Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
SA Special Board Meeting (Open Session)
Date and Time
Monday May 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Directors Present
A. Hall (remote), D. Palmer (remote), D. Tijerina (remote), E. Alvarez (remote), E. Womer (remote), K. Becnel (remote), L. Lopez (remote), X. Dong (remote)
Directors Absent
M. Dixon
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Cuneo (remote)
Non Voting Members Present
J. Cuneo (remote)
Guests Present
Anne Mitchell (remote), Brad Mitchell (remote), D Squibb (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 May 18, 2026 at 7:06 PM.
C.
Read Mission Statement
D.
Administrative Meeting Review
Enrique Alvarez read the Zoom etiquette rules.
E.
Adoption of the Agenda
D. Palmer 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
- Enrique Alvarez provided guidance about community comments.
- Brad Mitchell provided commentary on technology concerns regarding AI chat available through the Google Suite.
- Google AI chat was locked, but was enabled via Google search until this spring. The ability for parents to read the history of these chat conversations was turned off. These have been corrected.
- There is a "hidden social network" in Google Suite, which may permit file sharing with outside accounts, and games with unregulated chat with the general public.
Forward-looking thoughts:
- Encourage parents to review Chromebook history to see what sites they have been accessing.
- Hire a dedicated professional for this (feels like we are lagging behind CMS).
- Develop a reporting threshold to communicate when incidents occur to the community.
III. Governance Committee
A.
Governance Updates
D. Palmer made a motion to go into closed session to discuss a legal matter.
L. Lopez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
IV. Community Comments (Second Opportunity) - Subject to Guidelines
A.
Community Comments
Brad Mitchell's questions:
- What is the standard of practice regarding technology safety in school? Is there an external standard that we are following? Aligned with CMS or NC Department of Education statutory standards or other guidelines?
- What is the reporting threshold for awareness of engaging in our own conversations with our students?
V. Closed Session
A.
Vote to go into Closed Session
D. Palmer made a motion to go into closed session.
L. Lopez seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
VI. Vote
A.
Vote on the item discussed in the closed session
D. Palmer made a motion to approve the recommendation as presented by the Executive Director in Closed Session.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
| Roll Call | |
|---|---|
| M. Dixon |
Absent
|
| D. Tijerina |
Aye
|
| L. Lopez |
Aye
|
| K. Becnel |
Aye
|
| D. Palmer |
Aye
|
| E. Womer |
Aye
|
| X. Dong |
Aye
|
| A. Hall |
Aye
|
| E. Alvarez |
Aye
|
VII. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
D. Palmer 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 9:12 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
D. Palmer
Enrique Alvarez read the Mission Statement.