Enrollment

2024

• 14 approved applications for 2024 (enrollment ends on March 7)
• 16 processing and 3 applications newly submitted
• 88 students reported
• 141 possible applications (31 approved, 13 in process, 92 started but not submitted, and 5 newly submitted) for 2024-25

Recruitment

• 327 leads from marketing campaign
• Staff went to 60 daycares; also calling and emailing families to complete 92 outstanding applications
• Data about how families hear about the school is not conclusive-may get more information about this later as recruitment continues
• How has staff involvement impacted recruitment?  Per Sarah, having staff has helped to have extra hands to help families complete the process, and close out completion of applications. 80 enrolled for 2024-25  
• Percentage toward goal (working to close loop on lower percentages to meet goals as we reach March)

       1st-20% toward goal

        2nd-106% (more applications than seats)

        3rd-22% 

Current enrollment status (to fill in gaps for upcoming school year)

 need 84 K

          56 1st

          8 2nd

          13 3rd

Marketing campaign-partnered with ad agency that usually works with for profit organization

   Launched a few ad campaigns on social media and Google--Jan. 2 (key word targeted)

   15% general interest

   10% spam

    75% sincere interest in Sankofa, and following up

 Billboard not as effective in generating interest, but the time expires within the next week.   

Creating search engine optimization for Sankofa

Currently checking with current families to see if they are returning--so far 100% return

  If they do not, then the open seat goes back in the pool

Personnel

Released 2 teachers

Suspensions

K-OSS

1st-10 OSS

    6 of those were 3 students who had two suspensions each (repeat offenders)

 1st-3 ISS

2nd-no OSS or ISS

January MAP testing

Noticeable decrease in scores from fall #s in math and language arts

Will be tested again in Spring

Montessori Teacher Training

Question re: changing teacher agreements when hired to add a term that they would have to remain with the school after training 

Special Education

New Spec. Ed. para hired

Possible autism spectrum students resourced out to Clayton Co. Schools (has a really good ABA therapy program)--possible resource for families

Applied for grant to supplement funds to support students (had to show that the costs to support our population of students exceeded funds provided by the State)

    Applied for 2 students

   Rec'd grant for up to $45,000 for child who needs 1-on-1 

Presented by Kim in Gregory's absence:

For the month of January:

Received $63,685 of funds 

Expenses=$227,899

  $95,064 for salaries

  $27,495 for their benefits

 $33,478 for professional services

 $50,758 for building services

 $3,309 for supplies

 $6,770 of uncategorized expenses.  

There was -$164,214 of negative cash flow for January 2023.  The ending balance of the operating account was $378,919.

Based on Edtec’s projections, we are projected to end June 2024 with -$140,126 of cash in the operating account.  This is a decrease of $104,418 from December’s projections. We were awarded $1,250,000 of funding from the State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia. 

Working on addressing negative cash flow.  Sarah is putting some things in place to make sure that we are in a good place going into the next school year

    Requested RedefinED provide funds earlier than usual--Sarah has received and deposited the check

Moving forward with Phase II

Met with architect and GC on site (Jan. 24)

Shared proposed schedule with the Board via email

Receiving the Design and Development set by March 14--Fawn will forward once received

   GC will review and give us some numbers 

Biggest item--waiting on release of lift (to get from Level 1 to 2)

April 11-submitting plan permits to the city 

  Will get the GMP(Guaranteed Maximum Price) number back from the contractor and that will be the budget they will need to stick to for the project

May 27-construction start date

July 15-completion date for construction

Daycare needs:

    1 Light

   Plumbing issues-Sankofa will  install new gutters as part of Phase II

     other plumbing issues the daycare will need to take care of 

Looking at ways to begin some construction prior to receiving permits since we own the property

(ex. getting demolition started)

Kellly stated that she enjoys working with Sarah and congratulated the Board on the work we are doing for the kids.  Hopes her support has been helpful.

Hiring for 24-25 in progress

   Interviews scheduled, but no offers made yet

   Hiring for an additional K, and 5 lower ed classrooms

   Hiring for Associate Director of Instruction and Curriculum (looking for someone well-versed in       Georgia State standard because Milestones approaching)

   Hiring 2 additional special ed teachers

Parents requesting more male teachers--recruiting with that in mind but pool is still predominately female

    Open to ideas to increase reach for recruitment

  Will be begin conversations with staff about who plans to return next week

     Want to make sure offers are in line with the budget-built in 2% COL increase

Corrective Action Items-submitted prior to Feb. 20 deadline

Operations findings

Finance findings

Waiting to hear back from SCSC about results of corrective actions items and see how many points we are able to earn back

Parent requested whether they could see the SCSC report--Sarah reached out to SCSC to find out if we can share publicly (not required or prohibited)

    Sent parent the results we had and the corrective action plan

Re-vote from calendar approved at 1/31/24

Changes:

   School starting 3 days earlier (July 29, 2024) to allow full week for Winter Break (Feb.)

   Fall Break is a full week (removed PD day on Monday)

    School closed for Election Day (Nov. 5)

    Removed December 2 PD day

    Ending school on May 23 instead of May 29

    Teacher PD ends May 30 instead of June 6

    Removed April 14 as a PD day and changed to an instructional day

    Removed September 3 PD day to March 14 PD day

Went from 184 to 180 school days

Changed intial principal address to reflect current location school

Board policy change: minimum of 8 board members, instead of 9

Based on feedback received through monitoring results

Added safeguards used to prevent property loss, damage, or theft to include storing property in locked closets/cabinets when not in use, nightly checks of facility entrances and exits to ensure security, and annual inventory audits, conflict of interest.

Added calendars for each of the different roles

Personal leave days are earned at the end of the month

Doctor's notes will be verified for sick days taken before or after a holiday

Updated the critical days of work to 2024