DeKalb Brilliance Academy
Minutes
FY27 Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday July 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Pre-work:
- review revised local wellness policy, staff handbook, and parent/family handbook (changes in red text (additions) and strikethrough (removals).
Access all board meeting materials here
Directors Present
J. Akpan (remote), J. Carruth (remote), L. Norris (remote), M. Freeland (remote), M. Greene (remote), Q. Johnson (remote), S. Samuels (remote)
Directors Absent
C. Armour, Jr., J. Counts
Ex Officio Members Present
K. Herbert
Non Voting Members Present
K. Herbert
Guests Present
J. Alter, Tonisha Footman
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 27, 2026 at 7:10 PM.
C.
Approve June meeting minutes
Q. Johnson made a motion to approve the minutes from June 2026 FY26 Full Board Meetings on 06-29-26.
J. Carruth seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
| J. Carruth |
Aye
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Absent
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Absent
|
II. Board votes
A.
Decision 1: Approval of Handbook and Policy Revisions
M. Greene made a motion to I move to approve the revisions as submitted to the board in the Local Wellness Policy, Staff Handbook and Student & Family Handbook, as submitted to the Board.
J. Carruth seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Carruth |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Absent
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Absent
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
B.
Decision 2: Vote on charter renewal
J. Carruth made a motion to I move to direct the DeKalb Brilliance staff to seek a five-year charter renewal for DeKalb Brilliance Academy.
Q. Johnson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Absent
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
| J. Carruth |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Absent
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
C.
Decision 3: Vote on FY26 Executive Bonuses
J. Akpan made a motion to I move to approve the issuance of FY26 executive merit bonuses of $5,000 per eligible head of school, Principal, and director of Ops , in accordance with the terms outlined in their employment contracts and at the Board’s sole discretion.
S. Samuels seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| J. Carruth |
Aye
|
| M. Freeland |
Aye
|
| M. Greene |
Aye
|
| S. Samuels |
Aye
|
| L. Norris |
Aye
|
| J. Counts |
Absent
|
| C. Armour, Jr. |
Absent
|
| Q. Johnson |
Aye
|
| J. Akpan |
Aye
|
III. 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 8:04 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
M. Freeland