GEO Academies EBR
Minutes
GEO Academies EBR October Board Meeting
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
C.
Approve Minutes
Chair Tamiara Wade requested modification to note the attendance of Jada Lewis and Kristen Smith as guests.
II. Charter Renewal
A.
Charter Renewal
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
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| D. Williams |
Aye
|
| D. Slan |
Aye
|
| L. Anderson |
Aye
|
| K. Smith |
Aye
|
| T. Wade |
Abstain
|
| D. Dixon |
Aye
|
| J. Lewis |
Aye
|
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.