Chair Kate Day read the mission statement. Carolina Charter Academy prepares students for a lifetime of learning by developing their natural passion for discovery and problem-solving. Students are immersed in an engaged learning environment where they develop a knowledge-based education to better understand the world around them.

Chair Day thanked the Board for working with her during this year. She shared about the retreat the Board had at the school on July 27, 2024 and listed some of the speakers, which included representatives from Prestige (who does our accounting), our ECC coordinator, and our outside legal counsel from Poyner & Spruill and McGuire Woods.   Ms. Day spoke for a moment recognizing the changes that had occurred since CCA opened its doors in 2019.  After two terms on the Board, Ms. Day will continue to be an active member of the CCA community but in a different capacity. 

In the absence of our Treasurer, Chair Day gave an update on the preliminary June budget. The Board did not have any further questions. 

The Board discussed the renewal process and the steps necessary for the school's charter to be renewed.  

Kristin Shalkowski is an instructor at Wake Tech Community College and Campbell University. Prior to those roles, she worked at a design/engineering firm.  She also has a background in fundraising.  She has agreed to work on the potential high school. 

Ryan Hunt is an IT executive and has been in the IT field more than 20 years.  He would like to join the Board in order to share his expertise in the area and bring his experience. 

Board members agreed to serve in the following roles: Dan Gibson as Chair, Ryan Hunt as Vice Chair, Kristin Shalkowski as Secretary, and Kimberly Potter as Treasurer. 

The Board reviewed the annual board calendar.  

The Board was presented with a draft 2024-25 budget which was built off last year's budget with the inclusion of a line item for a School Resource Officer.  Assuming approval of that new item for an SRO, the budget as drafted had a generalized 10% increase for various line items. Dr. Branch, Ms. Nall, Ms. Day, and Ms. Curatolo worked to complete the proposed budget. 

Board needs to update the authorized users on accounts due to change in administration and in Board membership.  Discussion about the various accounts. 

Changes to Bylaws are required to be announced 30 days before the vote. The vote to update to Bylaws will be at the August 21 board meeting.

The vote will be to include the addition of the following statement to the Bylaws:

In order to engage the services of a charter management organization in any manner that necessitates a modification to the Carolina Charter Academy's charter, a supermajority vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Board of Directors is required. This measure ensures thorough consideration and broad consensus among board members for such significant decisions.

During closed session the Board will discuss personnel matters related to the selection of candidates.  In order to continue the recruitment process, Ms. Potter discussed that we need Board of approval to advance final executive director candidates to in-person meetings and begin contract negotiations and extend an offer to the selected candidate following these meetings.

Board had reviewed the draft travel policy which will provide guidelines on how to reimburse travel expenses to employees of the school and any Board members traveling on CCA business. 

Mr. Gibson provided an update on the high school expansion.  Several potential properties have been identified by our realtor and we are evaluating whether we can move forward with any of them.  

The Board was presented with a contract for a School Resource Officer from the Angier Police Department.  Angier PD indicated that they were hopeful to have an SRO by the first day of school.  By hiring the SRO, we will not need to pay for separate services for carpool.  Our SRO should be able to provide that support.  Angier PD will give CCA administration an opportunity to weigh in on which officer will be assigned to CCA. 

Ms. Nall shared that the timeline for the blended academy was short as CCA had applied for it once it was an option to the school and received that approval in the spring 2024.  6 families from either current enrolled students or the waitlist expressed an interest in moving towards the blended academy.  Due to shortness of time, the amount of resources that would be needed, and the changing in leadership, the current administration proposed that blended academy be deferred for one year. If this is acceptable, Ms. Nall will reach out to DPI and request a deferral. 

Ms. Nall provided to the Board draft handbooks, specifically an Employee Handbook, a Parent/Student Handbook, and a Substitute Handbook.  The Board had a chance to review and wanted to confirm that the updates from our attorneys at Poyner & Spruill were included.  

Following return from Closed session, the Board voted on approving the contracts detailed by Ms. Nall.