Sankofa Montessori

Minutes

Full Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday November 19, 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. Allen-Thames (remote), A. Daniel (remote), A. Nash (remote), E. Moore (remote), G. Edward (remote), K. Karacalidis (remote), M. Davis (remote)

Directors Absent

A. Chambers, F. Sheffield

Ex Officio Members Present

S. Harvey (remote)

Non Voting Members Present

S. Harvey (remote)

Guests Present

Fatima Angeles-Perez (remote), LaDonya Buchanan (remote), Marcoah (remote), Rhushanda Barnes (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

K. Karacalidis called a meeting of the board of directors of Sankofa Montessori to order on Wednesday Nov 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM.

C.

Previous Meeting Minutes

E. Moore made a motion to approve the minutes from Full Board Meeting on 10-29-25.
A. Daniel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Academic

A.

Highlights

Update on school climate data

   Survey of students-done in Spring of last year and this Fall

   Close to the goal but slightly below baseline from the Spring survey

    Areas of growth in teachers caring, peer

 

Enrollment at 127

17 withdrawals-some moved or wanted a more restrictive placement

 

Personnel

New hire: reading consultant

Hiring: for an additional consultant

Staff attendance: increase in lead teacher absences due to illness

 

Discussed suspensions 

 

Discussed special education data

 

Events

Spelling Bee-11/19; winner going to the State Spelling Bee

Food Can drive-in planning stages

Fall Staff Appreciation coming up

B.

Next Steps

Support needed from Board: 

Look at calendar invite for upcoming events

III. Finance

A.

October Financial Report

Below is a summary of our financials for October 2025.

 

Financial Overview

·        Funds Received: $280,303

·        Expenses: $248,417

·        Salaries: $98,096

·        Benefits: $29,253

·        Technology & Furniture Purchases: $3,505

·        Professional Services: $17,541

·        Facilities: $51,374

·        Supplies: $4,453

·        Positive Cash Flow: $32,091

·        Ending Balance of Operating Account: $447,065

 

Future Projections

·        YTD Revenue is $1,014,521 lower than budget due to lower enrollment and QBE funding

·        YTD expenses are $936,392 lower than budget, reflecting staffing cuts to support lower enrollment and operating without modulars

 

·        Projected Ending Cash Balances:

o  June 2026: $320,182

 

·       Cash on Hand: Projected to hover between 26 and 87 through June 2026.

 

 

We are projected to have a positive cash balance and APPROACHES standards through June 2026

 

Update on Savings Account:

3 deposits made into account, and making a 4th once the New School Venture funds come in


 

IV. Governance

A.

Facilities Task Force

Daycare update

Lease expires in December, and they requested an extension to May

Legal counsel drafted a lease amendment

Given approval from authorizer to grant extension

Not signed because requesting extension to May, and Sankofa waiting on report from architect regarding work that may need to be done to determine if feasible to use daycare space

 

Discussing lender options

V. Public Comment

A.

Community Talk

No public comment

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:53 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
K. Karacalidis