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 more secure 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 for open and closed meeting minutes

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.

1. If you would like to raise a hand, click “Participants” in the lower or upper section of your Zoom chat.
2. In the “Participants” window select “Raise Hand” {Windows: Alt+Y} or {Mac: Option+Y} keyboard shortcuts to raise or lower your hand.
3. When it is your turn, a moderator will identify you by name and then grant you access to speak.

• Mr. Carper's Executive Committee has been working on their recommendations for a Strategic Plan

• As done last year and the year before that Board will be hosting townhall for Tuesday, April  22, 2025 at 6pm.
• We welcome the community to join us in person, however they can also join virtually via a link that will be sent to the via the Eagle's Nest newsletter

• Details to be discussed in close but contract approval for new hire for the Academic Director.
• Vote to occur after closed meeting.

• The committee discussed whether any action was necessary in light of the new administration’s executive orders on DEI to protect the school's DEI mission and federal funding.
• The committee agreed to continue monitoring developments, including feedback or guidance from other school communities, and to report back if further evaluation is necessary.

• The committee continues to work on reviewing policies to address raised concerns, some of these include the use of media in classrooms, internet safety, and the acceptable use of information resources. 
• The committee is also looking into best practices for efficiently publishing policies once they have been approved by the Board. 

• Annual Giving Update
• Parent Ambassadors will be reaching out in early April in our Pledge is a Promise Campaign
• Pledge fulfillment due date is May 15, 2025
• Graduation walk for the class of 2021 date TBD
• Developing an Alumni Association, a form will be shared with Alumni shortly

• Finalizing SEL questions on Educational Excellence's survey
• Upper Middle School Culture and Student Well-Being

- Review outcome of grant application

- Planned security updates for the school

• Preliminary 2025-2026 annual budget will be shared with the Board next month for review, vote to approve in May
• Next month (April) vote to approve annual filing of 990 form with the IRS 

• Vote to approve up to the current quoted amount
• Policies renew on 4/1
• Sabrina is continuing to negotiate, so price might come down

• Discuss employment contracts

• New hire contract & resume discussion
• Confidential personnel matters