Élan Academy Charter School

Minutes

August 2026 Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday August 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM

6501 Berkley Dr., New Orleans, LA 70131; (504) 619-9720; www.elanacademy.org 

The matters listed are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair to be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may, in fact, be discussed. Other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. All agenda items are informational unless otherwise denoted, though all committee reports require a vote for acceptance. The meeting will be held on the campus of the school. 

 

All meetings are lived streamed from: https://tinyurl.com/elanboard
 

Directors Present

A. Gonzalez, D. Patin, G. Briggs, J. Thibodeaux, L. Knight, T. Patterson

Directors Absent

C. Silas, G. Thomas-Batiste

Guests Present

Alicia Humphries, M. Clark

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Thibodeaux called a meeting of the board of directors of Élan Academy Charter School to order on Wednesday Aug 26, 2026 at 5:44 PM.

C.

Approve Minutes from June 2026 Board Meeting

G. Briggs made a motion to approve the minutes from Board of Directors Meeting on 06-24-26.
D. Patin seconded the motion.

No Discussion

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Approve minutes from 2025/2026 Governance Committee Meetings

D. Patin made a motion to approve the minutes from 2025/2026 Governance Committee (9.24.25, 1.28.26, & 3.25.26).
G. Briggs seconded the motion.

No Discussion

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approve minutes from 2025/2026 Finance/Development Committee Meetings

G. Briggs made a motion to approve the minutes from 2025/2026 Finance/Development Committee (12.17.25, 1.28.26, & 3.25.26).
A. Gonzalez seconded the motion.

No Discussion

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Approve minutes from 2025/2026 Academic Committee Meetings

A. Gonzalez made a motion to approve the minutes from 2025/2026 Academic Committee.
T. Patterson seconded the motion.

No discussion

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

G.

Approve minutes from 2025/2026 CEO Support Committee Meetings

A. Gonzalez made a motion to approve the minutes from CEO Support Committee CEO Support And Eval Committee Meeting on 06-16-26.
G. Briggs seconded the motion.

No discussion

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. CEO Report

A.

CEO Report

Need to raise funds — Gala for 2027

- Consider all of your connections and resources

- $85K Goal

- Possibly increase Board Dues

- Share/Like Elan Academy Social Media

- Car Decal 

- Board Committee Goals — revise/update/reassess; great goals but may have been too aggressive 1st year out.

 

 

Jeremy (Board Chair)

- Calendar of Events

- Use a signup for school events

- Invite board members to visit school on Friday Mornings

 

 

III. Finance/Development Committee

A.

FYE 2026 YTD Financial Review

- Reviewed FYE2026 YTD Financials with Sector 4

- Review and approve engagement letter provided by Daigrepont & Brian, CPA

B.

FYE 2027 Budget Discussion

- Factor in Depreciation when reviewing the 2027 Budget

- Need to review the budget that was presented and reviewed at the July 2026 meeting — some changes were made (La. Governor Exe Order changes and depreciation added)

- Need to get the audit completed and definitely add a Dec board meeting to solely approve the audit

- Question for the board to consider: How much of a deficit are we willing to have for FYE 2027 Budget, but must decrease over time not increase.

IV. Governance Committee

A.

Discussion and approval of FYE 2026/2027 Board/Committee meeting calendar

Consider approving the calendar and not the JUne Retreat

V. Other Business

A.

FYE 2026 Audit/AUPs Engagement Letter Approval

Motion to Gary Briggs.
T. Patterson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

FYE 2026/2027 Budget Adoption

Motion to Alex Gonzalez.
D. Patin seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Amendment of the Agenda - 2027 Budget

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:24 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
L. Knight