Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday May 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Location
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Topic: Scholars Academy Monthly Board Meetings
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QnF5XYNnTLmdSvALkzNuPQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
You may also watch the meeting live via YouTube stream, at Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy - Charlotte - YouTube
Directors Present
A. Hall (remote), A. Starling, D. Palmer, D. Tijerina (remote), E. Alvarez, E. Womer, J. Doll, K. Becnel, L. Lopez, M. Dixon
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
C. Carper
Non Voting Members Present
C. Carper
Guests Present
D. Delp (remote), K. Ely (remote), N. Abell (remote), S. Liner (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
D. Palmer called a meeting of the board of directors of Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy to order on Monday May 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM.
C.
Read Mission Statement
D.
Administrative Meeting Review
D. Palmer read the Zoom Webinar Etiquette/Rules
E.
Approval of Minutes of Board Meeting - 4/28/25
E. Womer made a motion to approve the minutes from SA Monthly Board Meeting on 04-28-25.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
F.
Adoption of the Agenda
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the agenda.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
E. Alvarez made a motion to amend the agenda to include a vote to renew Board on Track.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Community Comments (First Opportunity) - subject to guidelines
A.
Community Comments - guidelines
No community comments.
III. Director's Report
A.
General Report
- Celebrations
- K-4 field day
- 8th grade Washington DC trip
- Academic champions
- Night of the Arts
- End-of-year academic calendar
- 2025-26 Academic Program
- Board on Track Renewal
IV. Governance Committee
A.
ED Evaluation
- 360 review
- Mr. Carper has completed his self-evaluation
- Board is going through the evaluation process now
B.
Board Recruitment
- 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
V. DEI
A.
DEI Compliance
- Our School signed to certify compliance with DEI Requirements. Consequently, the DEI Committee met to review our school's publicly available language surrounding DEI.
- The Committee is proposing a vote on the below non-material changes to our language in the school's values to mitigate potential scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Education.
Link to External Page Language Changes - In particular, Community Values
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v7BMYKI0neHAeEYdMZ4ZOv2qfogZODGCCJR4XYsTkOM/edit?tab=t.0
Link to our SA Equity Statement
Link to our DEI Action Plan
https://www.scholarsacademy.org/ourpages/auto/2022/7/13/49735814/DEI_Plan_docx.pdf?rnd=1657720751081
E. Alvarez made a motion to Amend/adopt the changes of the school's Mission, Vision, and Values as recommended by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.
K. Becnel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| L. Lopez |
Aye
|
| J. Doll |
Aye
|
| A. Starling |
Aye
|
| D. Palmer |
Aye
|
| A. Hall |
Aye
|
| M. Dixon |
No
|
| E. Womer |
Aye
|
| D. Tijerina |
Aye
|
| K. Becnel |
Aye
|
| E. Alvarez |
Aye
|
VI. Policy Committee
A.
Committee Work on Policy Updates
- The committee continues to work on reviewing policies, in particular 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.
VII. Foundation
A.
Update
- Annual Giving Update
- Thank you to Parent Ambassadors
- $361,606 in donations received
- $76,051 in pledges NOT fulfilled
- 47 pledges with amounts still to be determined
- 87.8% overall family participation
VIII. Educational Excellence Committee
A.
Committee Updates
- The Parent Survey will be sent to the community this week
- Media policy is still pending
IX. FAST Committee Updates
A.
Upcoming Building Updates to improve Safety & Security
- Safety additions that will be installed in the coming months (covered by the school's approved safety budget):
- PA system
- Safety shades on all indoor windows
- Safety stops for classroom doors
- Perimeter fencing with a key fob system.
- The FAST committee is working on reviewing fence quotes
- Payment is due by June 13th due to the grant expiration date
- Price will likely be in the $35K - $60K range
- The grant would cover $25K, the school's safety budget, and possibly an ask from the Foundation
- HVAC system repairs
- Will discuss the contracts in closed session
X. Finance Committee
A.
Financial Updates
- Finance Committee updates
- Fence quotes were discussed
- Vote to approve putting a deposit on the fence to spend the safety grant before deadline
- Vote to approve the 2025-2026 budget
- Refer to the recording for budget discussion details
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve putting a deposit down on the fence project of $25,000.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the Board On Track renewal up to $6,695.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
A. Starling made a motion to approve the 2025/2026 budget as presented by the Finance committee.
L. Lopez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
XI. Community Comments (Second Opportunity) - Subject to Guidelines
A.
Community Comments
No community comments
XII. Closed Session
A.
Vote to go into Closed Session
E. Alvarez made a motion to go into closed session to discuss employment contracts, student matters, and personnel matters.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
- Discuss employment contracts
- Discuss student matters
- Discuss personnel matters
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the amended Personnel slate for the 2025-26 school year as discussed in closed.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Dixon |
Aye
|
| E. Alvarez |
Aye
|
| A. Starling |
Aye
|
| E. Womer |
No
|
| J. Doll |
No
|
| D. Tijerina |
Aye
|
| D. Palmer |
Aye
|
| A. Hall |
Aye
|
| L. Lopez |
No
|
| K. Becnel |
Aye
|
XIII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
E. Alvarez made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
E. Womer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 11:18 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
J. Doll
Documents used during the meeting
None
Julie Doll read the mission statement.