Sankofa Montessori
Minutes
Full Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday September 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Through a culturally responsive, child and family-centered Montessori education, Sankofa Montessori ensures that all of our students develop the knowledge, skill, and agency to have a life of purpose.
Directors Present
A. Nash (remote), E. Moore (remote), F. Sheffield (remote), G. Edward (remote)
Directors Absent
A. Allen-Thames, K. Karacalidis
Ex Officio Members Present
S. Harvey (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
S. Harvey (remote)
Guests Present
Adrian Jones (remote), Alexis Stokes (remote), LaDonya Buchanan (remote), Marcoah (remote), Monika Davis (remote), Rhushanda Barnes (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Previous Meeting Minutes
II. Academic
A.
Highlights
B.
Next Steps
Discussed opening a Academic Task Force
to work along admin team to make sure Board understands data in preparation for reauthorization
Finished Quality School Review with SchoolWorks
Findings received and leadership team met with them to discuss
Will share with Board, staff and families at a later date
III. Finance
A.
August Financial Report
August net income totaled $16.1k
- Revenue totaled $271K for the month
- $4.5K of rent
- $266K of QBE funding
- Expenses totaled $255K for the month
Ending cash balance as of 8/31/25 was $349.7K an increase in $37k which totaled 39 days cash on hand
Net income is forecast to be $27.5K, a ($37K) variance vs previous forecast
- Revenue $(145k) vs prior forecast
- State: reduced enrollment impacting QBE funding, added SCSC Give Back Grant
- Federal: additional CSP revenue
- Expenses $(108k) vs prior forecast
- $(213k) Salaries/Benefits – Reflect staffing reductions and terminations
- $44k staff development from transitioning coaching support to contracted
- $19k instructional cost: moved FT Specials teacher to contractor, offset in salaries
- $26K increase in facilities from moving custodian to contracted
Account with SouthState Bank discussed at previous meeting has been established
Waiting on Useful Venture Fund to release payments
Waiting on reimbursements to come through
Will move funds from QBE projection to the account once funds received
Minimum balance for account is $10.00
IV. Governance
A.
Board Members
Met with potential Board members
Al Chambers
Monika Davis
Alexandria Daniel
Potential members also attended other committee meetings so that all members of the Board could speak with them
Will need to vote on each candidate
B.
SY25-26 Policies
Everyone needs to complete the conflict of interest policy
Sarah needs this to complete her submission packet by October 31
Need to vote on 2 policies
- Professional Qualifications Policy-
- Protect Students First Act Complaint Resolution Policy-in accordance with Georgia HB 1084; outlines how to make complaints about Sankofa's compliance with the Act
V. Public Comment
A.
Community Talk
No public comment
Enrollment
Current-131 students
Goal-158-160 students
Withdrawals-most in K, a few in 1st, 1 in 3rd
Attendance
Lowest percentage is 4th-90.2%
No current hiring
2 suspensions, no expulsions
Sarah provided update on Standardized testing and screening date updates
Provided graphic to help visualize data for committee
MAP data-30% of students below grade level
Content/programming in conjunction with PTO-ex. Spelling Bee
Meeting with Sarah, Krista, Rhushanda, Kim, Errika, Andrea
with SCSC
No performance data they can use with sufficient numbers to make the data public (need at least 15, had 14)
Can't start evaluations on school without that data
Discussed how to facilitate that and get the data to SCSC so they can properly evaluate
Need 3 years worth of data at 5 year renewal mark
Discussed current special education/ESL/gifted information