Brevard Academy
Minutes
Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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 Franklin, Paul Cooper
Directors Absent
Tyree Griffin
Ex Officio Members Present
Ted Duncan
Non Voting Members Present
Ted Duncan
Guests Present
Jennifer Iden
I. Work Session
A.
Work Session
II. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mr. Duncan led us in the pledge.
D.
Approve Meeting Agenda
E.
Approve Minutes
III. Regular Meeting Business
A.
Good News
Our AI Solve-A-Thon team has advanced to state finals.
Our boys' soccer team won the state championship.
Coach Airey introduced Elias Agrella-Sevilla as the starting 5th grader.
Staff News:
Ms. Hersee is engaged.
Ms. Gorry is pregnant.
Coach Airey and her family will be leaving to live and study overseas.
School News:
We had our first holiday concert on 12/16/25, successfully coordinated by Ms. Montgomery.
PTO is knocking it out of the park and raised $12,000 for the coffee fundraiser.
Amy Kelly was our December Golden Leaf winner.
The PTO along with Raindance Roofing supplied coffee to the staff.
B.
Student Highlight
Boys' Soccer Team advancing to state finals.
C.
Staff Highlight
Amber Wolfe discussed this year's Carpe Diem. Mountain Community School sees BA as a leader in charter schools and plans to bring their entire staff to Carpe Diem. Some presentation topics include: Autism in the General Education Setting, AI in Action, and Discourse.
MOY Benchmark Data was discussed. We are looking at what teachers are doing to support student growth.
D.
Opportunity for Public Comment
No one came for public comment.
IV. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Paul Cooper discussed the Budget Analysis Report.
We're sitting at 95.5 Days Cash on Hand and about 1.60M Cash on Hand.
We're very close on the USDA and building appraisal discussed.
B.
Governance and Policy
Abe Pallas lead a discussion on our Family Engagement Policy.
C.
Development/Fundraising
Jen Silva discussed Flipcause issues regarding payments.
D.
Long-Range Planning
Dr. Smith would like for each committee to schedule a meeting with him.
E.
Academic Excellence Update
Abe Pallas noted that no additional discussion is required after Amber Wolfe's MOY benchmark data and continued growth plan.
F.
Facilities
Mr. Duncan discussed successful and quick repairs of pavement, sidewalks, and drainage.
Currently working on completion of the athletic field.
Grant money needed for safety rail and K-2 awning.
G.
CEO Support and Evaluation
Completion of board assessments requested by Jamie Atkinson sometime over the holidays.
V. Director Report
A.
Director Report
Mr. Duncan stated that we currently have 424 students enrolled. We are losing 3 students and 2 students will be returning to us. We are trending up in enrollment.
Staff and student attendance at right about 95%.
Educator's Handbook behavior data discussed, including minors, referrals, and merits. Positive merits are strengthening family connections.
Teacher Working Conditions Survey was discussed, including key strengths and priority challenges. We always score well on these surveys.
In Epicenter, we are green all the way through.
Director Requests:
First day of school - August 12, 2026
Jamie Tinsley - Long-Term PE Assistant
VI. Other Business
A.
Announcement of Next Meeting
Next meeting will be January 21, 2026.
Discussed and reviewed the board annual calendar.
Introduced new possible board members.