The Board Chair read the Mission and Vision Statement.

There were no public comment requests.

The Executive Director reviewed:

• Current Enrollment
• SY25–26 Staffing Matrix
  • ZEST has fully executed the contract and support services for Specialized Services.
• FY27 Contracts
  Intent-to-Return forms are being issued to families and staff.
• FY26 Input & Key Dates
  • State Testing
    Georgia Milestones (GMAS) testing is scheduled for April.
  • Accountability Update
    ZEST has received preliminary results for the Comprehensive Performance Framework and CCRPI. 
  • Mid-Year Academic Data

The Board Chair reviewed:

• Board Recruitment:
  Targeted recruitment is in progress to ensure Board expertise aligns with current and future strategic priorities.
• Update — Winter Retreat
  • Strategic Priorities
  • Recruitment and retention
  • Facility improvements
  • Staffing matrix
  • Salary schedules
  • Strategy sessions
• Board Stakeholder Listening Tour
  • ZEST Employees: Achieved 90%+ engagement.
  • Parents & Families: Partnering with the PTSO to schedule sessions.
• SCSC Required Training
  Scheduled for February at the Loudermilk Center.

CFO Report:

Financial Performance Overview

• Actual Revenue vs. Budget
• Year-to-Date (YTD) Net Income
• Budget Amendment
• Cash Flow & Cash on Hand
• Unrestricted Funds Status 

CFO Snapshot

• YTD Income
• YTD Expenses

Balance Sheet Highlights

• Food & Nutrition Services is operating at a net loss.
• $1.7 million has been expended from General Funds to date.

Financial Compliance & Benchmarks

• Aligned with NCSA Best Practices
• Comprehensive Performance Framework (CPF) compliance: Meeting Standards
• Debt-to-Asset Ratio reviewed and within monitoring thresholds

Immediate TermZEST is at capacity and experiencing space constraints within the current facility.
Short-term renovations are potentially planned to better support natural growth and improve functionality.

Long-Term
ZEST is exploring additional facility options to accommodate expansion, including potential co-location opportunities.
Enrollment planning will remain aligned with the capacity of the current space.

There were no votes taken during the Executive Session. The Board exited Executive Session at 8:19 p.m.