S. Korrapati read the Mission Statement.

M. Dixon reviewed the procedures and rules of the Zoom Webinar Platform for Virtual Board Meetings.

There were no members of the Community who wished to make a comment.

A. Pieper gave the Director's Report.
The Quarter 3 COVID Response Plan was presented.

First Semester reflections:
Health and Safety
During the first semester, there have been no COVID cases to date among teachers or hybrid students. Parents have been compliant in keeping students home when they are ill. Children must obtain clearance before returning to school. Daily cleaning and sanitizing continues. The cleaning crew has been doing enhanced cleaning nightly. Lunch continues to be served outside every day. All students and staff wear face coverings inside the building and within 6 feet outside. All of these measures will continue into the second semester.

Academic Program
Students are participating daily (hybrid and virtual). Wellness Wednesday has allowed for a mid-week break and student collaboration. There has been some difficulty in getting student work turned in consistently. There has been a significant loss of enrichment, extra-curricular activities, and socialization. Mid-year iReady (K-4 students) is coming soon. Those results will assist the school in analyzing the impact of the COVID response plan to date.

Staff Survey Themes:

• K-4 teachers: Supported adding a 4th day of instructions for hybrid students.
• 5-8 Teachers: Most hybrid students are successful with current 2 days however adding a 3rd day would benefit younger middle school students to help with planning, organization and teacher assistance.
• All Teachers: Wellness Wednesdays, Teacher office hours, asynchronous instructional time benefits students. Biggest area of growth is technology. Biggest challenges have been planning time, work-life balance, and virtual student engagement.

Students in grades 3-8 were surveyed:
Positives:

• Appropriate level of challenge level of coursework
• Necessary level of support provided by teachers
• Class time is used wisely and supports learning.

Concerns:

• Missing school, connections with friends, and extracurricular activities
• Amount of work in middle school
• Time management for longer term assignments

2020-2021 hybrid and virtual attendance:
1st Q: 122 Hybrid, 263 Virtual
2nd Q: 135 Hybrid, 250 Virtual
3rd Q: 169 Hybrid, 215 Virtual

*Grade levels with greater than 16 students hybrid operate with two separate classrooms.

3rd Quarter Information:

• New hybrid students begin on January 25th
• K-4: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (dismissal at 1:00 pm)
• 5-6: Monday (regular school hours), Tuesday, Thursday
• 7-8: Tuesday, Thursday - NO CHANGE
• Schedule changes will be sent to students/parents next week.

• K-4 Hybrid Fridays to begin on January 29th
• Regular Drop-off time (7:45-8:10)
• Continue to use this day for reinforcement and extension activities - no new lessons.
• Virtual Students will have morning check in with teacher then complete asynchronous work
• Hybrid students will do the same work as the virtual students with teacher support in school
• Early Dismissal on Fridays (1:00-1:20 pm) to allow teachers to plan for the next week
• Superlative Club will be offered from 1:00-6:00 pm.

Additional Information:

• Lunch - continue to have lunch outside as long as weather permits
• Bus- not enough families to pay for this service
• Sports - no spring sports
• Wednesday - no change to Wellness Wednesdays
• No middle school electives - 40% students didn't want to add these at this time, teachers also concerned about the additional responsibility.

Remainder of the 2020-2021 School Year:

• Deadline for decision to return to hybrid will be on February 26th
• Final opportunity to return to hybrid attendance beginning on March 8th
• Vaccines for teachers and staff should be available as part of the 1B and 1C priorities in the next few months
• End of the Year Schoolwide Events - These are still on but will likely be done in a modified format (Night of the Arts, Grandpeople's Day, 8th Grade Graduation, Field Days, School Musical)

Looking Forward to Next Year:

• Plan to recommend a start date for the 2021-2022 school year at the January 25th Board of Director's meeting.
• Recommend a delay of full academic calendar approval until March as we do not have calendaring guidance from the State yet.

Questions should be emailed to adminsa@scholarsacademy.org.

A. Starling gave an update on the 990 Form that was received by the CPA. The Board must discuss the review and approval of this document at the January Board Meeting.

No members of the Community requested to make a comment.

M. Dixon noted for the record that during the closed session, the Board received notification that the Mecklenburg County Director of Public Health has made a recommendation to individuals to stay home for the next three weeks. In light of receiving the recommendation, the Board has decided to postpone the vote on the hybrid plan. The Board will meet again on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 6:00 PM to discuss the recommendation and the hybrid plan.