MINUTES

Governing Board Reading Edge Academy, Inc.

August 18, 2015 – Samsula Academy

Meeting called to order: ______6:04 PM ______

Governing Board Members Roll Call: Staff Members Roll Call:

Chair: Arlene Lowery / P / PeggyComardo, Principal / P
V Chair: Mike Caldwell / P / Don Comardo / P
Sec.: Darlene Gravenmier / P / Kevin Burr / P
Tres: Marianne Stanley / Ex / Deb Smoak AP, REA / P
Member: Jerry Kruhm / P / Vicki Foster AP, Samsula / P

I.Pledge of Allegiance

II.Introduction of Members

Ms. Vicki Foster, Assistant Principal, for Samsula Academy was introduced by Ms. Arlene Lowery to the Board Members. Welcome Vicki.

III.Approval of Previous Minutes

Ms. Lowery moved to approve minutes of the June meeting and Mr. Kruhm seconded the motion. The motion carried with 4-0 vote, Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Kruhm, Ms. Lowery, and Mrs. Gravenmier voting approval.

IV.Public Participation

Jennifer Luznar, guest

V.Financial Report

Mr. Burr explained that the yearly audit is still in progress. The insurance with Brown and Brown was renewed for 2015-2016 school year. Letters being sent to board members will need to be filled out and mailed directly to the auditor. The auditor will present a report in the next month.

Prime Pay, the new payroll company, is efficiently and effectively running the business operations of both Reading Edge Academy and Samsula Academy according to Mr. Burr.

Mr. Burr reported that payroll needs a check/balance system. It was recommended that Ms. Smoak and Ms. Foster be included on a signature page for checks. On August 26, 2015 a SPECIAL VOTE for Check Signers was taken by e-mail. A motion was made by Arlene Lowery that in order to have a check and balance system on accounting records, Kevin Burr’s name will be removed from all bank records as signer, and that Vicki Foster and Deborah Smoak’s names will be added. The motion was seconded by Gerald Kruhm, and passed by YES votes from all Board Members, Arlene Lowery, Gerald Kruhm, Marianne Stanley, Darlene Gravenmier, and Mike Caldwell.

VI.Assistant Principal’s Reports

Ms. Smoak stated that enrollment is up to 311 at Reading Edge Academy, and they were registering students the day of the board meeting. Ms. Smoak declared that Reading Edge Academy has hired some great teachers and paraprofessionals; two kindergarten, two (2) first grade, one (1) fourth grade, music, art, a P.E. paraprofessional, and a café worker. Administration, faculty, and staff have been working hard getting ready for the “meet the teacher” event Friday, August 21, 2015.

Some of the activities that administrators have been working on since our last meeting in June 2015 include the following:

  • Attended the district board meeting on Tuesday, June 23rd.
  • Attended workshop at Caribe Royal in Orlando with 11 of our staff pertaining to Literacy and how best to achieve that with our students on July 20th
  • Hosted a workshop on CHAMPS for both staffs with 25 in attendance on July 29th
  • Attended district Administrative meeting at Deland High for two days of training on Leadership on August 4th and 5th
  • Attended workshop on Ready Reading and Writing (new district opportunity) on August 11th
  • Attended workshop for Assistant Principal’s on August 12th for discipline
  • August 17th met with both staffs to discuss this upcoming year

Upcoming Activities include:

  • CPR/First Aid Training – both sites, Thursday, Aug. 20th
  • Meet the Teacher on Friday, Aug. 21st – staggered times due to parking issues
  • First day of school is Monday, Aug. 24th
  • Individual pictures will be Thursday, Sept. 3rd
  • Kindergarten Curriculum night, Tuesday, Sept. 8th
  • Traffic meeting with DOT about the flow of traffic around the school will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9th
  • 3rd grade Curriculum night, Thursday, Sept. 10th
  • 5th grade Curriculum night, Friday, Sept. 11th
  • 2nd grade Curriculum night, Monday, Sept. 14th

PTA has been very supportive with opening school and their help is greatly appreciated.

