Enrollment & Recruitment

Enrollment is currently at 84 students, compared to the budgeted enrollment of 117. The school needs to reach at least 100 students by October. There is an anticipated enrollment boost after Labor Day from families relocating from northern states. The goal is to reach at least 80% enrollment by the October FTE count. 

Additional marketing funds will be necessary to support recruitment. The current contract with Mariposa Consulting Group ends this month, and a new strategic marketing plan is being considered. This plan would strengthen student recruitment efforts and build a sustainable enrollment pipeline.

The board will need to discuss this proposal at the next meeting, and smaller short-term contracts may also be considered.

Academic & Student Support

MTSS screening begins this week.

MAP Assessments start at the end of the week; results have a quick turnaround and will inform academic support.

Upcoming key dates:

• CSP Grant information due 8/19
• GADOE Data Conference (8/18–20) is being attended by SVA's Registrar & Academic Dean

Systems & Compliance

The school is experiencing issues with access to the SLDS system, which is affecting LKES/TKES, GoIEP, and CLIP. PowerSchool has not yet identified the cause of the disconnection. 

In addition, the school has been placed on the high-risk monitoring list by the State Charter Schools Commission, which applies to all first- and second-year schools. As a result, the school must submit financial documentation each month.

Funding & Partnerships

There is potential funding on the horizon from RedefinED Atlanta, pending a portfolio vote. CSP monitoring deadlines are also approaching, and related grant information is due in the coming weeks.

Facilities & Technology

The school currently pays for its own internet service. The state is expected to assess the space to determine future support, but this may not occur until December.

The board reviewed the term tracker, which lists all Directors and Officers along with their term lengths. A key consideration is that term lengths determine the amount of training required by the State Charter Schools Commission (SCSC). New board members are required to complete more extensive training, while experienced members have fewer requirements.

The board received an update on SCSC monitoring. An upload that was originally scheduled has been delayed by 30 days. The training and opening of the monitoring portal are expected to take place around September 15, with the upload due on October 31. The SCSC is transitioning to a new portal, Epicenter, which is intended to be more user-friendly for schools.

Much of the upcoming monitoring will be policy-focused. The Governance Committee will review policies during the October 1 meeting, in preparation for adoption at our October 15 board meeting. Once adopted, the policies will be uploaded to the portal by October 31. 

The first Finance Committee meeting will be held at noon on August 20. Erika will obtain the July financials from the CFO so they can be reviewed and discussed during the meeting.

The board reviewed the June 2025 financials, which reflect the prior fiscal year. Beginning with the current fiscal year, the school will accelerate 'budget versus actual' reporting. The Finance Committee will ensure that the school’s key performance indicators align with the CPF framework. 

Candace is currently preparing both the 100% and 80% budgets, and headcount will need to be finalized by October. If enrollment remains at 84 students, this will represent a significant shortfall compared to budgeted projections.

The board discussed the current fundraising landscape, noting that economic uncertainty requires balancing efforts to attract new donors with retaining existing supporters and shifts in donor expectations.

End-of-Year Online Campaign (Who's Next? Invest-a-Thon)

The campaign is planned for the last week of October through the first full week of December. Donation tiers are set at $40, $75, and $100 for a six-month period. Donors will have the opportunity to vote on a slate of entrepreneurs that students may study in their entrepreneurship class. The campaign will focus on local entrepreneurs, with outreach to encourage them to share the campaign on social media. GiveButter will be used as the primary giving platform, though Ajuah will provide additional platform options.

Brunch for Books

The event will be held at Marcus Bar & Grille, which is donating the venue space. The only available date for the event is February 28, 2026, and the goal is to sell out all 120 seats. Each board member is expected to donate a basket for the silent auction.

Private Paint & Sip Night
The goal is to gather 25 board members and close friends for a private paint-and-sip event. The team is currently securing a venue, with potential dates at the end of December or January. Donations for paint supplies, wine, and other items will be requested. The marketing team will lead promotion for this event.