Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Monthly Board Meeting
Date and Time
Monday June 23, 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 (remote), D. Palmer (remote), D. Tijerina (remote), E. Alvarez (remote), E. Womer (remote), J. Doll (remote), K. Becnel (remote), L. Lopez (remote), M. Dixon (remote)
Directors Absent
None
Directors who arrived after the meeting opened
K. Becnel
Directors who left before the meeting adjourned
A. Hall, D. Tijerina, M. Dixon
Guests Present
Denise Delp (remote), Jackie Dandrea (remote), Jessica Cuneo (remote), Mel Ahlers (remote), Mike Horne (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 Jun 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM.
C.
Read Mission Statement
D.
Administrative Meeting Review
D. Palmer read the Zoom Webinar Etiquette/Rules
E.
Approval of Minutes of Board Meeting
E. Womer made a motion to approve the minutes from SA Monthly Board Meeting on 05-19-25.
E. Alvarez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Meeting Board Meeting - Executive Session on 06-02-25.
E. Womer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
F.
Adoption of the Agenda
E. Alvarez made a motion to adopt the agenda.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Community Comments (First Opportunity) - subject to guidelines
A.
Community Comments - guidelines
No comments.
III. Director's Report
A.
General Report
No report.
IV. Governance Committee
A.
Personnel and Staff
- Personnel and staff items to be discussed in closed
- Potential vote on personnel contracts after closed session
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the employment contracts as discussed in closed session.
A. Starling seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
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)
- 1 application and the interview was conducted on 6/20/2025
- To be discussed in closed for consideration, and vote after our closed session
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the new Board member as discussed in closed.
L. Lopez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
C.
Officer Appointments for Next Year
M. Dixon made a motion to approve officers for the Board for next school year (Enrique Alvarez as Board Chair, Daniela Tijerina as Vice Chair, and Liliana Lopez as Treasurer).
E. Womer seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
V. DEI
A.
DEI Compliance
- There was a vote to change the word "diversity" in the original mission statement in a previous meeting. However, it was subsequently determined that a change to the mission statement would require a revision to the charter. It was not the Board's intent to revise the charter. Therefore, we will be voting to revert to the old mission statement in tonight's meeting.
E. Alvarez made a motion to revert to the original mission statement as it is included in the school's charter.
M. Dixon seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
VI. Policy Committee
A.
Committee Work on Policy Updates
- The Policy committee continues to work on reviewing policies, in particular Media in Classrooms and Acceptable Use, to be wrapped up at the next meeting.
- The Policy committee will continue to develop best practices for efficiently publishing policies once the Board has approved them
VII. Foundation
A.
Update
No update
VIII. Educational Excellence Committee
A.
Committee Updates
- The Parent Survey will be sent to the community this week and will be due next month.
IX. FAST Committee Updates
A.
Upcoming Building Updates to improve Safety & Security
Update on the fence:
- We received 3 quotes and selected the middle-of-the-road option due to their professionalism and responsiveness. While they were the middle option, their pricing was close to the lower quote option.
- The contractor chosen is called Ornamental Fence Solutions.
- We have paid the deposit.
- 6' tall ornamental fence around the front of the school to provide safety and security
- Chainlink will be installed near the townhomes
- We have two options - to include the trees and natural area in the front or not including the trees/natural area
- There was a request to look at steel versus aluminum because it is stronger and will not bend. It is nearly the same cost but has a 4-week lag time. The construction would still be able to be completed before the school year starts.
- Pricing includes two gates to allow for closing off the entire property at both entrances to the school (near the bus parking/loading dock and at the main entrance to the school). Additional egress gates will be provided as well.
- The maximum cost would be $72,400 ($25,000 of this is covered by the grant).
- Includes extending the netting from 15 feet to 40 feet.
- No key fob option due to cost. Gates will be lockable and automatically open in an emergency.
- The next projects the FAST committee will be looking at next year is the PA system and HVAC maintenance.
X. Finance Committee
A.
Financial Updates
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the fence contract up to $72,400.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
We received the Alt HR contract for the 2025/26 school year. The contract is for the amount of $5,640.
E. Alvarez made a motion to approve the HR contract as discussed in closed session.
L. Lopez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
XI. Community Comments (Second Opportunity) - Subject to Guidelines
A.
Community Comments
No comments
XII. Closed Session
A.
Vote to go into Closed Session
E. Alvarez made a motion to go into closed session.
A. Starling seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
K. Becnel arrived at 8:05 PM.
A. Hall left at 8:20 PM.
D. Tijerina left at 8:25 PM.
M. Dixon left at 8:39 PM.
XIII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
E. Alvarez made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
L. Lopez 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 8:53 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
J. Doll
Documents used during the meeting
None
D. Palmer read the mission statement.