David read the ERA mission statement. 

Dave read the ERA Conflict of Interest and Ethics Statement

No conflict brought forward

Jeremy- did not receive public comments via email. 

Opened up to call for public comments:

1) Kathryn Bryant- 2 new middle school TA positions- Having TA's has been very helpful.  TAs doing well. 

2) Melanie Daryani- Positive comments as PTO representative

Mrs. Sealy sharing parent survey data.

See attached Parent data document.

Discussion around this survey. 

• Topics touched on field trips, activity bus, strength of our teachers.
• Community connections- ways to facilitate and improve that.
• Awareness of resources- communication around that.
• Diversity-ways to make everyone feel their cultures are respected

Next Steps- Taking action

Mrs. Sealy and Mrs. Martin 

Approved these 2024-2025 School Goals

• By the end of 2024-25 school year ERA will meet or exceed NCDPI academic growth standards in Math and ELA
  • Title 1 funds helped to hire TA's, stipends to teachers for tutoring, new guidance counselor. 
  • Math 1, Math 3, English 2- saw student growth in all three subjects.
  • Mrs. Martin spoke about K-8- Summarized Aimsweb data- testing summarized. All math and literacy data trending in positive direction. Teachers weigh in for what they see in classroom. 
• By February 2025 we will begin a draft a 5 year STEAM growth plan for ERA that aligns with the NCDPI rubric for STEM education
  • Discussed creating a walkthrough tool rooted in best practices and ensure admin is compliant in completing observations and walkthroughs.
  • Conduct research rooted in best practices site visits
  • Analyze the current state of the school as it relates to STEAM education and create a vision for where we want to be.
  • What came out of this is possibly hiring a STEAM coordinator- taking stock of where we are, listening sessions, board tours. 
  • Admin team looking at doing a newsletter, funding sources
• Students will have a sense of emotional well-being and physical safety at school as measured by survey data completed by the School Improvement Team throughout the 2024-25 school year.
  • Increase retention of diversity students
  • create a gender support student policy for ERA
  • Increase teachers that look like them, targeting marketing tactics

Discussion around what was presented. 

Dave discussed Board Progress Goals Document- 

(see attached document)

Pamela giving an update: 

• Done a lot of forming committee and up and running. 
• Shared a document regarding formalizing a fundraising committee to secure financial resources for ERA and Fundraising policies & procedures document.
• Pamela will share the document for board review and voting in February board meeting.

Discussion on Summer Camps see attached document.

• Proposal that lays out information regarding summer camps. 
• Board involved due to money coming in and out- goal is not to be a money maker but to help support teachers financially over summer and give students opportunities. 
• Sabrina made comments- coordination of logistics of camps, Pamela made comments and Dave made comments. 

Lindsey Sealy discussion of Custodial document (see attachment)

• Seeing issues with City Wide which is current agency that does school janitorial services.
• Proposing to hire through ERA versus outside agency
  • Hire facilities manager- part of ERA team
  • 3 custodians (hourly employees)

Sabrina discussed Budget Report- Through December a summary. 

Lindsay and Sabrina went through budget. 

• We are on track with budget between revenues and expenses.
• Lindsay went through with Prestige line by line for this budget
• Dave asked some questions regarding summer camps.

Sabrina- has been unable to be present as School Improvement Team Liaison recently due to swim coaching practices. Need a replacement for that role.  For February-May meetings. 

Margaret volunteered for that role. 

Fall Testing:

• High School EOCs were completed.
• Biology re-norming tests, so no scores will come back until the Spring.
• English II, Math I and Math 3 scores have come back and were significantly higher than state average as well as higher in student percentiles
• K-8 Benchmarks - Multi-Tiered System of Support Data Days have been great with our new MTSS Interventionist, Melissa Madison.  All students in K-8 did their Middle of Year Benchmarks and data has been reviewed with teachers to determine how to meet each student where their needs are.

Staffing: 

• Mrs. Almers (TA) moved into the admin assistant new position approved by the board
• Mrs. Madison (1st grade) moved to the MTSS Position
• Mrs. Towson (EC) moved into the 1st grade position
• Mrs. Wheeley (4-5 TA) has added 3rd grade and is now the 3-5 TA
• We’ve hired Helen Fuller (former EC teacher for the same student) as a contracted employee through the remainder of the year for that position (this is great to fulfill the needs of the settlement)
• Mr. McKnight - new ECTA (replacing the one that left in December)
• Mr. Brenden - new Middle School TA (new Title 1 position)
• Mr. Bannister - new Middle School Math Teacher (replacing Ms. Erickson)
• Ms. Adams (former retiree) will replace Mr. Nijhout-Rowe part time.
• Currently interviewing for a 2nd grade TA position.

Children’s Market

• Was in December and was well attended!
• ERA’s Morning Show has started

Lottery is Open

• Intent to Return - 75% of all currently enrolled students have completed. All so far are returning. 
• The Intent to Return form will remain open for 2 more weeks through the end of the month.
• Using the lottery program “Lotterease” (similar to other charter schools in the area).
• So far, great technical support and ease of use!
• Currently we have 63 siblings/staff/Board member applicants in grades K-10. (17 in Kindergarten, 13 in 6th, 9 in 9th.)
• The lottery application has been open for 2 weeks and as of this morning

New PA System

• The new PA system was installed and has been working fantastic. We will have a lockdown drill on February 3.
  • The new PA system will be capable of all call and direct calling in classrooms which we previously could not do. This feature will be updated in about 2 weeks.

Website Updates

• Updated pictures
• Reorganized the home page (still need to figure out the logo on the mobile version)
• Added new images for the news section so it’s not all repeating the same image
• Edited the menu items (organized under 4 headers)
• Updated the pages:
  • Apply
  • High School
  • Student Services
  • Why ERA?
  • Annual Fund

School Improvement Team

• The school improvement plan was voted on and approved by the faculty. 
  • 4 Goals that relate closely to the School/ED Goals 
  • Reviewed survey data collected and are working actively on developing a cell phone policy to present to the BoD.

Daved commented on possibly adding Board's Bio's to website.
 

No closed session items