Academy of Collaborative Education
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday August 19, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Location
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85114287278?pwd=e1cEPf8dXRU5njacNAc8R0wcVwEz0o.1
Meeting ID: 851 1428 7278
Passcode: 916947
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.
Directors Present
Anna Grimmett, Curtis Eberts, Davy Mize (remote), Hannah Nguyen, Holly Allen (remote), Matthew Fowlkes, Richard Cannon, Seth Hall
Directors Absent
Latner McDonald
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
Davy Mize
Ex Officio Members Present
Joellen Freeman
Guests Present
Melissa Grand (remote), jmartin@ed-ops.com (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes from previous meeting
D.
Approval of Agenda
II. Committee Reports
A.
Executive Director Report
Joellen Freeman:
1. Staffing:
- 55 staff members total
- 4 paraprofessionals down
- 2 teachers down
- Actively recruiting for a Speech Therapist and a CODA
- Down 1 Nurse. Ours resigned due to job offer with Ouachita Parish. Working through process with an applicant for position
- Working to bettter understand job qualifications of Principal position prior to seeking
2. Students:
- 135/160 students
- 55 students on waitlist
- 50 students with interest
3. Events:
- Visit by St. Tammany Parish - August 31, 2026
- River Rat Paddle Challenge - Sept 19, 2026
- Fall Break - October 12-16, 2026
- Med Camps Annual Boo Bash - October 31, 2026
B.
Governance Report
Curtis Eberts:
- Transportation discussion
- New Business -
- policy/procedure to have leave time documented
- pathway of moving para's to certified teachers
- offering employees cafeteria plan as part of their available benefits
C.
Finance Report
Joe Martin:
- End 2025/26 SY - 472K loss
- FY 26/27 Budget is tight
- Budgets are negatively impacted by cut in MFP funding, delayed Medicaid funding and lack of compensation for high-cost services.
- Budgets looking ahead are more positive due to Medicaid funding and increased student enrollment.
- Primary issue is that ACE serves a high needs population not covered by MFP funding which results in the need to aggressively pursue additional funding.
D.
Academic Excellence Report
Will meet next month and report will be given at following meeting.
E.
Facilities Report
F.
SY2026-27 Academic Report
III. Executive Session
A.
Legal Advice
Joellen Freeman and Melissa Grand (counsel):
- Served with due process complaint brought by parent. Disagreement with proposed accommodation for student. Working to come to resolution. Currently scheduled for mediation in September 2026.
IV. Discussion of New Business
A.
Financial Discussion
Anna Grimmet:
- 13th Check - consider in finance committee what that would look like to pay out a stipend
B.
ACE Educator Residency Program
Discussion of program generally.
C.
CEO PTO policy
Discussion of issue generally.
Amend to amend agenda to include financial information. In all other respects Agenda approved
Anna Grimmett made motion
Hannah Nguyen seconded motion.