BELIEVE SCHOOLS, INC
Minutes
BELIEVE September Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday September 20, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Location
BELIEVE Circle City High School
2540 N Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Directors Present
A. Hervey, B. Akintomide, C. Glier, D. Bouie (remote), D. Dennis (remote), D. Jones, H. Harshman, J. Fulk, L. Turner (remote), M. Whitmire (remote)
Directors Absent
A. Bennin
Guests Present
K. Neal-Brannum, T. Vonderheit (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Student Visit
C.
Attendance
D.
Approve August Minutes
C. Glier made a motion to approve the minutes from BELIEVE August Board Meeting on 08-08-23.
B. Akintomide seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. School Updates
A.
Principal's Report
- Principal Angel Jackson-Anderson started her update by sharing about attendance and enrollment. Count day is approaching -- October 4th. K. Neal shared more context about the beginning-of-year barriers around enrollment and how the team is addressing the need(s) to meet enrollment numbers. There have been many meetings taking place with families of newly enrolled students to assess their needs and how the school can support them.
- A. Jackson-Anderson then moved to sharing academic updates. The team is working towards increasing student academic supports by way of extended tutoring. There are new course offerings to support core content.
- A. Jackson-Anderson gave updates on the early college and career programming at BELIEVE. She shared updates about programming for cosmetology and shared that partnerships are increasing to support this work. Students who finished their associates degrees are now moving into internships.
- A. Jackson-Anderson shared an overview of current challenges. Transporation, hiring, and facilities pose continued challenges.
- C. Glier - Inquired about GPA in comparison to previous years by grade level/classes.
- A. Jackson-Anderson - Provided context around partnerships with families and scholars amongst certain classes. She also shared insights on classes that are in various levels of rigor courses, and how that is impacting the supports needed to increase GPAs.
- L. Turner - Inquired about the recognition of a few students on college board.
- A. Jackson-Anderson - confirmed that 4 scholars have been nationally recognized based on their SAT scores and grades and that they are standing out amongst peers across the nation.
B.
Discuss and Vote on Purchases
- Vehicle - Bus to add to the fleet to support student transportation
- Flooring after flood
M. Whitmire made a motion to Approve the purchase of the bus as presented.
A. Hervey seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
A. Hervey made a motion to Approve the purchase of the gym floor.
C. Glier seconded the motion.
- C. Glier - Inquired to ensure these grant funds were not originally earmarked for anything else.
- K.Neal - Confirmed that we received additional grant funding to cover this gym floor replacement.
- P. Jones - Inquired to ensure the new gym floor will not be at risk of the same damages as the prior gym floor from flooding.
- K. Neal and T. Vonderheit - Confirmed that the new floor is a different type of floor that will have an additional layer. That technology within the added later helps to drain water should there be another flood.
III. Committee Updates
A.
Committee Engagement
B.
Governance
C.
Academic Excellence
D.
Finance
- M. Whitmire - Shared about what the finance committee has looked over in terms of enrollment and procurement.
E.
Development
B. Akintomide - Shared an update on the fundraiser to look forward to in the spring of 2024.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Scheduling
B.
Next meeting
C.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:12 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
H. Harshman