Academy of Collaborative Education
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday September 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Location
The Center for Children and Families, Inc.
622 Riverside Dr.
Monroe, LA 71201
Amy Marcus is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ACE Board Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting. Meet anytime
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Meeting ID: 867 3756 6368
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Meeting ID: 867 3756 6368
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/ksFZV05P9
According to the 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 rescheduled meeting, open to the public as specified below. To ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Law, recipients of this message should not forward it to other Board members, and Board members should not reply to this message.
Members of the public can access the board meeting through the link on the website or attend in person. The meeting's anchor location will be The Center for Children and Families, Inc., located at 622 Riverside Dr., 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 interested in providing a public comment on one or more agenda items who can attend the meeting in person may submit their comments to boardchair@aceforasd.org at least 24 hours prior to the board meeting. Alternatively, they may arrive at the meeting, complete the ACE Board Meeting Public Comment Request Form in writing, and submit it to the board chair.
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.
It is the practice of the board to hear public comments but not respond instantly. The board will confer with the ED, and, depending on the issue, either the Board Chair or ED will respond to you within 24 hours.
Directors Present
Amy Marcus, Anna Grimmett, Davy Mize, Holly Allen (remote), Latner McDonald, Richard Cannon
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
Joellen Freeman
Non Voting Members Present
Joellen Freeman
Guests Present
Allison Dickens (remote), Allison Dickens (remote), Cody Bourque, Madison Bachhofer (remote), Seth Hall
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
D.
Approval of Agenda
Amend Agenda to add action item to discuss/nominate Seth Hall to ACE Board
No Opposition by Board and vote was unanimous.
II. Reports
A.
Executive Director Report
Executive Director Report of Joellen Freeman:
1. Enrollment Statistics: 114 enrolled. Students on waiting list and screening continues. 126 total capacity.
2. Staffing Update: Teachers fully staffed by end of month. Continue to work to put in place needed services agreements (PT and APE agreements before the Board today).
3. Updated Financials: Received stipend money for SY2024-25 and SY2025-26 and will work with financial firm to disburse to staff. Working to obtain Title I Grant funding for current year. CSP Grant remains in place and ACE drawing down as appropriate.
4. Audit Progress: In first stages of audit with Lori Woodard and she is working with Mike Dunn to wrap up audit for current year. Board discussion of communication flow between Dunn and Woodard.
5. Sixth-grade Expansion Update - Discussion of fire marshall plan.
6. Update on Accounting Firm Transition: Transitioning from Dunn Financial to Ed Ops. D
7. Progress toward Goals SY 25-26: Other: Discussion of upcoming River Rat Challenge and Golf Tournament. Discussion of Parent Resource Meeting this Saturday and going forward, to be held every 2nd Saturday of each month. Last meeting attendance was 11 parents in person and more online.
B.
Committee Reports
Academic Excellence Committee Report by Amy Marcus: On target with most of goals and continue to work toward progress on others. Working to put in place a Staff Retention Plan
Facilities Committee Report by Davy Mize: Continue to work on 6th grade expansion. On target with SMART goals but now waiting on Fire Marshall. Expect to be in new facility November 1, 2025. Facilities - professionals to look at HVAC; drainage issues,
Governance Committee Report by Holly Allen: Last meeting cut short due to school emergency. Continue to work on SMART goals and specifically goals to guide contract/agreement review. Will present to Board ASAP.
Finance Committee Report by Latner McDonald: Consider funding required to be placed in expansion facility ("Grace Facility") as it relates to lease. May call special meeting to review/approve lease for expansion facilities - need 24-hour notice by law. Working through SMART goals and progress on same. Discussed other costs/agreement/quotes as it relates to insurance, safety and security, professional services agreements.
III. Action Items
A.
Vote on Professional Services Agreement — Riley Physical Therapy
No Board, Public or Board comments.
Holly Allen did not vote due to "remote"
B.
Vote on Provision Quote (Safety and Security at Grace site)
No further Board, Public or Board Comment.
Holly Allen did not vote due to "remote"
C.
Vote on APE (Adapted/Adaptive Physical Education) Contract
No Board, Public, Board Comment
Holly Allen "remote" so not voting
Amy Marcus nominated Seth Hall as new Board member. Discussion of qualifications. No other Board, Public, or Board comments.
Holly Allen "remote" so not voting
The board VOTED unanimously to approve Seth Hall to the ACE Board.
Discussion by Joellen Freeman that ACE Board received best new board by LAPCS. Awarded small monetary gift to school and tickets to the convention. Will announce at annual convention in New Orleans.
A motion to amend agenda by A. Marcus. H. Grimmett presented to board. R. Cannon second motion. Unanimous vote to amend agenda to nominate Seth Hall as board member.