GEO Academies EBR

Minutes

GEO Academies EBR October Board Meeting

GEO Academies EBR will conduct its Board Meeting in accordance with La. R.S. 42:17.2

Date and Time

Thursday October 12, 2023 at 11:30 AM

Location

In Person:

 

GEO Academies EBR

Administration Building

2311 N. Sherwood Forest Dr.

Baton Rouge, LA  70815

 

Electronic Participation:

 

Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88098202733?pwd=MG02QVBoU3ZMZnVoYUEzazRxcnUzdz09

 

Members of the public may participate in the Board Meeting and submit public comments in-person at the anchor location or via electronic means.  Public comments for virtual meetings are accepted via the public making a live comment during the virtual meetings using the "raise hand" feature, emailing a comment by noon the day prior to the meeting to the Board Chair at GBRBoard@geoacademies.org or 225-927-1500.

 

If you have an ADA-qualifying disability and would like to request accommodations to attend a Board Meeting, please contact the Board Chair at GBRBoard@geoacademies.org or 225-927-1500.

Directors Present

D. Dixon, D. Slan, D. Williams (remote), J. Lewis (remote), K. Smith (remote), L. Anderson, T. Wade

Directors Absent

None

Guests Present

D. Teasley (remote), K. Teasley, M. Grand, S. Douglas

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

T. Wade called a meeting of the board of directors of GEO Academies EBR to order on Thursday Oct 12, 2023 at 11:35 AM.

C.

Approve Minutes

L. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from GEO Academies EBR August Board Meeting on 08-21-23.
D. Slan seconded the motion.

Chair Tamiara Wade requested modification to note the attendance of Jada Lewis and Kristen Smith as guests.

The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

II. Charter Renewal

A.

Charter Renewal

Ms. Tammy Morgan, Director of Charter Accountability, LDOE, shared with the Board the positive findings from the LDOE's reviews of GEO Prep Academy and GEO Next Generation High School as part of the charter renewal process for both schools.

III. Academic and Operational Update

A.

Operations - Loan Agreements

Draft loan agreements between GEO Prep Academy of Greater Baton Rouge and GEO Foundation, GEO Next Generation High School and GEO Foundation, and GEO Prep Mid-City and GEO Foundation were presented by the Foundation to the Board for signature. Board members stated that they had been provided the draft loan agreements only one day before this Board meeting when the Board meeting agenda was circulated to Board members via Board on Track. Board members directed the Foundation to provide full context and all supporting documentation pertaining to the draft loan agreements to the Board for review. Board members also stated that they had been provided with only one existing signed loan agreement for GEO Prep Academy of Greater Baton Rouge dated June 30, 2016, and the new draft loan agreements contained more egregious proposed repayment terms.  The Board deferred this item for further review.

B.

Transportation Update

The Board received an update from staff on the current status of the transportation program for all schools.

IV. Governance

A.

Election of Board Chair

D. Slan made a motion to Nominate Tamiara Wade for Board Chair.
L. Anderson seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
D. Dixon
Aye
J. Lewis
Aye
K. Smith
Aye
D. Williams
Aye
T. Wade
Abstain
L. Anderson
Aye
D. Slan
Aye

V. 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 12:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Grand