Welcome and Call to Order

A quorum was established and Jennifer Fine called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m.

Approval of Agenda

So that there is agreement between board members on the agenda, and the amount of time spent on the meeting, the board shall vote to approve an agenda for the meeting. To the best of its ability, it will follow that agenda, and allow for the chair to move the board through the agenda as specified.

Public Comment

Our Public Comment period is for members of the public to address the board. Each member of the public may sign up to comment at the meeting, and will be allotted two minutes. The board will listen, but willy not directly respond to any comments. Our meetings are open to the public and public record. As such, if your comment is about a private matter, please contact the board via email, or speak to the board chair privately.

One person signed up for public comment. Ms. Jackson asked what will be done about the mascot situation, as there is confusion for parents and students. She asked for clarity from the board. Ms. Fine said the board will respond before the next meeting.

Future Business

Ms. Dearolph proposed to revise, evaluate and propose changes to bylaws regarding PTO and faculty representatives and compliance issues.

Ms. Parker proposed approval of the state annual report form as an action item in October. It must be submitted by 10/31 at midnight. Ms. Parker said she received it 9/20. Ms. Rodgers noted this is an annual item that should be placed on the master date calendar. Ms. Wells started the calendar and has submitted a draft. Mr. Vin asked if there was any interesting information to share with external stakeholders. Ms. Parker said is was public information; Ms. Smith said the information may be useful for grants, but the presentation may be less than desirable.

Ms. Fine requested all reports be submitted a week before the meeting, along with supporting documentation for action items. Ms. Brown also noted it is a compliance issue.

President’s Report

This report is made by the governing board President.

1. Re-chartering preparation. Current school charter term is July 1, 2015- June 30, 2020

• September 11, 2018 conversation with consultant who assisted with first re-charter. Will be drafting a scope of services to discuss with the Board
• Gearing up for new Performance Framework review area for re-chartering. Internal review of governance documentation and process (Board and committees) - meeting announcements, agenda setting, posting of action items decisions, posting of minutes, etc.
• Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) Charter Petition review (voting item)
• GCSA Policy Manual - tool for establishment of required and best practice policy development and implementation at TMSA (voting item)
• September 17, 2018 meeting with Andrea Cooper-Gatewood

1. Establishment of short, weekly Risk Management calls with President , Vice President, Principal and Director of Business Operations
2. Committees to establish no more than 5 measurable goals to present and ratify at the October Board meeting
3. Recruitment for Board and Committee positions
4. Annual Letter of Assurances for School Year 2018-2019 to Fulton County Schools - Voting Item (Attached)

TMSA’s charter runs through June 2020; rechartering is Ms. Fine’s primary focus. She has started ramping up for the process. TMSA will be part of the first group of schools doing an online application. Ms. Fine reached out to the consultant TMSA used for the prior rechartering. Things should start to be put together in spring 2019. She wants to have a conference call with Ms. Parker, Robert Baker, Thomas Van Soelen and Elisa Falco to start the process.

On 9/17, Ms. Fine met with Andrea Cooper Gatewood, TMSA’s Fulton County liason. They had a fruitful conversation regarding board composition and succession, the school’s budget, among other things. They will meet more regularly going forward.

Ms. Fine charged each committee to come up with five concrete goals to be ratified at the October meeting.

Annual Letter of Assurances for School Year 2018-2019 has been completed and must be submitted to FCS. Vote to submit was taken.

Ms. Fine requested that the Board authorize up to $2500 to engage GCSA to perform a deatiled review of TMSA’s recharter petition. Ms. Parker asked what services GCSA provides in relation to Mr. van Soelen; Ms. Fine said GCSA was highly attuned to the new performance framework, but she wanted to talk with everyone on a conference call. Ms. Parker said there may be others who can provide services GCSA provides and TMSA should not have two sources doing the same work.

Ms. Fine said she would report back to the board with additional information regarding the services of GCSA as well. Ms. Parker also requested Ms. Fine inquire regarding accreditation with Mr. Van Soelen.

Ms. Fine also requested that the Board authorize up to $3000 to purchase the GCSA policy manual tool for establishment of required and best practice policy development and implementtation at TMSA.