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Laureate Academy Charter School Board of Directors

Minutes

Laureate Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday August 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Location

In Person: Laureate Academy Offices 2114 Oakmere Drive Harvey, LA 70058

Virtual: A Google Meet link will be provided at least 24 hours prior to the meeting

The matters listed are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair to be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may, in fact, be discussed. Other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. All agenda items are informational unless otherwise denoted, though all committee reports require a vote for acceptance. 

 

Unless otherwise stated, the meeting will be held on the campus of the school (2115 Oakmere Drive Harvey, LA 70058).

 

Virtual access is as follows:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/dfp-ngex-tkb
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 216-930-9314‬ PIN: ‪917 643 818‬#

 

 

Directors Present

Anita Cyprian, Bria Joshua, Dr. Jahquille Ross, Monique Handy

Directors Absent

Caitlyn Scales, Jordan Whittenburg, Toyane Faulkner

Ex Officio Members Present

Claire Heckerman-Whitehead

Non Voting Members Present

Claire Heckerman-Whitehead

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Dr. Jahquille Ross called a meeting of the board of directors of Laureate Academy Charter School Board of Directors to order on Monday Aug 17, 2026 at 5:43 PM.

C.

Approve the Minutes from Previous Meeting

Monique Handy made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 07-13-26.
Anita Cyprian seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. CEO Report

A.

2025-26 Results

B.

2026-27 Goals

C.

2026 Legislative Session - Recommended Policy Adoptions

The 2026 regular legislative session produced a substantial body of new obligations for Louisiana charter schools. I have reviewed the full session against Laureate’s configuration as a K–8 charter authorized by Jefferson Parish Schools and isolated the items that require action by this Board rather than by staff.

 

  1. Act 964 literacy plan. (Laureate's exemption status to be confirmed). A school graded A, B, or C is exempt from creating, submitting, and posting the adolescent literacy skills plan; a D or F school submits to the authorizer rather than to LDOE. The statutory deadline was September 1. Until our operative letter grade or progress index for this determination is confirmed, staff is preparing the plan on the assumption we may need it. 
  2. Act 539 conflicts with federal special education law. The statute directs a principal to immediately recommend a minimum two-semester expulsion for a scholar found guilty of assault or battery on a teacher. For a scholar with an IEP or a 504 plan, IDEA requires a manifestation determination before a disciplinary change of placement. Draft Policy 2026-04 preserves our federal obligations and flags the sequencing question rather than resolving it. Counsel should answer this before we ever apply the policy, not after.
  3. Act 144 and Act 523 do not agree with each other. Act 144 requires documenting a career activity in an Individual Graduation Plan for every scholar in grades 6–8. Act 523 exempts schools terminating in the eighth grade from providing an IGP at all. Draft Policy 2026-06 directs staff to keep an IGP-equivalent record capturing the same data elements so that we are compliant under either reading.

CEO's Recommendation: Board should adopt Resolution 2026-OM as an omnibus, adopt Resolutions 2026-06 through 2026-09 individually, and give staff direction on Resolution 2026-10 regarding the new enrollment preferences authorized by Act 699. 

 

Resolutions: 

2026-OM - Omnibus adoption — Policies 2026-01 through 2026-05

  • 2026-01 - Human Trafficking Prevention, Identification & Reporting
  • 2026-02 - Behavioral Health Services for Scholars
  • 2026-03 - Assessment Transparency & Annual Local Assessment Review
  • 2026-04 - Employee Rights Regarding Scholar Assault & Battery
  • 2026-05 - Synthetic Media, Deepfakes & AI-Generated Imagery

2026-06 - Career Exposure, Career Coaching & Graduation Planning

2026-07 - Food Insecurity Identification & Family Resource Referral

2026-08 - Prohibited Contracting with Foreign Adversaries

2026-09 - Board Operating Procedures amendment — Open Meetings

2026-10 - Direction to Staff — Enrollment Preferences 

Dr. Jahquille Ross made a motion to adopt Resolution 2026-OM as an omnibus, adopt Resolutions 2026-06 through 2026-09, and Resolution 2026-10 regarding the new enrollment preferences authorized by Act 699.
Anita Cyprian seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. Closing Items

A.

Action Items for Next Board 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 6:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Jahquille Ross
Documents used during the meeting
  • 2026_07_13_board_meeting_minutes.pdf

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