Recent Successes

The Simple Vue Academy has officially been added to the redefinED Atlanta portfolio.

Academic Report

The Executive Director shared that a graduate profile has been created to guide student outcomes. The school has achieved a strong start to the year, with over 92% attendance in the first six weeks. All students completed MAP diagnostics in Reading and Math, enabling teachers and administrators to develop targeted strategies for addressing learning gaps. The new gifted program will launch in late fall, following the identification of eligible students. Additionally, students in the MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) program will begin receiving specialized support after fall break. The student support team continues to provide small group instruction and social-emotional learning support in classrooms to ensure equitable access to learning. Key upcoming items include progress reports at six weeks, gifted testing in October, and ongoing daily intensive instruction supported by at-home practice.

Finance Report

Current enrollment stands at 78 students, with eight withdrawals since the start of the year. Four new students were added last week, and an additional four are expected soon. The budget was originally based on an enrollment projection of 117 students, which will not be met, resulting in anticipated budget adjustments. To manage costs, SVA will consolidate the humanities and science teacher roles.

Governance & Operations Report

The Executive Director highlighted several areas where board support is needed to ensure clear and equitable school policies.

• Student and Family Handbook
  • Revise the terroristic threat section to include clear, school-specific procedures.
  • Add policy regarding birthday celebrations and outside food to address equity, allergies, and logistical challenges.
• Enrollment Policy
  • Strengthen procedures for transcript collection and student records compliance.
  • Ensure alignment with new laws regarding student records and transfers.
  • Benchmark policy against comparable schools for best practices.

The board discussed aligning officer terms with the fiscal year, which ends on June 30. While the bylaws specify two-year terms, adjustments were proposed to synchronize service periods.

Two prospective board members will be interviewed before the October Governance Committee meeting.

The Governance Committee reviewed updates to the grievance process, which will combine the Employee and Family Grievance Policies. Individuals raising concerns are first directed to the Executive Director, who provides guidance and references the grievance policy. If further action is needed, the matter is escalated to the Chair of the Governance Committee, and subsequently to the Board Chair, Dr. Monica. Board members will not respond individually to complaints, ensuring a consistent and centralized process.

September 15: SCSC Webinar was hosted to review the new platform and expectations.

September 16: Monitoring opened. Drafting policies will take place from September 16-24.

October 1: Governance Committee review. Gregg will attend this meeting and address questions related to legal compliance.

October 15: Board meeting to approve updated policies.

October 31: Monitoring closes.

The Finance Committee presented July’s financials. The finance committee provided a slide deck highlighting key metrics and trends, including revenue, expenditures, and cash management. Updates to the budget forecast reflect changes in enrollment and funding sources, and the committee is exploring strategies to strengthen financial stability, including setting aside funds in a dedicated savings account.

The board discussed plans for the end-of-year campaign, scheduled to run from October through mid-December, with a focus on engaging both local and well-known entrepreneurs. 

The spring event is recommended to use the Give Butter platform, and the save-the-date for the fundraising brunch is set for February 28th, with a current ticket price of $95. 

The board noted that follow-up is needed regarding a potential paint-and-sip fundraiser. 

The board discussed the current enrollment contract with Mariposa and a request to extend the agreement to support recruitment efforts for the upcoming year. The Executive Director proposed restructuring the contract from an activity-based model to a yield-based model, in which Mariposa would commit to recruiting a specified number of students. 

The board agreed to table the vote and review the restructured contract before moving forward.