Brevard Academy
Minutes
Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 18, 2026 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, Hannah Camenzind, Jamie Atkinson, Mark Franklin, Paul Cooper, Tyree Griffin
Directors Absent
Jennifer Silva, Trish Andrews
Ex Officio Members Present
Ted Duncan
Non Voting Members Present
Ted Duncan
Guests Present
Ali Liubenov
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
D.
Approve Meeting Agenda
E.
Approve Minutes
F.
Approve Special Meeting Minutes
II. Regular Meeting Business
A.
Beginning Teacher of the Year Finalist--Sarah Hersee
Dr. Karen Sumner (NCCAT Deputy Executive Director) and Rhonda Dillingham (NC Association for Public Charter Schools Executive Director) presented Sarah Hersee with a certificate as a Beginning of the Year Teacher Finalist. She will attend a week of PD in March and the Beginning of the Year Teacher will be announced on March 12 at Wake Forest University. This is a great honor. She is one of 27 teachers to be nominated and only 1 of 3 from a charter school.
B.
Good News
- Leo Koppel was accepted into the NCMEA Regional Jazz Clinic. He is the first student from BA to participate.
- Jen Iden was named as the Golden Leaf recipient for January.
- The Core Knowledge Foundation will be attending our Carpe Diem event to film Ms. Stirling and Ms. Peterson' session.
- Our AI Team is listed on the the White Squirrel Foundation Website.
C.
Student Highlight
No student highlight due to Parent Teacher Conferences.
D.
Staff Highlight
Sarah Hersee - Beginning of the Year Teacher Finalist
Camy Stirling - K-2 hallway representative
Showcasing what the K-2 hallway has been up to this year.
-Field Trips
-Polar Express Day
-50th Day of School Celebration and Sock Hop
-Pumpkin Day - Math and Science Stations
-Thanksgiving Family Celebration
-Fire Prevention
-100th Day of School Celebration
- Global Day of Play
-K: studied plants and are starting unit on farms, decoding skills/blending skills for literacy
-1st: just finished astronomy domain, presented projects to the class for the first time, working with speaking and listening skills, portable planetarium night
2nd: finished up life cycle units, also presented their projects to their class, just had Core Knowledge Night
Upcoming Events
- Week of the Young Child
-Mystery Guest Readers
-2nd: Westward Expansion Day
1st: 4th of July Celebration
K: Diana Wortham Theater Field Trip
Kindergarten Jumpstart
- Amber Ballew presented about what Jumpstart is and what families can expect. It is 3 days, and held in 2 separate sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. On Friday this year, the Kindergarten Teachers would like to do a combined session. Then the teachers will help decide as a team what the classroom placements will be. This is a time for families to be welcomed by the Kindergarten team and other staff members. This is also a great time for students to socialize, this helps teachers set up supports, observe, and determine classroom placements.
E.
Opportunity for Public Comment
None
III. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
87 days days of cash on hand
Top Expenses Categories and Top Revenue Categories discussed and summarized.
Executive Summary
$68,000 surplus
Tomorrow (February 19), we are closing on our USDA loan
- decided to fund us from Day 1
Fundraising
-We have brought in $38,000 this year
-We have moved from Flipcause to Bloomerang
-Our goal is $50,000 (for unbudgeted expenses) with the last day of school being the final day for this school year
-Outdoor Ed Summer Camps this year
B.
Governance
Finance Committee reviews Encumbered Funds and making it into a policy with the Policy Sub Committee. Just a policy related to our standard practice.
Board Commitment Letter - responsibilities of Board Members and commitments to what we are working towards, no conflicts of interest, and this letter needs to be signed every year at the Summer Board Retreat.
C.
Facilities
Tyree - roof leak $1950, HVAC, hot water heater $24,000
Safety Rail: $7300
Mr. Terry's office carpeted - $1800
Campus Expansion
D.
CEO Support and Evaluation
Fall Parent Survey results discussed.
IV. Director Report
A.
Director Report
-Enrollment: about 18% higher than we were at this time last year
-Staff and student attendance
-Discipline reports
-28 merits (positive referrals)
-Performance Framework Snapshot
-Director Report
-Staff Intent to Return - insights
-Proposed Calendar for 2026-27
V. Other Business
A.
Announcement of Next Meeting
Next meeting will be held on March 25 at the regular time, due to Spring Break Conflict.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- BA Board Committee Re-Imagined.png
- Brevard Academy Remarks.docx
- BoD Report January 2026.pdf
- January 2026--Finance Report (1).pdf
- Board Commitment Letter_ Conflict of Interest.docx
- Fall 2025 Parent Survey Results .pdf
- Referral Actions Jan. 26.pdf
- Jan. 26 Merits.pdf
- Referrals for Jan. 2026.pdf
- School Attendance (10).pdf
- Compliance Requirements August-January 2026.pdf
- Director Report February 2026.pdf
- Staff Intent to Return Themes 25-26.pdf
- Draft--2026-2027 School Calendar.pdf
Mr. Duncan led the pledge