DeKalb Brilliance Academy
Minutes
FY26 Full Board Meetings
Date and Time
Monday July 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Pre-work:
- Review minor proposed policy revisions (in red) in staff and student/family handbooks recommended by DBA lawyers
- Familiarize yourself with meeting slides
Directors Present
B. Hartman, C. Armour, Jr. (remote), J. Akpan, J. Caruth, J. Counts, L. Norris, M. Freeland, M. Greene, Q. Johnson, S. Samuels
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
K. Herbert
Non Voting Members Present
K. Herbert
Guests Present
J. Alter, T. Logan
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
M. Freeland called a meeting of the board of directors of DeKalb Brilliance Academy to order on Monday Jul 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM.
C.
Approve June meeting minutes
M. Greene made a motion to approve the minutes from DeKalb Brilliance Academy Board Meeting on 06-23-25.
B. Hartman seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| B. Hartman |
Aye
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Aye
|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
| J. Caruth |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Aye
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
II. Meeting opening
A.
Mission and Vision
B.
Board Commitments
C.
Public Comment
III. Committee Updates
A.
Committee Updates
Joseph - Vice Chair
Jazmin - Secretary
Q. Johnson made a motion to Approve officers for FY26: Michael Freeland - Chair, Joseph Akpan - Vice Chair, Quentin Johnson - Treasurer, and Jazmin Counts - Secretary.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| B. Hartman |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Aye
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Aye
|
| J. Caruth |
Aye
|
IV. Board Votes
A.
Approval of Handbook and Policy Revisions
J. Akpan made a motion to Move to approve the recommended revisions from the school’s legal counsel in the Staff Handbook and Student & Family Handbook, as submitted to the Board.
B. Hartman seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| J. Caruth |
Aye
|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
| B. Hartman |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Aye
|
Q. Johnson made a motion to Move to approve the issuance of FY25 executive merit bonuses of $5,000 per eligible executive, in accordance with the terms outlined in their employment contracts and at the Board’s sole discretion.
J. Counts seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Counts |
Aye
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| J. Caruth |
Aye
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| B. Hartman |
Aye
|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
V. Closing Items
A.
Team shoutouts
B.
Meeting closing
C.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
M. Freeland
no public comment