Daniela Tijerina read the Mission Statement.

Enrique Alvarez read the Zoom Webinar Etiquette/Rules.

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• Provided a status update for the open counselor position. Screening candidates with the goal of onboarding in January. 
• Overview of the professional development plan for staff. 
  • Oct - Grade level planning
  • Dec - Vertical planning
  • Conference attendance. Teachers and staff can apply for funding support.
  • Focus on supporting gifted certifications
• Personnel matters to discuss in close x4
• Ms. Cuneo responded to questions about the School Protocols email regarding Scholars' response to ICE and Border Control visits. 

Governance Updates

1. Discussed strategic go-forward staff planning and administrative roles and responsibilities, to further address in close due to the information of specific personnel.
2. Continued to discuss key hallmarks of the Board's by-laws that require update vs. those sent by counsel and agreed to continue to review such in the following Governance and Policy Committee.  
3. Discussed arranging a training for Dec 15 training/catch all meeting with Board (training on records retention)
4. In light of increasing regulatory updates, including those issued by the NC Department of Public Instruction, we purchased a new Parent/Student handbook and Code of Conduct template from counsel and prioritized the following, which have been referred to the Policy Committee for action: 

• Code of Conduct for discipline purposes
• Grievance policy - referring to the policy committee for recommendation.
• Re-check Title IX, ensuring staff changes
• Bullying
• Staff and Student Handbook - including the recent developments on the use of wireless devices.

• Various personnel matters to be discussed in closed session

• 2025-2026: 1 opening (currently at 9 board members, looking to get to 10)
• 2026-2027: 3 openings and 1 potential openings (all of which are uncommitted as of yet to renew for a 2nd term or add new time)
• Staff and Parents are encouraged to talk to those you think would be a good fit for the Board
• Board Nomination Website
• Board Nomination Form

• Update on status of audit report (originally due 10/28/2025) - Extended deadline to 11/30/2025, Heather, Accounting Firm, and Foundation Director collaborating to get everything to the auditors.
• Update on status of 990 - previous deadline 11/15; extended to May 2026.
• 403b Plan Status: Completed changes with TIAA.
• No budget amendments this month.
• October 2025 Financial Statements, Budget vs. Actuals (see attached) - The first month of funding from Mecklenburg County has been received.  We already received funding from other counties and states.
• Applied for the Behavior Support Grant.
  • Federal & state grant special education funding.

• Fence is complete, waiting on extra netting.

• EDS Package--collect information on what is needed via Google Form (transportation, lunch, field trip funds, etc). Draft of Google survey to be discussed at next meeting. 
• Keeping up to-to-date with legislation in process concerning books and media--ongoing.
• Class set book request form--suggestions for revision in process.
• Calendar review--revised religious calendar drafted and under committee review.

• Next Meeting December 9th, 2025 (8:15)
• No additional updates at this time.

• Next Meeting December 9th, 2025 (8:15)
• Parent Survey closed August 22, 2025 (127 families responded)
  • Scholars Academy alumni appear to transition smoothly into the academic rigor of high school.  Parents frequently described them as ahead or well prepared for their coursework.
  • Families emphasize the need to help students cope with perfectionism and pressure, develop resilience, and manage emotional ups and downs.
  • Families want learning to go beyond the textbook; emphasizing practical and entrepreneurial skills - from financial literacy and AI literacy to teamwork and communication - so students understand how learning connects to life and the future. 
  • Parents want timely, actionable feedback - not just grades.  They'd like to know how to help their children improve before the quarter ends.
  • Families are open to helping - but they need asynchronous, digital, or weekend opportunities.
• Parent Survey Results will be posted to the public via newsletter in December 2025. 

• Wireless Communication Policy has been posted. 
• Alcohol policy - Committee discussed updating employment contracts/certification language to such effect. Policy is already covering requirements. Should be a quick update.
• AI policy: Continued to discuss developments at the county level and discussed with ED ways to best prepare staff guidelines/training materials as opposed to a policy as such.
• Policy Revamp in light of increased regulatory changes and increased litigation on student discipline, the committee agreed and committee and Ms Cuneo has a hold of such documents already.  The following are on priority:
  • Code of Conduct for discipline purposes
  • Grievance policy 
  • Re-check Title IX, ensuring staff changes
  • Staff and Student Handbook - including the recent developments on the use of wireless devices. The plan is to update prior to coming back from winter school break.
• The next Policy Committee meeting will be on November 25

• AGC update:
  • 34.2% YTD compared to 55.2% YTD in the prior school year.
• Toni Hemming has officially retired. We thank her for her contributions. 

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