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Memphis Merit Academy Charter School

Minutes

Monthly MMA Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday March 26, 2026 at 4:30 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, Lashawn Lester, Reid Lanigan, Talunja Prophet, Timorie Belk

Directors Absent

Robin Dixon

Guests Present

Angelina Mccoach, Tasia Mitchum

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Aurelia Mcbride called a meeting of the board of directors of Memphis Merit Academy Charter School to order on Thursday Mar 26, 2026 at 4:38 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Lashawn Lester made a motion to approve the minutes from Monthly MMA Board Meeting on 02-19-26.
Talunja Prophet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Review and Approval of Monthly Financials

A.

Approval of Monthly Financials

Talunja Prophet made a motion to approve the monthly financials.
Lashawn Lester seconded the motion.
  • Monthly financials approved for MMRE and MMA which were presented by Ms. McCoach
  • Receiving refund of approximately $60K due to tax exemption status
  • 60 days cash on hand
  • Received Summer Boost grant - CSP Grant will address operational needs for middle school
  • Researching curriculum options
  • Financials are trending positively and continued fundraising efforts will provide a financial buffer

 

MMRE

  • Replaced 2 HVAC systems
  • New security company [Guardian]
  • New tenant [Atlas Behavior]
  • Projected decrease in expenses next month as transition continues to a new property management company 
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

III. Contracts Review & Approvals

A.

Sharp Printer Contract

This item will be discussed at a future meeting.

IV. Committee Reports

A.

Academic Achievement Committee

  • Focus has been on preparing for the Accountability Hearing
  • Recommended corrective action should be available for discussion at May's board meeting

B.

Development Committee

  • T. Belk and Suzanne Landau will connect for strategic planning discussions

C.

Finance Committee

See Monthly Financials section.

D.

Governance Committee

  • 2 prospective board members 

V. Other Business

A.

Executive Director Update

  • Team is actively working to meet or exceed targets
    • AMO  
    • 95% attendance
    •  3 or better on authorizer scorecards
  • Focused on teacher and scholar needs - making investments in literacy 
  • Enrollment increased by nearly 15% - special education population increased by 30% - ESL population increased by 12%
  • Drop in chronic absenteeism 21.1% to 17.3% - with a goal of having this in the single digits providing wrap-around services needed by families
  • Currently have 65 registered for the 90 available kindergarten seats
  • Building construction is complete - middle school classrooms complete
  • Working on securing CSP Grant [$500K] to address staffing and operational needs for the middle school

B.

MMARE Financials- November

C.

Property Manager Reports - Progressive PM

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 5:16 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Dimika Cavalier
Documents used during the meeting
  • MMA Final Feb financials 03172026.pdf
  • MMA - FY26 - February Financial Update.pdf
  • FEB2026 MMARE Financial Package.pdf
  • MMARE Feb 2026 Updated Report (1).pdf

* 8-44-102. Open meetings -- "Governing body" defined -- "Meeting" defined. (a)All meetings of any governing body are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times, except as provided by the Constitution of Tennessee...(ii) The provisions of this
subdivision (b)(1)(E) shall not be construed to require the disclosure of a trade secret or proprietary information held or used by an association or nonprofit corporation to which this chapter applies. In the event a trade secret or proprietary information is required to
be discussed in an open meeting, the association or nonprofit corporation may conduct an executive session to discuss such trade secret or proprietary information; provided that a notice of the executive session is included in the agenda for such meeting. (iii)As
used in this subdivision (b) (1) (E): (a)"Proprietary information" means rating information, plans, or proposals; actuarial information; specifications for specific services provided; and any other similar commercial or financial information used in making or deliberating
toward a decision by employees, agents or the board of directors of such association or corporation; and which if known to a person or entity outside the association or corporation would give such person or entity an advantage or an opportunity to gain an
advantage over the association or corporation when providing or bidding to provide the same or similar services to local governments; and (b)"Trade secret" means the whole or any portion or phrase of any scientific or technical information, design, process,
procedure, formula or improvement which is secret and of value. The trier of fact may infer a trade secret to be secret when the owner thereof takes measures to prevent it from becoming available to persons other than those selected by the owner to have access
thereto for limited purposes.