Hampton Elementary Charter School
Governance Council
Minutes / Regular Meeting
June 23, 2015 3:00 PM
Hampton Elementary Charter School
10 Central Avenue
Hampton, Georgia 30228

Attendees

Ms. Christy Palmer / Council Member – Parent – Chair
Mrs. Joyce Bradley / Council Member – Parent Liaison
Mr. Arley Lowe / Council Member – Business Community
Ms. Georgia Flournoy / Council Member – Teacher
Mrs. Amy Hall / Council Member – Teacher
Mrs. MaryAnn Mitcham / Council Member – PIE representative
Other
Dr. David Barber / Assistant Principal
Dr. Debra Collins / Principal
Mr. Brian Keefer / In-coming Principal
Ms. Debbie Palmer / Grandparent of HECS student
Ms. Saya Edwards / Future Parent of HECS student
Lil’ Jimmy (Mr. Edwards) / Future Parent of HECS student fund raiser representative
Ms. IvonneCuebasRanerez / Parent of HECS students

Committed to Ensuring Educational Success for Each Student

  1. Call to Order

Ms. Palmer called the meeting to order at 3:04 PM.

  1. Recognitions and Awards
  1. Dr. Debbie Collins Day in Hampton, GA: Dr. Collins shared that May 28, 2015 was proclaimed as Dr. Debbie Collins Day by the mayor.
  1. Approval of Minutes

The minutes for May 2015 were approved with corrections by a 7/0 vote.

  1. Public Participation
  1. Lil’ Jimmy, a future parent at the school, spoke to the Council about an anti-bullying program that he and his wife would like to offer at the school
  1. Ms. Debbie Palmer, a grandparent of a HECS student, expressed concerns that several parents in the community had come to her about. These concerns included the effectiveness of the grandparent breakfast, the difference between PTO and STEAM Night, the lack of feeling welcome at the school, the lack of communication from the school, the lack of diversity training that the teachers participate in at the school, the excessive movie night type of events at the school, the need for more email blasts, text messages, the need for evening awards programs and kindergarten graduation, and the lack of selling items at the school such as pickles, frozen juices, and chicken biscuits.
  1. Mrs. IvonneCuebasRamerez, parent of three students at HECS, expressed her concern that the parents in the Hispanic community feel left out. She also expressed a concern about the lack of events such as the Father Kid Dance.
  1. Financial Report, Dr. Collins
  1. Implementation Grant Update – Dr. Collins shared the available and spent funding amounts in a spreadsheet.
  1. Title I Budget Update – Dr. Collins explained that Title I grant has been completed.
  1. PTO Update –Mrs. Studstill shared that the PTO ended the school year with $2220.04.
  1. Items for Action, Dr. Collins – none
  1. Discussion Items and Items for Study
  1. Election Results
  1. Parent – No action had been made concerning elections since the last meeting; Mr. Keefer suggested that Parent elections be advertised on through social media, on the school’s webpage, and through mail (if needed); Nominations should be completed by July 27, 2015; Elections will be held July 30, 2015 from 8:00 AM to the close of Open House; Mr. Lowe and Mrs. Mitcham will assist with the election table at Open House
  1. Business – same as above G (a) (i)
  1. Training Hour Logs – Governance Council members submitted their training hour logs to Dr. Collins.
  1. Uniforms at HECS
  1. Mr. Keefer explained that the voluntary uniform procedures will continue for SY16. Uniforms will be highly recommended but not required. Mrs. Bradley suggested providing research to the parents on the pros and cons of uniforms in schools.
  1. Dates and Times for Governance Council Meetings SY16
  1. Mr. Lowe made a recommendation that the HECS Governance Council meet the third Tuesday of each month from July 2015 to June 2016 at 3:00 PM.

The dates and time were approved by a 7/0 vote.

  1. Ms. Palmer made a recommendation that the February 16, 2016 meeting date by moved to February 9, 2016.

The February change of date was approved by a 6/0 vote.

  1. Bylaws Revisions
  1. Dr. Collins distributed the bylaw revisions that were approved at the May 2015 meeting. Signatures of all members present were obtained on the document.
  1. General Discussion by Council Members
  1. Mr. Lowe suggested that the Council consider discussion of having a Communications Committee. This should be on the July 2015 agenda.
  1. Ms. Palmer asked for an update on the student kitchen. Dr. Barber gave an update. Mr. Lowe stated that the dishwashers are available when ready for the kitchen.
  1. Adjournment

Ms. Palmer adjourned the meeting at 4:17.

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Chairperson SignatureSecretary Signature