Confirm meeting recording.

Do we have a quorum? Welcome to the Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy Board Meeting.

Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy provides a differentiated, challenging, and equitable learning environment that supports the distinctive intellectual, social, and emotional needs of highly gifted children from diverse backgrounds and enables them to form meaningful relationships with their intellectual peers.

Zoom Webinar Etiquette/Rules:

Meetings will be broadcast to the public via the Zoom Webinar Platform. This medium is a secure forum for engagement as it requires attendees to register, limits interactivity, removes the ability to communicate without permission and does not permit anonymous participation, comment, or annotation.  Registration will require the submission of a first and last name and an email.

• Official approval of draft minutes from:
  • Monthly Board meeting on 8/25/2025 for open sessions

• Official approval of draft minutes from:
  • Special Board Annual Meeting on 9/12/2025 for open and closed sessions

Are there any Amendments to the Agenda?

The public is welcome to speak; limited to three minutes per speaker.

Topics should not cover private, confidential or personal information.
The board will not respond or enter into a dialogue on topics discussed.

At this time you may indicate your desire to participate in Community Comments by raising your hand using the controls in the Zoom application or browser.

When it is your turn, a moderator will identify you by name and then grant you access to speak.

September ED Report

• Student enrollment: 396
• Waitlist numbers
• Admission update
• Bus Program update
• Board to Review updated 2025-2026 Parent/Student Handbook

- Discussed the need to update the Board's by-laws and referred the review to the Policy Committee

-Reviewed the board's annual calendar of activities to ensure the Board's duties remain on track and discussed the plan to reconcile and keep in BOT for reference.

-Discussed the need to review 2025-2026 Parent/Student Handbook

-Discussed the potential need to refer an update to Policy Committee regarding attendance policy

[No update]

• 2025-2026: 1 opening (currently at 9 board members, looking to get to 10)
• 2026-2027: 3 openings and 1 potential openings (all of which are uncommitted as of yet to renew for a 2nd term or add new time)
• Staff and Parents are encouraged to talk to those you think would be good fit for the Board
• Board Nomination Website
• Board Nomination Form

• CD investment ladder structure on track, renewed two CDs
• 403B Plan is going under review in detail and modernized to meet the needs of all participants
• Review of Final 2024-2025 financials (see attached)
•  

• Proposed budget amendment for the sale of the buses (see attached)

• Meetings will be 1st Thursday of every month.
• Fence is nearing completion. Just a few gates remaining for install. 
• Mr. Marino monitoring HVAC to determine next steps for ongoing maintenance.
• Ms. Cuneo and Mr. Marino have a few small operational needs for the building. Should fall under general operational expenses. 
• Ms. Ellington looking into options for PA system including multiple price points. 
• Ms. Cuneo to be working on identifying what types of spaces are needed within the building to facilitate operations and classes and will share list of needs with FAST committee. 

• Wireless Communication Policy. 
• VOTE October Meeting.  Due Immediately to Department of Public Instruction. 
• On July 1, 2025 House Bill 959 was passed restricting the use of wireless devices during instructional time. In alignment with NC General Statute 115c-76.100, SA will require personal technology devices to be turned off and put away during instructional times beginning this school year.  
  • Pursuant to statute, "The wireless communication policy shall allow student use of a wireless communication device during instructional time as follows: (1) If authorized by a teacher for educational purposes or for use in the event of an emergency."
  • The Board shall establish the consequences for violations of the wireless communication policy, which may include confiscation of the PTD or other consequences in accordance with Student Handbook.
• Policy 4.9 Retirement Withdrawal Deletion
• VOTE October Meeting
  • Last Amendment to Policy 2008
  • {TIAA - CREFF} 403B (a retirement savings plan for employees of public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations)
    • When was the last change to the Plan?
    • What are the implications regarding communicating with old and current employees?
    • Any Fiduciary responsibilities?

• Ratify & Acknowledge/Review:  Teacher Parent Student Handbooks - 
• Wireless Communications Policy Finalized at next Policy Meeting.
• The committee will review and propose an update to the Board's by-laws to reflect the latest regulatory developments as per advice from counsel.
• The committee will look into incorporating AI within the Acceptable Use Policy.  
  • ED has shared sample AI Policies for review.
  • CMS 2025-2026 Initiative: http://cmsk12.org/ai 
• The committee will prioritize reviewing Media in Classrooms and Acceptable Use, to be wrapped up at the next meeting.
• The committee will continue to develop best practices for efficiently publishing policies once the Board has approved them.
• Meetings will be 4th Tuesday of every month.
• The first Policy Committee meeting will be Tuesday September 23th.

• Next Meeting October 14, 2025 (8:15)
• Parent Survey closed August 22, 2025 (120 families responded)
• Last Agenda topics:
  • Development of Required Computer Science Course
  • Foreign Language Options
  • Middle School Grading Review 
• Meetings will be 2nd Tuesday of every even-numbered month.
• The first Educational Excellence Committee meeting will be Tuesday October 14th.

• EDS Package--collect information on what is needed via Google Form (transportation, lunch, field trip funds, etc). Partner with Foundation.
• Keeping up to to date with legislation in process concerning books and media. Ensure library has a collection policy.
• Calendar review--religious calendar and school events

• First meeting will be on Tuesday, October 7th at 8:15 am

• Conducted interviews for new Foundation Manager; hope to hire someone soon
• AGC update

• Discuss employment contracts - None
• Discuss student matters - None
• Discuss personnel matters - None
• Discuss vendor contracts - None