Welcome and Call to Order

The meeting will be called to the order.

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.

Approval of Minutes from Feb 13, 2025

Approval of Minutes from Feb 28, 2025

Mission Statement

The meeting will begin with a reading of the school's mission statement:

Westside fosters a diverse, tight knit community of lifelong learners, giving each child an excellent academic experience that builds curiosity, critical thinking, and character.

School Leader Report

The school leader reports on the status of the school.

• Excellence in Teaching highlight

Katie Burns started as teacher-in-residence and moved into classroom teaching and the gifted program.

• We thank her for excellent collaboration, reliability, and thoughtful actions. One of the main cogs in our wheel. She's amazing. People don't realize what it takes to be the Westside Way. From carpool to lunch, and general school logistics, Katie is always ready to do what it takes. She's very calm. She checked in on me every day of my first week (Powe) She makes sure that everybody's OK. When she brings a problem to the table, she also brings a solution.
• Church update: The last service of the church will be 3/23. 

Enrollment update:

Lottery closed 2/28

Acknowledgments went out on 3/10

Return rate: 95.5%

K: 97%

1: 92%

2: 100%

3: 97%

4: 100%

5: 97%

6: 94%

7: 87%

• Westside thanks the Tolberts for their help with securing the GA Power grant for the playground $15,000

Finance Committee Report

• Monthly Financial Update given by William Arterberry
• Facility grant from APS pending approval
• Federal programs budget process update
• GCSA lobbyist presentation indicated that funding will be allocated to the states and that there aren't any foreseen cuts to federal budgets distributed to the states
• CREATE program has closed and they will pay through the end of the fiscal year

Development Committee Report

Development Committee gives monthly report.

Booster wrap-up

• Goal: $10,000, Actual: $12,300
• 48% of students registered, 32% pledged, 76% of donors were non-parents

Committee structure and timeline for longevity are in development

• Corporate giving
• Individual giving
• Community outreach
• Brand and communication

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:43 pm

Public Comment

The WACS Board would like to welcome students, parents, staff and community members. In order to facilitate an efficient meeting, if you would like to offer comments please limit your remarks to the public comment period of the agenda. We would ask that sign up on the sign up sheet and limit your comments to 3 minutes. Finally, we ask that you not include comments that reference individual students (other than your own). If you need to reference a specific student, you may do so in writing to governance@wacs.us where the board can protect student privacy. We understand that after the public comment period, you may have questions/comments regarding topics that are discussed during the meeting. Please direct those questions to governance@wacs.us. The Board may not address comments/questions after the public comment period. However, we will work with the school administration to provide a prompt response to your email.

If you have a grievance, we would ask that you follow the board policy of starting first with the lowest level of authority as that is almost always the place where change can happen most effectively. Any grievance directed to the attention of the board, should be sent to governance@wacs.us. We thank you for your cooperation. At this time, we would like to open the floor to public comment.

Public comment given by Shane Tolbert, Westside parent and volunteer with Men of Westside. The MOW group is interested in volunteering literacy support.

Community Council Report

Community Council Co-Chair gives an update.

• Spirit nights with local businesses are going well.
• Co-chair search was conducted
• Parent party on 28th
• Garage sale on 29th
• Upcpming events: Glow party and end-of-year party

Governance Committee Report

Governance Committee gives monthly report.

• GCSA event hosted at Westside went well
• Board training update
• Full board training tentatively April 17th, topic TBD
• Review 2 proposed additions to the Board: Susan Beckett-Mitchell and Erika Williams