Brevard Academy
Minutes
Board Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday April 23, 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
- 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, Mark Franklin, Paul Cooper, Tyree Griffin
Directors Absent
Jennifer Silva, Mark Campanini
Ex Officio Members Present
Ted Duncan
Non Voting Members Present
Ted Duncan
Guests Present
Ali Liubenov
I. Closed Session
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
B.
Record Attendance
C.
Fundraising Contract Engagement
II. Opening Items
A.
Approve Meeting Agenda
B.
Approve Minutes
C.
Pledge of Allegiance
6th graders - Annie Wooldridge and Logan Tofil
III. Regular Meeting Business
A.
Student Spotlight
6th Grade went on the Earthshine Field Trip. Annie Wooldridge and Logan Tofil came to speak about the trip. It was focused on teamwork and breaking students into new groups rather than their usual friend groups.
7th Grade went to Charleston - Olivia Ellis and Ayla Campbell enjoyed the caverns and the battleships.
8th Graders went to DC - Ella Wilde and Aiden Basting enjoyed the monuments, memorials, and changing of the guards. Really loved getting immersed in the history.
B.
Staff Highlights
Amber Wolfe - Spring Benchmark Data Overview
62% showing proficiency in Math, still pushing with instruction and projected to show 68% or higher proficiency
71% showing proficiency in Reading, projected proficiency is 68% or higher as well
What do we do with these numbers? We are still taking action in the classroom.
1. Continuing with the curriculum and pacing of it. Standards already taught, and benchmark data
2. Spiral reviews - reviewing previous lessons for 5-10 minutes
3. Cross-curricular support - how to plug in verbiage into other classes as well for extra practice
4. Targeted Domains and NC Standards - Teach to the standards that the state have said we need for success, pulling resources, etc.
5. EOG Format and Tools Confidence - how to use calculators and what the test may look like
6. Test Taking and Anxiety Management Strategies - celebrate how much they learned, take a walk before the test, feed students breakfast, here are some strategies for students with anxiety.
C.
Good News
Emily Page won the Golden Leaf
All middle school spring trips were successful
We are filming a promotional video for counseling program
Great response for teacher vacancies
Staff will present at NC Charter School Conference
Summer feeding site for TCS
Offering a variety of sports camps this summer
D.
Opportunity for Public Comment
None
IV. Committee Reports
A.
Finance
Charter Success has projected a budget analysis with a surplus of around $100,000 after some tweaks have been made with salaries, benefits, etc.
USDA update - another change and transition. Industry has changed dramatically, we may need to go to a modular building approach. It could be about 1/3 of the cost for the original cost. 2 modular companies will give quotes at the end of the week. Could lease the building for a couple years then purchase outright, or just purchase outright.
Encumbered funds action items - swing building and possibly a new bus.
B.
Governance and Policy
Reviewing new item about AI - still a lot of discussion about this, so not ready to present
Honor Roll
Recess as Instructional Time for Middle School
Performance Framework
Report with DPI for Charter School Renewal - meeting all benchmarks to maintain
C.
Development/Fundraising
Skipped because Jen Silva is absent
D.
Long-Range Planning
Looking for summer dates to meet, and we need to fill Mark Campanini's position.
E.
Academic Excellence Update
Not much to add after Amber Wolfe's presentation
F.
Facilities
Dedication plaque for the stage for Mr. A
Scenario of moving 3-5th grade playground for the modular building
Mr. Campbell moving to Outdoor Ed teacher
FEMA - projected $48,000 for soccer field repair, K-2 playground, and fence
Getting quotes for mitigation, French drains, turf field for soccer, pavement, sidewalks and drains for less water pooling ($50,000),
V. Director Report
A.
Director Report
Enrollment
Application Snapshot - more anticipated openings and applications with a healthy waitlist
Staff and Student Attendance is close to 95% in all areas
Discipline Report - most are not resulting in ISS or OSS, this way it does not take away from instructional time
B.
Important Upcoming Dates
May 14 is scheduled for Democracy Project Celebration, so we had to move Musical Theatre performance to May 13
VI. Items for Board Approval
A.
Committee Consent Items
VII. Other Business
A.
Announcement of Next Meeting
May 21, 2025
There was discussion on contract engagement.