Pataula Charter Academy, Inc (Serving Pataula Charter Academy and Spring Creek Charter Academy)
Minutes
January 2024 Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday January 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Location
Spring Creek Charter Academy lunchroom
Directors Present
E. Austin, G. Flowers, J. Sanders, K. Gilbert, L. Hixon, R. Collins, R. Lane
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
C. Weathersby, K. Holley
Non Voting Members Present
C. Weathersby, K. Holley
Guests Present
L. Adkinson
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Agenda
D.
Approve Minutes
E.
Approve Executive Session Minutes
F.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
G.
Executive Session - Personnel
II. Superintendent Report
A.
PCA Teacher Resignation
Eric Thomas has requested to be released from his 23-24 teaching contract at PCA effective February 3, 2024.
B.
SCCA New High School Teacher Position
A new high school teacher position is needed at SCCA for the 24-25 school year due to growth.
C.
2022-2023 PCA SCSC CPF Determinations
2022-2023 SCSC CPF determinations have only been given for schools going through renewal. Since PCA is going through renewal, PCA has a determination, but we have not yet received a determination for SCCA. PCA met on all 3 portions (Academic, Operational, and Financial) of the 2022-2023 CPF. This means that PCA has met in all 3 areas for each year of the current charter, and therefore, should be granted a renewal charter. The renewal application has been submitted. .
D.
FY24 SCSC Monitoring Results - Operational
SCSC did not identify any "findings" in their FY24 compliance monitoring. The committee did identify three "Adverse Practices", which do not result in a loss of points on the CPF. Adverse practices identify areas that could pose a future potential risk in compliance or liability.
1. The school received an adverse practice because the notice of nondiscrimination to employees and staff does not include that the school will not discriminate based on genetic information.
2. NFPA 10 Sub. 5.5.5 requires at least one "K-class" fire extinguisher to be present "for the protection of cooking appliances that use combustible cooking media". Although the school had a K-Class extinguisher in its kitchen at the time of its October 3rd, 2023 health & safety visit, the extinguisher's inspection expired in July 2023.
3. Mandatory reporters are required to report regardless of whether it is based on privileged/confidential communication. The current policy does not explicitly state this.
Policies regarding Nondiscrimination and Child Abuse mandatory reporting have been updated and will be voted on tonight. The expired Fire Extinguisher inspection has been updated.
E.
FY24 SPED LEA Determination Reports
Both schools scored 100% on the FY24 Sped LEA Determinations, which annually evaluates the LEA's performance in meeting the purpose and requirements of IDEA.
F.
Non-Discrimination Policy revision
G.
Child Abuse Reporting Policy revision
H.
PCA - Operational CPF Dashboard
PCA is on target to meet on Operational CPF with a projected score of 100.
I.
SCCA - Operational CPF Dashboard
SCCA is on target to meet on Operational CPF with a projected score of 100.
J.
SCCA Teacher Retirement.
Gay Williams, SCCA Science teacher, will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
III. CFO/Business Director Report
A.
FY24 SCSC Monitoring Results - Financial
The SCSC did not identify compliance concerns within the scope of its review. However, the committee did identify one "Adverse Practice":
The SCSC recommends that when reporting fund balance at least one of the following components be included:
*non-spendable fund balance
*restricted fund balance
*committed fund balance
*assigned fund balance
*unassigned fund balance
It is also recommended that its Governing Board develop policies to detail how the fund balance for the school’s General Fund is managed, outlining both the constraints on how resources of the fund can be spent and the sources of those restrictions.
Cheryl has added "unassigned" to the fund balance sheet. Cheryl and Rhonda are updating policies.
B.
Pataula - Monthly Financial Reports
Monthly financials through November were reviewed. Pataula is within budget and on track to meet on Financial CPF.
C.
SCCA - Monthly Financial Reports
Monthly financials through November were reviewed. Spring Creek is within budget and on track to meet on Financial CPF.
D.
Facility Ad-hoc Committee
A motion has been made to create a temporary facility committee to oversee the planning, budgeting and construction of Spring Creek's permanent building.
E.
SCCA SRO Position
SCCA has received a Safety Grant that included salaries and benefits for a School Resource Officer. Cheryl is requesting the board create an SRO position.
IV. Governance Committee Report
A.
New Board Members
The Governance Committee held interviews on Thursday, January 18, 2024 for Board and Board Bank Members. The committee is recommending the appointment of Jamie Earp and Nicole Johnson to the Board. They also recommend Kutrina Price for Board Bank Member and possible committee member.
V. Academic Committee Report
A.
New Committee Chair
B.
2022-2023 CCRPI Scores and Comparisons
2022-2023 CCRPI Scores and Comparisons were reviewed. PCA outperformed their Local LEA's in all grade bands. SCCA outperformed their local LEA's in elementary and was comparable in middle school.
C.
Winter MAP Growth Reports
Winter MAP Growth reports were reviewed. Math at both schools demonstrates excellent growth. Reading in primary grades also has great growth. This is attributed to the new Phonics program.
VI. Ad Hoc Superintendent/CFO Evaluation Committee
A.
Schedule Meeting to Begin Evaluation Process
Rochelle Sapp, previous chair of the committee, will be contacted to review procedures used.
The following items were added to the Agenda:
II. J. SCCA Teacher Retirement - FYI
III. E. SCCA SRO - Vote