Download minutes PDF Minutes Approved

Memphis Merit Academy Charter School

Minutes

Monthly MMA Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday May 28, 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 (remote), Joseph McKinney, Lashawn Lester, Robin Dixon, Talunja Prophet

Directors Absent

Reid Lanigan, Timorie Belk

Directors who arrived after the meeting opened

Lashawn Lester

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 May 28, 2026 at 5:42 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Joseph McKinney made a motion to approve the minutes from April 16, 2026 Monthly MMA Board Meeting on 04-16-26.
Talunja Prophet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Review and Approval of Monthly Financials

A.

Approval of Monthly Financials

Joseph McKinney made a motion to approve monthly financials for April and the updated preliminary budget.
Talunja Prophet seconded the motion.
  • positive net income of approximately 200K
  • savings in personnel changes, supplies
  • TISA not received in May, payment will resume in June
  • current enrollment 495 - 96% of goal
  • 37 days of expenses on hand 
  • FY 26-27 projected 25K net income - budget reflects priorities for increased personnel
  • applied for CSP grant 500K specifically for middle school
  • state approved additional facilities funds for charter schools but don't know the allotted amount yet
  • anticipating more maintenance and personnel expenses due to the expansion of the middle school
  • 14.9K received from overpaid taxes - reconciliation pending for additional refunds
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

FY27 Preliminary Budget Review

Joseph McKinney made a motion to approve preliminary budget review.
Talunja Prophet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

III. Slate of Board Officers

A.

New Board Member - Karla Leeper

Talunja Prophet made a motion to approve Karla Leeper as new BOD member.
Joseph McKinney seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

The slate of directors is same as previous year, but board secretary is open since D. Cavalier is not extending her service.

IV. Approvals

A.

Board on Track

  • A - I have been previously discussed - A through F were previously voted on 
  • i-Ready quote decreased since portions have been removed
  • Code Crew - able to offer computer science class requirements of the state for next 4 years
  • Learning Lounge - no changes
  • J - N are new contracts

B.

Array Education (LIT)

C.

SchoolRunner

D.

i-Ready Testing

E.

Code Crew

F.

The Learning Lounge (Math Coaching)

G.

Deans List

Joseph McKinney made a motion to to approved contracts Deans List, Huddle Up, and Wired Technologies.
Talunja Prophet seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

H.

Huddle Up

I.

Wired Technology Partners

J.

ALL Memphis OG Training

Joseph McKinney made a motion to approve contracts J-N.
Talunja Prophet seconded the motion.
  • teach foundational skills to teachers K2 teachers, ELA coaches 
  • STEMscopes -  new science curriculum for teachers
  • McGraw Hill - expanding 8th grade social studies curriculum, additional books for increase number of scholars, band curriculum
  • band teacher contract vote pending to provide more musical instruction - 30K contract question regarding if bid was required - no other proposals submitted and other were not able to accommodate time requirement
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

K.

Student Chromebooks

L.

STEMscopes - Update

M.

McGraw Hill - SS, Music, & Spanish

N.

Band Contract

V. Committee Reports

A.

Academic Achievement Committee

  • waiting for TCAP scores to post
  • 14 below threshold have to do SLA and high dosage tutoring
  • 15 approaching threshold and have a choice to do SLA or high-dose tutoring
  • review of ED evaluation will be approved next meeting

B.

Development Committee

  • Timorie and Suzanne linked to work full scale launch of capital campaign and tap into corporate sponsors
  • BOD members are encouraged to make their financial contributions

C.

Finance Committee

  • strong financial position

D.

Governance Committee

2 hopeful members in the pipeline

VI. Other Business

A.

Executive Director Update

ED slides shared 

  • year completed with a net positive
  • 391 applications for 90 kindergarten spots
  • 174 waitlist 1-5
  • working on corrective action plan from the accountability hearing
  • working on next steps for plumbing best verified fix, kindergarten registration moving scholars through the pipeline, 26-27 SY brainstorming what continued growth will look like
  • ended SY with 492 scholars
  • students with disability increased
  • working on June scorecard
  • 5 staff vacancies with interviews in progress - ID new board candidates - work on retreat dates - ? personal development needed for board
  • transitioning from MSCS nutrition services

B.

MMARE Financials - KAMI

C.

Property Manager Reports - Progressive PM

D.

Approval of 990T

Joseph McKinney made a motion to approve 990 T.
Lashawn Lester seconded the motion.

no issues with audit - profit businesses included school's lease is not

The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Lashawn Lester arrived.

VII. 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 6:43 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Dimika Cavalier
Documents used during the meeting
  • MMA - FY26 - April Financial Update.pdf
  • MMA FINAL Apr financials.pdf
  • MMA -FY27 Proposed Budget - 05222026.xlsm
  • Copy of Leeper CV 09.29.25 (3) copy.docx
  • Memphis Merit Academy Charter School - Renewal 2026-2027 (2).pdf
  • 2026-0407 - Memphis Merit Academy Charter School (Q-23960-1) SchoolRunner.pdf
  • Code Crew Memphis Merit Academy Charter School 2026 - 2027 Proposal.pdf
  • The Learning Lounge K-12 FY26- 27-2 (1).pdf
  • Complete_with_Docusign_Huddle_Up_Service_Ord (1).pdf
  • Wired Bid (1).pdf
  • STEMscopes TN Science G3-8 D First 1Y_V5 (1).pdf
  • Band Contract (MMA & Christopher Douglas) .pdf
  • APR2026 MMARE Financial Package.pdf
  • MMARE April 2026 Monthly Report (1).xlsx
  • MMARE April 2026 Monthly Report.xlsx

* 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.