The [MONTH] meting of the DeKalb Brilliance Academy Governing Board is called to order at [TIME].

Anyone that is here for public comment, please indicate by signing up on the clipboard in the back OR in the chat in zoom by X:10 PM if you would like to make a comment. We will have two minutes for each speaker, in the order in which we receive the request to comment.

If people sign up:

• Transparency: Board meetings are a public forum to provide transparency into the governance of the school. Engagement from the community is strongly encouraged and vital to that governance. We value and appreciate the input from our community members. As we proceed with public comments, we would like to remind everyone of the following guidelines:
  • Time Limit: A total of 30 minutes shall be set aside for public comment.  Each speaker will have a maximum of 2 minutes to speak.  A speaker may not sign up to speak more than once during the same public comment period.
  • Board Action: The board cannot respond to public comment in the meeting, and in general needs to listen, and then follow up after the board meeting, this is because the board acts through policies and votes as a governing body, not through individuals, so we cannot respond until the board has the information to respond as a group (as opposed to individually), as applicable. We understand this can feel awkward, but please know that we are taking careful notes and take all feedback to the board seriously. The board will direct an appropriate committee or the Head of Schools to engage in responding at a later time as necessary and appropriate.
  • Scope of discussion: Please be aware that certain topics cannot be discussed during the public comment period. These include, but are not limited to, pending investigations or legal matters, personnel matters, confidential student information and matters, and issues that are subject to ongoing grievance or complaint procedures. Any attempt to discuss these topics during public comment will not be permitted.
  • Discourse: Speakers are encouraged to maintain decorum and present their comments in a civil manner.  The Governing Board reserves the right to request any speaker engaging in defamatory comments to cease. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in adhering to these guidelines.
  • Any disruptive members of the public will be asked to cease their disruption to allow the Board meeting to continue. If the disruption continues, the disruptive member will be asked to leave the meeting.
• Start public comment: “the order we have for public comment is XYZ”
• If people do not sign up: “seeing no requests for public comment, we will move to the
  next section of our agenda”

A motion is not required to approve the consent agenda, we just need to see if there is any discussion, questions or objections before the agenda is considered for vote. 

Our mission: With unwavering commitment to exceptional academics, leadership development, and community collaboration, DeKalb Brilliance Academy prepares all Kindergarten-8th grade students to thrive in high school and college, have fulfilling careers, and become impactful leaders in our communities.

Our vision: Each child will know and leverage their unique brilliance to critically analyze the world around them and to design a better and more equitable future.

• Build excellence: We know that an excellent school starts with an excellent founding team. We come to our time together well-prepared, fulfill our commitments, and generate new ideas to accomplish our goals.
• Stay engaged: We stay engaged by “remaining morally, emotionally, intellectually, and socially involved in the dialogue.”
• Embrace disagreement: We value disagreement and agree to bring issues into the open. It is through dialogue, even when uncomfortable, that we grow as a team to best serve our students.
• Take responsibility for intent and impact: We assume best intent, and also take responsibility for the impact of our actions.
• Process, not the people: We know that everyone is working hard for the team, and look first at how to change the process, policies, or plans when we don’t reach our goals.

Please see slides here. 

Meetings have not yet commenced for FY25 school year. Top priorities will include making a school culture/academic dashboard (similar to the dashboard the Finance Committee uses), and getting trained on LKES for leader evaluation. 

• Successful design session with families, staff, and board. 
• Working with architects to reconcile costs with dream ideas (e.g. removing outdoor eating courtyard). 
• Due diligence is going well (no major issues in any of inspections so far). 
• Continuing to negotiate with DeKalb County on earlier sewer capacity project date.
• Underwriting with multiple lenders is underway with term sheets being submitted the week of August 5th. 

Please see May financial details here and financial presentation here. 

• FY24 grants 100% drawn down
• Reduced spending has increased year-end cash projections (projected to end the year above 60-days cash on hand requirement. 
• Uncategorized expenses will be high in June-August due to high volume of purchasing needed to launch school year, and limited staff capacity during this time.

Meetings have not yet commenced for FY25 school year. Main goals will be strategic planning, board recruitment, and ensuring board and school compliance. 

Partnership Goals - Project Plan: 

• Data-driven, compliant committee: Updated to include time frame around posting agenda and meeting minutes.  
• Board individual fundraising: continue current goal
• Board individual partner recruitment: fields secured, and we are still finalizing the dates. Tentative schedule: 
  • Semester 1 Coaching - October 
  • Semester 2 Coaching - March 
• Fundraising event: 
  • Commerce Club in November
  • Silent Auction in February

Sgt Stephanie Morris 

Works for south precinct as the administrative supervisor for the Major. She has been with DeKalb for 9 years, worked as a road officer for 6 years before she was promoted. Before policing she worked in a domestic violence shelter while she was in college, which is what opened the doors for her into policing. She holds a bachelor’s in social work and criminal justice. 

$100 per hour, $300 per day,  all school days- roughly $1500 per week.

• Review Y2 goal report out summary
• Review Y3 board vision/priorities and Y3 staff priorities/goals 
• Project plan/backwards map in BoardOnTrac
• Shareout - what is needed from the rest of the board to be successful?