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Brighten Academy

Minutes

Brighten Academy Charter School Governing Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday May 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Location

5897 Prestley Mill Rd 

Douglasville, GA 30135

The Brighten Academy Governing Board will meet on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 6:00 pm, in the Media Center.

Directors Present

C. Claiborne, J. Smith, K. Moses, M. Vitale, S. Battle

Directors Absent

C. Burns Falker

Guests Present

C. Sparks, D. Davis, S. Littles

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Smith called a meeting of the board of directors of Brighten Academy to order on Monday May 11, 2026 at 6:13 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

C.

Adoption of Agenda

J. Smith made a motion to adopt the amended agenda.
M. Vitale seconded the motion.

Amendments 

 

Information Only 

 

- Addition of the school leadership report 

- staff update 

april surplus 

contracts 

enrollroment update 

- financials 

 

Voting matter

 

- assistant principals description 

- financials 

- board calendar 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Approval of Minutes

J. Smith made a motion to approve the minutes from Brighten Academy Charter School Governing Board Meeting on 04-27-26.
C. Claiborne seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

New Board Member Ratification

J. Smith made a motion to accept the new board members.
K. Moses seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Public Comment

A.

Aknowledgment of Guests

Radiance Clay

Turkessa Carter 

III. School Leadership Report

A.

Information Only

FYI

  • April Surplus-1 student chair damaged; 33 damaged and/or lost books, instructional materials
  • Contracts to present for the 26/27 school year 
  • Enrollment Update 

B.

Voting Matters

J. Smith made a motion to approve the assistant job description as presented.
M. Vitale seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IV. Executive Committee

A.

Northwestern Mutual Board Member Incentive

Foregoing the Northwestern Mutual Board member incentive.

B.

FY 26-27 Board Officer Nominations

Board officer nominations are now open. 

 

Matt Vitale was nominated to be Board Treasurer.

V. Finance Committee

A.

Finance Committee

C. Claiborne made a motion to approve February financials.
K. Moses seconded the motion.

March financials and budget amendment will be moved to June 

 

- Treasurer, Cary presented the February financials

- Discussed stipends for the 2026-2027 school year 

- Policy will review Section D, Financial control, and determine how it can be updated. 

 

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VI. Governance Committee

A.

Info Only

Policies Reviewed

 

H7- Food Services. related to food services charges. TABLED.

F20- Personal Layoff (Reduction of Force). TABLED.

F24- Personel Seperation. Changes made: removed Fair Dismissal Hearing language. School issued property will be added.

 

 

B.

Items for Vote

J. Smith made a motion to Approve the structuring of leadership for the 2026-2027 school year.
C. Claiborne seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VII. Other Business

A.

Announcements

Founder's Day: May 15th 

Mean Girls Jr. play: May 15-17th 

Kindergarten graduation: May 14th 

 

VIII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:46 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. Smith