Brevard Academy
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday January 15, 2025 at 5:00 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:
- Ensure Academic Success for Every Student
- Provide Effective & Innovative Learning Environments
- Recruit, Hire and Retain Highly Effective Personnel
- Use Resources Effectively & Be Fiscally Responsible
- Engage Our Communities
Directors Present
Abe Pallas, Brandon Smith, Jamie Atkinson, Jennifer Silva (remote), Mark Franklin, Paul Cooper, Tyree Griffin
Directors Absent
Mark Campanini
Ex Officio Members Present
Ted Duncan
Non Voting Members Present
Ted Duncan
Guests Present
Ali Liubenov
I. Board Work Training Session--Open to the Public
A.
Board Training
II. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
Brenna Iden led us in the Pledge of Allegiance
D.
Approve Minutes
Tyree was remote and was marked absent
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Mr. Duncan corrected some action items that were passed.
III. Regular Meeting Business
A.
Student Spotlight
Camy Stirling gave an update about what is happening on the K-2 hallway. We have not been able to go on as many field trips this year because of the hurricane. We celebrated winter break with Polar Express day, had a 50s day for the 50th day of school, Pumpkin Day, Thanksgiving Family Picnic, Fire Prevention class.
Kindergarten has started Plants Domain, drew model of what they have learned, and OutDoor Ed has complimented this domain well.
1st Grade finished up with Egypt Unit, and a walk around in their amazing costumes
2nd Grade finished up Greek Unit and celebrated with a Greek Day
Have some exciting events coming up such as 100th day of school etc.
B.
Staff Spotlight
Several of our teacher were in top 25% of the state for Growth in EOGs
Rachel Coykendall - 3rd Grade Reading
Carly Hendrix - 4th Grade Math and Reading
Jen Iden - 4th Math and Reading
Jennifer Kelly - 5th Grade Reading
Sarah Kidston - 6th Grade Math
Nicole Gorry - 7/8th Grade Math and Math 1 -- National Board Recertified this year (independent board reviews this work/submission of work and certifies on national level)
C.
Community Partner Presentation
Tykhina Jones Thomas - with Blue Ridge Health (Director of Operations)
Launched on campus last week (1/7/25)
School based health care on campus T-Th, RN 2 days a week, Nurse Practitioner/ Behavioral Health on Thursdays.
This service is open to students, families, and staff.
Fully comprehensive, operates as a dr's office, can write scripts.
This way students are not missing school for wellness visits etc. If someone is too sick to come in the building curbside visits are available.
Potential for offering Community Health Drives?
D.
Opportunity for Public Comment
N/A
IV. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Budget Report - we are looking at having $78,000 surplus. $30,000 payment from unecumbered funds for bus.
USDA loan - will keep posted
B.
Governance and Policy
Abe, Brandon, Jen will be working on Board recruitment policy, but nothing to report right now.
C.
Development
Nothing to report, next meeting in February.
Upcoming event in March - State of the Charter Dinner - someone come in to discuss AI and how it is changing things in school
D.
Long Range Planning
Strategic Planning - 1 response from SIT team - it is a plus to know the board on a personal level, we should hold regular events to recruit students/staff and this would set BA a part from other schools.
Dr. Pallas suggests that we should have dates or follow up to make sure that things are happening along the 5 year plan. What is the goal this year? This way we have accountability.
Mr. Duncan said that each committee should make goals for the year, and when they are accomplished.
Change wording on Strategic Planning
First section from Goal to Priority
Second Section from Action we will take to Goals
As an Action Plan we should review our goals and where we stand/where are we behind?/what do we need to do to bump up? We should have biannual reviews by each committee on moving towards our goals.
If there is any more feedback we can bring it to February's meeting.
E.
Academic Excellence Update
Did not have Committee meeting on Monday because of snow.
Benchmark testing was completed. Have closed the gap for Tier Support in both Math and Reading from Beginning of Year (BOY) Tests and Middle of Year (MOY) tests.
V. Director Report
A.
Director Report
Good News - concluded 1st semester, Blur Ridge Health School Based Health is up and running
Next year's calendar will wrap up the same as we did this year, because we have year long classes.
Current enrollment is 421 students, lost 13 students this year.
Lottery opened for 2025-26 school year, already have 46 applicants.
Community Engagement - have added on website Community Tab on website, with community resources, free of charge we have added a parent business directory for families to browse to find local/in house services.
Open teaching positions have been advertised.
Action Items needed
1. approval of Title 1 grant writing contract
2. approval to submit Title 1 assurances
3. approval to hire new academic tutor positions - mostly in middle school, but ability to move around for interventions
B.
Important Upcoming Dates
January
- 13--Counselor Book Club on The Anxious Generation Begins
- 14--Enrollment Opens
- 20--MLK Jr. Holiday--Shcool Closed
February
- 1--Global Day of Play
- 4--Parent Information Night and 100th Day of School
- 6--2nd/3rd Grade CKLA Night
- 10-11--Basketball Tournament
- 17-18--School Closed for Workdays and PD
- 19--Parent Conferences and Board Meeting
VI. Items for Board Approval
A.
Committee Consent Items
VII. Other Business
A.
Announcement of Next Meeting
February 19, 2025 as next meeting
Ted reviewed the information on open meeting law compliance and navigating several documents in Board on Track. The board also discussed the need for bi-annual review of board nominations.