Brevard Academy

Minutes

April Board Meeting

Work Session and Regular Meeting

Date and Time

Wednesday April 17, 2024 at 5:30 PM

Location

Brevard Academy Music Room

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:

  1. Ensure Academic Success for Every Student
  2. Provide Effective & Innovative Learning Environments
  3. Recruit, Hire and Retain Highly Effective Personnel
  4. Use Resources Effectively & Be Fiscally Responsible
  5. Engage Our Communities

Directors Present

Abe Pallas, Jamie Atkinson, Jennifer Silva, Paul Cooper

Directors Absent

Mark Campanini, Mark Franklin

Ex Officio Members Present

Ted Duncan

Non Voting Members Present

Ted Duncan

I. Work Session

A.

Title 1 and Federal Budget Requirements

As a Title 1 school, we are required to provide transparency to the community on how those funds are being used. This includes sharing with parents and community at various points in the year a time for education and feedback on how these funds are being used.

II. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

Jamie Atkinson called a meeting of the board of directors of Brevard Academy to order on Wednesday Apr 17, 2024 at 5:30 PM.

C.

Pledge of Allegiance

Sophie and Hadley led the pledge.

D.

Approve Agenda

Paul Cooper made a motion to Approve the agenda as amended.
Abe Pallas seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Approve Minutes

Paul Cooper made a motion to approve the minutes from March Board Meeting on 03-20-24.
Jennifer Silva seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Student Spotlight

Hadley Bozwell discussed her favorite part of the 7th grade Charleston trip.  Hadley thought the trip was fun and exciting.  Sophie thought the Holocaust museum was the most interesting part of the 8th grade Washington D.C. trip.  Sophie went to the Arlington National Cemetary and found the gravesites of family members.

G.

Staff Spotlight

Jason Wolfe discussed highlights from middle school.  Middle school instruction has really developed this year with project-based learning.  Sixth-eight grades participated in a democracy project.  Ms. Augusto had her students write books this year.  We have an extra credit program for English 1 and Math 1.  Odyssey of the Mind focused on problem-solving.  Our team focused on a time travel play to navigate through history.  Students are building robots with Mr. Dennis in STEM.  8th-grade students studied water quality with Mr. Fariss.  Travel Band has a Spring Tour with Mr. Gardner.  Advanced Art is creating oil paintings.  Friday electives have several courses run by staff or community members, such as hiking and writing.  There are several sports offerings, such as basketball and volleyball.  6th-grade students participated in an overnight trip to Earthshine.  7th-grade students visited Charleston, and 8th-grade students visited Washington D.C.

 

Katie Campbell is our Teacher of the Year and Rookie of the Year.  Johnathan Fariss is our Beginning Teacher of the Year.  Elizabeth Airey is our Assistant of the Year.  

H.

Opportunity for Public Comment

III. Committee Reports

A.

Finance

Paul Cooper reviewed the Brevard Custom Encumbrance Dashboard.  We currently have a 82,231.60 surplus.  We do well with budgeting for the year, but need to improve budgeting for the longer term.  We currently have a little over 1.6 million in the bank.  

 

Ted Duncan said that we have 1.59 million in reserves and we can operate for 109.3 days.

B.

Governance and Policy

Abe Pallas discussed the Adult Code of Conduct and said that this policy for first read needs input from Officer Light. The  School-Based Clubs policy will be reviewed with the school's attorney and ready for discussion at the next Board meeting.

C.

Facilities

Jen Silva discussed the outdoor performing stage/outdoor classroom area.  Mr. Duncan said that we will need a parking area for ADA compliance.  One estimate received for the playground area and fitness course is 180,000.  We are pursuing additional estimates.  

D.

Development

Jen Silva discussed the last meeting and current and future states.  The committee would like to obtain additional sponsorships.  The profit made was a little over 3,500.  

E.

Long Range Planning

Proposed June meeting for June 12th instead of the 19th. Board Chair and Vice Chair will put out a call for agenda items for the July long range planning meeting.

IV. Director Report

A.

Director Report

Ted Duncan said that we are sponsoring a veteran through the Honor Flight program.  This Friday we are hosting our professional development day, Carpe Diem.  

Ted Duncan reviewed the Director's Report with the Board.

V. Items for Board Approval

A.

Committee Consent Items

B.

Finance Consent Items

Paul Cooper made a motion to approve the finance consent items.
Abe Pallas seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

C.

Governance/Policy

Abe Pallas made a motion to approve the Governance and Policy consent items.
Paul Cooper seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

D.

Facilities

Jennifer Silva made a motion to approve the Facilities' consent items.
Paul Cooper seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

E.

Development

Jennifer Silva made a motion to approve the development consent items.
Paul Cooper seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

F.

Director Requests

Abe Pallas made a motion to approve the hiring of Cynthia Coxie to fill kindergarten assistant position for the remainder of the year.
Jennifer Silva seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.

VI. Other Business

A.

Strategic Planning and Discussion

B.

Announcement of Next Meeting

Next meeting will be on May 15th.

VII. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

Paul Cooper made a motion to adjourn.
Jennifer Silva seconded the motion.
The board VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jamie Atkinson
Documents used during the meeting
  • 2023.Adult_Code_of_Conduct (2).docx
  • SCHOOL CLUB REQUEST FORM.docx.pdf
  • Bus Information - April 2024 Board of Directors Meeting.pdf
  • Director Report April 2024.pdf
  • 00. FY25 Annual Budget Draft - Brevard Academy--For Board Approval - FY25 Draft Budget (1).pdf
  • Bereavement_and_Other_Types_of_Leave.docx
  • BA-CFA 2400 Policy Development (1).docx
  • BA-CFA Occupational Therapist Job Description.pdf