Sankofa Montessori

Minutes

Academic Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday March 25, 2026 at 6:00 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, S. Harvey

Committee Members Absent

None

Guests Present

M. Davis (remote), Sarah Harvey (remote), er (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 Mar 25, 2026 at 6:01 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes from Academic Committee Meeting on 02-24-26.
E. Moore seconded the motion.

Monika Davis made the motion.

The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Leadership Team Updates

1. Enrollment status- Current enrollment status and efforts for enrollment fundraising & School Attendance 

Total 120 enrolled.  K 43 1st 28 2nd 4 3rd 1 4th 2

Student Attendance - (February data)- K 90.73% inc 3%, 1st 93.4% no change, 2nd 94.8% dec 1%, 3rd 96.4 % inc 3%, 4th 91.9%, dec 3%  

2. Personnel Updates- Updates on staffing and updates regarding professional development of staff. Staff Attendance.

8 Flight Captains, 3 Co-Captains, 1 PT CNA, 1 PT Custodian, 2 Support Staff, 4 Flight Control; Contractors- Gifted, SLP, OT, ESOL, Montessori Coach, OG Reading Interventionist

Hiring for next school year- 1 Kindergarten, 2 SPED, 5th Grade, 1-2nd & 3rd Grade, 1- 3rd & 4th Grade, PE teacher, Co-Teacher, ESOL Contractor, Reading Interventionist, Manager of Culture.  Currently, 2 teachers on a PIP (performance improvement plan).  Sending 3 teachers for Montessori certificate training (AMS, MTE) in Atlanta, GA starting this summer.  

 

 3. Updates on school suspensions/expulsions by grade

February data- Total 6 Suspensions.  Kindergarten 5, 1st 1.  For physical assault.

 

 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. 

MAP- April 13-17 for 3rd and 4th graders.  MAP- May 4-5 for K-2nd

GA Milestones May 12-14 ELA, Math.  

5. Discuss School-Parent (PTO)-any updates for upcoming SY25-26 6. SCSC Follow Ups- CCRPI data review; Title I meeting for parents (submission of parent/family engagement policies/plan and compacts). 

Raised $7500.00 in the Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser- school will use funds for Spring field trips and end of the year Field Day. 

6. Miscellaneous- Spring Spirit week-March24-27; Parent/teacher conferences-March 23; Spring Picture Day-March 27

E.

Special Education

Discuss student enrollment #/% of student population with suspected and/or identified special needs -Total 17 (4 initials in progress), 14.2% of student population

 ESOL 5. 6 students with 504 plans. MTSS-13 (all academic)

Any updates on staffing for Special Needs and progress of Special Ed classroom -Hiring for 2 SPED teachers for next school year

Any updates on classroom integration of special needs and updates on external supports for special needs (ie Speech, ABA, OT/PT) -Hiring for new ESOL Contractor for next school year 

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

F.

Gifted Student Services

Discuss student enrollment #/% of student population with suspected and/or identified for gifted services -Total 10, 8.3% of student population. 

 

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

G.

SY 25-26 Goals

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

Discussed for the upcoming SY 26-27 the change of focus for the school around standardized testing/support programs as follows:  1. Changes in MAP testing to expand and include Language Arts. So, students will take Reading, Math, and Lang Arts. 2. Changes in IXL to report on student achievement instead of student growth. School proposing to switch entirely to IXL for Math and Reading and discontinue Lexia (Decision in process) 3.  Changes in Lexia to tailor to student needs around the # of minutes to reach goals dependent on student progress/tracking to meet grade level

 

Any outstanding items or updates on grants/funding/external partnerships for next school year- OG Reading Intervention Training in Progress for Teaching Staff

II. Public Comments/Questions

A.

Public Comment

Speakers please limit questions/comments to 2 minute.

No Public comment for this meeting

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 6:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Allen-Thames