Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
Minutes
Annual Board Meeting for 2026-2027 (Open Session)
Date and Time
Monday August 3, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Directors Present
A. Hall, D. Palmer, E. Alvarez, K. Becnel, R. Rungta, X. Dong
Directors Absent
D. Tijerina, L. Lopez
Ex Officio Members Present
J. Cuneo
Non Voting Members Present
J. Cuneo
Guests Present
D. Delp, Erica Hoover
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 3, 2026 at 11:32 AM.
C.
Read Mission Statement
D.
Administrative Meeting Review
Enrique Alvarez read the Zoom Webinar Etiquette/Rules.
E.
Adoption of the Agenda
D. Palmer made a motion to adopt the agenda.
X. Dong 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
General Report:
- Recap of school year prep activities done over the summer:
- Updating handbooks
- Strategic planning
- Hiring for open positions
- Building improvements
- Professional development - Dr. Brian Housand from UNC Wilmington (professor in gifted education) will partner with Scholars to provide a customized year-long professional development to the staff. He will support through onsite and virtual sessions. Administration will be able to replicate in future years.
- Onboarding of new staff - Dr. Housand will provide an onboarding session for the new staff.
- Personnel agreements for approval to vote after closed session
- Student matters to discuss in closed session
- Privatized school bus update
- Minimum of 20 riders per bus to operationalize the private bus option.
- We did not meet the threshold.
- Olympic shared other private bus options that the families can explore directly.
- Scholar's Day is on Friday, August 7th. All are welcome to participate, even if for 30 minutes.
B.
Personnel Contract Approval
D. Palmer made a motion to approve the 5 contracts as recomemnded by the Executive Director.
K. Becnel seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
IV. Governance Committee
A.
Personnel and Staff
To be discussed in closed session.
B.
Board Recruitment
Board Director Nomination for the 2026-2029 Term to be reviewed in closed session.
- We have 3 board members rolling off at the end of this year, please provide nominations
- Board Nomination Website
- Board Nomination Form
D. Palmer made a motion to Approve the new board member, Beth Gutt effective immediately.
X. Dong seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
C.
Board Officer Positions
D. Palmer made a motion to Approve the Board Officer Positions for the 2026 - 2027 school year.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
Chair - Enrique Alvarez
Vice Chair - Dany Tijerina
Treasurer - Liliana Lopez
Secretary - Xihui Dong
D. Palmer made a motion to Approve the board officer positions for the 2026 - 2027 school year.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
V. Policy Committee
A.
DEI Policies
- Outside counsel is providing guidance regarding 2026 Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 257
- Per their guidance, we have disbanded our DEI committee and will remove or amend our policies to comply with the new law.
VI. Finance Committee
A.
Financial Updates
No updates
VII. FAST Committee
A.
FAST Updates
- Building update and changes for the "PTO" room and 2nd Art Room
- Custodian transition - two full-time custodians and oversight by Mr. Marino.
VIII. Foundation
A.
Foundation Update
- AGC updates
- As of 7/29/2026, we raised $363,382.
- Money received through August 15th is generally credited to the prior school year to account for delays in corporate match payments.
IX. Community Comments (Second Opportunity) - Subject to Guidelines
A.
Community Comments
No community comments.
X. Closed Session
A.
Vote to go into Closed Session
D. Palmer made a motion to go into closed session.
A. Hall seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
XI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
A. Hall made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
D. Palmer 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 12:55 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
D. Palmer
Enrique Alvarez read the mission statement.