BELIEVE STL Academy

Minutes

Board Meeting

5PM CST

Date and Time

Monday November 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Location

Directors Present

D. Thomas (remote), J. Boone (remote), L. Voellinger, M. Hantak (remote), M. Johnson (remote), P. Woods (remote), S. Harmon, S. Williams (remote), T. Wells

Directors Absent

K. Martin-Johnson

Guests Present

T. Vonderheit

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

P. Woods called a meeting of the board of directors of BELIEVE STL Academy to order on Monday Nov 18, 2024 at 5:05 PM.

II. Approval of Board Meeting Minutes

A.

October Board Meeting Minutes

S. Harmon made a motion to approve the minutes from Board Meeting 5PM CST on 10-29-24.
P. Woods seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

III. Principal Report (Academic, Culture, Data, etc)

A.

Academic

Current Enrollment 2024-2025 school year

  • Grade 9: 89 of 100 available seats filled 
  • Grade 10: 22 of 25 available seats filled 

Upcoming Enrollment 2025-2026 school year

  • 15 of 100 available seats filled for grade 9 
  • Grade 10 & 11 TBD

Zip Code Study: CSGF did a 3–4-mile radius of where the school is and what students qualify for free lunch; better understanding of where kids are living in the area

 

School Academic Data:

  • Completed PreACT + PreACT 8/9 testing completed (slightly lower scale from ACT but directly aligned to the ACT test) 
    • Overall composite score for 9th grade: 14.1 
    • Overall composite score for 10th grade: 13.8 
  • Maximize practice/ACT testing skills
  • Middle of the year test given after Thanksgiving break 

Talent/Hiring

  • Composition/Humanities Vacancy 
  • Gearing up for 2025-2026 hiring 
    • Social media postings for upcoming school year
    • hiring events/happy hours
  • St. Louis Teacher Residency: meeting in the new year for 2 potential teachers for the 25-26 school year 

Average Daily Attendance: YTD 95% 

  • Handful of students given attendance contracts in order to obtain necessary credits

B.

Culture

Upcoming Events: 

  • CSGF Postsecondary Team Visit: December 3-4
  • Open House: December 12 at 5:30PM  
    • Board support 

Programming and Partnerships:

  • New: Maryville University
    • Currently have music therapy and speech language pathology curriculum for dual enrollment for second semester sophomores 
    • Expanded options for students overall as Harris Stowe and STLCC does not have this curriculum available 
    • Also shadowing opportunities   
  • Goldfarb School of Nursing 
  • Barnes Jewish Hospital 
  • St. Louis Community College 
  • City Recreating 

IV. Facilities Report

A.

Gateway Huber Wheeler Building Update

  • Agreement has been signed; 120 days to close ~puts us around March 5 to close 
    • tentative plans to close by end of calendar year
  • Have engaged with major mechanical, plumbing, electrical, etc. firms to provide us the status of the building and the costs 
  • Engaged environmental firms- phase 1 environmental assessment 
  • Went through RFP process and selected HKW Architects 
  • No roofing assessment yet- have something in the next couple weeks
    • interviews with construction management firms between December 5-12; decision by December 16 
  • Projected Milestones *all subject to change* 
    • January 10- finalize program and design 
    • February 7- complete construction drawings 
    • February 10- March 14- Permit Review
    • March 5- Site Acquisition 
    • March 17-July 3- Construction 
  • Plan to be in the building for the 25-26 school year 
    • classrooms are ready to go 
    • life safety updates are what will take longer- sprinkler system, fire alarms, etc. that require permits
    • Gated, secured space
    • house for buses

V. Committee Updates

A.

Finance Committee

Working on committee "job description", recruiting committee members (minimum of 3) and forming committee goals for the new calendar year

B.

Academic Committee

Working on committee "job description", recruiting committee members (minimum of 3) and forming committee goals for the new calendar year

C.

Development Committee

Working on committee "job description", recruiting committee members (minimum of 3) and forming committee goals for the new calendar year

D.

Governance Committee

Working on committee "job description", recruiting committee members (minimum of 3) and forming committee goals for the new calendar year

VI. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:17 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
M. Hantak