Brevard Academy
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Location
Brevard Academy Gym
Mission:
The Mission of Brevard Academy is to prepare its students to achieve academic excellence through the Core Knowledge Sequence. Through a partnership involving students, teachers, and parents the school strives to create citizens with strong moral character and active intellectual inquiry.
Vision:
Brevard Academy: A Challenge Foundation Academy (BA-CFA) a K-8 public charter school develops and encourages motivated, intellectually curious students who are skilled in critical thinking, individual expression, and problem-solving. From their diverse backgrounds, students accept our challenge to pursue personal and academic excellence. Through this pursuit, they become confident members of their community who lead by serving others.
Strategic Goals:
- Ensure Academic Success for Every Student
- Actively Engage Stakeholders to Strengthen and Enrich Our Communities
- Recruit, Hire and Retain Highly Effective Personnel
- Use Resources Effectively and Be Fiscally Responsible
- Provide Effective and Innovative Learning Environments
Directors Present
Abe Pallas, Brandon Smith, Jamie Atkinson, Jennifer Silva, Mark Campanini, Mark Franklin, Paul Cooper, Tyree Griffin
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
Ted Duncan
Non Voting Members Present
Ted Duncan
Guests Present
Ali Liubenov
I. Work Session
A.
Work Session
II. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Approve Meeting Agenda
D.
Approve Minutes
E.
Pledge of Allegiance
Liam and Eli Seefeldt led the pledge
III. Regular Meeting Business
A.
Student Spotlight
Athletics celebration last night.
2 championship teams: Girls Soccer and Co-Ed Tennis
17 players this year for Tennis - some that have never played, great life sport teaching advocacy and settling disputes.
Girls Soccer - 19 girls on the team this year - undefeated in Conference Play, and Conference Champs.
8th Grade Graduates
- Name, what grade they started attending BA, and favorite memory at BA
B.
Staff Highlights
End of Year Honors
-Teacher of the Year: Chad Campbell taught 5th grade this year/ will be Outdoor Ed next year
-Instructional Assistant of the Year: Ashley Baugher
-Beginning Teacher of the Year and Rookie of the Year: Sarah Hersee
C.
Good News
-Jennie VanDyke won the Golden Leaf
-Spring Champions
-Upcoming Summer Conference Presenters: Camy Stirling and Michelle Peterson; Amber Wolfe, Jamie Conley, Ted Duncan, Jen Iden
-Finding Nemo Jr. Success
-Democracy Project Celebration: several students presented, and had some great projects in each category
-PTO made April, May a wonderful time and make us feel celebrated and appreciated. Want to honor them and appreciate them. Kelly Brown - PTO President, Cynthia Coxie - Vice President, Heidi Philyaw - Treasurer, Jena Howard - Secretary
Incoming PTO: Heidi Philyaw - PTO President, Monika Holden - Vice President, Jena Howard- Secretary, Jessica Schwessinger - Treasurer
D.
Opportunity for Public Comment
Reanna Edwards - Science Teacher, sees a need for a dedicated space for STEM, having to set up with a shared space takes away from hands on learning
Derek Dennis - possibility of space seems so much more effective so that he does not have to just take stuff on a cart, feels he could take STEM to a higher level if he had a designated classroom
AIG - additional space would be appreciated as the AIG room is used for various offices, and used for other testing/meetings/etc
IV. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
$63,000 budget surplus
1.89 million cash on hand
Encumbered Funds Balance 1.7million
Wilmot Modular coming Friday to look at site to lease modular building. Can purchase after 3 years for a discounted price. Upfront cost $17-21,000. Lease the modular building for $35,000 a year for 3 years. No formal lease buyout. If we outright purchase the building we are responsible for the maintenance, if we lease then they are responsible for the maintenance outside of cleaning. If we lease they require $2 million insurance coverage, Juli Lefler is pretty confident that we have that coverage.
Paul Cooper: We would like these to be action items if at all possible. We have a dead bus sitting at the site where we want to put the modular building. The bus was purchased around 9 years ago, and has well over 200,00miles on it, and the transmission is going.
Carolina Thomas gave quote:
-$144,305 - for brand new bus with a 5 year warranty if purchased this summer
-2019 used bus: 77,000 miles on it, does not have warranty, but has every feature but not as broad of a door. $84,305 for the used bus, and in the process of refurbishing.
Roy said inventory is way down on school buses. These are in inventory now.
We have lost our local service person, and now have to go to Asheville for servicing. Servicing in Asheville will probably be higher as demand is higher there as well.
Buses are supposed to be serviced every 30 days for basic routine maintenance, and as needed for major needs. We are not currently doing that. Our buses are safe, but we do have needs that need to be met.
15 passenger vans
-anyone can drive, no additional mileage on buses, or different routes
-looking at used vans: if we had 3 that would be great, but 2 could work as well
-estimated price $80-90,000 for 2 used vans
With all 3 of these asks we are around $220,000 for these expenses. Paul does not feel that our unencumbered funds would take that much of a hit in the long run.
USDA: we cannot just use Cooper, we have to put it out for bids, which is why we started looking at modular buildings. Modulars are becoming more attractive. We only have one company that has put in a bid for the modulars.
Mr. Campanini has concerns about using a modular building, as far as the wear and years that it can sustain.
B.
Governance and Policy
Draft AI policy has been marked significantly. How can AI be used and safely in an educational setting? We need to have regular guidelines, and teachers using it for specialization in lower grades, but upper grades/students using it in specific use and guidelines. This policy would be reviewed yearly to see if any changes need to be made. This is the 1st reading for this policy, does not have to be final for posting.
Voting on Pay Policy tonight- eliminating one line to be more competitive than traditional districts
C.
Development/Fundraising
General update: Capital Campaign - potential opportunities and focus time on strategic planning
- need a more developed and simple strategic plan for other resources available
-spend time for committee meeting
D.
Long-Range Planning
Summer Retreat Training/Planning
E.
Academic Excellence Update
Total of 83 students in AIG for 2024-25 school year.
F.
Facilities
Installed the Peace Pole in the garden - for symbolism of unity and peace
V. Director Report
A.
Director Report
All items are up to date.
Enrollment is looking great. We have 182 applications.
All BT observations and summary evaluations have been completed.
EOG testing window is opening tomorrow.
End of year activities listed.
B.
Important Upcoming Dates
VI. Items for Board Approval
A.
Committee Consent Items
VII. Other Business
A.
Announcement of Next Meeting
Next meeting June 18, 2025
Discussion on setting a date and topics for the summer retreat.
Clarifying questions on the modular unit proposal.