Memphis Merit Academy Charter School
Minutes
Monthly MMA Board Meeting
Date and Time
Thursday February 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Location
Memphis Merit Academy
PUBLIC COMMENT AT MEMPHIS MERIT ACADEMY BOARD MEETINGS - An opportunity for the public to address the Board will be provided at the conclusion of the agenda. Members of the public who wish to speak on
any item are requested to identify themselves and indicate on which agenda item they wish to speak. The Board will provide an opportunity for the public to speak for a maximum of three (3) minutes, unless granted
additional time at the discretion of the Board. Testimony shall be limited in content to matters pertaining to Memphis Merit Academy. The Board may not take any action on matters discussed during the public testimony
period that are not listed on the agenda.
Directors Present
Aurelia Mcbride, Dimika Cavalier, Joseph McKinney, Reid Lanigan, Robin Dixon, Talunja Prophet
Directors Absent
Lashawn Lester, Timorie Belk
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
Joseph McKinney, Robin Dixon
Guests Present
Angelina Mccoach, Lakenna Booker, Steven Ross, Suzanne Landau (remote), Tasia Mitchum
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Review and Approval of Monthly Financials
A.
Approval of Monthly Financials
- Security grant received
- Application submitted for Bloomberg grant 296K
- Current enrollment 497 — average 503 — goal 515 — cap 594 — Continue recruitment and detainment goals
- Largest expenses are personnel and contractor services
MMARE
- Timely rent payment from tenants since switching to Progressive PM
- Unanticipated expenses due to snow storm
- HVAC 32K
- Granted property tax exemption projected 57% return of payment made
III. Committee Reports
A.
Academic Achievement Committee
B.
Development Committee
- March tentative timeframe for ribbon cutting for upper school
- Considering a way to highlight the capital campaign around this ceremony
C.
Finance Committee
- Financials are looking strong and sustainable — good trending growth
D.
Governance Committee
- Onboarding potential board member — met with Ms. Karla Leeper who has a background in strategic planning and education
- After she has an opportunity to attend a board meeting, the committee will recommend her approval to the entire board
IV. Other Business
A.
Executive Director Update
- Reminded of school's mission
- Academic achievement committee updates discussed during this time
- On track to meet attendance goals — investments are working
- There was a coordinated trip to MS Valley State for college preview day for middle school scholars
- The upcoming budget will include education development for middle school
- Construction is under budget — able to build an outdoor classroom for middle school
- Adult ESL classes will relaunch after spring break — another example of how MMA is more than a school, community institution
- Spring benchmark testing begins next week — the academic achievement committee is reviewing data to ensure that measure are being met
- Ongoing engagement with the property management company for new tenants
- Coordinating necessary prep work required for a successful accountability hearing
- Working on FY26-27 budget — working to increase spending on academics
- Goal to publicly move MMA's pay scale above MSCS in order to recruit better, credentialed teachers
- This year's enrollment numbers will be paid next year - working to resolve attendance number issues that occurred due to the storm
- Working on anticipatory corrective action plans ahead of the accountability hearing — considering staffing adjustments
B.
MMARE Financials- November
See section A
C.
Property Manager Reports - Progressive PM
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- MMA Final Jan financials 02132026.pdf
- MMA - FY26 - January Financial Update.pdf
- Executive Director Report_Feb_2026.pptx.pdf
- JAN2026 MMARE Financial Package.pdf
- MMARE January 2026 Report.pdf
committee chair absent - committee items will be discussed by Executive Director