Élan Academy Charter School

Minutes

September Board Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday September 27, 2023 at 5:30 PM

Location

Elan Academy 

6501 Berkley Dr.

New Orleans, LA 70131

Elan Academy

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. 

Directors Present

D. Patin, J. Thibodeaux, R. Green, S. Rademaker

Directors Absent

D. Barnes, E. Marrero-Savoie, G. Briggs

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

D. Patin called a meeting of the board of directors of Élan Academy Charter School to order on Wednesday Sep 27, 2023 at 5:34 PM.

C.

Approval of Today’s Meeting Agenda - Darren Patin (Voting)

J. Thibodeaux made a motion to approve the meeting agenda for september meeting Elan Academy Board Meeting on 08-30-23.
S. Rademaker seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Head of School Report

A.

Head of School Report – Dr. Melanie Askew Clark (Voting)

  • Pupil Progression Plan for 2023-2024 - NOLAPS
  • Saltwater Intrusion Meeting Friday at 11:00am - NOLAPS
  • Number of vacancies and resignations so far this year
  • 407 students currently
  • openings in Pre-K but awaiting NOLA-PS approval
  • Facility projects - Basketball Court - Waiting on District Approval of Facility Alterations Request (Awaiting Blueprints to Send to the District)
  • Cafeteria & Building Signage (Expecting Designs Friday 9/29)
  • Pre-K and Kindergarten Building Code Project (Completed)
  • Suspensions at 3% - bus suspensions mostly
  • Gulf Coast Bank donated $20K for Kaboom project
  • Luau set for Sept 29 evening - family event
  • Promethian board damages are being replaced
  • 63 new scholars 1-8; 36 in testing grades
J. Thibodeaux made a motion to Approve head of school report.
R. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

III. Governance

A.

Governance Committee Report - Darren Patin (Voting)

Discussed facilities status of repairs - mostly finished; awaiting plumbing repairs

 

Discussed vendor status - selection of A&S as transportation vendor; food vendor to be selected shortly.

 

Discussed pending litigation matters

 

Discussed board recruitment status - awaiting word from AEDC president and neighborhood association outreach

 

Staffing updates were discussed

 

Discussed plans for Dr. Clark's maternity leave

S. Rademaker made a motion to Approve governance committee report.
J. Thibodeaux seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

IV. Academic

A.

Academic Committee Report –

No meeting this month

V. Finance

A.

Finance Committee Report –

Detailed walkthrough of financials, and discussion of template report that will be submitted to the board moving forward with 4th Sector

 

Projected revenues are higher than budgeted; projected expenses are lower than budgeted so surplus funds are expected

 

Receiving funds from OPSB for move; also reimbursement from NSNO

 

Added increase for transportation costs with A&S contract

 

Kevin Cox with 4th Sector discussed EdTec transition and finance report dashboards

 

Audit will be starting in next couple of weeks

 

 

S. Rademaker made a motion to approve the finance committee report.
R. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Development

A.

Development Committee Report –

Popcorn fundraiser - Double Good will be selected - one month rollout

 

Consideration of evening cocktail event

 

J. Thibodeaux made a motion to Approve development committee report.
R. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VII. Additional Business

A.

Old Business

B.

New Business - Darren Patin

C.

Consideration and vote on new transportation vendor contract

S. Rademaker made a motion to Approve the HOS to execute transportation contract with A&S Transportation.
R. Green seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VIII. 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 6:19 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
J. Thibodeaux