BELIEVE SCHOOLS, INC

Minutes

January 2024 Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday January 17, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Location

BELIEVE Circle City High School

Directors Present

A. Bennin (remote), A. Hervey (remote), B. Akintomide, C. Glier, D. Bouie (remote), D. Dennis, D. Jones, H. Harshman, J. Fulk, L. Turner, M. Whitmire (remote)

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

K. Neal-Brannum, T. Vonderheit (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

H. Harshman called a meeting of the board of directors of BELIEVE SCHOOLS, INC to order on Wednesday Jan 17, 2024 at 5:08 PM.

B.

Student Visit

The board had the opportunity to hear from a founding BELIEVE Teacher and a founding student. 

C.

Attendance

D.

Approve November Minutes

C. Glier made a motion to approve the minutes from BELIEVE November Board Meeting on 11-13-23.
L. Turner seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
L. Turner
Aye
H. Harshman
Aye
B. Akintomide
Aye
D. Bouie
Aye
D. Jones
Aye
C. Glier
Aye
M. Whitmire
Aye
J. Fulk
Aye
A. Bennin
Aye
A. Hervey
Aye
D. Dennis
Aye

II. School Updates

A.

Principal's Report

Principal Jackson-Anderson is out for the remainder of the week for an E3 convening. AP Manning is present to share updates on what's happening at the school. 

 

  • Hiring: New Certified ELL Teacher, New Social Worker 
  • Intent to Return: Sent out to staff and students for the 2024-2025 school year. All have been returned. 
  • Current ADM: 273; 8 scholars intending to apply within the week
  • 2024-25 SY: Lunch & Learns, middle school engagements, and other activities happening
  • Attendance: Home visits, meetings with families around tardies, early releases, absences 
  • Senior Class: Partnering with CARA for 12th graders college access. 1 of 2 schools part of the CARA program through CSGF.

B.

Facilities Updates

  • New gym floor and bleachers into the school by the end of the school year 
  • Playground project completed

C.

School Based Leadership & Data

This was covered in the Principal's report. 

III. Affiliation with BELIEVE Schools, Inc.

A.

Update on Affiliation with BELIEVE Schools, Inc.

  • KNB shared information regarding funders and current scale plans. 
  • KNB has spent time meeting with other small charter network leaders to carefully craft and create the MOU agreement/template. Leveraging local and national partners to properly build the governance structure.
  • KNB reviewed the organizational chart with the board

 

To wrap, this is living and working document that will continue to be refined with board approval. 

 

Must review by February 1st, 2024. Schedule a special session to review and approve. 

IV. Committee Updates

A.

Governance

  • Committee met in December around board goals, board health, and more. 
  • Onboarding plan for new board members (packets, paperwork, etc).
  • Governance will meet with other committees to ensure meetings are occuring. 

 

 

B.

Vote on Board Goals for Remainder of SY23/24

For 2023-2024: 

 

  • Board will Develop a fundraising strategy 
  • Board will solidify board structures, chairs, and committees 
D. Jones made a motion to Approve board goals for the school year.
A. Bennin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
A. Hervey
Aye
D. Jones
Aye
L. Turner
Aye
J. Fulk
Aye
A. Bennin
Aye
D. Bouie
Aye
B. Akintomide
Aye
D. Dennis
Aye
C. Glier
Aye
M. Whitmire
Aye
H. Harshman
Aye

C.

Academic Excellence

Next meeting is January 31st, 2024. Updates will be brough back in March for a deeper walkthrough. 

D.

Finance

  • Audit results should be coming in the next 30 days
  • 24-25 budget review will begin in the 45 days

E.

Development

  • Fundraising Goal: Start early 
  • BELIEVE Brunch: March 30th (times to come) 
  • Open House: Need more board involvement at annual open house/community events on dates. Spring and summer open house

V. Closing Items

A.

Next meeting

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:47 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
T. Vonderheit