Sankofa Montessori

Minutes

Academic Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday April 16, 2026 at 2:30 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), S. Harvey (remote)

Committee Members Absent

E. Moore

Guests Present

M. Davis (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 Thursday Apr 16, 2026 at 2:32 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes from Academic Committee Meeting on 03-25-26.
A. Allen-Thames seconded the motion.

Monika Davis made the motion. 

The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Leadership Team Updates

Leadership Updates

 

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

Total 123 K-43 1st-29 2nd-18 3rd-18 4th-15 

Withdrawals to date 25 total- change since last month, 1 child moved

 

Student Attendance- K90.29 dec 1%; 1st 91.88 dec 2%; 2nd 90.91 dec4%; 3rd 93.87 dec 3%; 4th dec 1%


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

8 Flight Captains  3 Co-Captains  1 Part-time CNA   1-Part-time Custodian  2-Support Staff 

4-Flight Control

Contractors- 6 (Gifted, SLP, OT, ESOL, Montessori coach, OG Reading Interventionist)

Hiring for next SY- hiring 6 teachers across multiple grades (K-5)

 

Staff Absences for March- Slightly lower/on trend with February


3. Updates on school suspensions/expulsions by grade

Uptick in School suspensions in March.  Total 13    K-4 1st-3 2nd-2 3rd-1 4th-3- mostly for 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.

MAP testing and GA milestones testing happening in late April and early May


5. Discuss School-Parent (PTO)-any updates for upcoming SY25-26

N/A


6. SCSC Follow Ups- CCRPI data review-Schedule next Academic Task Force
meeting after Spring MAP and GA milestones data

Plans to meet with Academic Task Force to discuss data dashboard and updates on Spring MAP, GA Milestones, and Lexia/IXL data.


7. Other Important Updates

E.

Special Education

B. Discussion of Special Education
• Discuss student enrollment #/% of student population with suspected and/or
identified special needs

Total SPED 19 - 15.4% of student population

ESOL 5, 504 plans- 7  MTSS-13 (academics)


• Any updates on staffing for Special Needs and progress of Special Ed
classroom

Pending 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)


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

(3 initials in progress)

F.

Gifted Student Services

Gifted Student Services Discuss Sarah Harvey 2 m
C. Discussion of Gifted Services
Discuss student enrollment #/% of student population with suspected and/or identified
for gifted services

Gifted-10  8.1% of total student population

 

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

SY 25-26 Goals 


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

Culture goals to end school year with 97% of enrolled students 

Attendance less than five students (2%) are chronically absent, as measured by 3 absences each quarter
 

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

II. Public Comments/Questions

A.

Public Comment

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 3:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Allen-Thames