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

Minutes

March 2023 Called Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday March 29, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Directors Present

J. Sanders, K. Gilbert, R. Collins, R. Lane, R. Sapp

Directors Absent

E. Austin, E. Lenz, G. Flowers, L. Hixon

Ex Officio Members Present

K. Holley

Non Voting Members Present

K. Holley

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

R. Sapp 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 Wednesday Mar 29, 2023 at 6:02 PM.

C.

Approve Agenda

Kylie asked to add two items to the agenda that were decided on after the agenda was published:

II. F. - PCA Head Football Coach Hire

II.G. - PCA - Add additional Special Education Teacher position

R. Sapp made a motion to approve the agenda with the requested amendments.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

E.

Executive Session - Personnel

J. Sanders made a motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel hiring requests at 6:04.
R. Lane seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Superintendent Report

A.

PCA Contract Release

Joni Cook is requesting to be released from her 2023-2024 teaching contract.

R. Lane made a motion to release Joni Cook from her 2023-2024 teaching contract.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

PCA 2023-2024 Teacher Hires

Christina Boyd, next year's PCA Principal, is recommending the hire of teachers Crystal Crozier and Kelly Rice for the 2023-2024 school year.

R. Lane made a motion to approve the recommendation to hire Crystal Crozier and Kelly Rice as teachers at PCA for the 2023-2024 school year.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

PCA Assistant Principal Hire

Kylie and Christina are recommending Kalvin Baker as PCA Assistant Principal for the 2023-2024 school year.

R. Lane made a motion to hire Kalvin Baker as PCA Assistant Principal for the 2023-2024 school year.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

SCCA Para/Bus Driver Resignation

SCCA ParaBus Driver, Alicia Powell, has submitted her resignation effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

E.

Potential Partnership with Calhoun County for School Based Health Clinic

Kylie shared with the Board information sent by the Calhoun County Schools Superintendent regarding their application for a School Based Health Center.  They are requesting PCA's support by allowing students from our school to come over to their center and by sharing information with parents.  The Board discussed several concerns with doing so, including that students would still have to be transported to the other school since the clinic would not be on site at our school.  Kylie also shared with the Board some preliminary information on a free Telehealth program that PCA has been considering that would allow our school nurses to do testing for flu, strep, COVID, etc. and facilitate telehealth visits where students/staff could be prescribed medications if necessary.  Given the concerns and this information, the Board did not feel compelled to make a motion to join this partnership at this time.

F.

PCA Head Football Coach Hire

PCA is recommending David Bell as the new Head Football Coach to replace Daniel McFather.  He will also be a full-time teacher.

R. Lane made a motion to hire David Bell as Head Football Coach and fulltime teacher.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

PCA - Add an additional Special Education teacher position for the 2023-2024 school year

PCA school administration has requested an additional SPED teacher for the 2023-2024 school year due to caseloads per teacher increasing this year and next.

R. Lane made a motion to add a Special Education Teacher position at PCA for next school year.
R. Collins seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. CFO/Business Director Report

A.

SNP - Resignation

Fran Crews has resigned as SNP manager at SCCA effective April 7.

B.

Spring Creek - SNP Hires

Polly Chapman, SNP Director, and Fran Crews are recommending Brittany Fisher and Whitney Olds as new SNP hires at SCCA.

R. Collins made a motion to hire Brittany Fisher and Whitney Olds in the SNP department at SCCA.
R. Lane seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Pataula - EPA Clean Bus Funding Vendor Selection

Pataula received a Blue Bird Clean Bus Funding Grant,which provides two free battery powered buses in exchange for scrapping two out-of-service gas buses.  This is a reimbursement grant, so Cheryl is requesting approval to spend $750,000 for the purchase of the two buses, which will be reimbursed.

R. Lane made a motion to Approve the purchase of two battery-powered Blue Bird buses from Yancey in the amount of $750,000.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Pataula - EPA Clean Bus Funding Infrastructure

Cheryl said that part of the grant was to provide up to $40,000 for infrastructure, including the battery charger and installation.  The battery charging station will be purchased for $21,279 from InCharge and the installation of the electrical infrustructure for the charger will be done by Davis Electric for $8586.  This falls within the $40,000 allowed reimbursement.

R. Lane made a motion to purchase the bus battery charging station for $21,279 from InCharge.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
R. Lane made a motion to hire Davis Electric to install the electrical infrastruture for the battery chargers at a cost of $8586.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

R. Lane made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
J. Sanders seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
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,
R. Sapp