye
|
| C. Sears |
Aye
|
| D. Head |
Abstain
|
| Y. Mack |
Aye
|
| A. Welcher |
Aye
|
| F. Konteh |
Aye
|
| J. Louis |
Aye
|
B.
Update on GEER II Subgrants
SCSF staff is reviewing the progress of all subgrantees. Recommendations will be
made for any subgrant award modifications at the September meeting.
• All but one subgrantee have made at least one request for grant funds. DELTA
STEAM Academy has expressed their intent to expend grant funds on time.
• DuBois Integrity Academy has relinquished their Planning Grant due to lack of
capacity to carry out grant activities at this time.
• All SCSF team members are assisting with grant fund requests and providing
technical assistance to subgrantees.
C.
Approval of Reallocation of Subgrant Funds
The Georgia Strategic Charter School Growth Initiative partners (SCSF, SCSC, GCSA) recommend reallocating subgrant funds from the relinquishment of DuBois Integrity Academy's Planning Grant and other underspent GEER II budget categories as follows:
• Amend the subgrant award for 7 Pillars Career Academy from $35,000 to $100,000. This subgrant is intended to support the substantial expansion of the school, as approved by Clayton County, the school's authorizer. The school has indicated their significant need and ability to expend funds by the end of September. The additional grant funds would fully fund their grant application request of $100,000.
All three members of GEER II administration have approved
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Y. Mack |
Aye
|
| A. Welcher |
Aye
|
| M. Dudgeon |
Aye
|
| J. Louis |
Aye
|
| F. Konteh |
Aye
|
| C. Sears |
Aye
|
| D. Head |
Aye
|
V. Programs & Initiatives
A.
President's Report
Operations
• Continuing IT migration, implementation of new grant portal.
• Establishing new office protocals and expectations.
• All SCSC equipment returned and licenses relinquished.
• Requested and now working with new banking team at Truist to address
banking challenges.
Federal Grants
• Finalizing contracts with two CSP TA providers and executing partner contracts
with GaDOE and SCSC.
• Carefully monitoring GEER II expenditures and preparing for budget
amendment request and possible additional/reallocated subgrants. Grant fund
requests are requiring full attention of all staff member.
• Planning two charter school info sessions in Athens with local resident/business
leader. To include newly-approvement Movement School and BES fellow
developing a petition for the area. GeorgiaCAN to assist.
• Planning charter school info sessions in other locations with GeorgiaCAN -
virtual, Augusta, other possible locations.
• Ads for FindaGaCharter.org running on public radio and in publications across
the state.
Other Programs
• Book vending machines being delivered; ribbon cuttings to be scheduled in
August. *Still working on this with schools.
• Re-started weekly newsletters to schools.
• Created annual calendar of activities.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- Fed Grant Procurement Aug 2023.pdf
- 2023-07-31 - Financial Statements.pdf
- SCSF Calendar 2023-24.pdf
Christina Guillen, 7 Pillars School Leader, provided update on planned growth and uses for the GEER II grant funding. The majority of the funding was used for technology for upper school kids and retaining talent. 7 Pillars Academy is locally authorized by Clayton County.
Waitlist of over 500 students, original cap was 350 - additional funds will be used to increase capacity, as the School adds a grade every year.