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Memphis Merit Academy Charter School

Minutes

Monthly Governance meeting

Date and Time

Monday April 13, 2026 at 11:59 AM

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. 

Committee Members Present

Aurelia Mcbride, Dimika Cavalier, Joseph McKinney, Talunja Prophet

Committee Members Absent

None

Committee Members who arrived after the meeting opened

Talunja Prophet

Guests Present

Tasia Mitchum

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Aurelia Mcbride called a meeting of the Governance Committee of Memphis Merit Academy Charter School to order on Monday Apr 13, 2026 at 12:05 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

II. Governance

A.

New Board Candidates

Currently we have 2 prospective Board Members. 

 

  1. Karla Leeper - She has met each member of the Governance Committee. She will attend this Thursday's Meeting. Ms. Mitchum will follow up to ensure that Mrs. Leeper will still be attending as well as sharing visitor information. 
  2. Ben Clark - Mr. Clark is determining if he will be available to participate as a Board member. 

Mrs. McBride will continue to explore if there are other people in her network that would be an asset to join the network. 

Talunja Prophet arrived at 12:09 PM.

B.

Board Member Terms

The potential roll offs at this time are 

  • Dimika Cavalier
  • Joseph McKinney
  • Timorie Belk
  • Talunja Prophet
  • Aurelia McBride

Aurelia will check the bylaws to determine if she will have to leave the board due to full service of 3 complete terms. 

 

Aurelia will reach out individually to each person. 

C.

Accountability Hearing Next Steps

When the State Board meets, the subcommittee will share their recommendation for a Strategic Plan for Memphis Merit Academy. They are scheduled to meet in May. We are awaiting next steps from the State Board. 

 

D.

TCAP Visit

MSCS wants to complete a Site Visit during TCAP. Mrs. Booker has shared a copy of our TCAP Plan. Memphis Merit Academy is working with the Authorizer to complete this visit. 

III. 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 12:17 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Aurelia Mcbride

* 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.