Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Monthly Board Meeting (Open Session)
Date and Time
Monday August 25, 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_scvf1hB1RAyCn81hxsmkvw
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, D. Palmer, D. Tijerina, E. Alvarez, E. Womer, K. Becnel, L. Lopez, M. Dixon, X. Dong
Directors Absent
None
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Cuneo (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
J. Cuneo (remote)
Guests Present
S. Dasu (remote), david ahlers (remote), denise delp (remote), mel ahlers (remote), melissa lundy (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
E. Alvarez called a meeting of the board of directors of Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy to order on Monday Aug 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM.
C.
Read Mission Statement
D.
Administrative Meeting Review
Enrique Alvarez reviewed the Zoom Etiquette/Rules.
E.
Approval of Minutes of Previous Board Meetings
E. Womer made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board Meeting on 07-22-25.
D. Tijerina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
F.
Approval of Minutes of Previous Board Meetings
E. Womer made a motion to approve the minutes from SA Special Board Meeting (Open Session) on 08-08-25.
D. Tijerina seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
G.
Adoption of the Agenda
M. Dixon made a motion to adopt the agenda.
D. Tijerina 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
- Ms. Cuneo confirmed that we are prepared for the new school year.
- We are currently recruiting for two open positions: a school counselor and a part-time exceptional student teacher.
IV. Governance Committee
A.
Governance Updates
- Meetings will be 2nd Monday of every month.
- The first Governance Committee meeting will be Monday September 8th.
B.
Personnel and Staff
Nothing to discuss this month.
C.
Board Recruitment
The board is actively recruiting for additional board members. Please check the school's website and the weekly newsletter for more information.
D.
Officer Appointment and Votes
M. Dixon made a motion to Vote for Dominique Palmer to be named Board Secretary.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
M. Dixon made a motion to Vote for Kim Becnel to be named Board Parliamentarian.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
V. Finance Committe
A.
Financial Updates
- Update on Accounting Firm transition (Bearman) - transition is going well.
- Upcoming Audit in September - Scheduled for Thursday, September 11th, onsite.
- Potential Budget Amendments coming up next month - No amendments this month
- Meetings will be held on the 3rd Thursday of every month.
- The first Finance Committee meeting will be on Thursday, September 18th.
VI. FAST Committee
A.
FAST Updates
- Meetings will be 1st Thursday of every month.
- The first FAST Committee meeting will be on Thursday, September 4th.
- HVAC is working now. Paul will be monitoring and determining next steps.
- Mr. Marino has addressed other small maintenance items to prepare the school for the students.
- Some small roof leaks will need to be repaired.
- Deep dive into this year's needs and goals at the first FAST meeting.
B.
Upcoming Building Updates to improve Safety & Security
- The fencing project has started, but we are waiting on steel decorative fencing. So far, the chain link fence in the play area is finished.
- We utilized the grant money we received as a deposit.
VII. Policy Committee
A.
Committee Work on Policy Updates
- The committee will prioritize reviewing Media in Classrooms and Acceptable Use, to be wrapped up at the next meeting.
- 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
- The committee will continue to develop best practices for efficiently publishing policies once the Board has approved them.
- Meetings will be held on the 4th Tuesday of every month.
- The first Policy Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, September 23rd.
VIII. Educational Excellence Committee
A.
Educational Excellence Committee Updates
- Next Meeting October 14, 2025 (8:15)
- Parent Survey closed August 22, 2025 (120 families responded)
- Last Agenda topics:
- Development of the Required Computer Science Course
- Foreign Language Options
- Middle School Grading Review
- Meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of every even-numbered month.
- The first Educational Excellence Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, October 14th.
IX. DEI
A.
DEI Updates
- No DEI updates as there were no meetings yet.
- Meetings will be held on the 1st Wednesday of every odd-numbered month.
- The first DEI Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, September 3rd
X. Whole Child
A.
Whole Child Updates
- No Whole Child updates as there were no meetings yet.
- Meetings will be held on the 1st Monday of every even-numbered month.
- The first Whole Child Committee meeting will be on Monday, October 6th.
XI. Foundation
A.
Foundation Update
- Going through the hiring process for a new Foundation Manager
- Meetings will be held on the 4th Friday of every month.
XII. Community Comments (Second Opportunity) - Subject to Guidelines
A.
Community Comments
No community comments.
XIII. Closed Session
A.
Vote to go into Closed Session (NO CLOSED SESSION)
XIV. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
M. Dixon made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
A. Hall 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 7:14 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
E. Alvarez
Daniela Tijerina read the mission statement.