Academy of Collaborative Education
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday October 23, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Location
Academy of Collaborative Education
505 Glenmar Avenue
Monroe, LA 71201
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
Amy Marcus, Carmen Parks, Joellen Freeman, Latner McDonald, Richard Cannon
Directors Absent
Holly Allen, Kara Maggorie
Ex Officio Members Present
Karen Roberson
Non Voting Members Present
Karen Roberson
Guests Present
Diamond Melton (remote), Madison Bachhofer, Mike Dunn (remote), Rob Turner
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance/Establish Quorum
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
C.
Approve Minutes
II. Governance
A.
Open Meeting Law (Sunshine Law)
B.
Set Schedule for Committee Meetings
Members are Carmen Parks (Chair), Joellen Freeman, Karen Roberson, and Amy Marcus
The Finance Committee will meet monthly on the 2nd Wednesday at 3:30. Members are Joellen Freeman, Mike Dunn, and Latner McDonald.
C.
Amendment of By-Laws Regarding Term Limits
After discussing it, the board moved this item to the next meeting. Richard will discuss this item further with Melissa Grand and gain clarification before Nov. 20.
D.
Creation of a Legacy Seat on the Board
After discussing it, the board moved this item to the next meeting. Richard will discuss this item further with Melissa Grand and gain clarification before Nov. 20.
E.
Charter Amendment
III. Academic Excellence
A.
Staff Attendance and Satisfaction
Carmen Parks made the board aware of recent Academic Excellence Initiatives: staff surveys given at the end of the first 9-weeks and the staff attendance contest
IV. Fundraising
A.
ACE Masters "Fore" Autism and River Rat Paddle Challenge
Madison Bachhofer (Fundraising Chair) gave an update on ACE's first Masters "Fore" Autism held at Frenchman's Bend on Oct. 11.
V. Finance
A.
Financial Report
Mike Dunn and Joellen Freeman discussed the first-quarter deficit, the effects of late approval of the CSP grant, the recasting of the budget, and Medicaid recoupment.
VI. Staff and Students Report
A.
Hiring Status and Student Numbers
Karen Roberson spoke about two new teacher hires and a recent new student.
VII. Facility
A.
Updates
Rob Turner and Joellen Freeman updated us on the possible splitting of some of ACE's larger classrooms and a gym buildout to accommodate the middle school's additionr.
Organically, within this update, the subject of a Development Committee arose, and the committee was formed.
VIII. Other Business
A.
Rural Community Funding Summit
Latner McDonald discussed connections made and possible future funding discovered upon attending The Rural Community Funding Summit on ACE's behalf.
Joellen Freeman informed the board of Rachel Lindsey's work to create a smoother "pathway" for ACE students from our school to St. Francis Hospital. We will expand this work to the other hospitals in our area.
B.
Creation of Advisory Board
Richard Cannon discussed the creation of an Advisory Board. Many names were introduced. Latner proposed that the Advisory Board members come from five different "buckets:" education, facilities, financial, government, and someone adept at finding and writing grants.
Since Holly could not attend, this item is moved to the next board meeting.