Kim Bonfield has done an amazing job getting and keeping our website up and running. A special thank you goes out to her.

Ms. Vicki Foster reported Samsula Academy will be hosting curriculum nights for different grade levels, too.

VII.Principal’s Message

Mrs. Comardo reported the new curriculum will be Ready Reading and Writing. FSA will be the test used as fidelity is consistently checked and monitored.

Mrs. Comardo testified that Mr. Comardo has been working tirelessly all summer to keep the water away from Samsula Academy.

Mr. Comardo has updated all over 40 laptops to Windows 7. Microsoft will not present a package deal, and every laptop must be updated individually. Several printers were replaced from Winchester. Recently purchased a doc camera, projector for art, music, and PE. Mr. Comardo reported artificial turf has been installed at Reading Edge Academy.

VIII.Old Business

Update on Flashing Light for Reading Edge Academy

Ms. Lowery introduced the report conducted by DOT regarding the flashing yellow light that was started last year.

Mrs. Gravenmier read the recommendations from the results of the traffic study, data analysis, crash analyses, field observations and engineering, judgment, which read:

  1. Maintain the existing posted speed limit of 45 mph.
  2. Install Flashing Beacons on the “School Entrance” warning signs.
  3. Relocate the southbound “School Entrance” warning sign and “SCHOOL” pavement markings to north side of Pond Court.
  4. Coordinate with Reading Edge Academy to open their gates earlier in the afternoon in order to prevent traffic on Pond Court from backing up onto Enterprise Road.
  5. Maintain the westbound left turn movement at Alexandra Woods Drive.
  6. Deploy portable speed feedback signs supplemented with police enforcement periodically within the school area.
  7. Evaluate reconfiguring the Reading Edge/business driveway at Alexandra Woods Drive.

Ms. Lowery and Mrs. Gravenmier were thanked for the hard work they put into obtaining this report.

IX.New Business

Block out dates for the charter schools are dates that are mandatory teacher attendance at both schools. Ms. Smoak suggested that the charter schools follow the same criterion that is enforced throughout the Volusia County Public School system and Mr. Kruhm agreed along with the other board members. Mrs. Gravenmier will be checking the policy for Volusia County block out dates and will report the findings to Mrs. Comardo.

Mr. Kruhm announced that new board members are needed. We are looking for professionals, business owners, retirees, and interested persons who are willing to make a three year commitment to serve as an active member on the board.

Mr. Comardo presented a proposal from Tom Donatti Building & Roofing, Inc., for re-roofing two portable buildings at Samsula Academy. Ms. Lowery moved to approve the proposal, and Mr. Kruhm seconded the motion. Motion carried with 4-0 vote, Mrs. Lowery, Mr. Kruhm, Mr. Caldwell, and Mrs. Gravenmier voted.

Committee for Charter Contract: First meeting Sept. 22nd at 6:00 PM at Reading Edge Academy

X.Public Participation

None at this time

XI.Next meeting: Reading Edge Academy, September 15, 2015@ 6 PM – Reading EdgeAcademy

XII. Meeting Adjourned: ___7:10 PM ____

Aug. / Sept. / Oct. / Nov. / Dec. / Jan. / Feb. / March / April / May / June
A. Lowery, Chair / P
M. Caldwell, V. Chair. / P
D. Gravenmier, Sec. / P
M. Stanley, Treas. / E
J. Kruhm / P
P. Comardo, Principal / P
D. Comardo, Staff / P
K. Burr, Finance Dir. / P
D. Smoak, AP-REA / P
V. Foster, AP-Samsula / P

Legend: P = Present, E = Excused, U = Unexcused, Res. = Resigned

Respectfully submitted,

______

Darlene Gravenmier, Secretary

Reading Edge Academy, Inc. Governing Board

______

Arlene Lowery, Chairperson

Reading Edge Academy, Inc. Governing Board