The Exploris School

Minutes

The Exploris School Board Regular Monthly Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday July 25, 2024 at 4:30 PM

Location

The Exploris School: Elementary Campus

17 S Swain St, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA

5th Grade Classroom

Directors Present

E. Buchan, E. Grunden (remote), G. Bayo, R. Boyce (remote), W. McLamb (remote)

Directors Absent

D. Hencher, S. Carothers, S. Darroch, T. Void

Ex Officio Members Present

D. Brown

Non Voting Members Present

D. Brown

Guests Present

K. Morgan

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

E. Grunden called a meeting of the board of directors of The Exploris School to order on Thursday Jul 25, 2024 at 4:39 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes

E. Buchan made a motion to approve the minutes from The Exploris School Board Regular Monthly Meeting on 06-27-24.
R. Boyce seconded the motion.

Mr. Buchan will work to amend the minutes from the May meeting as previously discussed in the June meeting.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Public Comment

No public comment

E.

Board Development: Educational Excellence Report

Eric provided an update on the report, which is a detailed report that merits further review by board members and school leadership.

 

The report includes test results, disciplinary trends, social & emotional data, etc...

 

Deborah indicated positive trends in teacher stability, initial proficiency and overall growth.

 

The board will vote to accept the report in the August meeting.

Eric provided an update on the report, which is a detailed report that merits further review by board members and school leadership.

 

The report includes test results, disciplinary trends, social & emotional data, etc...

 

Deborah indicated positive trends in teacher stability, initial proficiency and overall growth.

 

The board will vote to accept the report in the August meeting.

II. Committee Reports

A.

Governance

Ryan provided the update and indicated the school handbook has largely been finalized.  Deborah mentioned that a few elements of the handbook need to be formally codified and checked for consistency before it is formally accepted by the board.  The handbook will be reviewed and voted on next month.  A vote was taken to table the report to the August meeting.

R. Boyce made a motion to table the voting on accepting the handbook.
E. Buchan seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Finance

Koren provided the update and indicated the Finance Board did not meet in July.  She also indicated that based on NC legislative updates that budgets will likely be fairly tight this upcoming FY.  William asked about the positive fund balance and Koren indicated that was from the previous FY that rolled into the new budget. 

C.

Educational Excellence

Update provided earlier in the agenda.

D.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

No report for DEI at this time.  There continues to be work in re-envisioning how to establish this committee.

E.

Director Evaluation & Support

Director reviews continue and no formal report was provided. 

F.

Facilities

Josh provided the updated and indicated the due diligence process continues with the Kindly St property.  Josh described the traffic analysis process and mentioned the MOU with the City of Raleigh was approved.  Next step will be to select a traffic analysis consultant to perform the study.  This decision will likely be made within the next few days. 

 

Capital Campaign is preparing to start up.  

 

Facilities are now undergoing a deep cleaning process.  

G.

Kaizen

No formal report was provided.  Deborah indicated Daniel has completed his term and Tasha Void will be taking over. 

III. Meeting Items

A.

Directors Report

Deborah discussed the summer activities taking place on the campuses.  School staff have been working on the Excellence Education Report, staff training, hiring (200 cold contact phone calls), etc...  Work was also completed on universal expectations and emotional support programs

 

Josh mentioned the the new HR system (ADP) has been implemented which will make many HR functions much more efficient and easy to use.  

 

 

New Teachers:

 

Victory Hilliard

Skylar Edgerton

 

E. Buchan made a motion to hire 3 new teachers.
W. McLamb seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

B.

Board Business

No new business offered.

IV. Closed Session

A.

Facilities & Legal Items

E. Buchan made a motion to enter in closed session.
E. Grunden seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

V. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

E. Buchan made a motion to adjourn.
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 5:44 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
E. Buchan