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Academy of Collaborative Education

Minutes

Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday July 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM

Pursuant to Louisiana Open Meetings Law - La. R.S. 42:19, notice is hereby given to the members of the Board of Directors of Academy of Collaborative Education and to the general public that the Board will hold a regular, special, or re-scheduled meeting, open to the public as specified below. To ensure compliance with the Open Meeting Law, recipients of this message should not forward it to other Board members, and Board members should not reply to this message.

 

In accordance with La. R.S. 42:17.2, this board meeting will be held virtually. Members of the public can access it through the link referenced on the website. The meeting's anchor location will be the Academy for Collaborative Education, 505 Glenmar Ave, Monroe, LA 71201.

 

Any individual who wishes to make a public comment on one or more agenda items but cannot attend the meeting must submit their comment to boardchair@aceforasd.org at least 24 hours before the board meeting. The comment should include the individual’s full name and the name of the agenda item on which they are commenting. 

 

Any individual who wishes to make a public comment on one or more agenda items and can attend the meeting in-person, must also submit their comment to boardchair@aceforasd.org at least 24 hours before the board meeting. 

 

During the board meeting, once the Board President/Chair calls for public comment on a specific agenda item and recognizes the speaker, the individual wishing to make an in-person public comment on an agenda item should be prepared to speak for no longer than 3 minutes. Before commencing with their public comment, the individual must state their full name. 

 

The names of all individuals submitting public comments in person and via email shall be recorded in the meeting minutes.

Directors Present

Amy Marcus, Anna Grimmett (remote), Davy Mize, Holly Allen (remote), Latner McDonald (remote), Richard Cannon (remote)

Directors Absent

None

Ex Officio Members Present

Carmen Parks (remote), Joellen Freeman

Non Voting Members Present

Carmen Parks (remote), Joellen Freeman

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Amy Marcus called a meeting of the board of directors of Academy of Collaborative Education to order on Wednesday Jul 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

Anna Grimmett made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 06-14-25.
Davy Mize seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approve Minutes

Davy Mize made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting on 06-30-25.
Anna Grimmett seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approval of Agenda

Latner McDonald made a motion to approve Agenda of July 16, 2025.
Holly Allen seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Reports

A.

Executive Director Report

Joellen Freeman opened for discussion the following that will be set for vote at the end of the meeting,

 

  • SY 26 EdOps Financial Services Contract
    • ED presented contract. No questions or follow up discussion.
  • Amendment of Policy and Procedure and Student Handbook re: absenteeism
    • 2024-2025 Handbook did not explain distinction between excused vs. unexcused
    • Change required to be compliant with BESE and Louisiana law
    • Law lists explicit circumstances warranting excused vs unexcused absences
    • Intent of law is to ensure student meets required daily instructional minutes
  • Audit Process
    • Current provider will remain on board through October 2025
    • Process will begin in September 2025
  • 6th Grade Expansion
    • Meeting with Grace Episcopal Church Vestry Wednesday of next week re: lease
    • Upgrades required to meet safety and security requirements
    • 6th grade will meet in current ACE building pending completion of any required upgrades
    • Same policies and procedures will apply to alternative location, though adjustments may be required
    • Latner McDonald will attend meeting in person. Joellen will attend virtually

 

Richard Cannon Joined Meeting.

Karen Roberson joined meeting.

B.

Committee Reports

Governance Committee represented by Holly Allen:

  • Took questions on state mandated Absenteeism Policy. 
    • Policy will likely affect several of ACE's students as parents routinely pull student off campus for private ABA and other therapy.
    • At least 1 family did not choose ACE as a school option because of the policy
    • ACE will begin to communicate new policy to parents so that any impacted can work to adjust schedule, therapy dates/times, etc.

Finance Committee represented by Latner McDonald:

  • Discussed EdOps Contract briefly
  • Most intended items for discussion were tabled due to inability of Executive Director to attend meeting
  • Per Anna Grimmet, the past fiscal year (July 2024 to June 2025) financials currently show better than anticipated, with a negative balance of -$100,000 which is expected to further improve when all financials are included  

Facilities Committee represented by Davy Mize:

  • July 10 meeting
  • 6th grade expansion main topic 
  • Sprinkler system will need to be installed should we expand to church grounds
  • We understand that the CSP grant will cover the majority of expenses
  • POV workday set for Saturday, July 19

Academic Excellence Committee represented by Amy Marcus:

  • Testing data will be given at next board meeting
  • Committee worked on goals for upcoming school year

III. Action Items

A.

Vote on EdOps FY26 Finance Contract Proposal

Anna Grimmett made a motion to Approve EdOps FY26 Finance Contract.
Richard Cannon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Vote on Student-Parent Handbook

Holly Allen made a motion to Approve Amendment to Student-Parent Handbook.
Latner McDonald seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Vote to Ratify Attendance Policy for SY25-26

Holly Allen made a motion to Ratify Attendance Policy for SY25-26.
Davy Mize seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Vote to Amend the Board and Committee Schedule relative to the Governance Committee

Anna Grimmett made a motion to Amend the Board and Committee Schedule relative to the Governance Committee.
Latner McDonald seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Next scheduled Board meeting on August 20, 2025 at 3:30pm

Davy Mize made a motion to Adjourn Meeting.
Latner McDonald seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Holly Allen

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance at a public meeting of Academy of Collaborative Education, please contact Joellen Freeman at jcfreeman@aceforasd.orgdescribing the assistance that is necessary.