Turkessa Carter inquired about staffing plans for the upcoming school year, specifically asking whether a new 8th grade math teacher has been hired and, if not, whether the board anticipates bringing someone under contract. Carter emphasized the importance of ensuring continuity and adequate instructional support for middle‑grade mathematics.

Kriston Peterson addressed the board regarding the protection of student‑issued devices. Peterson shared information about available insurance options for families and noted that they will provide hard‑shell protective cases to reduce breakage and extend the usable life of student technology. Peterson encouraged continued communication with families to ensure they understand both the insurance process and device‑care expectations, if we accepted insurance option she had shared.

Reeves raised several items related to parent engagement and school operations. These included requests for improved parent access to student information, questions about recruitment and retention strategies for faculty and staff, and concerns regarding consistency in disciplinary actions. Reeves also referenced the school’s core values and encouraged stronger accountability measures aligned with those values.

The board reviewed the Comprehensive Compensation Study Proposal submitted by HR Unlimited Consulting LLC for Brighten Charter School. The study includes full compensation benchmarking for all FY27 staffing positions, development of salary ranges, internal pay‑equity analysis, and a written report with recommendations. The consultant will benchmark Brighten’s salaries against Douglas County, Paulding County, Carroll County, Georgia charter peers, GaDOE data, and BLS wage data. During discussion, the board agreed to add Cobb County School District as an additional market comparator to strengthen regional salary benchmarking and ensure broader competitive analysis at the total project cost of $5,750. The board further agreed that the Finance Committee will oversee and carry out the process once the proposal is signed. This study will provide school leadership with a thorough, data-driven analysis of current compensation across all staff categories.

Establishing a committee called SEFAC (Staffing Equity & Fiscal Alignment Committee).

Ms. Washington‑Knight and Ms. Wells were formally introduced as members of the incoming leadership team. Assistant Principals C. Sparks and S. Littles expressed that they had no concerns regarding the transition.

Ms. Wells provided closing remarks, offering her appreciation to the Board, staff, and community. She extended thanks for the support shown throughout the transition process and affirmed her commitment to a smooth, collaborative start to the new school year.

Monthly Financials 

• Year-to-date (YTD) revenues through May were $10.60 million, exceeding the budget by $137K, mainly due to ERC refunds.
• Net income remains positive, with a YTD surplus of $630K and a May monthly surplus of $74K.
• Cash balance at the end of May was $5.24 million, representing about 192 days of operating cash on hand.
• The school continues to meet all state financial performance standards and maintains a strong financial position

Communication & Operations

• Open House/Calendar: Information is being shared; dissemination is ongoing.
• Master Schedules: In progress and being communicated to stakeholders.

Facilities & Safety

• Safety and Security: Updates are being communicated; focus remains on maintaining a secure environment.
• Emergency Response Plan: Plan is under review and part of ongoing communication.
• School Operations: Efforts are underway at the district level to streamline and coordinate operations.

Curriculum & Staffing

• Curriculum: No specific update provided in this report.
• Staffing: 18 new staff members are completing onboarding paperwork. Recruitment for an 8th grade math teacher is active, with candidates under consideration.

School Nutrition

• Update: The school nutrition program has been reviewed and is cleared for operation.

Dress Code

• Recommendation: A one-page summary was shared with leadership. The current dress code policy will remain in place for now, with a plan to review and update the policy over the next year.

Athletics

• Update: No major changes. A participation waiver has been distributed. Dates for tryouts and summer camp have been shared. Leadership is working to strengthen the structure and communication for athletics.

Social Media Policy is under review

Website Update under review

Discipline Policy - tabled for further review