Academy of Collaborative Education
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 18, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Location
The Center for Children and Families, Inc.
622 Riverside Dr.
Monroe, LA 71201
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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
Anna Grimmett, Curtis Eberts, Davy Mize, Holly Allen (remote), Kara Maggiore, Latner McDonald, Richard Cannon, Seth Hall
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
Joellen Freeman, Karen Roberson (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
Joellen Freeman, Karen Roberson (remote)
Guests Present
Joe Martin, Katie Kahmann (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes from 11.19.25
D.
Approval of Agenda
II. Reports
A.
Board Chair Report
B.
Executive Director Report
SY 2026-2027:
- 116 currently enrolled; 110 accept with 4 declining
- 56 new applications with Kindergarten applications representing over 30 of the new applications.
- Staffing full
- 4-6 graders to attend play in 2-weeks
- 2 events hosting parents put on by parent organization
Financials:
- Cash flow good due in part to increased IDEA funding, IEP submissions, CSP funding\
Audit:
- Lori Woodard and team still working throught audit and its on track
6th Grade Expansion:
- Still working through process
- Fire inspection on hold pending elevator repairs
- Security and fire safety in place
- ADA compliant with everything
- Lighting changes made to receive LDH approval
Communication Goals Met/Exceeded:
- Communication boards around school
- Nonverbal means of communicating in place
- Communication moments in classroom substantially increased
C.
Committee Reports
Financials (Joe Martin with Ed Ops):
- Most of LOC reserved (appx. 200K)
- Received significant CSP reimbursement
- IDEA funding positive impact on financials
- Strategies in place to stretch resources and meet obligations
- Fundraising efforts will further positive impact
- Continue in seeking grant funding (Charter School Growth Fund; New Schools Venture Fund; Lamar Family Foundation; Living Will Foundation; YAS Foundation)
- Meeting scheduled with bank Friday, February 20, to increase line of credit
- SY 2026-27 Projections: 650K accrual and 750K cash
Facilities Committee (Davey Mize):
- Expansion work in progress and almost complete
- Elevator in repair
- Searching for new exterminating company
Governance and Academic Excellence Committees
- no new business
III. New Business
A.
Executive Session
Discussed:
- Pending employee claim with legal representation;
- Complaint of former employee to Board Chair and LDOE (now resigned);
- Parent complaint and LDOE findings.
IV. Other Business
A.
Reminder: Tier 3 Personal Financial Disclosure Statements
- Reminder to file Tier 3 Personal Financial Disclosure Statement
Kara Maggiore: