Brighten Academy
Minutes
Brighten Academy Governing Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday July 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The Brighten Academy Governing Board will meet on Monday, July 27, 2026 at 6:00 pm, in the media center..
Directors Present
E. Hammonds, J. Smith, L. Bryant, M. Vitale, R. Coffee
Directors Absent
T. Cabrera
Ex Officio Members Present
S. Wells, T. Washington-Knight
Non Voting Members Present
S. Wells, T. Washington-Knight
Guests Present
A. Cameron, C. Johnson, C. Sparks, D. Davis, K. Smith, S. Littles
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Adoption of Agenda
adopted agenda with additional amendments minutes
D.
Approval of Minutes
II. Public Comment
A.
Aknowledgment of Guests
- Kecia Lewis shared concerns related to volleyball program standards, emphasizing the need for greater transparency, communication, and accountability.
- Turkessa Carter provided comments regarding the 8th grade math teacher position.
III. Executive Committee
A.
Building Brighten's Fundraising Future
LaWanna Ross of TOTB, LLC delivered a presentation on philanthropy, outlining the opportunity for Brighten to launch a fundraising program. She provided an overview of the model, key criteria, structural components, and examples of successful implementation.
B.
2026-2027 Transition Update
T. Knight‑Washington reported significant transitions for the upcoming school year, including onboarding 19 new staff members, which provides an opportunity to strengthen professional development and optimize efficiency. The New Teacher Academy is underway, and preparations to welcome staff back are in progress.
Technology challenges remain a hurdle, but leadership noted progress with Phase 1 completed and Phase 2 beginning this week, with board support needed to assess overall technology needs.
Enrollment stands at 769 students, with staffing needs including two full‑time counselors and one full‑time SPED teacher. Leadership is reviewing discipline practices, including adding bullying to the policy. The High‑Impact Tutoring Program will move forward with the application process.
IV. Finance Committee
A.
Finance Committee
V. School Leadership Report
A.
Information Only
See above under 2026-2027 Transition Update
VI. Governance Committee
A.
Info Only
F24 – Personnel Separation - As approved by the previous Policy/Governance Committee, we are omitting the Fair Dismissal Hearing and Post Termination Hearing sections. This has been vetted by legal counsel. Shared by Evony Hammonds for Board awareness; no action required.
B.
Items for Vote
This policy provides comprehensive social media guidelines to ensure responsible, legal, and professional social media use by staff and affiliated organizations.
This policy outlines Brighten's approach to preventing, investigating, and addressing bullying and cyberbullying to ensure a safe school environment. It also combines language from Douglas County's Bullying policy.