D. Tijerina read the Mission Statement.

E. Alvarez read the Zoom Webinar Etiquette/Rules.

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School Safety

• Running through all safety drills with students.
• Will complete a series of trainings for school safety this year, including high-risk situations to student crisis situations.
• Updated our supplies (classroom safety bags and folders).
• Communication to families to explain our process.
• Increased our supervision at morning and afternoon drop off.
• Will be working with local law enforcement to build relationships and audit our safety protocols.

Admissions

• We are currently in our admissions process and have begun open houses for prospective families.
• We have moved the timeline earlier in the year to align with CMS magnet school lottery and other charter school lotteries in the area. 
• We are working a bit on marketing: we have a new trifold brochure, and Kylie Ceraolo has brought these to local preschools-we can make these available for families if they want to pass them out anywhere; we also made sure families received car magnets at the open house; mainly, word of mouth is our best marketing to recruit prospective students.

Gifted Conference

• The conference was originally scheduled for this Friday, Oct 2, but due to timeline constraints and conflicts with other districts' trainings, we moved it to Jan 19th. 
  • Scholars has adjusted the Teacher Workday programming. 

• New hire candidate's resume for school counselor to be reviewed in closed session.
• Vote to approve the personnel contract as recommended by the Executive Director.

• Investigating the availability of a Safety Grant to provide additional funds for a wireless PA system for outdoor use and staff training. 
  • A need identified from the Safety drills conducted in September. 
     

• Personnel matters to be discussed in closed.

• Recruitment continues.
• We have 3 board members rolling off at the end of this year; we encourage nominations.

• The teacher salary pay scale for 2026-2027 has been released.
• Budget amendments are proposed to account for the pay scale adjustment to align with the CMS pay scale. 
  • Increase due to additional state funding.
  • Higher pay scale is in lieu of the true-up bonus in the Spring.
• Reviewed August Financial Statements.

• Meeting held on Aug 31st.
• Discussed ongoing search for a guidance counselor.
• Discussed ongoing professional development for staff.
• Discussed leadership and club opportunities for middle school students.
• Discussed potential opportunities for parent help or attendance at the upcoming Gifted Conference. 
• Next meeting to be determined—Oct. 12 at 8:15?

• We've had some additional HVAC concerns, but each has been mitigated with repair work.  We should still be thinking for +/- 3 years before we will need to completely replace both systems and the roof.
• Working through the bus/transportation situation for next year.  This year is covered by the previous sale of some buses, but we will need to work through how we will pay for this going forward.  If any parents would like to participate in the committee and the discussion, we would love to have their participation.  
  • A community survey will be released in the fall.
  • Next meeting is Thursday, October 1st.

• The 2026 state budget (S.L. 2026-41), mandated that all public school units, including charter schools, to adopt a policy excusing students from attending off-campus religious instruction. 
• The policy committee drafted a proposed policy based on a model policy from counsel.
• Pending alignment and confirmation of the number of hours (maximum of 4).
  • Discussed the administrative challenges to implement. 
  • Explored creative ways to structure the policy.
  • Recommendation to permit 4 hours per week, up to 12 hours per school quarter.
  • Additional policy review needed to identify amendments (e.g. attendance)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_atgJOHFcOhxonKDrLvVRotnjh_U09Sh/edit#heading=h.b655zspg5yen 

• State and Federal requirements to publish Parents' Bill of Rights.
• First read to the board as the committee continues to work on revisions and open follow-up questions.
• Materials policy is needed.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HTOTdgWyoJcXNJP-A_0tZQnTihdjKD45/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101052500018425717483&rtpof=true&sd=true 

1. Grievance policy - revisions drafted to match the NC exemplar and working on further alignment.
2. Title VI, which will be prioritized based on federal law.
3. Updated Code of Conduct – To be revised with more specific provisions addressing students with disabilities (EC students).
4. Do not resuscitate & Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) plan - Merge with current policy on first aid.
   1. New state requirement — Cardiac Emergency Response Plan. 

• 2025-2026 final received: $368,762, 86% of the $425,000 Annual Giving Campaign goal.
• Launched new texting platform.
• $19,690 in raised funds for this year
  • October of last year: $20,839
• Volunteer Leadership and Board is at 8%.
• Developing a list of strategic priorities.

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