Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School

Minutes

AAHS January Governing Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday January 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM

Location

1414 2nd Ave North

Bessemer, AL 35020

Governing Board Executive Session 

Directors Present

C. French (remote), G. Kim (remote), J. Smith, L. Hasenkamp, L. Pineda, R. Smith, S. Underwood, T. Mills

Directors Absent

A. Niles, M. Sims, T. Wright

Guests Present

C. Knight, M. Robinson, P. Allen, R. Morris

I. Opening Items

A.

Roll Call & Establishment of Quorum

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

S. Underwood called a meeting of the board of directors of Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School to order on Thursday Jan 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM.

C.

Adoption of the Agenda

R. Smith made a motion to approve the minutes from AAHS Board Meeting on 12-12-24.
T. Mills seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Approve Minutes from December 12, 2024 Meeting

II. Financials

A.

FY '25 - Decembrer 2024 Financials

J. Smith made a motion to Approve.
T. Mills seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

FY '25 - LT. Governor Funds + Hope Loan Payoff

R. Smith made a motion to Approve the LT. Gov funds to payoff the Hope Loan.
L. Hasenkamp seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

III. Committee Reports

A.

Facilities Committee Report

No Report 

B.

Nominating Committee

No Report 

IV. Chief Executive Officer's Report

A.

School Updates

1. Appreciation to C. French for the allowing our staff to dine at his restaurant for our holiday staff appreciation lunch 

2. Thank J. Smith for $150K donation 

3. Continued fundraising conversation with Captain Carole Hopson + Kathryn Harbert 

4. Your trip to DC to meet with senators for FY'26 earmarks 

5. EKY Bessemer Airport Modular update 

6. Alabama Aerospace & Aviation High School Birmingham Campus Update 

  • Capacity Hearing last week 
  • CBS 42 news appearance

7. Recruitment Update 
 

  • 35 families have completed our ‘25-‘26 enrollment interest form 
  • Application for ‘25-‘26 school year will go live January 17th

8. Basketball team is currently 12-3 overall and leading our area in 2A 



 

B.

AAHS - Birmingham Campus

C.

Grant Updates

D.

Upcoming Events

V. School Director Report

A.

SIR Report

Current Enrollment- 149

-28 (19%) Champions are chronic absenteeism

-13 Withdrawals to date ( in Q2)

-2 New Champion Enrollee (1-9th grade 1-11th grade)


 

Assessments:

Winter MAPS- Week of January 21st

ACT w/ Writing March 13th 


 

End of the Grading period

  • Honor Roll/Failures can be presented during Q3 address or February Board Meeting

Dual Enrollment Semester I 

  • 73.1% Course Success Rate
  • 71% Average Grade (includes two students with 0%)
  • 22 students enrolled fall semester
  • 20 students attempted their courses
  • 14 different courses were enrolled in
  • 26 total course registration
  • The most popular course: US History I with 6 students (all passed!)
  • Our Sophomores had an average grade of 96%
  • Two seniors added a CCR!

 

Spring Dual Enrollment students:

22 Champion Enrolled

32 Course Enrollments 


 

Initiatives:

ACT

  • Working with a Champion Parent to identify more ACT prep leading to the test. 
  • Looking for resources to support a 5-week ACT Intensitive for champions 
  • Prep from outside companies ranges from $8,500- $25,000
    • Our preferred vendor is quoted at $16,000
      • In-person instruction once a week 4 hours

 

Talent Cycle 

-All Staff Members reviewed a Midyear Review

- Formal Evaluations will be held in April using the ALSDE ATOT Tool 

-Mrs. Denise Trimm began on January 6, 2025.

-25-26 The Talent Cycle will start on ⅔

- Performance Task/ Sample Teach (Instructional)/Stakeholder Interviews 

- Staff turnover rate as of 


 

Culture and Climate

  • Gratitude Luncheon 11/21- 20 Families participated
  • Inclusion Week- Week of December 2nd
  • Festive Week- Week of 12/16
  • Staff Holiday - Thanks Attorney French
    • Seniors
      • 13 Seniors 
      • 42 College Applications Completed
      • 15 College Acceptance to date
      • 27 DE hours successfully completed
      •  
  • Events
    • College Tour to UA 1/10- Senior
    • AMP Field Trip 12/17
      • Interacted w/ mechanics and shops at EKY
      • Lectures from Industry Professionals
      • FAA Grant Requirement

 

Behavior Data 

  • 12- out of school suspensions
    • 3 Since Q1 Report

Stakeholder Engagement

  • I hosted a small group session with families on 11/21
  • Weekly Newsletters for our Family and Communicate Liaison 
  • Monthly Newsletters from our Post Secondary Success Coordinator 
  • I will host focus groups in next quarter to focus on
    • 2025-2026 school calendar
    • Communication assessment
    • ACT
    • Culture and Climate 
    • Pathway Specific Meetings

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 4:22 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
R. Smith