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.

• Discussed Certification of DEI form
  • https://www.ed.gov/media/document/reminder-of-legal-obligations-undertaken-exchange-receiving-federal-financial-assistance-and-request-certification-under-title-vi-and-sffa-v-harvard-april-3
• ~$85,000 in federal funding (average yearly basis with carryovers from the previous year)
• Governance Committee is not aware of any policy or practice that would subject us to risk for violating False Claims Act by signing the certification.
• Received guidance from outside counsel. 
• Form was signed by Mr. Carper and delivered to the State on April 11, 2025 on time. 

• Attendee Metrics
  • 3 attendees in person
  • 46 unique viewers (excluding those by phone) & max of 45 concurrent viewers out of 60 registrations
  • 1 person over phone
• Zoom Metrics
  • Average attendance 52 mins
  • 75% of attendees stayed for 45+mins
• Questions:
  • Management of next year's 7th grade class (also represents all 3 pre townhall questions)
  • Expansion, growth, and high school and modifications
  • Bus and ideas regarding the school bus drivers
  • Sexual education
  • School counselor needs
  • 2025-26 calendar 
  • Kindergarten class size
  • Impact of current political environment to School's federal funding resources

• Each year the board needs to approve the Parental Leave Opt In by October 1 for the fiscal year the Parental Leave option is intended to be used. 
• MRSA has approved this for the last 2 school years.
• Governance Committee recommends opting in again for the 2025-2026 school year
• Rule:
  • http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2016%20-%20education/chapter%2006%20-%20elementary%20and%20secondary%20education/subchapter%20c/16%20ncac%2006c%20.0408.pdf

• 2025-2026: 1 opening and 1 potential opening 
• 2026-2027: 2 openings  and 2 potential openings (all of which are uncommitted as of yet to renew for a 2nd term)
• Zero applications as of yet

• The committee continues to discuss what actions are necessary in light of the new administration’s executive orders on DEI to protect the school's DEI mission and federal funding.
• One of the key actions identified is the review of the external webpage, including the School's Equity Statement and DEI Equity Plan (links below) that may otherwise be subject to scrutiny from the federal government. (Refer to Policy Committee and Governance update on DEI Certification).
• Recommendations will be reported back to the Board in the next meeting.

Link to our SA Equity Statement

https://www.scholarsacademy.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=345044&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=1011894

Link to our DEI Action Plan

https://www.scholarsacademy.org/ourpages/auto/2022/7/13/49735814/DEI_Plan_docx.pdf?rnd=1657720751081

• The committee continues to work on reviewing policies. 
• The committee is also looking into best practices for efficiently publishing policies once they have been approved by the Board.
• A federal court in Maryland has issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Education, essentially preventing the DoE from enforcing the certification that schools were required to sign this month.  For now, this means that the DoE cannot enforce that certification and or withhold funds to public schools pursuant to that certification.  It also puts on hold the False Claims Act use as a tool against public schools in this context.

• Annual Giving Update
• Parent Ambassadors have begun to reach out to 75 families for the Pledge is a Promise Campaign
• Pledge fulfillment due date is May 15, 2025
• $314,288 in donations received
• $101,14 in pledges NOT fulfilled
• 39 pledges with amounts still to be determined

• The Parent Survey will be sent to the community this week

• Additions in the coming months:
  • Safety shades on all indoor windows
  • Safety stops for classroom doors
  • Perimeter fencing with a key fob system is projected to be installed in the summer of 2025

• Finance Committee updates
• Vote to approve annual filing of 990 form with the IRS 

• Preliminary 2025-2026 annual budget will be shared with the Board this month for review, vote to approve in May

• Discuss employment contracts
• Discuss student matters