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 9/22/2025 for open session

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.

• Admissions Marketing Plan
• Teacher Evaluation Plan

-Reviewed and finalized the board's annual calendar of activities to ensure the Board's duties remain on track.

- Discussed key hallmarks of Board's by-laws that require update vs. those sent by counsel and agreed to continue to review such in the following Governance and Policy Committee.  

-Agreed to purchase new Parent/Student handbook and Code of Conduct from counsel in light of going updates (i.e. cellphones, Title IX, Bullying and Code) to which we may require re-adopt for current school year.

• Various personnel matters and one emplyee contract to be discussed in closed.

• 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

Approve the new hire recommendation as presented by the Executive Director during closed session.

• 403b Plan Status: Pending Policy update; gathering information (i.e., min people in plan) to finalize changes with TIAA
• Tax Preparation 5500 Status (Due 10/15/2025) - Submitted by deadline
• Audit report update (Due 10/28/2025) - The State provided an extension for all schools to Dec 31
  • https://www.nctreasurer.gov/blog/2024/12/20/fy2025-audit-due-dates
• September 2025 Financial Statements, Budget vs. Actuals (see attached)
• VOTE: CD Ladder Update - One CD is expiring on 10/30/2025 and Heather is working on getting it reinvested
• VOTE: Budget amendments (see attached) - Needs Board Approval

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

Vote to approve the renewal of expiring CDs per the ladder discussed and proposed by the Finance Committee through August 2026

• Fence works well, two small gates need to be installed.
• HVAC works well.
• Need to double size the sidewalk for safety.
• School alarm system does't work well, Ms. Cuneo is working on it.
• Ms. Ellington looking into options for PA system including multiple price points. 
• Request to add bumps on 77 Center Drive

• Wireless Communication Policy.(3.4B) 
• VOTE October Meeting.  Due Immediately to Department of Public Instruction. 
• Policy 4.9 Retirement Withdrawal AMEND
• 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)
  • Permits considering strategies to reduce the participant count.
  • Former employee shall have access to their account to initiate a rollover to another retirement account or request a distribution. 

• Ratify & Acknowledge/Review:  Teacher Parent Student Handbooks - 
• 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 
• Counsel shared materials for a review and update to the Student Code of Conduct.
• The committee will continue to develop best practices for efficiently publishing policies once the Board has approved them.
• The next Policy Committee meeting will be Tuesday October 28th.

• Next Meeting December 9th, 2025 (8:15)
• Parent Survey closed August 22, 2025 (127 families responded)
  • Every grade was represented with the largest percentage from 3rd grade
  • Families overwhelmingly value our academic excellence, fabulous teaching staff, advance curriculum and gifted focus.
  • Desire for renewed innovation with enrichment programs and integrating modern/technological skills.
  • Desire for more consistency and clarity in the SEL program.
• Required Computer Science is up and running

• EDS Package--collect information on what is needed via Google Form (transportation, lunch, field trip funds, etc). Creation and distribution of form to be discussed at our next meeting. 
• Keeping up to to date with legislation in process concerning books and media--ongoing.
• Calendar review--religious calendar and school events calendar sent to PTO

• Awards & Assemblies on hold
• Reassess school wide SEL programming
• Working on a strategic goal focuses on SEL & whole child

• AGC update
• Grade Pledge Challenge

• Discuss employment contracts - x1
• Discuss student matters - None
• Discuss personnel matters - x3
• Discuss vendor contracts - None