DeKalb Brilliance Academy Board Meeting Minutes

October 28, 2024, 7:00-9:00 PM

Minutes Draft

DeKalb Brilliance Academy

Minutes

DeKalb Brilliance Academy Board Meeting

Date and Time

Monday October 28, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Location

All meetings occur at the school's primary address: 2575A Snapfinger Road, Decatur, GA 30034.

If you have any trouble attending a board meeting, call or text our Head of School, Jocelyn Alter, at 404-618-2242.

Directors Present

B. Hartman (remote), B. Howell (remote), B. Riley (remote), C. Armour, Jr. (remote), C. Payton (remote), D. Watters (remote), J. Akpan (remote), J. Counts (remote), M. Freeland (remote), M. Greene (remote), Q. Johnson (remote), T. Ruffin (remote)

Directors Absent

T. Egbuna

Ex Officio Members Present

B. Miller, E. Parks, K. Herbert, N. Hill

Non Voting Members Present

B. Miller, E. Parks, K. Herbert, N. Hill

Guests Present

Brandi Pinckney, Glenda Collins, J. Alter, Jamye Adams, Jasmine Mcclain, Tonisha Footman, Yolanda Russell Gregory

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 Oct 28, 2024 at 7:02 PM.

C. Public Comment

No requests.

II. Consent agenda & meeting opening

A. Approve Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes from DeKalb Brilliance Academy Board Meeting on 09-15-24.

The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B. Mission and Vision

Read by Brittany Hartman and Curtis Armour

C. Board Commitments

Reviewed

III. Governance

A. Governance Committee Update

Led by Mike Freeland

Focus groups completed.

November meeting focus strategic planning.

IV. Finance

A. Finance Committee Update

Led by Quentin Johnson

EdTec financial reviewed. $10K of uncat was not captured in time but will be coded to construction in progress.

fund balance at 27%

finance is in a great place

V. Academics

A. Academics Committee Report Out

Led by Tareva Ruffin

Indicators of Success forthcoming to the dashboard

Curtis will be beginning pre-evalualtion

Targets in reading and math

Discussion:

What do you like about the academic dashboard?

What would you change and why?

Feedback:

Joseph asked about how to capture what is unique about DBA, Kedra answered that that qualitative data can be collected forthcoming

Nahkia placed in chat if the percentage for the academics math/reading is from MAP proficiency, Jocelyn answered yes.

Mike asked how staff feels about the kids that have been in the school longer their progress,

Kedra expressed concern for the 4th graders as they are not where we want them to be but hopeful looking at the 22-23 school year scores.

VI. Partnerships

A. Partnerships Committee Update

Brittany Hartman: corporate sponsorship connection ongoing

Silent action scheduled for summer 2025

Board recruitment in progress

Questions:

Joseph asked if there has been an inquiry on how these corporations can give back

VII. Facility

A. Facilities Taskforce

Led by Brian Howell pursuing other debts options

several expert eyes including EdTec, Parker Poe lawyers and consultants at Levelfield

Vote

Q. Johnson made a motion to have Dekalb Brilliance Academy Board of Directors approve the acquisition of the property for a purchase price of $5.85 million, plus closing costs and approve the loan up to $23 million from Equitable Facilities Fund. The Board further authorizes the Board Chair and Co-Founder/ Head of School to execute all necessary documents to complete the property acquisition and secure the loan.

B. Howell seconded the motion.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

Roll Call
B. Howell	Aye
B. Riley	Aye
J. Counts	Aye
T. Ruffin	Aye
D. Watters	Aye
C. Payton	Aye
T. Egbuna	Absent
M. Freeland	Aye
M. Greene	Aye
Q. Johnson	Aye
C. Armour, Jr.	Aye
B. Hartman	Aye
J. Akpan	Aye

VIII. School Leadership Report Out

A. School Leader Report Out

Head of School Report led by Jocelyn

fy25 immediate scope reviewed totaling a $2 million scope around the building

facility grant acquired and $3 million EFF loan

potential new hires in the works.

quarter 1 survey in progress

Operations Report led by Eva

all major building repairs and improvements have been completed including entry door and fire pump room backflow

successful partnerships with South DeKalb YMCA to secure facility use for Fall Festival on 11/16th 10am-2pm

state reporting upcoming

no findings on procurement portion of Nutritional Administrative Review

looking for quotes for movers to transition the building

Principal Report led by Kedra

extended 5 offers for staff, 1 SPED vacancy

in rigor arc concerning staff development

student advisory council launched

teachers will create digital portfolios to provide to families that follow students from K-8

semester 1 projects coming to a close

Celebrations of learning 12/5 and 12/6

IX. Board Workshop

A. Partnerships workshop

Make fundraising pages and launch fundraiser

X. Closing Items

A. Team shoutouts

Quentin Johnson gave a shout out to Jocelyn for her work on securing the grants and loans for the school.

Joseph gave Brian a shout out for the new building

Jocelyn gave shout out to Mike and Joseph and Brandon for partnership connections as well as academics committee and Brian for the new building

Eva gave a shout out to Quentin for coming in to partnerships

Yolanda Russell Gregory gave a shutout to board as a parent

Brandon gave a shout out to the teachers

Mesha gave a shutout to Kedra in her transparency cornering morale for the teachers and to Jocelyn and Brian for the new building

B. Meeting feedback survey

link provided

meeting for November discussed to change the date to the week prior to give staff a full week break

C. Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

M. Freeland