Brevard Academy
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday February 19, 2025 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:
- 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, Jamie Atkinson, Jennifer Silva, Mark Campanini, Mark Franklin, Paul Cooper, Tyree Griffin
Directors Absent
Brandon Smith
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.
Approve Agenda
D.
Approve Minutes
E.
Pledge of Allegiance
II. Regular Meeting Business
A.
Student Spotlight
4th Graders
- Ruby Malefyt, Selah Bauman, Adeline Baugher, Noah Busche
- Each student presented facts about their Biltmore Estate Field Trip, what they learned, and their favorite part
B.
Staff Highlights
Athletic Highlights - Our winter sports have concluded, both girls and boys basketball made it through the first round of the conference tournament, Pep Squad was a huge hit this year
- Spring is our busiest season of sports: girls soccer, boys volleyball, co-ed tennis, golf, and mountain biking
3rd - have finished the human body, Roman civilizations
4th - Biltmore Estate Field Trip
5th - Muddy Sneakers and trout in the classroom
C.
Good News
Our movable chicken coop is on campus! We will begin raising hatchlings in the spring.
Michelle Peterson and Camy Stirling were selected to present at the Core Knowledge Conference in Orlando, FL
Jen Iden, Jamie COnley, and Amber Wolfe presented at the Western Carolina iReady Collaborative Conference
3 of our students were selected for their artwork for display
- Bowen Osborne - 8th
-Tessa Toler - 7th
-Andrin Daniels - 5th
Chad Campbell was selected for our Golden Leaf
D.
Opportunity for Public Comment
None
III. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Much larger surplus than normal because of the journaling for the bus purchase.
USDA update - Mr. Cooper turned in a significant report last week. Only thing outstanding is the cost of civil enguineering from Cooper Construction
B.
Governance and Policy
Orientation should be post selection of becoming a member of the board. Recommending a specific start date for each term beginning in July. Limit the number of Parent/Guardians of students on the board to less than 1/3.
C.
Development
Please register to get your ticket for the Jeffersonian Dinner. 3 interactive experiences at the dinner revolving around AI in schools.
D.
Long Range Planning
Brandon, Ted, and Jamie met, and Brandon agreed to provide some structure for the Strategic Planning.
Dr. Pallas suggests that there needs to be a timeline associated with each goal.
Jamie said we will work on streamlining and "training" so that language is more cohesive.
Mr. Duncan said that having goals within each committee is also helpful with action items, and strategic planning. This also helps with flexibility with the strategic plans.
E.
Academic Excellence Update
This material was presented at the last board meeting.
IV. Director Report
A.
Director Report
About 10 less applicants than last year tracking.
We are not a private school. This came up with the Vision Class that came to visit the campus.
Discipline Report discussed.
Career Fairs are coming up, and Mr. Duncan will be attending.
Currently advertising for all open positions, and goals have been set for all instructional staff.
Hire an OutDoor Education teacher in house, so that we are not using a third party hire. This will give more flexibility throughout the day, and not have to hire a person to be with the Mountain Roots instructor. It will be written in their contract that they must have a bus license, for field trips etc.
B.
Important Upcoming Dates
- February 25th - Clarence Henderson Presentation
- Carpe Diem March 19
- State of the Charter Dinner March 20
- Could we move the Board Meeting from March 19 to March 12?
- Could we move the lottery to the week of March 17?
V. Items for Board Approval
A.
Committee Consent Items
Long Range Planning - Strategic Planning for 2025-2030 - motion to pass - Jamie Atkinson, and Mark Franklin, motion unanimous
Facilities - 1. adding electrical meter for cameras and lights on the back field costs will most likely be covered by Duke energy or Safety Grant. 2. Approval for Civil Engineering Work for FEMA Projects - $17,000-20,000 for estimate. Motion to approve - Paul Cooper, Dr. Abe Pallas, motion carries as unanimous
Policy and Governance - Political Action Policy - motion to pass - Dr. Abe Pallas, Mark Franklin, motion passes unanimous
Director Requests
1. Summer School Plan Approval - Michael Terry
2. End of Grade Testing Remediation and Summer Testing Plan - Michael Terry
- motion to approve Jen Silva, Tyree Griffin, motion unanimous approval
3. Lottery Date for 2025-2026 School Year
4. 2025-2026 School Calendar - subject to alignment with Spring Break for TCS
5. Moving next Board Meeting to March 12
- motion to approve Dr. Abe Pallas, Paul Cooper, motion carries unanimous
6. Janice Smith - EC Teacher Approval
7. Elizabeth Shirley - Part time Instructional Assistant
8. Kristen Green - Part time Instructional Assistant
- motion to approve Jamie Atkinson, Mark Franklin, motion carries unanimous
VI. Other Business
A.
Announcement of Next Meeting
moved to March 12, 2025
Noah Busche (4th Grader) led pledge