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Pataula Charter Academy, Inc (Serving Pataula Charter Academy and Spring Creek Charter Academy)

Minutes

September 2025 Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday September 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Location

Spring Creek Charter Academy lunchroom

Directors Present

G. Flowers, J. Duncan, J. Earp, K. Gilbert, L. Hixon, N. Johnson, R. Lane

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

C. Weathersby, K. Holley

Non Voting Members Present

C. Weathersby, K. Holley

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

L. Hixon called a meeting of the board of directors of Pataula Charter Academy, Inc (Serving Pataula Charter Academy and Spring Creek Charter Academy) to order on Monday Sep 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM.

C.

Approve Agenda

R. Lane made a motion to approve the agenda.
N. Johnson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approve Minutes

R. Lane made a motion to approve the minutes from August 2025 Board Meeting on 08-18-25.
J. Earp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approve Executive Session Minutes

G. Flowers made a motion to approve the Executives Session minutes from the 8/18/2025 meeting.
R. Lane seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

G.

Potential Board Member Interviews

3 potential board candidates from the SCCA attendance zone were interviewed.

H.

Executive Session - Real Estate/Property Discussion

J. Earp made a motion to enter executive session at 6:55 pm to discuss real estate/property items.
J. Duncan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

I.

Executive Session - Personnel

G. Flowers made a motion to enter executive session at 7:12 to discuss personnel items.
N. Johnson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Superintendent Report

A.

PCA - Operational CPF Dashboard

PCA is on track to meet on the Operational CPF.

B.

SCCA - Operational CPF Dashboard

SCCA is on track to meet on the Operational CPF.

C.

Enrollment Updates

Kylie shared enrollment and waiting list numbers as of Sept. 1. 

III. CFO/Business Director Report

A.

PCA Afterschool Program

G. Flowers made a motion to cancel the after-school program at PCA due to low enrollment, which is affecting financial sustainability.
K. Gilbert seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

PCA - Custodial Position Hire

J. Earp made a motion to hire Dana Dunn for the part-time Custodial position at PCA.
R. Lane seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

PCA - roof expense

R. Lane made a motion to approve the $9995 expense for roof repairs at PCA, with Richter Roofing.
J. Earp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

SCCA School Nutrition Employee Hire

J. Earp made a motion to approve the hire of Taylor Chapman for the full-time SNP position at SCCA.
G. Flowers seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Governance Committee Report

A.

Board Member Nominations

R. Lane made a motion to nominate Josh Apke as a Board member.
J. Duncan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Annual Board Retreat

The annual board retreat will be held on January 23 at Callaway Gardens.  Please email Cheryl if you will be staying Thursday and/or Friday night.

V. VI. Ad Hoc Facility Committee

A.

Spring Creek - Construction Financing

The Facility Committee shared the recommendations and rationale for each action item related to financing the SCCA permanent facility construction project.

R. Lane made a motion to pursue a non-profit incorporation for Spring Creek Charter Academy.
J. Earp seconded the motion.

While pursuing a loan from USDA, we discovered that PCA's loan documents state that USDA has a lien against all PCA, Inc. revenues.  Our lawyers believe this includes SCCA revenues, since they fall under PCA, Inc.'s tax ID.  In order to separate the liability for both schools, SCCA will need its own non-profit incorporation.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
R. Lane made a motion to discontinue our application for USDA financing and pursue bond financing options with Crews and Associates.
J. Earp seconded the motion.

We have been working with USDA since April 2024, and still do not even have approval to release an RFP for construction managers.  If we continue this path, we will likely be at least a year off our expected timeline.  Also, since SCCA will form its own incorporation, they will no longer be eligible for a USDA loan at this time.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
R. Lane made a motion to request a charter amendment for SCCA to increase the enrollment cap to 800 students.
J. Earp seconded the motion.

To increase opportunities for students and manage the costs of a permanent facility, we must expand our student population. The plan is to increase grades K-3 by one class (23 students) each year we move into the new building (2027-2028 SY), and continue growing one class each year.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. 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 7:49 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Hixon