Sankofa Montessori

Minutes

Academic Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday January 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Location

Meeting ID 601 495 1069

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.

Committee Members Present

A. Allen-Thames (remote), E. Moore (remote), S. Harvey (remote)

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

M. Davis (remote), Parent (1) (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

A. Allen-Thames called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Sankofa Montessori to order on Wednesday Jan 14, 2026 at 2:05 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

E. Moore made a motion to approve the minutes from Academic Committee Meeting on 12-10-25.

Monika Davis seconded motion.  Motion with contingent to amend minutes to reflect correct total/% of SPED student population. 

The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Leadership Team Updates

1. Enrollment status- Current enrollment status and efforts for enrollment fundraising & School Attendance - K (41), 1st (28), 2nd (19), 3rd (16), 4th (14)  Total enrollment 118 (down from 125 previous mth).  Withdrawals to date-23 (#1 reason-Student needs more restrictive setting; #2 reason -Move; #3 reason-Disagree GaDOE requirements; #4 reason-Not like model).  

Student Attendance for December: K88.9% (up 4%), 1st 93.7 % (up 3%), 2nd 94.67 (down 2%), 3rd 96.4% (down 8%), 4th 96.08 (down 3%)

 

2. Personnel Updates- Updates on staffing and updates regarding professional development of staff. Staff Attendance.  Staff Absences decreased overall in December.

 

3. Updates on school suspensions/expulsions by grade Out of school suspensions for December K(1), 1st (2), 2nd (2), 3rd and 4th (0).  Main reason- physical aggression

 

 4. Standardized Testing and Screening Data Updates- Any outstanding outcome data per grade from fall assessments if applicable. Updates/Preliminary Results if applicable (I.e. IXL and Lexia data; data on low performing 2nd-4th graders.  Students have completed MAP, Dibels, IXL, and Lexia data.  Review pending for upcoming Academic Task Force meeting (Feb. 2).

 

5. Discuss School-Parent (PTO)-any updates for upcoming SY25-26.  Jan. 16-100 days of school celebration.  Jan. 21 -Staff team building event.  Jan. 26 Parent/Teacher conferences

 

6. SCSC Follow Ups- CCRPI data review; Title I meeting for parents (submission of parent/family engagement policies/plan and compacts)- N/A.  Will determine during Academic Task Force meeting.

E.

Special Education

Discuss student enrollment #/% of student population with suspected and/or identified special needs- Total 19, 16%

ESOL 5, 504 plans 6, MTSS 13 for Academics, anticipate 5 qualifying for SPED services

 

• Any updates on staffing for Special Needs and progress of Special Ed classroom -N/A

 

• Any updates on classroom integration of special needs and updates on external supports for special needs (ie Speech, ABA, OT/PT) - N/A

 

• Any updates on psycho-educational testing for students- plans/progress  N/A

F.

Gifted Student Services

Discuss student enrollment #/% of student population with suspected and/or identified for gifted services  Total 9, 7.6%

 

Discuss plans for data tracking/allocating #/% of students for appropriate funding per student for special services or gifted services  N/A

G.

SY 25-26 Goals

Any updates or changes to the short term and long term goals for next school year 

  • Shared proposal for Calendar for SY25-26, Start time and end times discussed- changed to eliminate early dismissal on Wednesdays and have dismissal everyday at 2:30 pm

 

Any outstanding items or updates on grants/funding/external partnerships for next school year

  • Lanier Family Foundation Literacy Grant Update (Krista and Co-Guides attending Orton-Gillingham (OG) training this week
  • OG Fellow (PhD student from GA State) coming to supervise work and progress monitor of students
  • Discussed questions/concerns from board member(s) around accountability and ensuring program success with correlation to Lanier Family Grant funded OG training for teachers/staff; will monitor improvements in student reading scores. 

II. Public Comments/Questions

A.

Public Comment

Public Comment 5 m-  Speakers please limit questions/comments to 2 minute.

  • NO public comment

III. 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 2:50 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Allen-Thames